Social Services

MISSION STATEMENT
It shall be the mission of the Kiowa Tribe Social Services program (SSP) to assist tribal members in achieving self-sufficiency and family stability within the communities they reside in. Supportive services will be provided to tribal members who meet the program criteria along with providing referrals for outside resources they may be eligible for. The SSP will strive to treat all tribal members in an equal manner and shall process all requests for assistance in a fair and expeditious manner.
INTRODUCTION
Many tribal communities in the United States face formidable challenges in today’s culture and economic crisis. These communities face higher rates of unemployment, substance abuse, and violence in rates considerably higher than the national norm. The host of social problems that accompany these issues can be varied and numerous. The Kiowa Tribe established the Social Services department in an effort to provide tribal members with a variety of supportive services that will enable them to become self-sufficient and productive community members. The Social Services program (SSP) can provide assistance through personal contact, outside referrals for counseling and/or other related human service related needs, and may include “temporary” financial assistance to those who qualify and meet certain program criteria. Individual programs can assist in providing the necessary resources that can help stabilize an individual or family in a crisis. This compilation of resources should enable tribal members to meet their immediate financial needs and assist in the stabilization of their family units.
Office hours are Monday-Friday from 8:00 am until 4:30 p.m.
Social Services Staff:
• Michelle Emerson, SSP Director 580.654.1457 or 1454
• Yvette Goodeagle, Child/Adult Protection Caseworker 580.654.1460 or 1454
• Rhonda Ahhaitty, Welfare Assistance Caseworker 580.654.1454
• Jewel Tsatoke, SSP Secretary 580.654.1454
Address all correspondence to:
Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma – ATTN: Social Services Program – PO Box 1073 – Carnegie, OK 73015
FAX: 580.654.2406 • DIRECT: 580.654.1454
There are several programs that are administered through the Kiowa Tribes Social Services department:
BIA/P.L. 93-638 Contract for Social Services
Portions of the Social Services Program are funded through a contract with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), through the Indian Self Determination and Education Assistance Act, (25 USC 450 et. seq.) of 1975, which is a P.L. 93-638 program. Funding for these services are congressionally appropriated, generally in three year contract periods, and administered to Kiowa tribal members only.As a condition of our contract agreement with the BIA, the program is bound to certain mandatory guidelines, documentation, and federal reporting requirements for the funds received. As a result, specific guidelines apply to all services administered through this contract. Currently those services are:
• Welfare (General) Assistance
• Child and Adult Protective services
• Assistance for supportive documentation for admission to Indian boarding schools
• Supervised Guardianships
• and oversight of the Kiowa Emergency Youth Shelter (KEYS)
* The Kiowa Tribe does not currently oversee the IIM accounts of adult or minor tribal members, and those services continue to be provided through the BIA/Anadarko Agency/Branch of Community Services. IIM accounts that are established for children will be supervised by the Bureau until the child becomes of legal age as defined in 25 CFR § 115.They can be reached at 1.877.787.4237 or 405.247.6677.
Please contact the SSP for questions and/or application information -
KIOWA EMERGENCY YOUTH SHELTER (KEYS)
The Kiowa Emergency Youth Shelter (KEYS) is an emergency group living placement for native youth from birth to (14) years of age who are experiencing a ‘crisis’ resulting in the need for immediate shelter and/or intervention services. The crisis is often a result of abuse, neglect, violence, or homelessness. The shelter can provide temporary shelter to youth in these types of situations or for youth in tribal custody awaiting another placement. KEYS will provide (24) hour supervision and can meet the basic needs of housing, nutrition, and education (through the local school system) that includes limited social and recreational needs of the youth while placed at the facility.

Preliminary Screening Policy
In order to ensure the safety of all residents placed at KEYS it shall be the policy to screen any potential residents by the Social Services Program Director before acceptance will be made. The services provided at KEYS are designed to meet the basic needs of youth, but the continued safety of any current residents of KEYS and staff, shall be paramount.

KEYS shall be considered as a temporary residential placement and should not be construed as being a ‘detention’ or ‘lock-down facility’ for juvenile offenders. Therefore, in consideration of these issues and other children who may already be in placement at KEYS, it shall be the policy of the KEYS to screen all youth whose history and/or needs, may exceed the care that the KEYS facility & staff can provide. Services may be denied for youth who have:
• a history of assaultive behavior;
• a history of addiction and/or drug dependency;
• youth who have been adjudicated ‘delinquent’ by a court of law; or
• youth who have a pending delinquency case for a felony crime; or
• youth who have been convicted of a sex offense or have a pending sex offense case under the regulations as adopted by the Kiowa Tribal SORNA Code of FY 2011 ; or
• youth who have run away previously from KEYS or any other placement facility; or
• youth who may have serious health or mental health (MH) conditions that requires specialized treatment such as kidney dialysis, schizophrenia, and other MH conditions that may require psychotropic medications.

