Social Services
The PBP Nation created the Social Services Department in June 1999. The goal of the department is to provide a welcoming environment for community members to receive services to improve the quality of their lives. Some of the components of the department are: to preserve families: to assist people in attaining sobriety and to live a life of recovery; to help individuals gain employment; to keep the elderly safe and to help them obtain resources; to assist victims of violence and to help other members of the community with their social service needs to promote self sufficiency. Services include the Community Health Representative program, Adult Protective Services, Child Protective Services, Foster Care Services, Vocational Rehabilitation Services, P.A.R.R. House, Family Violence Prevention, Alcohol & Drug Program, and an independent living office from Three Rivers. The department monitors the well-being of all Prairie Band Potawatomi children, both those in and those outside of state custody under ICWA (Indian Child Welfare Act). The department strongly advocate for the welfare of the most vulnerable members of the tribe, the children and elders. Services are available on the reservation and for the counties surrounding Jackson County. For additional information, please call 785-966-8330 or fax 785-966-2950.
Alcohol & Drug Program
The Alcohol & Drug Program utilizes diverse treatment approaches including the biological/psychological/social model of addictive disease, the Developmental Process of Recovery, self-help programs, motivational interviewing, strength-based mehtods and Red Road. Staff recognize the importance of their clients reconnecting with community, culture, and their spirituality as essential components of recovery. The program serves the Prairie Band Potawatomi Reservation community and Native Americans in the surrounding region. Three state certified addiction counselors are available along with other support staff and are all housed in the Social Services Department that is located on the east wing of the Potawatomi Health Center. For more information call 785-966-8350 or fax 785-966-8386.
Vocational Rehabilitation Program
The Vocational Rehabilitation program is housed in the Social Services Department that is located in the east wing of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Health Center, 11400 158 Rd, Mayetta, Kansas. A staff of three oversees the program that is dedicated to assisting American Indians with disabilities in achieving meaningful and gainful employment. The program began in 2000 and is made possible by the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation and a grant from the Department of Education Rehabilitation Services Administration.
For a brochure about eligibility requirements and the program click here.
Three Rivers, Inc., a Center for Independent Living governed by the Rehabilitation Act of 1974, has a branch office in the PBPN Social Services Department. The nonprofit organization has six locations and serves more than nine counties in northeast Kansas. It assists individuals with all types of disabilities who are interested in learning skills and receiving support that will assist them in a greater quallity of life. For more infomation call the office at 785-966-8344 or go to www.threeriversinc.org
P.A.R.R. House
Potawatomi Addiction Recovery Resource (P.A.R.R.) House provides reintegration services for adult Native American males who have completed a primary alcohol and drug addiction treatment program prior to admission at P.A.R.R. The program offers relapse prevention services and individual counseling of alcohol and drug related problems. The P.A.R.R. staff assists residents in preparing for independent living. Services include educational group counseling that focuses on the principles of the twelve -step recovery process of Alcoholics Anonymous and the Red Road to Wellbriety. P.A.R.R. also offers a structured daily living environment that utilizes cultural traditions such as the Medicine Wheel for healing purposes and sweat lodge services to enhance spiritual growth. Residents are also encouraged to prepare for full-time employment and P.A.R.R. House staff work closely with other programs found in the PBPN Social Services Department like Vocational Rehabilitation, Three-Rivers Independent Living, and Alcohol & Drug Counseling.
Community Health Representative Program
The mission of the Community Health Representative (CHR) program is to be an advocate and facilitator for individuals and families to gain access to comprehensive health care services. Some of the duties in the CHR office include home health visits, helping schedule medical appointments and cosponsoring community blood drives. The program serves any enrolled member of a federally recognized tribe within the service area of Jackson County. The office is located in the Social Services Department that is housed on the east wing of the Potawatomi Health Center. The phone number is 785-966-8360 and fax is 785-966-8389.
Adult Social Services Program
The Adult Social Services program is designed to promote personal responsibility, family unity, economic and social stability in an effort of promoting the wellness of each adult tribal member in the community. The program assists members in locating resources to meet individual or family needs, provides tribal members who have IIM accounts with prompt, quality services, and provides social work assessments and recommendations for tribal members when needed. In addition, the program provides services including code revisions to the PBPN judicial court and tribal police department to better meet the Nation’s needs.
Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA)/Foster Care/Family Preservation/Child Protective Services (CPS) Program
The ICWA/Foster Care/Family Preservation/CPS program provides services to protect the integrity of PBPN families and to ensure that the Nation’s children live in safe and healthy environments. A goal of the program is to help keep youth with their families and to provide social services resources when needed. The program also assists with the location of placement alternatives for youth that follow ICWA preferences, and also provides community training in family preservation through parenting classes.
Family Violence Prevention Program
The Family Violence Prevention program addresses family violence issues in the community and provides services to victims including counseling, transportation, and referrals. In addition, the program offers programs and educational materials geared to reducing violence in the community through presentations, exhibits, and through networking with other local, state, and national groups. For Survivor Support Group Meeting Times click here.