Social Services

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Our mission of the Burns Paiute Social Services Programs is to provide comprehensive and Culturally relevant services to meet the financial, social and emotional needs of individuals, families and children.

Social Services is made up of several programs that contribute to the health and well-being of Burns Paiute Tribal members and Native American living in Harney County.  The Programs include child welfare, elders services, foster home certification, General Assistance, Child Care, Food Distribution, Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Programs, Outpatient Alcohol and Drug Program, Mental Health Program, Tobacco Prevention, Suicide Prevention, Alcohol and Drug Prevention, Strategic Prevention Framework Data Collection and Prevention, and the TuWaKii-Nobi after school program.  Please see the above tabs for contact information and services offered through these programs. 

Alcohol and Drug Program

We believe that addiction is a disease, progressive in nature and terminal if left untreated. We believe that as long as an alcoholic or addict is alive, there is hope for healing. We commit ourselves, as our first priority, to the patient in treatment. We recognize and celebrate effort, and we acknowledge that mistakes, as long as we are trying, are opportunities to learn. We commit to continuous improvement, growth, and cultural best practices.      

Outpatient Services

Individual and group counseling, DUII and MIP classes, Gambling, Assessments, Crisis Intervention, LGBTQIA2S support and counseling, and case management.

TitleJob TitleEmailPhoneCell Phone
Kortney FrittsJCP/TA[email protected]
Jessique JimAlcohol & Drug Coordinator[email protected]541-573-8026541-589-2474

Child Care Development Fund

The Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) is to provide support for children and their families juggling work schedules and struggling to find child care programs that will fit their needs and that will prepare children to succeed in school.

 

CCDF also improves the quality of care to support children’s healthy development and learning by supporting child care providers, quality improvements systems to help providers meet higher standards and to attain more training and education. CCDF services providers, and oversee the implementation of child care policies and provided.

 

The Child Care and Development fund is authorized under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act (CCDBG) which was enacted under the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990. The CCDBG Act was amended and reauthorized by the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996, and again by the CCDBG Act of 2014

Services Available

Children from birth through age 12 in vulnerable families have access, through CCDF, to child care settings that meet their needs, from full-day child care to afterschool care for school-age children.

Child care providers receive reimbursement for serving low-income families and can draw on networks of training and technical assistance resources to help them provide high-quality child care services. All providers must be 18 years of age.

Eligibility Criteria

Parents in eligible low-income families receive help paying for child care at a provider of their choice. Parents must be working, in training or in education program and meet income eligiblity guidelines to qualify. All parents with children in child care benefit from CCDF quality investments and from the peace of mind that comes from knowing CCDF funds are being used to help with child care needs.

TitleJob TitleEmailPhoneCell Phone
Shayla BarneyChildcare/GA Coordinator[email protected]541-573-8048

Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Program

Mission Statement:

The Burns Paiute Tribe Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Programs mission is to educate and empower individuals and families that Abuse of any kind is not a Tradition and will not be accepted in the Burns Paiute Tribal community. 

Scope of Work: 

The Burns Paiute Tribe Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Program supports victims/survivors of Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault to promote a safe and healthy lifestyle free from abuse of any kind.  Encourage and promote community education with community participation in outreach programs around Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Stalking and Teen Dating Violence.  The focus of the program is to nurture a new outlook on violence which is NO violence in our Tribal community.

 

Office Address:

190 West A Street

Burns, OR 97720

Services Available

  • Safety Planning
  • Crisis Response
  • Advocacy
  • Referral to Community Programs
  • Groups (Talking Circle)
  • One on One Advocacy
  • Advocacy navigating the Criminal Justice System
  • Transitional Housing Funds to Eligible Clients
  • Sexual Assault Advocacy
  • SARRC Response (Sexual Assault Response and Resource Circle)
  • Assistance in obtaining a Restraining Order
TitleJob TitleEmailPhoneCell Phone
Teresa CowingDV/SA Program Manager/Advocate[email protected]541-573-3061
Kristeny SoucieDV/SA Program Cultural Advocate[email protected]541-573-3085

General Assistance Program (GA)

The goal of the General Assistance program is to increase self-sufficiency. Each General Assistance recipient must work with the social services caseworker to develop and sign an Individual Self-Sufficiency Plan (ISP). The plan must outline the specific steps the individual will take to increase independence by meeting the goal of employment. The social services program are a secondary, or residual resource, and must not be used to supplement or supplant other programs.

