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
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