Human Services Department Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska Mission

Human Services Department Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska

Mission and Vision Statements Human Services Mission Statement The Winnebago Human Services Department’s Mission is to provide quality services within a culture of care that promotes the safety of children and self-sufficiency of families so they can thrive and achieve a healthier lifestyle. We embrace each individual’s uniqueness and abilities and make every attempt to build on and solidify their strengths. Human Services Vision Statement The Winnebago Human Services Department envisions that the all members of our community can experience safe and healthy family relationships and achieve selfsufficiency with a foundation built on a strong sense of family, community, and traditional cultural values

Program Overview Social Services Program Child and Family Services Program Native Families for Native Children (NF 4 NC) Quality Improvement Center for Adoption and Guardianship (QIC-AG)

Social Services Program overview Social Services Program Cash Assistance Temporary Assistance For Needy Families (TANF) General Assistance (GA) Support Services Employment, Education, and Training Related Emergency Assistance Senior Heating Senior Pilot Summer Youth Employment

P. L. 102 -477 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Is a program that provides cash assistance to assist families with children under age 18, who are living with their parent(s) or relative, who meet specific criteria and whose countable family income meets the federal poverty guidelines. General Assistance (GA) Is a program that provides temporary financial assistance for the following essential needs only: food, shelter, clothing, and basic necessary utilities. GA is only available when no other resources are available to you. Support Services that are used to effectively serve low-income, unemployed or underemployed people who reside in the Tribe’s service area; to reduce welfare dependency by providing education, employment and training related services.

Social Services Programs continued Emergency Assistance This program provides assistance that is utilized when applicants are not eligible for other services that our agency offers. Applicants must be enrolled Winnebago and meet the 200% poverty guidelines. Senior Heating This program provides assistance for Winnebago enrolled seniors ages 55 and over who reside on the Winnebago reservation. Senior Pilot This program assists Winnebago enrolled seniors ages 55 and over with part-time employment.

Child and Family Services Program Overview Protective Services Title IV-B Independent Living Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA)

Protective Services Winnebago Child and Family Services is a tribally led organization responsible for protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and neglect. Winnebago Child Protection Services is funded primarily through a contract with the state of Nebraska. Our program serves all children and families residing within the exterior boundaries of the Winnebago Indian reservation. We provide child welfare services such as: investigations, safety planning, case management, supportive services, securing specialized services, supervision, and transportation. Elder and vulnerable adult abuse/neglect cases are managed through a MOU with the state. Our workers provide assistance and support in every investigation.

Title IV-B and Independent Living The Title IV-B program focuses on permanency and reunification of Winnebago families. Some funds are used foster care support services. No specific staff is assigned to this program as it is offered to eligible clients as necessary. The Independent Living Program exists to assist adolescents in developing the skills they will need as they enter adulthood and become self-sufficient. Caseworkers provide individualized assessments to tribal youth age 14 -19 to develop a plan that reflects the unique needs of the child.

Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) The ICWA program protects Winnebago children. It preserves and strengthens Indian Families, ensures permanency for Winnebago children, and protects the continued existence of the Winnebago culture and Tribe. This program ensures that the Winnebago Tribe exercises sovereign authority over child custody proceedings involving ICWA eligible Winnebago children. The ICWA worker processes enrollment inquiries, legal notices, interventions, and case transfers. They also coordinate regular meetings of the ICWA committee. The ICWA worker’s primary duty is to monitor ICWA eligible children who are involved in child welfare proceedings in state or county courts. In addition to monitoring cases for ICWA compliance, the ICWA worker provides assistance and guidance to the families involved in state or county child welfare courts. This position is guided by the ICWA committee, whose members convene to provide guidance and to make decisions during various points in the life of the case.

Native Families for Native Children (NF 4 NC) The Native Families for Native Children (NF 4 NC) is a diligent recruitment grant project funded by the Children’s Bureau. It is designed to expand upon successful child welfare efforts of States and Tribes in building cooperation and collaboration among child welfare partners to improve the recruitment and retention of Native families. A key element of this effort is that it supports the traditions, culture and needs of Native American communities. The project seeks to revise and field test foster and kinship training to be culturally responsive and effective for Native people while also developing Native trainers to conduct foster and kinship care training, support community leaders, and to serve as consultants for others outside of Siouxland who are interested in replicating the practices.

Quality Improvement Center for Adoption and Guardianship (QIC-AG) This program is one of eight nationally funded sites that is responsible for developing evidence based supports for adoptive and guardianship homes. It conducts capacity building activities. It will establish the development, implementation and evaluation of an evidenced based intervention. Within this project we will develop and implement a tribally specific model of family group decision making (FGDM) to be used with families who are involved with Winnebago Child and Family Services Program.

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