The Ponca Tribal Family Services Department provides the following services to an average of 271 tribal members annually:
-General Assistance -LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) -Counsels and advises clients in need of assistance in maintaining their affairs -Referrals to other Agencies for eligible tribal members needing assistance
The General Assistance Program is funded through the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The Annual Budget averages at $32,000.00 annually. This is a temporary monetary assistance for those families with dependent children with no income and have exhausted all other resources and those individuals who have pending Social Security, Disability/SSI, or VA claims, and when funding is available to those single individuals who live alone with no income. This is a temporary assistance program and is not intended to provide full-time support.
LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) is to assist families who qualify with their utilities such as gas, propane, electricity and fire wood. This is funded through the Division of Energy Assistance. The annual Budget is around $19,000. This program is designed to assist even those tribal members who are employed. Priorities for this program are senior citizens, 60and over; families with dependent children under 6 years of age; and the disabled. The poverty level is set at 150%.
The Family Services Director counsels with clients and advises when requested in matters pertaining to their particular family needs whether it be with completing applications for Food stamps, Social Security SSI/Disability or school enrollment applications for students who desire to attend Boarding Schools away from home.
When a matter cannot be handled here clients are referred to an appropriate Agency.
The Mission and Goals of the Family Services Department is to assist Tribal Members whether it be through the General Assistance Program, Tribal Emergency Assistance, Low Income Home energy Assistance program (LIHEAP) or referrals to outside resources whenever there is a need.
It shall be this program’s main goal to assist in a way to help a tribal member become self-supporting by emphasizing education and training so that they can become self-sufficient.
