Overview
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The Ponca Department of Social Services includes an array of services designed to improve the lives of our Tribal members.
Special emphasis is placed on families, children, youth, and elders. Our committment is to honor our elders and to treat Tribal children as our sacred trust.
SERVICES
- Child care assistance
- Domestic abuse and family violence services
- Family outreach and support services
- Family preservation and reunification services
- Funeral and burial assistance
- Respite care
- Transportation
CASE MANAGERS Personal assistance providers
MISSION STATEMENT
Our mission is to provide quality and culturally appropriate social work services to Ponca members and their families.
| Child Care Assistance |
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The Child Care Assistance Program of the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska assists eligible Ponca members with child care expenses. To qualify, a member needs to reside in one of the fifteen tribally approved service area counties in Nebraska, Iowa, or South Dakota.
PURPOSE
The Social Services Department works collaboratively with State agencies and applicable families to help low income families achieve and continue their independence from state welfare assistance and obtain self-sufficiency.
This program extends the Department’s philosophy of promoting, maintaining, and enhancing levels of social functioning when a person’s ability to do so has been adversely affected by life circumstances.
HELPFUL LINKS
FAQs
What are the Ponca service counties in Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota?
- Nebraska: Boyd, Hold, Knox, Wayne, Madison, Stanton, Platte, Burt, Douglas, Sarpy, Lancaster, and Hall
- Iowa: Pottawattomi and Woodbury
- South Dakota: Charles Mix
What is meant my “eligible Ponca members”?
To receive assistance, you have to be an enrolled Tribal member; you must have documentation of your enrollment number.
How does a person become eligible for child care assistance?
ELIGIBLE CHILD
- Must be an enrolled member of the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska OR
- Must officially be on Pending Enrollment status (45-day grace period is allowed, with the Tribe making first month’s payment. If enrollment is NOT verified within 45 days, the child becomes ineligible and parent is responsible for payment beginning the second month) AND
- Must be age 12 or younger OR is 13-18 years old and involved in active protective services (PTON must be used as last resort).
ELIGIBLE PARENT/GUARDIAN
- Must be employed OR training for work OR attending an educational institution or program AND be
- Free from sanctions from the State Department of Health and Human Services in the county, town, state in which they reside (NE, IA, or SD), AND
- Free from any past due bill to any daycare agency that provided care to his/her child(ren).
See the Child Care Assistance Application Form.
If I am eligible for services, what are my responsibilities?
- Provide the PTON CCA program with a copy of the denial letter finding individual ineligible for state assistance
- Report changes in household income, job status, employment, school and/or other educational programs to the Child Care Coordinator within 10 working days of the change.
- Report earnings on a monthly basis.
- Providers will only be paid for the dates that the child(ren) actually attended the childcare program, with the exception of illness or family emergency.
- Notify the PTON CCA program prior to changing child care provider.
- See the Client Rights and Responsibilities.
The Ponca Tribe of Nebraska Department of Social Services maintains a strict policy on the confidentiality of your records. All information you share or which we become aware of through our work with you will remain confidential. This means it will not be shared with anyone outside our staff unless you have given us written permission.
See our Confidentiality Statement and Release of Information Form.
How long does it take to become eligible for assistance?
To expedite the process, complete all documentation in the application packet. If all documentation is present, processing takes up to 10 days.
What all do I need for documentation?
See the checklist for Child Care Items Needed.
Where do I request information to apply?
Contact 402.371.8834 in Norfolk, NE.
PROVIDER INFORMATION
Hints: How to Select a Child Care Provider
What are the provider’s responsibilities?
- Providers will only be paid for the dates the child(ren) attend the childcare program , with the exception of illness or family emergency.
- If the provider is not licensed, the provider must obtain a criminal background check and provide a copy of a Social Security card to the PTON CCA program.
- Sign a provider agreement with the PTON CCA program.
- Licensed providers must possess and provide PTON CCA program with a current State Certificate or license
- Maintain documentation on all participants in the program and maintain a file on each participant.
- Be w illing to accept the base rate for the child care.
- Meet Tribal and State requirements for an unlicensed Day Care program.
- Successfully pass a site visit to determine if an unlicensed Day Care program meets PTON requirements.
- Verify all information that is provided by the recipients of the CCP.
- Notify the PTON Department of Social Services within ten days if changes occur in the recipients frequency of child care.
- Turn billing summaries in within 45 days of service with attached verification of co-pay being paid on a monthly basis.
CHILD CARE PROVIDER AGREEMENTS
| Domestic Violence Program |
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The Domestic Violence Program provides crisis and emergency services for victims of sexual assault, stalking, and domestic violence.
Sexual assualt?
Stalking?
Domestic violence?
If you would like to talk or get help, place a confidential call:
402.438.9222 (ext. 204) or 402.371.8834
We are here to listen and provide support. |
SERVICES
- Advocacy and case management
- Community resource referrals
- Development of safety plans
- Job readiness skills
- Legal and court advocacy
- Protection orders
- Shelter referral and placement
- Transportation
The Domestic Violence Program also assists victims with financial help related to:
- Counseling
- Diapers and formula
- Emergency child care
- Food
- Legal fees
- Lock changes
- Relocation costs
- School supplies
The staff holds several prevention and awareness activities for community members about issues surrounding domestic violence. We exchange ideas on how to increase awareness of domestic violence and its devastating effects in the communities we serve.
We also are involved with the Community Response Teams in several Ponca Tribal service areas. Members meet monthly to discuss effective and accountable services for perpetrators and enhanced support for victims.
CONFIDENTIALITY POLICY
The Ponca Tribe of Nebraska’s Department of Social Services maintains a strict policy on the confidentiality of client records. All information shared, or which we become aware of through our work with clients, will remain confidential. This means it will not be shared with anyone outside our staff unless you have given us written permission.
FAQs
What is domestic violence?
Domestic violence and emotional abuse are behaviors used by one person in a relationship to control the other. Partners may be married, separated, divorced, dating, or living together.
EXAMPLES
- Actual or threatened physical harm
- Intimidation
- Name-calling or putdowns
- Preventing a partner from contacting family or friends
- Sexual assault
- Stalking
- Stopping a partner from getting or keeping a job
- Withholding money
Violence can be criminal and include physical assault (hitting, pushing, shoving, etc.), sexual assault (unwanted or forced sexual activity), and stalking. Although emotional, psychological, and financial abuses are not criminal behaviors, they are forms of abuse and can lead to criminal violence.
What are the types of domestic abuse?
- Economic abuse
- Financial abuse
- Physical abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Stalking or cyberstalking
- Spiritual abuse
- Verbal or nonverbal abuse (psychological abuse, mental abuse, emotional abuse)
What is economic or financial abuse of a spouse or domestic partner?
- Exploiting the intimate partner’s resources for personal gain
- Preventing the spouse or intimate partner from working or choosing an occupation
- Stealing from or defrauding a partner of money or assets
- Withholding economic resources such as money or credit cards
- Withholding physical resources such as food, clothes, necessary medications, or shelter from a partner
Who is eligible to receive services through the Domestic Violence program?
Any victim, perpetrator, or child(ren) involved in a domestic violence, sexual assault, or a stalking situation must be an enrolled member of a Federally recognized Tribe within the U.S. and reside within the Ponca Tribal service delivery area.
| Contact Information |
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Ponca Tribe of Nebraska, Department of Social Services
Gale Jungemann-Schulz, Social Services Director
gjungemann-schulz@poncatribe-ne.org
1800 Syracuse
Norfolk, Nebraska 68701
402.371.8834
FAX: 402.371.7564
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