Spring 2006

Florence Petri, Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin
AMERICORP VISTA Supervisor Profile
-Susan Washington

Florence Petri keeps busy dealing with the challenges of her job but finds time to notice the smiles of the elders she serves in her position as the Elderly Service Program Director of the Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin. She has been employed for Oneida Elderly Services for
7 years.

As a member of the Oneida tribe, her work with her people is close to her heart. In addition, Florence realizes that working with outside organizations brings benefits back to her community. She was invited to serve on the Aging Network Leadership Council with the State Bureau of Aging and Disability Resources from Madison. “We meet every other month to discuss elder issues and setting a new direction for the Aging Network,” she explained.

To help meet the challenges she faces in finding enough funding for the operation for all the programs that fall under Elderly Services, she has helped secure support for five Elder Helper positions. Three serve at the meal site, one serves in the store, and one serves in the library and helps create the newsletter DRUMS Across Oneida. “When an elder vacates these positions, we post the position for another elder,” she explains.

Florence finds that the NSAIE VISTA worker is also helping to address some of the challenges of the positions. “Her assistance in writing grants and doing the research is really an asset to our program,” Florence said of VISTA worker, Sara Loken. Of the elders, Florence says “It’s great to see them out and about getting involved in community events and standing up for themselves.”

The three biggest issues or challenges facing the Aging Network now are Long Term Care Reform, Aging & Disability Resource Centers and Family Care. Daily issues of operating the services for Elders poses challenges, the need for vehicle repairs not only can have a negative impact on service delivery but on the budget as well.

Despite the challenges, Florence continues to strive towards her goals for the program to “ensure program financial security, provide opportunity and preserve dignity and independence (for elders) by maintaining the quality of services, to provide positive outcomes from services to all homebound enrolled elders who reside within the Oneida Reservation”.

Florence has served on the Oneida Health Center as a Board Member. For 15 years she served as the Oneida Health Center billing director, and has served as a nurse’s aide for the tribe. In 2001, she earned her bachelors degree in business management from the University of Wisconsin at Green Bay and in 1985 received her account clerk associates degree from North West Technical College. In addition, she received training as a benefit specialist from the State Medical Society of Madison and training in Wisconsin Senior Statesmanship through the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups.

Florence invites visitors to the tribe’s website at www.oneidanation.org