Contributing writer for The Canyon Weekly
A Mill City team member of the Santiam Service Integration is riding the waves of success!
Capturing this year’s Surfboard Award is Lisa Brunson, resource coordinator for the Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency/ARCHES Program based at the Santiam Outreach Community Center. Santiam Hospital and Clinics partners with Santiam Service Integration to serve people in the Santiam Canyon.
“The Surfboard Award goes to the SI team member who exhibits what Service Integration is on a daily basis in their work,” said Kim Dwyer, SSI coordinator. “Lisa has gone the extra mile for team partners to collaborate together on cases. She has met people where they are in the community, whether that’s physically, emotionally or mentally.”
Cheryl Hafner posted her kudos on the SSI Facebook page, saying, “I love this gal. Gosh, she has been such a blessing. She has helped me complete and send off documents I would have missed the deadline on had she not helped me. She is a link in my fire recovery. Good job, Lisa!”
Brunson answered, “I love my job and feel like it’s just ‘what I do,’ thank you so much!”
Hanna Nelson told Brunson she is the “most deserving of this award. You go above and beyond for everyone in the community. SIT and CHWs would not be as successful as we are if it wasn’t for you. You help us out so much. So eternally grateful. I hope that you acknowledge all of the lives that you help and touch. You’re simply an amazing, incredible person.”
David Peak called Brunson “an incredible person with a wonderful spirit and heart.” Dave Taghon called her “an amazing lady!”
The award was given to Brunson at Santiam Service Integration’s End of the Year event on the morning of June 29 that completed the outreach’s sixth year.
Santiam Service Integration serves as a safety net by facilitating resources and information for individuals and families. The program is designed to coordinate community providers and services to identify needs, find solutions, and avoid duplication of services, Dwyer said.
“We are actively seeking our partners to include local school districts, law enforcement, local and state governments, faith communities, businesses, non-profits, early childhood providers, community volunteers, and other interested parties,” she added. “Each of the four teams has a pot of funds that is a contribution from Santiam Hospital and Clinics and the school district (relative to the team (North Santiam, Cascade, Santiam Canyon, and Scio).”
As of June 29. Dwyer said the four teams spent $15,256.76 and have leveraged $196,818.95.
“Leveraging comes from community donations, and other organizations/agencies that we partner with,” she said.
According to Dwyer, this past year Service Integration had contact – whether through a team partner or a cold call to the office – with 431 households.
“This is a 34 percent increase in the need for assistance through our program over last year,” she said. “Between the four teams, there were 142 funding requests that were submitted. This is an 89 percent increase in requests over the last year.”
For more information, call 503-769-9319 or message sitmobile@santiam hospital.org.
