Family Services Department

The goal of the Family Services Department is to promote the health, social, and emotional well-being of individual Tribal members and their families. Programs such as day care assistance and protection for tribal children through the Indian Child Welfare Act provide much needed help for the Tribe and its members. Other services supported by grants are administered through five separate program areas currently managed under the Family Services Department: Social Services, Human Services, Domestic Violence, and Elder Care.

Social Services Program

The Social Services Program operates under a Bureau of Indian Affairs 638 Contract which provides social services funding to operate a child welfare program and some emergency assistance for food, shelter, clothing, cleaning supplies, etc. The child welfare component is designed to assist children during a family crisis created by abuse and/or neglectful issues. The department has the responsibility for investigating abuse and neglect for children. If necessary to provide them with a safe and secure placement, social services staff will arrange a boarding arrangement with extended family or in a licensed tribal foster home. The department also recruits, training, and licenses tribal foster homes. Under the BIA contract, funds are provided to assists the Tribe in responding to the law under the Indian Child Welfare Act. It gives authority to the Tribe to petition for jurisdiction with State Courts in child welfare cases involving tribal member children or children eligible for tribal membership. When requested, the Tribe also intervenes in cases within our service area on behalf of the tribal children from other federally recognized tribes. Verification of tribal enrollment for social service agencies all over the country is also a function of the Social Services Program.

Other services provided are for limited jurisdiction child enforcement petitions in Tribal Court to establish paternity, child support payments, or modification of previous child support orders. Court-ordered custody home studies are also provided by social services staff.

The Homemaker Aide Program provides direct homemaker aide services to the elderly and disabled tribal population. This is short-term in-home assisted living services, including general cleaning, meal preparation and planning, grocery shopping, and assisting with transportation arrangements through Senior Services Department.

The recently established PBCI Tribal Emergency Fund Program provides financial assistance to Poarch Creek tribal members and first generation Indian Descent to aid in their recovery from natural disaster and/or individual disasters or emergency situations. In response to the needs of families living in disaster-declared areas, a Resource Center was opened by the Family Services Department during September 2005 for an organized collection and delivery of donated items to needy individuals and families recovering from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and other disaster and emergency-related situations.

Financial assistance to tribal members is made through the Community Services Block Grant, Child Care Development Block Grant and LIHEAP. Each of these programs follows mean-tested criteria for eligibility to offer assistance for emergency food, housing, employment, or medical supplies, child care, and energy bill payments.

Human Services Program

The Human Services Program is funded through the Health Department of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, which gets its funding through the Indian Health Service (IHS). Even though the funding is provided directly to the Health Department, the primary responsibility for services fall under the Family Services Department. The Human Services Program provides services to tribal members and first generation Indian descent children through the age of 19. The services include psychiatric assessment, psychological testing, drug assessments, mental health counseling, parenting skills training, anger management, vocational counseling, and marriage and family counseling. Substance abuse counseling is available with assistance from staff for referrals to rehabilitation clinics and residential placements.

Domestic Violence Program

The Domestic Violence Program is funded through the STOP Violence Indian Women Grant, Family Violence Prevention Grant, Encourage Arrest Grant, and the Rural Domestic Grant. These programs provide assistance to victims of domestic violence and/or child abuse. Services are provided to enrolled members, and members of other federally recognized tribes. These programs allow for relocation expenses, such as housing and utility depositions. The Department maintains an Emergency Shelter for tribal members under the Domestic Violence program. While the shelter is primarily for victims of domestic violence and/or child abuse, it may be used for other people in emergency situations. Each occupant over 18 years of age must pass a criminal background check. The shelter is generally approved for 72 hours. Any extensions of stay must be approved by the Tribal Administrator and/or Tribal Chairman.

Elder Care Program

The Elder Care Program was formed in September 2003 when the Tribe was approved for the Elder Health Care Initiative Grant. It is a development grant, which provides funding for three years to conduct surveys, develop partnerships within the Tribe, with the surrounding community and the State, and ultimately develop a statistically-based proposal for recommendations on the needs of the elder tribal population for long term care. The grant activities originally focused primarily on health care needs associated with developing a day care center; however it has since been expanded to look at not only day care, but respite care, sitter service, homemaker aide services, assisted living facility, and/or a nursing home on the reservation. The premise of the grant is to provide research-based recommendations to the Tribal Council regarding the development of appropriate elder care programs with realistic funding sources to support continued operations.

Contact Information:
kledkins@poarchcreekindians-nsn.gov

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