Services Available

The GA program must use the same TANF payment standard for an adult in Oregon, which service area where the applicant or recipient resides. GA welfare benefits are processed once a month.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for General Assistance an applicant must:

  1. Must provide proof of enrollment with a Federally Recognized Tribe.
  2. Apply concurrently for financial assistance from other state, tribal, county, local, or other federal agency programs for which he/she is eligible and not receive any comparable public assistance.
  3. Develop and sign an employment strategy in the ISP with the assistance of the social services worker to meet the goal of employment through specific action steps including job readiness and job search activities, Volunteer for BPT community/ praticipate in program activities.
  4. Reside in the service area
TitleJob TitleEmailPhoneCell Phone
Shayla BarneyChildcare/GA Coordinator[email protected]541-573-8048

Juvenile Crime Program

Info for this program:

The juvenile crime prevention program implements the Trible Prevention Plan for the Burns Paiute Tribe.  Prevention activities for the community are collaborated with our prevention programs, health office and educational programs that are evidence based and Tribal best practices.  This program develops and implements the Juvenile Crime Prevention and works with other departments to increase protective factors among our Tribal youth.

TitleJob TitleEmailPhoneCell Phone

Mental Health Program

The Burns Paiute Tribe Mental Health department aims to provide comprehensive, integrated mental health services that promote the health and overall quality of life for our individuals and families within the community.

Services Available

We provide confidential and compassionate mental health services. To advocate for the rights and needs of individuals with mental health challenges. To engage in active outreach to assure prevention, early intervention, promotion and coordination of services to reduce the impact of mental health disorders for the individuals. All services are free and are available to Burns Paiute Tribal members and their families.

Hello everyone! My name is Michelle Bradach and I have been hired by the Burns Paiute Tribe as the Mental Health Coordinator as part of the Social Services team.  Many of you know me from my time working here from 2003-2019. I am very happy to return to work for the Tribe and am excited about the programming and services we hope to offer you soon. Below is a picture of me with my kids who many of you watched grow up! They are all mostly grown and taller than me now! I am located in the Road to Wellness building near Wadatika if you would like to stop in for a visit. My number is 541-573-8015.

Info for this program:

TitleJob TitleEmailPhoneCell Phone
Desiree SamMental Health Assistant[email protected]
Michelle BradachMental Health Coordinator[email protected]541-573-8004
Randall LewisWarehouse[email protected]541-573-8023

Prevention Coordinator

Info for this program: 

Prevention program implements the Trible Prevention Plan for the Burns Paiute Tribe.  Prevention activities for the community are collaborated with our prevention programs, health office and educational programs that are evidence based and Tribal best practices.  This program develops and implements the Juvenile Crime Prevention and works with other departments to increase protective factors among our Tribal youth.

TitleJob TitleEmailPhoneCell Phone

Tobacco and Suicide Prevention Program

Info for this program:

The Suicide/Tobacco Coordinator provides evidenced based suicide and crisis intervention techniques for those in crisis.  If you are in need of speaking to our Suicide Prevention Coordinator, she can be reached at the phone number above.  We do provide 24/7 crisis intervention.  You can call 541-589-2537 or call the National hotline at 1-800-273-8255.

 

The Tobacco Coordinator plans community programs related to tobacco prevention.  Lanette has implemented a no smoking policy on the Tribal buildings along with the BPT Armory building located in Burns.  This coordinator ensures effective tobacco prevention/cessation activities in the community. Should you be interested in attending a smoking cessation class, contact Lanette above for more information.

TitleJob TitleEmailPhoneCell Phone
Desiree SamSuicide Prevention Coordinator[email protected]541-573-8033
Steven SmarttTobacco Prevention Assistant[email protected]

Contact Info

50 Pasigo St

Burns, OR 97720
Phone: (541) 573-8004
Fax: (541) 573-7806

Staff

James St. Martin

Social Services Director