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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 1, 1998)
4 News and Opinion Smoke Signals Child care questions answered Cost sharing provides extra services to kids, and is often a matter of compliance with federal regulations. By Dean Azule, Education Manager In the October 15th issue of the Smoke Signals, questions were raised as to why members have to pay for child care? The Education Division with approval of Tribal Council has ap plied for federal funds under the De partment of Health and Human Ser vices, Administration for Children and Families. Programs which are funded include the Head Start Program and the Child Care and Development Fund Programs. Child Care and Development Fund ' The newly established CCDF pro gram is authorized by the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. CCDF programs were created to assist low-income families and those transitioning off welfare to obtain child care so they can work or attend train ingeducation. Under this program the division is able to establish pre-school activities, after care activities, and be fore and after school aged care activi ties. Because the Tribe has applied for CCDF funds, we also sign agreements that we will adhere to the federal regu lations which govern these funds. The notion that child care services are free for tribal or Native American members , is in error. Under the federal regula tions, there must be a cost sharing pro cess in providing services. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Administration for Children and Families, 45 CFR, Parts 98, Child Care and Development Fund, Final Rule states: "98.42 Sliding Fee Scales, (a lead agencies shall establish a sliding fee scale (s) that provides for cost sharing by families that receive CCDF child care services; (b) a sliding fee scale (s) shall be based on income and the size of the family; (c) lead agencies may waive contributions from families whose incomes are at or below the poverty levels. The requirement of grantees in applying a sliding fee scale to CCDF grant services conforms to Congress' intention that finds generally should provide financial assistance to low-income working families to help them find and afford quality child care. " In meeting this requirement the divi sion had to establish a sliding fee scale which conforms to DHHS low- income and poverty guidelines. This cost shar ing process was reviewed by the Ad ministration for Children and Families, Region X Office, and approved. Al though the federal government man dates that clients share in the "cost shar ing" process, tribes are allowed to set the fee scale. In review of the Before and After School Aged Care Program, the Tribe set fees at $30 per month. On the av erage, the program provides approxi mately 22 days of care per month. If a child participates for the total 3 hours of care per day the cost amounts to $1 .36 per day or less than 50 cents per hour. On days when there are in ser vice days or no school the program provides all day care. The cost shar ing process enables the program to pro vide snacks, arts and crafts supplies, instructional materials and field trip ac tivities, as well as pay a monthly rent for use of the elementary school facili ties. This process also allows the pro gram to meet the adult per child ratio so that adequate coverage is provided. In review of activities during the 1997-1998 school year, the program had encountered problems in meeting compliance requirements. Confusion occurred as to payment schedules and whether or not payment was to be re quired. To address this process sev eral meetings occurred with the Region X Office, Administration for Children and Families. The policies and pro cess were reviewed. In order to meet regulation compliance the cost sharing process had to be implemented. Ser vices are provided to low-income fami lies with a parent who is working or attending training or an education pro gram. Families who fall at or below the 1998 DHHS Poverty Guidelines can receive a waiver. Head Start and Pre-School ' The Head Start program also falls under the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. Head Start is a national program which provides com prehensive developmental services for low-income, pre-school children ages three to five and social services for their families. Grants to conduct Head Start programs must also assist children with disabilities. The program targets early childhood development to low-income families with children three to five years old. " Services include quality early childhood education, home visi tations, parent education, parent-child activities, comprehensive health ser vices, nutrition, case management and peer support groups for parents. In applying for Head Start funds the division stressed program services would be conducted on an integrated basis between pre-school and Head Start classrooms. While there is no charge for Head Start services, cost sharing is factored into pre-school and after care activities. A sliding fee scale has been implemented to keep in com pliance. Families who are at poverty or below can receive a waiver. Maxi mum copay standards amount to ap proximately $124 per month. This in cludes pre-school and after care on full days from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., weekdays. On the average if a child participates in full day pre-school and after care, this amounts to a rate of $5.63 per day, or approximately 70 cents per hour. The cost share enables Head Start and pre-school programs to provide meals for breakfast and lunch with , snacks, instructional materials, play ground equipment, bus transportation, field trips, facilities upkeep and minor renovation. Summary Should the division waive the cost share portion of the CCDF requirements, we would be out of compliance. This would result in the loss of the CCDF grant. It would result in the elimina tion of before and after school aged care activities, and the after care component for the pre school and Head Start programs. It would greatly impact those families who rely on these programs and par ticipate in the programs as they are in tended. The Education Division, as mandated by the Tribal Council, strives to keep with its established mission: "to pro vide an educational opportunity for all members of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Or egon. The Education program will be designed to promote the life long learn ing by developing and implementing a comprehensive offering of educational opportunities from pre-school through post secondary levels and structure this process to ensure quality, accessibil ity, equity and cultural relevancy. " The charge to the Education Division is to ensure that all available resources are explored and utilized in the most cost effective and efficient manner to ward accomplishing its mission. We are directed to take every opportunity to develop partnerships with other tribal programs, the community, educational institutions at all levels and related agencies as a means of expanding the educational levels for members of the Tribe. Editor: As an enrolled member of the Con federated Tribes of Grand Ronde, I am totally in favor of the per capita that was written in the budget issue of Smoke Signals. As to us on the out side, this is the only way we as outsid ers will get a part of what the rest of you that live there receive. Thank you, Vonnie Edmondson Roll 105 Dear Editor: I am writing this letter in the hope that younger tribal members read this letter and learn an extremely valuable lesson from this. On January 25, 1997 at 1:10 a.m. I came within inches of losing my life, due to a drive-by, gang-related shoot ing. At the time I was working at a local convenience store in Salem, Oregon. I was cleaning and stocking shelves when I heard four gun shots go off. I turned around to see the front win dow of the store shatter. A 16-year old male came staggering into the store and collapsed. My co-worker called 9-1-1 while I administered first aid to the young man who was shot in the neck. Within minutes police and emergency medical personnel arrived at the scene. When the police asked me where I was standing, and I showed them. It was then that the police told me that if I had been standing a few more inches to the right, I would have been shot in the back of the head, and more than likely be dead. I collapsed into the arms of the po lice officer and ended up in the hospi tal due to severe shock. I was there for three days. My plea is for all youth to steer clear of gangs! If you are asked to join a gang, say "NO!" and turn and walk in the opposite direction. I know that there is a lot of peer pressure and the need to feel accepted, but joining a gang is not the answer. There are many good clubs and after school sports out there. Do one of those instead. Remember that many people are hurt or killed every year by gang-related incidents. Usually, those hurt are innocent by standers. I am living proof. Over a year has passed since that dreadful night, and it still haunts me today. Finally, remember that the life you save may not only be your own, but some one in your family. Respectfully submitted, Veronica "Ronnie" Gaston Roll 2332 gMOKE SIGNAL NEXT DEADLINE: FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4
