In 2011, the Minnesota legislature authorized White Earth to take over all human services programs for tribal members and families in surrounding counties.
Bill text here.
With more tribes looking at options to provide more services for tribal members residing off reservations, it will be interesting to see how this implementation process will work for White Earth.
News coverage on the transfer here.
Before the transfer began, White Earth was offering some human services programs, including tribal child care assistance, child welfare programs, disability waivered services and food distribution programs.
However, people also qualified for several other programs that only the counties offered.
That meant a lot of back and forth and confusion for recipients who were juggling programs from different agencies.
The complete transfer – the first of its kind in Minnesota – will mean people will have their cases streamlined into one place where they can receive all benefits together.
Document with the transfer proposal for Mahnomen county cases here.
H/T to Adrea Korthase!
Turtle Talk 