by John Silver
Wednesday, August 3, 2022
August 2, 2022
NOTICE OF PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ON PROPOSED FY 2023
COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT (CSBG) PLAN
The Institute for Indian Development, Inc. will accept
public comments as required by the Department of Health & Human Services
CSBG Plan for FY 2023. Public Comments will be accepted on the CSBG FY 2023
proposed plan from August 3, 2022 through August 26, 2022.
The plan summary is as follows: A total of $241,949 is
planned to be utilized for consortium member tribes who requested funds prior
to the deadline of July 29, 2022 via the funding opportunity announcement. Choctaw-Apache Community of Ebarb, Jena Band
of Choctaw Indians, Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana, and the United Houma
Nation proposes to use funds for the general purposes of anti-poverty
programming for low income citizens to include but not be limited to: Computer Literacy, Communication, Workforce Development,
Wellness and Nutrition, Language and Culture, Financial Management and
Education, Emergency Services, Food Programs, Housing Rehabilitation and
Weatherization.
Persons or organizations wanting to comment on or review the
proposed plan should contact Melinda Butaud between the hours of 9:00 A.M. and
3:00 P.M., Monday through Friday at 985-851-5408 Ext. 214. Materials are
available in alternative formats by email at info@itcla.com. These formats can
be provided if notification is given one week in advance.
This page last updated on 6/22/2022.
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INSTITUTE FOR INDIAN DEVELOPMENT,
INC.
Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) CARES Act (2020) Supplemental Funding Tribal Plan (Public Review)
Background:
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, 2020, Public Law 116-36, was signed into law on March 27, 2020, providing $1 billion in additional funds to the CSBG program. The funds to states, territories, and tribes authorized under the CSBG Act are intended to address the consequences of increasing unemployment and economic disruption as a result of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
In an effort to provide an immediate response to the needs of the tribes and tribal organizations, OCS awarded the supplemental CARES Act funds on May 8, 2020. All tribes and tribal organizations that applied for, and received funding in federal fiscal year (FFY) 2020, received CARES Act funding as a separate allotment under the same formula used for grant allocations under the regular annual CSBG appropriations. The tribes and tribal organizations were subject to the signed assurances and certifications, included in the FFY 2020 CSBG Tribal Plan.
On May 8, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that the Institute for Indian Development would be receiving $328,134.00 in grants from the Office of Community Service to help communities address the consequences of increased unemployment and economic disruption as a result of COVID-19.
The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) program provides Native American and Alaskan Native Tribes and Tribal Organization with funds to address the causes and conditions of poverty in their communities. CSBG is a flexible, community-responsive block grant that can support a range of services and activities, including employment, education, housing, emergency services, nutrition, health, income management, support for improved service linkages, and self-sufficiency programs.
Because CARES Act funding is a supplemental appropriation, tribes received funds immediately based on an equitable share, and subject to the conditions set forth in the applicable Program Instructions, terms and conditions, Departmental regulations, and OMB Circulars. By September 30, 2020, our office will be required to submit a combined CSBG plan amendment with information specific to CARES Act funding.
See below, funding allocation:
Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana - $45,000.00
Choctaw-Apache Community of Ebarb - $45,000
Clifton Choctaw Tribe of Louisiana - $45,000.00
Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana - $45,000.00
Jena Band of Choctaw Indians - $45,000.00
Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana - $45,000.00
United Houma Nation Tribe of Louisiana - $45,000.00
*Institute for Indian Development - $13,134.00
Tribes were required to submit a CSBG plan for FY 2020 with information specific to CARES Act funding.
Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana CSBG
CARES Act (2020) Supplemental Funding Tribal Plan
The Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana Human Services Department in collaboration with the Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana Tribal Council, Tribal Courts, Tribal School, Tribal Recreational Department, Culture Department, Chitimacha Child Care Development Center (Early Learning Center), Tribal Health Department, Tribal Housing Department, Tribal Police Department and the State of Louisiana Department of Children and Families, St. Mary Behavioral Health Clinic (Mental Health & Substance Abuse Outpatient Treatment), St. Mary Parish Department of Children and Families, Lafayette Region Department of Children and Families, Chez Hope Inc. (Domestic Violence Program) & Batterers Intervention Program, Inter-Tribal Council of Louisiana, Inc. Institute for Indian Development, Claire House for Women and Children (Residential Treatment Program for substance abusing mothers and their children under the age of 12), St. Mary Parish 16th Judicial District Adult and Family-Focus Juvenile Drug Courts, St. Mary Parish “Red Ribbon Committee, Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana “FEATHERS” (Family Education Assessment Team Helping to Empower and Restore our Strength) Committee and the United Houma Nation Indian Tribe ( A State Tribe) Vocational Rehabilitation Program working together in a united effort to eradicate child abuse/ neglect, substance abuse, domestic violence, homelessness, unemployment, and criminal activity in promoting safe and stable tribal families enrolled in the Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana. It is our goal with the collaboration of stakeholders to focus on strengthening families through primary prevention. It is our desire to reach children and families sooner through prevention is the key to avoiding unnecessary trauma, disrupting intergenerational cycles of maltreatment, and achieving better outcome for children and their families as well as adults residing on the Chitimacha Reservation and in our Service Area of St. Mary Parish.
We will be able to achieve our goals in collaboration with our stakeholders by obtaining and utilizing services on the Chitimacha Reservation provided by the Chitimacha Health Clinic & Human Services Department as well as Providers on and off of the Reservation. Services provided can be and not limited to the following: Utility Assistance, Financial Counseling, Mental Health & Substance Abuse Counseling, Individual & Family Counseling, Parenting & Co-Parenting Classes, VR Services, Domestic Violence Services including finding a safe place for victims and their children, transportation, Nutrition Benefit of purchasing food and making referrals for SNAP Benefits, Housing Assistance by paying rent or mortgage payments, Child Care Assistance for disabled or unemployed parents seeking employment or Protective Day Care to keep children and their parents together providing a safe place for the child during the day and Respite Care for minor children or disabled adults to provide rest for parents, guardians or caretakers.
The Tribe will provide services to low-income families or individuals who meet the 200% of the Poverty Guidelines, as allowed during this national crisis. The Tribe will not distribute cash assistance, but will pay for identified needs, directly to the vendor.
Choctaw-Apache Community of Ebarb CSBG CARES Act (2020) Supplemental Funding Tribal Plan
Specific goals and objectives are to provide immediate relief to the Choctaw-Apache Tribal Elders and disabled Tribal members through care packages consisting of non-perishable food items, disinfecting and cleaning supplies, and disposable masks and gloves for Covid-19 protection. Upgrades to the Tribal office computer system and installation of video equipment for broadcasting Tribal announcements will increase the capacity and ability to assist Tribal members in the community, statewide, and nationally.
Eligibility for care packages will be determined through the Tribal Rolls database for Tribal members (Elders) aged 65 and greater or documented as Disabled who reside in Sabine Parish.
Volunteers will assemble the care packages and distribute them throughout the community at a specified date and time. Office equipment will be purchased and installed by Tribal members with Technical Support.
Clifton-Choctaw Tribe of Louisiana CSBG CARES Act (2020) Supplemental Funding Tribal Plan
Update and maintain community center building, including any property owned by Clifton Choctaw Tribe of Louisiana,
Purchase yard equipment to maintain grounds
Computer and etc. to be purchased and used within the Tribal community center building to train and help all tribal members.
Hire a part time employee to help manage and complete clerical work for our Tribes non-profit organization.
Purchase Commercial freezers and other equipment needed to store food for tribal members in need and also disaster relief items.
Funds used will be to help Clifton Choctaw members as a whole. The Clifton Choctaw community located at 1146 Clifton Rd. Clifton, LA was built over 40 years ago. Money will be used to preserve and update this building and grounds. The community center is the central network for our entire Tribe. Any updates and maintenance to this building will directly impact tribal members in a positive way.
Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana CSBG CARES Act (2020) Supplemental Funding Tribal Plan
The Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana is grateful for this supplemental funding which allows the Tribe to meet critical needs and plan for developing services to assist tribal members. With the advent of the pandemic, the Tribe has experienced an increased and critical need to offer support in numerous areas to individuals and families. Following are the areas with percentages that incorporate the Tribe’s appropriation of $45,000:
|
Percent of Funds |
Activities |
|
10% ($4,500) |
Supply information and samples of effective home cleaning products that kill COVID virus. |
|
20% ($9,000) |
Counseling and assistance to tribal members to apply for food assistance and Medicaid. |
|
20% ($9,000) |
Establishment of a Library of Recovery—purchase and loan materials relating to support and motivation dealing with the pandemic and related isolation. |
|
15% ($6,750) |
Training of staff as Mental Health Instructors to help educate the community on awareness of risk factors and recognizing signs of stress, depression, and effects of isolation. |
|
10% ($4,500) |
Mailouts to Tribal households and school counselors to build awareness of suicide prevention, i.e., warning signs of suicide, risk, and coping relating to traumatic events such as COVID-19. |
|
25% ($11,250) |
Assistance with attaining adequate transitional housing to members affected by COVID-related job loss. |
Jena Band of Choctaw Indians CSBG CARES Act (2020) Supplemental Funding Tribal Plan
Goal 1: The conditions in which low-income people’s lives are improved
Goal 2: Partnerships among supporters and providers of services to low-income people are achieved
Goal 3: Agencies increase their capacity to achieve results
Goal 4: Low-income people, especially vulnerable populations, achieve their potential by strengthening family and other supportive systems
1. Through our emergency services, we will be available to help low-income families improve their lifestyles by using the funding for clothes, groceries, transportation, and any other basic need that may not be met.
2. To achieve the partnerships among supporters and providers of services, we will encourage open communication amongst the staff at our Tribal Office. In doing this, we will work with other departments and figuring out the needs that aren’t being met and coming up with a plan on how to use the CSBG funds to meet those needs. By ensuring the communication needs are met, our clients will have more positive approach when requesting services from the Tribe.
3. In order for our agency to increase our capacity to achieve results we will be offering employee incentives. We plan to have mandatory staff event that will be a fun and constructive meeting with team building exercise and more. To ensure that our staff members, when helping the Tribal members, take the most positive approach, we must make them feel appreciated for all of their hard work.
4. To help our low-income communities achieve their potential by strengthening family and other support systems we plan to offer assistance with mental health counseling. This will be for members of all ages. Since the COVID-19 pandemic has taken over and changed all of our lives, we have noticed an increase of depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders in our members, that the need simply isn’t being met.
Purpose of Funds: The purpose of the Community Block Grant (CSBG) is to reduce poverty, revitalization of low-income communities, and the empowerment of low-income families and individuals to become self-sufficient. With this funding, we will provide new opportunities to the Tribal members and bridge the gaps in services that already exist.
Target Communities: The Jena Band of Choctaw Indians (JBCI) received federal recognition in 1995 and is the smallest of the four federal Tribes in Louisiana. The JBCI, located in central Louisiana, serves the three parishes of LaSalle, Rapides, and Grant, covering approximately 2, 584 square miles. There are approximately 392 Tribal members of which 67.8% are less than 19 years of age and 14.5% are 55 years old and older. The population is growing at an overage of 1.2% per year. Services will be provided to approximately 241 Tribal members which reside within the rural three parish service area. According to the Spotlight on Poverty & Opportunity 2018, Louisiana ranks 49th in the nation with 18.6% of people with income below the poverty line of $25,465. Within our service area poverty rates are nearly twice that on non-native individuals, with 42.5% of American Indians living below the poverty level, compare to the 23.1% of the total population. A survey of the JBCI members conducted by the Tribe for the Bureaus of Indian Affairs and Indian Health Services reported nearly 50% of Tribal members living in a household income of less than $10,000 annually (JBCI Community Health Assessment and American Indians Health Management & Policy 2015 Survey).
The JBCI rural three parishes in central Louisiana, mirrors the challenges facing other rural communities across the United States such as poverty, limited mental and physical health resources, education, unemployment, housing and children issues, which reflect many of the gaps specific to the Tribal Members’ needs for this Community Services Block Grant Supplemental Funding through the CARES Act 2020.
Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana CSBG CARES Act (2020) Supplemental Funding Tribal Plan
The Tribe will utilize the funding to address economic disruption, due to COVID-19, by providing low-income assistance to qualifying Tribal members. This objective will be met by providing utility assistance to qualifying Tribal elders.
United Houma Nation Tribe of Louisiana CSBG CARES Act (2020) Supplemental Funding Tribal Plan
National Goal Funds will Target: Goal 5 – The UHN will increase the capacity of school age youth to achieve results.
Purpose of Funds: The funds are being used in compliance with the programmatic assurance of attaining adequate literacy and education. Due to COVID-19, many UHN youth have experienced upheaval and disruption to their education. Of particular concern with the shift to virtual learning is how low-income families and youth are able to adapt and maintain educational outcomes. Key factors include access to reliable internet service as well as increased needs for tutoring for our most vulnerable students to catch up and not be left behind.
