DES OFFICE OF TRIBAL RELATIONS QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER OCTOBER - NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2022

NOTABLE HIGHLIGHTS AND UPDATES

Learn about the various DES programs and read notable highlights about our services. Featured here are updates in program eligibility and application processes and the services available to tribal members and communities.

OFFICE OF TRIBAL RELATIONS - CELEBRATES AMERICAN INDIAN/ALASKAN NATIVE HERITAGE MONTH

In November DES, celebrated American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month to observe, honor, and celebrate the native cultures of Arizona. It is critical that DES understands and embraces Arizona’s native heritage as an integral part of our state’s history; a history that is vibrant, alive, and evolving. Our agency’s partnership with the tribes has formed rich and engaging relationships that inform our programs as they serve each unique community. The DES Office of Tribal Relations has been integral in fostering those relationships.

On November 21, 2022, the DES Office of Tribal Relations and the Office of Employee Engagement hosted a virtual Engagement Hour featuring Mary Kim Titla, the Executive Director of United National Indian Tribal Youth, Inc. (UNITY). The esteemed speaker shared with DES staff how her organization works with American Indian youth around the country, and how American Indian youth are collaborating and contributing to their communities. This was an exciting opportunity to learn more about the organizations that serve Native communities and for our DES team to gain more information about tribal programs.

DIVISION OF AGING & ADULT SERVICES

In 1997, President William J. Clinton proclaimed November as National Family Caregiver Month. The State of Arizona also recognizes November as Arizona Family Caregiver Month, with Governor Doug Ducey issuing a corresponding proclamation on September 19, 2022.

“‘Family caregivers’ include people of all ages, from youth to grandparents; people with and without disabilities; people providing care from a distance; and people meeting a wide variety of needs, such as supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD) across the lifespan, caring for people with serious and/or progressive illnesses like dementia and cancer, and assisting with daily tasks that can be challenging for older people and people with disabilities. The term also recognizes that a single person may receive care from multiple family caregivers.” US Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Community Living (ACL).

• 1 in 5 Americans or over 53 million are family caregivers providing informal and unpaid care in all socio-economic groups across the lifespan with 24% providing care to two or more care recipients
• In Arizona, over 800,000 diverse family caregivers provide informal care and of those, 270,000 family caregivers provide 501 million hours of unpaid care to 150,000 people, aged 65 and older, living with Alzheimer’s Disease
• In Arizona, informal kinship caregivers include over 62,433 grandparents raising their grandchildren and other relatives as head of household to 219,263 children

The DES Division of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS) Family Caregiver Support Program (FCSP) partners with the eight Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) to provide support, training, and guidance to caregivers. Family Caregivers who provide unpaid in-home care may be eligible for programs and services funded through the Older Americans Act. Contact information for the AAAs is available at https://des.az.gov/services/older-adults/area-agency-on-aging-locations.

The Family Caregiver Support Program offers five direct services to family caregivers through the AAAs:

• Information about available services
• Assistance in gaining access to supportive services
• Individual counseling, organization of support groups, and training to assist caregivers in making decisions and solving problems related to their roles
• Respite care enables caregivers to be temporarily relieved from their caregiving responsibilities
• Supplemental services, on a limited basis, to complement care provided by caregivers

*Not all services are available in all regions.

The FCSP defines the family caregiver as:

• An adult family member, or another individual, who is an informal provider of in-home and community care to an older individual or any individual with Alzheimer’s disease or a related neurological disorder.
• A grandparent or older individual who is a relative caregiver (defined as a grandparent or step-grandparent of a child or a relative of a child by blood, marriage, or adoption, who is 55 years of age or older).
• Lives with a child who is not more than 18 years of age or who is an adult child between 19 and 59 years of age with a disability. In the situation when it is an adult child with a disability, the caregiver cannot be the parent.
• Is the primary caregiver of the child because the biological or adoptive parents are unable or unwilling to serve as the primary caregiver of the minor child.
• Has a legal relationship to the child, such as legal custody or guardianship, or is raising the child informally.

