Independent Living and Employment Opportunities for Tribal Members with Disabilities -- North Dakota

This project is an informal collaboration between the Turtle Mountain Chippewa Vocational Rehabilitation Program (a Section 121 tribal vocational rehabilitation program) and two ILCs -- Independence, Inc. in Minot and the Dakota Center for Independent Living in Bismarck, with involvement and support from the State Independent Living Council. The project seeks to improve independent living and employment opportunities for disabled Tribal members both on and off the Turtle Mountain reservation.

The project aims to improve information available to rural Native Americans about services for people with disabilities, educate tribal members about assistive technology, and help consumers access appropriate services. The VR program and ILCs conduct mutual referrals of consumers to help them access job search training, independent living skills training, personal assistance services, peer counseling, advocacy, and assistance achieving self-employment goals. The programs conduct cross-trainings on disability service resources and Native American concerns. These mutual trainings take place at staff in-service trainings, conferences, and quarterly SILC meetings; ILC staff visit the reservation to educate tribal leaders about off-reservation resources for disabled tribal members. The ILCs and the Section 121 program are also working together on a survey of accessibility on the reservation and on production of a disability resource directory.

With an annual budget of $123,500, Turtle Mountain Chippewa Vocational Rehabilitation Program serves about 20% of its consumers statewide through its collaborative work. Three VR counselors spend a quarter of their time in collaboration activities, which include ongoing communication with the two ILCs.

Program Approach

The interagency approach is meant to develop awareness among tribal members about responsive disability service resources, including direct services, assistive technology, and employment opportunities. Salient features of the program's exemplary collaborative approach include:

• Targeting populations less well served by VR agencies and ILCs;
• Emphasis on cultural diversity; and
• Collaboration with other local and non-profit agencies; and
• Marketing to employers and other community members.

Problem or need addressed

The collaboration responds to the lack of adequate information and identifiable service agencies provided for rural Native American residents, especially those who are disabled. Approximately 50% of consumers served by the collaboration are considered to be "severely disabled," and this number appears to be increasing with time.

Program Processes

The collaboration does not operate under any contract. However, a list of goals and objectives for the collaboration has been created through cooperation of the ILCs and VR agency involved. These include development of a resource directory of disability-related services for use in local rural communities, developing information about independent living services, and providing information on residential and respite care services for Native Americans with disabilities and their families.

Outreach is conducted through public forums at which people with expertise present relevant topics to the target population. Staff from the VR project and the ILCs also provide consumers with information through local hospital clinics and community health nurses. ILC staff visit the reservation to educate tribal members about their services and other off-reservation resources for independent living.

The project utilizes a Native American outreach liaison who is accepted into the Turtle Mountain Chippewa community and can speak the local dialects of English and Michif, a combination of French and Ojibwa. To reach those tribal members who are not literate, VR and ILC staff hold public forums and information booths to demonstrates assistive technology, present information, and facilitate discussion among attendees.

In addition to jointly conducting outreach, the agencies conduct cross-trainings for their staff. Section 121 counselors keep ILC staff informed about the concerns of tribal members and ILC staff advise the Section 121 program on new disability resources off-reservation. The VR agency and the two ILCs are working together on a survey of accessibility on the Turtle Mountain reservation and on production of a disability resource directory.

To deal with the high rate of alcohol and substance abuse on the reservation, the project holds a twice-yearly "Red Road" workshop program that focuses on achieving mental and physical balance.

Consumers are encouraged to voice their opinions and concerns about their services with counselors at the collaborative agencies. Consumer input is also reviewed at biannual Advisory Board meetings.

The collaboration estimates that it serves 70% of local VR consumers who are members of the target population, 10% of regional VR consumers, and 20% of statewide VR consumers who are members of the target population. The collaboration also serves 20% of local ILC consumers who are members of the target population, 60% of regional consumers, and 20% of statewide ILC consumers who are members of the target population.

Collaboration history and funding

Since its establishment in 1996, the project has been working collaboratively with state agencies to provide appropriate and effective service delivery. Recently, several workshops, community meetings and coalitions have begun to assist with program development. The Section 121 program has been awarded a five-year continuation grant and reports that it has helped increase networking with ILCs in rural North Dakota communities.

As an informal collaboration, the ILC/VR project does not have its own budget. Total annual funding for the Section 121 program is $475,035, of which approximately $194,000 supports salaries and fringe benefits, $180,000 is used to fund other direct service to clients, and $5,000 supports the "Red Road" events. In-kind support ranging from $10,000 to $20, 000 annually is provided by a local community college.

Staffing

Four VR counselors each devote about 25% of their time to collaborative activities, and an administrative assistant provides part-time support to the partnership.

Outcomes

In the last four years, about 200 people were served; about 125 of these cases were closed. From Fall 1997 to Spring 1998, 15 out of 90 consumers in the program achieved employment and five were placed in supportive employment. The median wage earned was $8.00 per hour with a median of 5 hours worked per week. Fifteen consumers started self-employment activities.

Quality of Collaboration

The Turtle Mountain Chippewa Vocational Rehabilitation Program has achieved stability through its collaboration with independent living centers. It reports a high degree of trust in the ILCs involved concerning their commitment to the collaboration and their understanding of the responsibilities and roles of all agencies involved. The collaboration communicates at minimum on a weekly basis through telephone or e-mail in addition to the biannual Advisory Board meetings.

VR anticipates the same continued positive support system, though it is weary of Federal budget cuts. Through news articles and community contracts, the collaboration is marketing itself to local community members, including employers, in hopes of recruiting job coaches for skills training and cultivating employment opportunities.

For more information, contact:

Sandy Johnson
Executive Director
900 N. Broadway, Suite 302
Minot, ND 58703

Voice/TDD: (701) 839-6561 / 1-800-377-5114
life@minot.ndak.net

Robert Gomez
Director
Dakota Center for Independent Living
3111 East Broadway

Voice/TDD: (701) 222-3636 / 1-800-489-5013
DCIL@dcil.com

Willie Davis
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor
Turtle Mountain Chippewa Vocational Rehabilitation Program
PO Box 110
Belcourt, ND 58316

Voice: (701) 477-6893
Fax: (701) 477-0235
wdavis@giizis.turtle-mountain.cc.nd.us