Income Verification: All families seeking assistance will be required to turn in verification of income that demonstrates that their current income level is within 200% of the FY2020 Federal Poverty Guidelines. Proof of income must be current and include check stubs, SNAP benefit report, current social security award letter, unemployment benefits, etc.
Target Communities: The UHN will serve the 6-parish service area consisting of Terrebonne, Lafourche, Jefferson, St. Mary, Plaquemines and St. Bernard parishes.
Method and Criteria for Distribution of Funds: There are 2 types of services the UHN will opt to provide with this funding. The majority of the funds will be focused on providing a virtual tutor to eligible students. The majority of students live in school districts that provide free portable Wi-Fi power packs for each student (Terrebonne, Lafourche, and St. Mary). In these areas there will be a focus on virtual tutoring and classes to help students adjust to virtual learning. Students will be allocated 15 hours of tutoring services each so families will be encouraged to focus the tutoring in the subject areas that the student is struggling the most. To the extent possible, group tutoring will be conducted to stretch the resources.
For those school districts who have not provided free Wi-Fi for students, the UHN will seek a contract with T-Mobile for a flat contract as they have offered to school districts so that students are able to fully engage in school. Due to the state moving to Phase 3 this portion of the plan is not of highest priority as all districts prepare to return students to school in at least a modified format.
*Institute for Indian Development CSBG CARES Act (2020) Supplemental Funding Tribal Plan
The Institute for Indian Development (Lead Grantee) has designation on the Application to have the primary responsibility for the fiscal management of Grant funds, records retention, reporting and all of the other aspects of compliance with this Grant. The lead grantee will reserve 4% for administrative and compliance costs to adhere to Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for the Federal Award.
Public Review and Comment on the Tribal Plan:
The public, including tribal members, are allowed to comment on IID’s CSBG Tribal Plan. All comments received will be considered in finalizing this plan.
CEO of the Tribe/Tribal Organization:
John Silver, Executive Director/Grants Administrator
Administration Office
985-851-5408 / info@itcla.com
CSBG Director of the Tribe/Tribal Organization:
Melinda Butaud, DV-FVPSA/CSBG Program Director
Charenton Office
337-347-6401 / info@itcla.com
**End**
With the current outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in our tribal communities and beyond, we wanted to let you know how the Inter-Tribal Council of LA/Institute for Indian Development is preparing and share some important information with you.
We recognize that the current COVID-19 outbreak presents unique challenges for our tribal communities. The aging population is particularly vulnerable for several reasons, including their reliance on services, as well as their age, which appears to place them in higher risk categories for complications due to COVID-19 disease. We are taking steps to minimize disruptions in the services to our clients, and to minimize the exposure risk encountered by our at-risk population. This is an emerging, rapidly evolving situation and we will make updates to this memorandum as necessary.
Gov. Edwards has issued a Statewide Stay at Home Order to further fight the spread of COVID-19 in Louisiana that went into effect on Monday, March 23, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. Our organization intends to fully comply with the Governor's order. As the safety and well-being of our clients, visitors, and staff is our top priority, we have instituted the following:
-All of our in-person business activities and local offices are closed until further notice to all visitors and nonessential staff;
-Employees are working remotely and Administration will continue operations of critical services and functions;
-All public events organized by us are postponed until further notice;
-Our staff is providing well-being checks or services via phone or virtual means to clients;
-All workforce development training participants are granted necessary sick leave with pay until April 13th;
-We are imposing an out-of-state travel restriction for all staff until further notice.
State and Tribal officials encourage Louisianans to take the following proactive steps to protect the health of themselves and those around them: Stay home if you are sick; Cover your cough; Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water, or with a hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available; Disinfect frequently touched surfaces; AND Avoid close contact (within six feet) with those who are sick.
For information about coronavirus, please contact the Louisiana 211 Network by dialing dial 211 or, you can text the keyword LACOVID to 898-211 for the most current information. In addition, refer to the Centers for Disease Control page: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.
SAVE THE DATE
(Please mark your calendars…)
EVENT TIME: 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
HOST TRIBE: Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana
LOCATION: Cypress Bayou Casino Hotel | The Pavilion
832 Martin Luther King Road, Charenton, Louisiana 70523 | 1-800-284-4386
For more information, contact our office.
Main Office Telephone: 985-851-5408 / Email: info@itcla.com