Other available resources for the Family Caregiver:

Arizona Caregiver Resource Line: 888-737-7494 Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Caregiver Action Network Resource Line: 855-227-3640

The Arizona Family Caregiver Reimbursement Program is offered through the Arizona Caregiver Coalition. This program reimburses 50% for qualifying expenses up to $1,000 per qualifying family member occurring in the calendar year of the application. A qualifying family member must be 18 years of age and older and require help with one or more activities of daily living. Examples of qualifying expenses include home modifications (such as widening of doorways); installing ramps, accessible showers, and adaptive switches; and assistive care technology costs such as hearing aids, eyeglasses, shower chairs or benches, medical alert devices, and screen readers. For more information about eligibility requirements, please contact the Arizona Caregiver Coalition at (888) 737-7494 or visit azcaregiver.org for more details. Families who receive reimbursement over $600 will be provided a 1099 tax form.

1. The “Caregiving in the U.S. 2020 Report,” was conducted by Greenwald & Associates using a nationally representative, probability-based online panel. (2020) https://www.caregiving.org/research/caregiving-in-the-us/caregiving-in-the-us-2020/
2. Valuing the Invaluable: 2015 Update, AARP Public Policy Institute Report (2019) https://www.aarp.org/ppi/info-2015/valuing-the-invaluable-2015-update.html
3. State Fact Sheets, Arizona. (2021) https://www.grandfamilies.org/State-Fact-Sheets

DIVISION OF BENEFITS & MEDICAL ELIGIBILITY

Enhanced Tribal Benefit

The Federal Communications Commission is now offering a Lifeline Program and Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) to help low-income households pay for internet service and internet-connected devices.

Households who qualify for the ACP and are located on qualifying Tribal lands can receive:

• Up to a $75/month discount on your internet service, and
• A one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, tablet, or desktop computer (with a co-payment of more than $10 but less than $50).

Only one monthly service discount and one device discount is allowed per household. Program rules acknowledge there may be more than one eligible household residing at the same address.

To qualify:

1. You must reside on tribal land.
2. Your household income is at or below 200% of the FDPL guidelines.
3. For more information, please visit the ACP Enhanced Tribal Benefit website. If you are interested in this program, you can apply online. The online application is available in ten languages.

This information is being brought to you by the DES Office of Tribal Relations. Here is the link to our website: https://des.az.gov/about/office-of-tribal-relations.

DIVISION OF COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE & DEVELOPMENT

The DES Division of Community Assistance and Development (DCAD) receives funding from the federal government to administer the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). This program provides assistance to low-income households with home energy bills, energy crises, weatherization, and minor energy-related home repairs. This program can also assist with the buying of wood used to heat a home. Priority is given to households with vulnerable members, such as veterans, elderly or disabled members, and households with young children (age 6 and under). Eligible households can receive $480 to $1200 per year. Should the eligible household exhaust the yearly amount and are facing a crisis situation, an additional $1,000 is available.

The following nine Arizona tribes receive funds to administer their LIHEAP programs directly from the federal government: Cocopah Tribe, Colorado River Indian Tribes, Navajo Nation, Pascua Yaqui Tribe, Quechan Tribe, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, San Carlos Apache Tribe and the White Mountain Apache Tribe. The Tohono O’odham Nation partners with the DES to operate its tribal LIHEAP.

Tribal members living on one of the nine tribal lands can apply directly through their tribe. If their tribe no longer has funds or the tribal member does not live on Tribal Land, they can apply through their local Community Action Agency (CAA) or online through the DES portal located at https://era.azdes.gov/. Eligibility determination is based on the household’s income, energy burden and energy need.

Contact information for CAAs is located at: https://des.az.gov/services/basic-needs/community-action-agencies

Contact information for the Tohono O'odham Nation: Family Assistance Services - LIHEAP 520 383-6250.

Arizona Abuse in Later Life Grant Program

The Abuse in Later Life Grant Program is funded under federal authority by the Office of Violence Against Women (OVW). The DES Division of Community Assistance and Development administers the program and works with local partners. The program currently operates in Maricopa County, using a Memorandum of Understanding to develop a coordinated community response to elder abuse, improve the implementation of effective practices, improve the elder abuse protocol, and increase capacity through training. Local partners include the Maricopa Association of Governments, the Area Agency on Aging-Region One, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, the Phoenix Police Department and tribal communities within Maricopa County.

