Gallup Agency Staff Harrison Gorman, Marlene Halona and Maira Evans presented the proposed changes to the TFAP at the Public Hearing on Nov. 10 in Alamo, N.M.

Renewing the NNPSR's Tribal Family Assistance Plan

The Navajo Nation Program for Self Reliance (NNPSR) will host 16 public hearings beginning Nov. 10 to gather comment about the program's fourth Tribal Family Assistance Plan (TFAP).

Every three years, the NNPSR is required to renew the plan, which explains to the Federal Government what services and initiatives the program will offer during Fiscal Years 2010-2012.

Roxanne Gorman, NNPSR Dept. Manager III, said it is important to hear what NNPSR customers and the public think about the proposed changes.

"We welcome comments on our draft plan. Comments that are sent to us help us make informed decisions and policies concerning our services," she said.

All public hearings will be recorded and transcribed. Public comments become a permanent part of the NNPSR record and will be available for public review.

"This is an opportunity for the public to hear the changes we are proposing and let us know what they think of them," Mrs. Gorman said.

Some proposed changes include:

Emergency Assistance: Customers and their families may be eligible for prompt assistance and support services in crisis situations. This change is being proposed so Customers may acquire basic necessities and are able to meet work activities in the event of a crisis situation including natural disasters such as wildfires, flooding or drought.

Academic Achievement: Adults working on their GED or post-secondary degree may qualify for an incentive. Customers, who obtain an established number of program training certificates, also will be eligible to receive an incentive.

Transportation: The draft plan expands transportation options and separates transportation into separate categories - public, private, and other transportation support services.

Public Transportation: The NNPSR will assist Customers and designated family members, who are assessed in need of public transportation, with vouchers and other costs associated with public transportation.

This service is being offered so Customers may attend NNPSR appointments and participate in work activities. Public transportation options will also be available to ensure Customers, their children and household members, are able to get to health, medical and social services appointments; education and training.

Private Transportation: For NNPSR Customers and designated family members, who do not have public transportation options available to them, the plan proposes that they be reimbursed fuel costs and vehicle repair costs to a certain limit. This option will be available so Customers may attend NNPSR appointments, engage in work activities; health, medical and social services appointments; education, training and related activities.

Other Transportation Costs: Another proposed transportation option allows the NNPSR to assist with other costs including partial payment of minimum auto insurance coverage up to six months; fees necessary for Customers to provide transportation for NNPSR Customers as work experience; and vehicle registration.

Child Care: In the proposed plan, the NNPSR recognizes reasonable, affordable and accessible child care is not always available to all Customers. The proposed plan allows the NNPSR to pay for child care of Customers' children after they have exhausted search of reliable, affordable and accessible child care services This option is being proposed to allow Customers to successfully engage in and complete work activities.

Customer Training: New language that expands upon Customer Training as a service is being proposed for the plan. Accordingly, NNPSR staff will interpret formal assessment results so Customers gain an understanding of their grade equivalency, identification of barriers and potential career path. Based upon the results of the assessment, the NNPSR will provide training to adult Customers and family members.

Consumer Education: The NNPSR is also proposing to provide consumer education services to Customers. Consumer education topics may include maximizing resources; healthy food purchases and preparation; financial literacy and planning, establishing and managing credit and loans; maintaining a home; making major financial purchases such as a vehicle and home; and development of wills and life insurance.

Work Participation Rate: The NNPSR is proposing a 26 percent minimum work participation rate for Fiscal Years 2010, 2011 and 2012.

Additional Work Activities: In addition to the current work activities, three additional work activities are being proposed in the new plan. The first work activity is participation in assessment as part of case management services. The second proposed work activity is participating in orientation sessions of other programs. The third work activity is participation and education in prevention, intervention, or treatment of physical illnesses.