Medicaid Expansion To Provide More Care For Native Americans-NPR

http://www.npr.org/2013/04/29/179878401/medicaid-expansion-to-provide-more-care-for-native-americans

Great Plains ICWA Summit-Rapid City SD

I am attending this summit to learn more about this critically important issue. A recent study indicated that 90% of the 700 placed Native children and youth in South Dakota were placed in non-Native homes.

One of the panels held today shared Funding Sources to Assist Tribes with Child Protection, Foster Care, or ICWA

Sue Settles from the BIA mention both Social Services and ICWA funding dispersed via 638 contracting. She also pointed out a FY14 increase of $3 million for Family Violence programming also under 638.

Marilyn Kennerson from DHSS indicated Tribes can apply for Title IV B and E. Or Tribes can apply for a “subcontract” with a state Title IV E program for funding a tribal program.

A tribal consortium could also apply for Title IV E funding.

Kathy Deserly, from the National Resource Center for Tribes, provides training and technical assistance to Tribes including policies and procedures, but NOT help with preparing grant applications. SparrowHawk Consulting is available to help with this part of the work.

Two representatives from Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe, Andrea Smith and Jolene George, shared ways Tribes can develop Title IV E programs without applying for a grant.

Emily Iron Cloud and Roxanne Two Bulls from the Pine Ridge Lakota Oyate Wakanyeja Owicakiyapi (LOWO) shared the history and progress their program has made in serving their children, youth and families. Emily highlighted the Oglala Sioux Tribe family code provisions that take into account traditional laws and values.

For further information or scanned copies of some of the materials from the Summit please contact us: don@sparrowhawkco.com or 800-398-9048, Don Chalmers

DOE Issues Funding Announcements for Clean Energy and Energy Efficient Projects in Indian Country

On May 1, 2013, the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) and Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs (OIEPP) jointly announced the availability of $7 million to be used for the installation of clean energy systems and energy efficient technologies in Indian Country. There are two separate funding opportunities: Community-Scale Clean Energy Projects in Indian Country (applications due June 27, 2013) and Tribal Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Deployment Assistance (applications due June 20, 2013). The announcements and applications for both funding opportunities may be found at: https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/Default.aspx#FoaIdff8e15b4-5138-484d-97c0-d8108f81e339
For assistance in preparing applications please contact us at: don@sparrowhawkco.com

USDA Announces New Rules to Fund Broadband Service in Unserved Rural Communities

WASHINGTON, May 3, 2013 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced new rules to better target Community Connect broadband grants to areas where they are needed the most. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) remains focused on carrying out its mission, despite a time of significant budget uncertainty. Today’s announcement is one part of the Department’s efforts to strengthen the rural economy.
“These rules give communities better access to the benefits that broadband service provides,” Vilsack said. “The Obama Administration is working to ensure that rural residents share in the opportunities provided by modern Internet service.”
USDA Rural Development’s Community Connect Grant program serves rural communities where broadband service is least likely to be available, but where it can make a tremendous difference in the quality of life for citizens.
The changes:
• Simplify the application process by requiring a single project summary and map.
• Allow grant applicants to use a USDA web-based mapping tool to define their proposed service area. The old rules did not accommodate some of the most rural communities, which often are not Census-designated places or were not recognized by a commercial atlas.
• Give grant applicants more flexibility on the types of resources, in-kind services and monetary contributions that can be used to meet the 15 percent matching fund requirement.
• Allow USDA to consider giving funding priority to projects in:
• persistent poverty counties;
• communities experiencing population declines;
• the most rural areas.

Questions? http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/ContactUs.html

We have helped Tribes secure resources needed to expand their broadband network. For further information contact us at: don@sparrowhawkco.com