Self-Sufficiency Division

Tribal TANF is an assistance program for American Indians and Alaska Native that provide cash aid and supportive services to eligible needy children, families, and non-needy caretakers. The goal is to help families achieve self-sufficiency through education, career development, training, employment, and temporary financial assistance.

• Services may include:
  • Cash assistance
  • Employment assistance
  • Educational assistance
  • Diversion services
  • Emergency services or Non-recurrent short-term benefits
  • Support Services may include, but are not limited to:
    • Educational activities designed to increase economic self-sufficiency
    • Work Participation-related Expenses
    • Culturally relevant supportive services and activities which foster self-sufficiency
    • Substance Abuse education and prevention services for families and children
    • Parenting skills and training
• May be eligible for Tribal TANF if:
  •   Reside in the 5 counties (Coos, Curry, Del Norte, Humboldt, and Josephine) service area
    • California Residents: must be enrolled TDN Citizen
    • Oregon residents: Are TDN Citizens or members of a federally recognized American Indian tribe
      • Some Coos County tribes opted to not allow their members to participate in our Tribal TANF program, therefore, there are excluded tribes
  • Are a parent or non-needy caretaker of a child aged 0 – 18 who attends school regularly and will graduate by age 19
  • Meet income and resource eligibility criteria
  • Have not received 60 months of Federal TANF benefits through another tribe or social service agency
  • Are able to meet work participation requirements

In order to determine eligibility, families must meet the following criteria:

• Child or children meet the definition of an Indian child
  • Curry County: a child from 0-13 of an enrolled tribal citizen of a federally recognized tribe OR a child (by blood, court decree, or marriage) of an enrolled tribal citizen of a federally recognized tribe
  • Del Norte County: a child from 0-13 who is an enrolled citizen of TDN or a child from 0-13 (by blood, court decree, or marriage) of a TDN citizen 
• Reside in Curry, Del Norte, or Humboldt County
• Parent(s) have a qualifying need
  • Attending a jo-training program
  • Attending an educational program
  • Attending an intensive substance abuse program
  • Employment
• Child Care Assistance Program Application Packet
• The family meets eligibility requirements based on income and family size
  Eligibility Requirements for Child Care Assistance Program

• Burial Assistance
  • A maximum allowance of $3,500 for enrolled TDN citizen
  • In order to process requests, CFW needs a completed application, death certificate, and invoice/bill from the funeral home
  • Burial Assistance Application
• Elder Emergency Assistance
  • Available to TDN elders (55+ or older) who reside in the 5 county service areas (Coos, Curry, Del Norte, Humboldt, or Josephine)
  • A maximum allowance of $500 per calendar year to use toward an emergency situation
  • This applies to primary residences only
  • An emergency is a sudden, unexpected, or impending situation that may cause injury, loss of life, or damage to property that would interfere with the normal activities of a person and which requires immediate attention and remedial action. An emergency is a situation that poses an immediate risk to health, life, or property.
• General Assistance
  • Available to TDN Citizens who reside in the 5 county service area only (Coos, Curry, Del Norte, Humboldt or Josephine)
  • Available for three (3) months per calendar year
  • Must be unemployable (see definition in attached application)
  • Applicants with children must apply for TANF services
  • Applicants who are disabled and unable to work must apply for other financial assistance such as state disability, SSI/SSP, SSD, worker's compensation, etc.
  • Applicants who are able to work must apply with TDN TERO department and local workforce center
  • General Assistance Application
• Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
  • Available to Citizens who reside in Del Norte or Humboldt county
  • The application goes to Northern California Indian Development Council (NCIDC)
  • CFW gathers application and supporting documentation (income documentation for the past 30 days for all household members who are 18 years or older, energy bill/invoice, responsibility statement, tribal verification) to determine eligibility
  • NCIDC does the final approval or denial based on available funding
• Medical assistance – Citizens must be enrolled for a minimum of one (1) year to be eligible for medical assistance
  • Medical Assistance Application
  • Medical travel/equipment
    • A maximum allowance of $750 per calendar year
    • Grant awards for travel based on miles traveled one-way from the Tribal Citizens' home
      • 50 – 199 miles (one-way) - $75
      • 200+ miles (one-way) - $150
    • It is the Citizen’s responsibility to request funding prior to scheduled appointments or within 10 business days of the appointment
  • Hospitalization
    • Minimum hospitalization of three (3) consecutive days
      • $100 per day, up to but not exceeding $1,000 in one calendar year
      • Limited to one (1) per year per Citizen
  • Long-Term Therapy – certain life-threatening conditions including, but not limited to; cancer, renal failure, neurological conditions, and coronary heart disease that require Citizens to travel at least 50 miles. Intended to offset the cost of extended and/or repeated treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy,  or kidney dialysis.
    • Limited to one (1) per year per Citizen
    • Not to exceed $500 annually
    • Documentation required: treatment plan from the facility