Meskwaki Family Services

Our Mission

Our mission is to empower children and their families to achieve and maintain a state of well-being while upholding the cultural values of the Tribe and the laws that govern the Tribal community.

What We Do

It is our goal to strengthen families of the Meskwaki Indian Settlement by promoting healthy family functioning in an atmosphere of self-determination and traditional cultural values. Helping people connect with their extended family, community agencies, and resources in a positive way to create a network of support. Individual, Family, and Group counseling are available to help families solve the situations and issues they may face in today’s world.

Recent News

Child Care Assistance Program

  • The program is designed specifically to help eligible Native Americans pay for childcare
  • The program is available for children whose parents are working, attending a school/education program, or attending an approved outpatient substance abuse program
  • This voucher program is available annually (October through September)
  • Availability is on a first-come, first-served basis

Eligibility

  • Your child is eligible if you and your spouse are working, attending school/education program, or attending an approved outpatient substance abuse program

    How to Apply

    • Applications are available at Meskwaki Family Services. Applications may also be mailed or emailed out upon request.

    Indian Child Welfare Services

    • Advocacy and Skill Building – Help for Native American families who are involved in Child Protective Cases or are at risk for involvement.
    • Family Team Meetings – Helping families keep children from out of home placement by bringing key family members together to develop a plan for their future.
    • Protective Payee Programming – Assisting at-risk families with budgeting of monthly bills and ensuring that the immediate needs of their children are met first and foremost.
    • Child Care Programming – Providing a Child Care Voucher program that assists with the expense of daycare for working parents and/or parents attending educational programs.
    • Community Resource Referrals – Information referral assistance to a variety of on settlement and larger community agencies.

    Protective Payee Program

    Assisting eligible at-risk families with budgeting monthly bills and ensuring that the immediate needs of their children are met first and foremost.

    Our Services

    We can:

    • Assist you in developing and/or maintaining money management skills
    • Provide personal financial assessments
    • Help with goal setting
    • Assist with record keeping strategies
    • Help you develop spending plans (budgeting)
    • Help you understand your credit and your credit reports
    • Develop debt management plans
    • Bill payments – We can oversee the payment of (and staying current with) your monthly living expenses.

      Referrals

      The protective payee can direct individuals or families in need of social services to the appropriate agency.

      Social Security

      • Meskwaki Family Services also provides payee services for individuals receiving Social Security benefits. This service may be entered on a voluntary basis.
      • The Social Security Payee Service provides the same services as the Protective Payee Program.

      RISE – Resources for Indigenous Survivors & Empowerment

      Previously known as Meskwaki Victim Services, RISE (Resources for Indigenous Survivors and Empowerment) serves all of Iowa and seeks to promote a systemic response that holds offenders accountable and fosters a community sensitive to the needs of domestic violence and sexual assault survivors. This will be accomplished through the collaborative and coordinated multidisciplinary response of the agencies and organizations that work with Native American domestic violence and sexual assault survivors and their families.

      Our Programs

      RISE exists to increase positive outcomes for Native women, children, and their families who are victims/survivors of domestic violence and/or sexual assault and provide outreach/prevention services for the community. In addition to serving women and children, we also proudly work with men, people who cause harm, vulnerable adults, the elderly, and LGBTQIA.

      • Direct Intervention Assistance
      • Collaboration
      • Outreach
      • Education/Prevention

      Upcoming Events

      Family Services Program Staff

      Kylee Bass

      Victim Advocate

      Family Services

      [email protected]
      641-484-4444

      Kayla Morgan

      Administrative Assistant

      Family Services

      [email protected]
      641-484-4444

      Oceana Papakee

      Social Worker

      Family Services

      [email protected]

      Jourdan Reynolds

      RISE Case Manager

      Family Services

      [email protected]
      641-484-4444

      Arianna Sprague

      Elder and Vulnerable Adult Case Manager

      Family Services

      [email protected]
      641-484-4444

      Mylene Wanatee

      Family Services Director

      Family Services

      [email protected]
      641-484-4444

      Carrie Welton

      Social Worker

      Family Services

      [email protected]
      641-484-4444

      Contact Information & Department Hours

      Office Hours:

      Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm

      Physical Address:

      1834 340th St Tama Iowa 52339

      Mailing Address:

      PO Box 245 Tama Iowa 52339

      Phone:

      641-484-4444

      Fax:

      641-484-2103

      RISE Crisis Line 24/7- 641-481-0334 or toll-free 855-840-7362

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      Contact the Meskwaki Nation

      Get in touch with our main office if you have general questions or need assistance finding the correct department to contact.