Restrictions on Sex Offenders
It shall be the policy of KEYS to deny access to any juvenile entering the facility who has been convicted of, have prior allegations of, or have a pending court case- involving any sexual offense. This shall include all potential visitors and volunteers to the facility.All visitors and volunteers must have a completed background check, including a violent & sex offender check, on file in the Social Services Director’s office.

REPORTING OF ABUSE OR NEGLECT ON TRUST PROPERTY
If you suspect the abuse/neglect of any Kiowa adult or child residing on trust property, report this to the Kiowa Tribe Child/Adult Protective services at 580.654.1454 or to BIA Office of Justice Services/Anadarko Agency at 1.405.247.6712 or 1.877.787.4237, Ext. 523 after hours. For cases originating on state property, please call the OKDHS Abuse/Neglect Hotline at 1.800.522.3511 which is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All calls shall remain “confidential”.

• Low Income Heating and Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) – Federal
LIHEAP is administered with federal funds through the U.S.Dept. of Health & Human Services,
Administration for Children and Families. Thesefunds are congressionally appropriated on an
annual basis. LIHEAPprovides utility assistance to low income families and is income based.
LIHEAP isavailable to Kiowa tribal members who are: 1) Head of Household, 2)whoreside in
within our service area, and 3)who meet the income guidelines. Mandatory guidelines are
set forth as they apply to federal LIHEAP statutes. Applicants must provide all required
documentation or their application will be denied. Applications are taken on a first come, first
serve basis. Please call for dates of application and before making an application to see if funds
are available, as applications will not be placed on hold.

LIHEAP APPLICATION

• Burial Assistance – Tribal Funds
It shall be the policy of the Kiowa Tribe of OK to assist tribal members with their final burial expenses. Burial assistance shall be given to any enrolled Kiowa tribal member no matter where they reside. The family of the deceased may utilize any funeral home that they choose to handle the deceased arrangements, but the funeral home should contact the Social Services program as to what documents will need to be submitted and what the maximum allocation for the funeral expenses will be from the Tribe. The Kiowa Tribe will not pay for any expenses that exceed the current allocated amount.
The requirements are: 1)verification of tribal membership, 2)submission of the burial assistance application,3) the final funeral home invoice, and 4) a copy of the final death certificate. These documents may be faxed or mailed to us once all documents are received by the funeral home of your choice. The Kiowa Tribe cannot make payment to the funeral home until all required documentation is received and we do not make payment to the funeral home before the actual burial. Processing for final payment to the funeral home generally takes up to (3) weeks once all documentation has been received. The maximum allowable payment for burial/funeral costs per tribal member is currently at $4,000.00. Any costs above and beyond that amount shall be the responsibility of the family. A $100.00 gift card for the funeral meal will also be given to a designated familymember, one per burial.The Tribe does not pay for headstones or reimburse families for costs they paid ‘out of pocket’ after the funeral. In addition, the Tribe does not have the funds to pay for family members to attend a funeral or return home after a funeral, those expenses should be considered before a person leaves their place of residence.Please call the Social Services department for any additional questions you may have.
BURIAL ASSISTANCE APPLICATION

• Direct Assistance – Tribal Funds
Direct Assistance wasdesigned as a once a year financial assistance to help meet rent, utility costs, glasses, hearing aids, etc., and other ‘necessary’ needs, to enrolled tribal members who are not otherwise eligible for assistance from other agencies. Currently the program is restricting payments made payable to vendors only, no cash assistance will be given. This resource was also designed for tribal members who may reside out-of-state or out of the jurisdiction for LIHEAP. Requirements for Direct Assistance are: 1)verification of tribal membership (copy of your CDIB, we will not accept a BIA letter), 2)submission of the Direct Assistance application, and 3) submission of the bill of your choice for payment. Current maximum allowance is set at $200.00, with assistance limited to once per year. (This means that if you received Direct Assistance in July, 2011 you would be ineligible to receive assistance again until July, 2012)Items typically ineligible for payment would be: personal cell phone or phone bills, cable or satellite TV bills, criminal fines or related costs, attorney’s fees, etc.,
Applicants who may have already received assistance through Contingency/Emergency funds administered through the KBC or the Executive Director’s office, shall be ineligible for Direct Assistance for a period of one year.
Items typically ineligible for payment would be: personal cell phone or phone bills, cable or satellite TV bills, any criminal fines or related costs, attorney’s fees, etc.,
DIRECT ASSISTANCE APPLICATION