Babaamaajimowinan (Telling of news in different places)

Red Lake Band and Oshkiimaajitahdah announce intention for Tribal TANF Program

On Friday, July 25, 2014, the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians and Oshkiimaajitahdah announced their intention to operate a Tribal TANF Program. One of the requirements was to have a 45-day viewing and comment period for the proposed TANF Plan.

The mission statement of the program developed by the staff at Oshkiimaajitahdah is: "Oshkiimaajitahdah is committed to educating families to discover their strengths as individuals." In doing so will strengthen the family and reduce the risk factors that keep Indian families from achieving stability and self-sufficiency.

The primary goals of the Red Lake Nation TANF Program will be based on the four goals/purposes of TANF:

1. Provide assistance in the form of monthly cash and or non-cash benefits to all eligible applicants that reside within the Red Lake Nation borders.

2. To end dependence of needy parents by developing and promoting programs and services such as assistance and activities that will support: job preparation, work opportunities, personal growth, mental and physical wellness, stable and healthy marriages.

3. Prevent and reduce out-of-wedlock pregnancies by providing activities that promote positive peer influence and offer relevant information to Native American youth regarding teen pregnancy, healthy choices and personal responsibility.

4. Encourage the formation and maintenance of two parent families by providing opportunities to assist in keeping families together.

By achieving these goals, the Red Lake Nation (RLN) TANF Program will reduce the number of families receiving assistance on an annual basis. It will also be a significant contributor in developing a healthy community.

The Red Lake Chairman will have overall administrative authority for all Tribal Programs, and program management responsibilities have been delegated to the Oshkiimaajitahdah (TANF) Program Executive Director.

Support Services include but not limited to the following items:

A. Job Skill Training Payments;

B. Professional License;

C. Special Tools or Equipment;

D. Driver's License;

E. Automobile Insurance;

F. Vehicle Service;

G. Childcare (subject to the policies);

H. Transportation (e.g., car repairs, insurance, fuel, bus tickets for the purposes of TANF (attending classes, counseling meetings, reporting, work search, going to and from work, etc.);

I. Relocation expenses for employment as related to employment;

J. Grooming and cosmetic expenses (e.g., dry cleaning, haircuts) as related to employment;

K. Substance abuse and mental health counseling when other resources, e.g. IHS, Tribal medical services, Medicaid, Insurance, etc. have been exhausted or do not cover these expenses;

L. Dental services when other resources, e.g. IHS, Tribal medical services, Medicaid, Insurance, etc. have been exhausted or do not cover these expenses;

M. Eye glasses when other resources, e.g. IHS, Tribal medical services, Medicaid, Insurance, etc. have been exhausted or do not cover these expenses;

N. Culturally relevant support services for the purposes of TANF;

O. Domestic violence services;

P. Substance abuse services and mental health services resources, e.g. IHS, Tribal services, Medicaid, Insurance, etc., have been exhausted or do not cover these expenses;

Q. Educational activities designed to increase self-sufficiency, job training, and work excluding any expenditures already provided through the public education system;

R. Job related or educational cost when cooperating with TANF work participation requirement, including but not limited to the following: books, uniform, tuition, educational supplies, child care, clothing and transportation expenses;

S. Educational or training activities/non-cash assistance to non-custodial parent of an eligible RLN TANF family for the purposes of improving the non-custodial parent's ability to contribute to the support of the child(children);

T. Transitional services, job retention, job advancement and other employment-related services that do not provide basic income support;

U. Teen pregnancy prevention and education;

V. Other expenses reasonably related to the purposes of TANF.

The Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians has the largest need for assistance within the Beltrami and Clearwater Counties. The RLN TANF plan will be available for review on July 25, 2014 for review and comment by the Red Lake Citizens for 45 days to receive input on the plan. Notice will be published in a local paper of general circulation and web site http://www.rlnewbeginnings.com advising the public of where they can submit their input and concerns.

The RLN TANF plan will also be made available at the Red Lake Nation Government office as well as at the offices at Oshkiimaajitahdah. They also provided the plan to the Minnesota Department of Human Services and Beltrami and Clearwater County representatives regarding training assistance, non-duplication of services, transfer of cases, and the states responsibility of providing equitable access to assistance for services not provided by the RLN TANF Program. The Red Lake Tribal Council passed a resolution supporting the TANF and authorizing its submission to HHS-ACF.

Your comments can be sent to the Oshkiimaajitahdah web site on the "Contact Link." Everyone's input is valuable and is greatly encouraged. Oshkiimaajitahdah will present the plan to the Red Lake Tribal Council at the September 9th meeting and then onto the Region V office for approval.

Oshkiimaajitahdah web site page to view full plan and comment: http://www.rlnewbeginnings.com/home/news

 

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