Omaha Tribe of Nebraska Technical Assistance Request

Gwen Porter, Tribal Council Secretary, Omaha Tribe of Nebraska (Omaha) submitted a technical assistance (TA) request to the OFA Peer Technical Assistance (OFA PeerTA) Network for assistance in supporting their new Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. Because it is a new program and the majority of Tribal TANF staff has limited experience delivering this type of support, Omaha was specifically interested in developing their policies/procedures manual and receiving onsite training regarding case management and assessment practices. Omaha’s Tribal TANF program employs three caseworkers to serve a maximum of 224 TANF participants. OFA PeerTA conducted a Tribal TANF Case Management and Assessment Training in November 2014. The participants represented Tribal TANF (intake and case management staff), Child Welfare, Tribal Justice, Substance Abuse Prevention, Tribal Council, Tribal Health, and Domestic Violence Prevention departments.

 During the case management post-TA check-in call, Tribal leaders requested a strategic planning session to improve communication and coordination between these programs. The strategic planning session involving Tribal Council members and various program directors was designed to help the Tribe better identify the "big picture" on how low-income tribal members interact with public assistance programs, receive services, find and maintain employment, and become self-sufficient. The two-day strategic planning session was held in Macy, Nebraska from May 12-13, 2015.