DCAD also works with the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) Region 1 DOVES program, which provides advocacy and direct support for victims of late life abuse, including emergency services such as housing in a hotel for up to 10 days, food, clothing, and incidentals. However, if an appropriate shelter is available, the victim will move to a shelter.

Any person, 50 years of age or older, who is a self-reported victim of late-life abuse can request emergency services by contacting the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) DOVES Program Housing Specialist (see below). Individuals can also be referred to the program by a partner of the Abuse in Later Life Grant.

A victim of late-life abuse can call the AAA Senior HELPLINE or be referred by an Abuse in Later Life grant partner to receive emergency services.

• M-F from 8:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m.
• The Area Agency on Aging Region 1 DOVES Program Housing Specialist may be contacted at 480-251-7289 or emailed at janee.valerio@aaaphx.org.
• The Housing Specialist will work with the victim and coordinate with shelters and hotels in the area. See https://www.aaaphx.org/program-services/doves-program/
• After hours: The 24-hour Senior HELPLINE may be contacted at 602-264-HELP, or Toll Free at 888-783-7500. For the hard of hearing and deaf, text 520-775-1899.

Program Contact Information:

Jodi Hekter, Project Specialist Abuse in Later Life Grant jhekter@azdes.gov or call 480-203-7516. Also available is the DCAD Office of Interpersonal Violence, 602-542-0435, option 2, dcaddvsv@azdes.gov.

DIVISION OF EMPLOYMENT AND REHABILITATION SERVICES

SNAP CAN – Arizona’s Community-Based Employment and Training Program

The DES Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Career Advancement Network (SNAP CAN) is Arizona’s community-based employment and training program that provides employment readiness services to eligible SNAP recipients. Services provided through SNAP CAN providers are dedicated to connecting program participants to the tools and resources they need to overcome barriers and obtain employment.

DES currently partners with 20 community-based organizations that offer assistance for GED readiness; English as a second language; vocational training in culinary, warehouse, and construction programs; job search assistance; resume preparation; interview coaching and more. In addition to providing training and education opportunities, our providers assist with support services to reduce barriers that may impact participation. These support services can include but are not limited to: tools, equipment, course fees, books, child care, transportation and more. Our providers serve thousands of SNAP recipients every year and have room to serve even more!

The SNAP CAN Program acknowledges that community-based organizations have the knowledge and skills to serve their own communities. While DES provides funding and works closely with its partners, SNAP CAN providers directly serve program participants. The third-party reimbursement model leverages non-federal funds used for services to SNAP recipients. SNAP CAN reimburses up to 50% (75% on tribal land) of the total cost of allowable service(s) back to the organization that provided the employment and training activities to SNAP recipients.

We are always seeking new providers, particularly in rural or underserved areas. If you or anyone you know is interested in becoming a SNAP CAN provider, please reach out to the DES SNAP CAN team at snapcan@azdes.gov.

For more information about Arizona’s SNAP CAN program, please visit the SNAP CAN website at des.az.gov/snapcan.

DIVISION OF CHILD CARE

Child Care Grant Opportunity Available Now!

LISC Phoenix is excited to announce the Arizona Child Care Infrastructure grant. This project is made possible through a partnership with the Arizona Department of Economic Security (ADES) Division of Child Care (DCC) from the time-limited Child Care Stabilization Grants appropriated in the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). A total of $30 million will be available through August 2023 to support grantmaking and technical assistance activities to address the urgent need across Arizona for families and communities to access high-quality child care.

Where can I apply? An application is available at https://www.lisc.org/phoenix/what-we-do/child-care-early-learning/des-grant/

What can I do now to get ready to submit my application?

• Review the grant information on our website. FAQs and additional guidance is posted.
• Stay connected and sign-up for our e-blasts.

Can you help connect us?

LISC is working to create a vendor database of contractors and suppliers that know how to work with child care facilities. If you have connections, please have them register to be part of our vendor list.

For questions about this grant, email azchildcare@lisc.org or leave a message on the grant helpline, (602) 252-6315. A member of the child care team will get back to you as soon as possible.