MISSION – Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center is proud to celebrate 30 years of self-governance this year. This milestone honors the moment in 1996 when the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation assumed ownership and leadership of their healthcare system from Indian Health Services. That decision reflected the Tribe’s long-standing commitment to charting its own path, grounded in the Indian Self‑Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975 and strengthened by decades of innovative, community-designed wellness initiatives. That same dedication to serving the community through forward thinking continues today in Yellowhawk’s True 32-hour work week, an approach that has shown strong, positive impacts on employee wellbeing.
Yellowhawk strives to ensure staff have a meaningful voice in the clinic and actively gathers input through annual employee satisfaction surveys. The 2026 results show a clear upward trend in morale, with employees rating Yellowhawk an average of 8.86 out of 10 (up from 7.75 in 2022) and noting that leadership is increasingly receptive to feedback. Many employees described meaningful improvements in balance, rest, and overall quality of life since moving to the True 32-hour work week. They shared that the change has strengthened family connections, improved wellbeing, and created one of the most positive professional experiences they have had. Many expressed that the True 32-hour week makes demanding roles more sustainable and helps them serve the Tribal community with greater energy and care.
“We did not close our doors or reduce our availability to make this change. We maintained our hours, added a few new staff positions, and created new job opportunities for our community. That is something we are very proud of. The True 32-hour work week has strengthened our workforce, supported healthier balance, and helped us continue providing high-quality care to the people we serve,” said CEO Aaron Hines.
Yellowhawk began gathering staff input on the 32-hour work week before the initiative was implemented and continues to ask for feedback through the annual satisfaction survey, ensuring employees remain central to the decision-making process. Human Resources Director Andrea Rodrigues said, “When our employees succeed, our organization succeeds. The momentum we are seeing in job satisfaction and retention reflects the impact of a work culture built on balance, flexibility, and support. The True 32-hour work week is helping us build a stable, motivated workforce that is prepared to grow with us for years to come.”
For the first time, Yellowhawk is sharing broader data reflecting the impact of the True 32-hour work week on workforce wellbeing, retention, and sustainability. Highlights include:
• Sick leave usage decreased by 15 percent, with employees using 1,770 fewer sick hours, equivalent to nearly two fewer missed workdays per employee.
• Work-life balance satisfaction reached 96.95 percent in 2025, marking a 16‑point improvement over four years.
• Flexibility to take time off reached 93.89 percent, reinforcing a culture that prioritizes staff wellbeing.
• Job satisfaction remains exceptionally strong, with 95.38 percent of staff satisfied with their position and 93.08 percent satisfied with Yellowhawk overall.
• The work schedule is the top driver of job satisfaction at 90.70 percent, strengthening retention and reducing turnover risk.
• CO₂ emissions from commuting are estimated to have decreased by 19 percent in 2024.
• The initiative projected approximately 108,834 pounds of CO₂ emissions were prevented from entering the atmosphere during its first six months.
• Projected environmental savings for 2025 are estimated at 210,000 pounds of CO₂ reduced.
“Our True 32-hour work week has been in place since August 2023, and while we have not made our data public until now, we believe this is the right moment to showcase the progress Yellowhawk is making. This initiative required adjustment, flexibility from staff, and steady support from the Health Commission to bring the idea to life. Anyone considering a similar transition needs to remain open-minded and patient. There will be challenges, and the time needed to settle into a new normal is crucial,” Hines added.
As we celebrate 30 years of self-governance, Yellowhawk invites community members, partners, and friends to join us on October 27 for an open house honoring this milestone. It will be a chance to reflect on our shared history, celebrate the dedication of our staff, and look ahead to the continued growth of Tribal-directed healthcare. Our commitment to blazing our own path remains strong, and this celebration marks how far we have come together as a community.