Title IV-E document approved by HHS
By SCOTT MCKIE B.P. | ONE FEATHER STAFF
The Title IV-E plan containing plans and policies (
Cherokee Administrative Rules) for
the new child welfare system for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
has been approved by federal officials. Officials from the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) gave their stamp of
approval in a letter to the tribe dated Monday, Oct. 6.
“We appreciate all of the effort and work you have put into the
process toward submitting an approvable title IV-E plan,” wrote Rafael
Lopez, Commissioner in the Administration on Children, Youth and
Families within the HHS. “We wish to thank you, the EBCI tribal
leaders, your social services program staff, legal staff, fiscal staff
and your partners for their diligent work toward finalizing your title
IV-E plan. In particular, we want to recognize both Hannah Smith and
Sheena Meader for all their motivation, national leadership and
attention to detail in the development of your title IV-E program.”
Approval of the tribe’s plan gives the EBCI Family Safety Program the
ability to operate Foster Care, Adoption Assistance, and Guardianship
Assistance Programs.
“This is an important milestone in your ongoing work to support the
safety, permanency and well-being of EBCI’s most vulnerable children and
families,” Lopez said.
Smith, EBCI attorney general, commented, “This document totals
hundreds of pages of laws and regulatory policy for all aspects of the
federally-funded tribal Family Safety Program. Managing the production
of this document over the past two years required a lot of team work, a
learning curve for the application of diverse subject matters and best
practices in the areas of integrative services, human sciences and
federal program administration.”
Sheena M. Meader, EBCI associate counsel, worked on the Title IV-E
plan and said the tribe is only one of seven nationally to such a plan
approved. “This places the EBCI in an elite group of tribal child
welfare providers and raises the tribe to the highest level of
recognition in the eyes of child welfare programs and professionals
across the nation. Not only does the Title IV-E plan and program
approval bolster credibility and provide for the implementation of
quality services, standards and adherence to best practices, it also
serves as the foundation for the EBCI in supporting the safety,
permanency and well-being of the tribe’s most vulnerable children and
families.”
She continued, “By incorporating the integration of child welfare and
behavioral health into the backbone of laws, rules, policies and
procedures which were included in the approved plan, the Family Safety
Program is uniquely positioned to serve as a model for not only other
tribes but state child welfare programs as well.
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| Eastern Cherokee powwow photo |
The tribe joins six other federally-recognized tribes that have an
approved Title IV-E plan including: Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe of
Kingston, Wash.; Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of Pablo,
Mont.; South Puget Intertribal Planning Agency of Shelton, Wash.;
Keweenaw Bay Indian Community of Baraga, Mich.; Navajo Nation of Window
Rock, Ariz.; and Chickasaw Nation of Ada, Okla.
“This is an incredible achievement for the Office of the Attorney
General and a real bright spot in the futures of Cherokee families,”
said Smith.
Meader went on to say, “Additionally, through the tireless work of
Sunshine Parker, EBCI Division of Health and Human Services, as a foster
care licensing authority with approved standards that meet or exceed
the recognized national standards for foster care licensing, is able to
license tribal foster homes to promote the placement of Cherokee
children in Cherokee homes.”
She said the Family Safety Program is “actively recruiting” EBCI
tribal members to serve as foster parents. If you are interested, call
359-1520.
