Family Services Department Feedback Form
Family Services Programs provide assistance to individuals and families extending from prenatal to death.
The three main categories of services:
Infants and Youth
Adults, Elders, and Families
Community Support/Collaborative Services
Mission
To Strengthen families through services promoting family safety, wellness, and self-sufficiency with respect for Tribal Culture and Tradition.
Phone
Tribal Center: (360) 426-9781
Family Services: (360) 432-3906
Staff
Meet our professional team!
Location
2750 SE Old Olympic Highway
Shelton, WA 98584
We are located off of Old Olympic Highway adjacent to the clinic complex. Main parking is available on the Old Olympic Highway side of the building. Although, for convenient services, the building can be accessed from the clinic parking lot. The Elders building is located on the main tribal campus between the tribal center and the Museum, Library, and Research Center.
Family Services Director: Jennifer Cookston – (360) 432-3914
Grant and Other Funding
- What can do we qualify for?
- Funds are approved for those eligible for the nutrition and supportive services, emergency and general assistance (GA), Domestic Violence, WFD/TANF, VR, some housing, certain bills, and food.
- Not everyone will qualify for assistance, but we can also refer to other services.
- You may not have qualified before, based on your work and other conditions, and may qualify now. Please call and check.
- How should we apply for, and receive assistance?
- Call our main number (see below), or call the phones of staff you’re working with. Some programs you are involved with may require an intake and ongoing work on an individual success plan and we also have some emergency services, depending on your situation.
- We are working mainly face-to-face with appointments, but some is done electronically, including some distribution of funds.
- Distribution of assistance will occur at set times, since we receive items on certain days through the finance system. You will be notified via whatever contact information you provided about the hours you can collect resources. Some vouchers may expire, if not used within a certain timeframe.
- Your first call will be to gather information. We will look at all our programs to try and find a fit. After the initial intake call, we may still have to gather more information. All requests are staffed within 24-hours, or the next business day for emergency requests coming in on Friday or a holiday.
- Can we get childcare cost assistance?
- If you are continuing to work, in schooling and otherwise eligible. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Contact us to find out. It’s worth it to call or email us to check. Finding childcare could be challenging right now and there are considerations for family babysitting or another willing person. Again, please get in touch to see if we can pay someone we wouldn’t normally pay. There will be paperwork, of course.
- Can we come drop by in person?
- Yes and we do close for lunch from noon – 1:00. For ongoing programs, such as WFD and Voc Rehab, intake appointments are made. If there are emergency situations, we try and assist immediately. Emergency services are generally limited to our service area, the length of services, the amount of funding and efforts are made to move to a program for sustainable housing, work, training and other. The food bank is open on Fridays, unless there’s a holiday or other closure. Notices go out on closures.
Family Services Director: Jennifer Cookston – (360) 432-3914
We encourage everyone to call and see what you may be eligible for. We have several different programs that fall into ongoing support and plans and emergency situations. There may be services available that you thought you were not eligible for and it’s good to call when seeking resources. The front desk line – (360) 432-3906.
Family Services has many programs and we also work with other departments and outside agencies.
We encourage everyone to call and see what you may be eligible for. We have several different programs and, due to current circumstances, there may be services available that you think you cannot get. The front desk line – (360) 432-3906 – will go to a staff cell phone and be answered as though we’re in the building.
Elder ProgramsElders lunches are served at noon, Monday – Thursday, at the Elders building. Home bound Elders may request to have lunches delivered. Call Jamie Queen at (360) 545-2570.
Indian Child Welfare (ICW) ProgramsICW conducts prevention work, please call if you are struggling with parenting and see what support is available. Investigations are based on reports received from community or other agencies/Tribes. Some supervised visits are done on-site on a case-by-case basis and only for our cases. We also do home studies. Family court is open and if distance is an obstacle, some may be done telephonically and/or electronic documentation.
WFD Programs/Voc RehabWFD staff schedule intakes and from there determinations will be made on which programs fit and caseworkers assigned. Briefly there was a lag getting payments into the system, but the finance system is operating well and compatible software is in place at SPIPA. Scheduled days and hours will be given for picking up checks and other incentives at the office, as well as the required check-ins. People will need to arrive for the required check-ins to remain open. It’s a great chance to visit and continue to develop individual success plans that keep up with progress. We will determine starting new clients on a once all the intake is completed.
Food BankThe Food Bank operates on Fridays. Pre-made boxes/bags will be prepared to go directly to your car to reduce social interaction.
Crime Victims, Domestic Violence ServicesCrime victims, advocacy, community healing and domestic violence services will provide resources wherever possible related to food, bills, and communicating with other agencies to advocate for telephonic hearings, for example. We cannot provide any transportation in every instance, but we also work with other agencies.
Childcare Payments, Vouchers for Gas and ClothingChildcare payments, for those who are working, in training or education and otherwise eligible will be served. We will be submitting all required paperwork, etc. to Finance at both the Tribe and SPIPA to get payments and other incentives out. Some programs have emergency vouchers for gas and clothing assistance and we need to meet to do an intake. We have to meet grant requirements for documentation and where we can the intake is not too lengthy. If you live off-reservation and are in our service area, you may be able to get support. Any potential new clients, please call and we will assess your needs with you.