Mission
To ensure the safety and welfare of our community through proactive social, cultural, and learning opportunities.
Services
Indian Child Welfare
The primary goal of the ICW program is to ensure the Health, Safety, and Welfare of youth served by the ICW Program by providing these youth and their families with culturally appropriate, accessible services and support designed to protect and preserve the youth’s best interest and allow for family reunification wherever possible.
Adult Protective Services Vulnerable Persons
The purpose of this program is to protect elders and vulnerable adults from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Also helps navigate through forms provided by Social Security or other state offices.
In-home Assistance Program
Assists home-bound tribal members who live alone with daily tasks. They must have a documented physical or mental disability and no other source of care in their home.
Family Services Program
To provide in-home services and support for families that are at low risk for child abuse and neglect.
Independent Living Skills
If you are a young person preparing for the transition out of foster care, find resources on education, employment, finances, housing, and more. You can also ask your caseworker to walk you through information on life skills, funding to support a successful transition to adulthood, and housing assistance.
Foster Care Program
The Chehalis Tribe Foster Care Licensing Program is a foster care program serving the Chehalis Tribe Indian Child Welfare service area. In order to keep youth on or around reservation, we are in dire need of foster homes, whether it is respite, emergency placement, short term or long term. If you are interested, please contact Foster Care Licensor.
Emergency Assistance
There are different funding streams that can assist with limited financial assistance to tribal members experiencing economic hardship such as Food, Clothing, Utilities, etc. There are also funds for once in lifetime home repair for Chehalis Tribal member homes and assistance for Medical Emergencies. Availability of funds may vary from year to year depending on each budget. The existence of funds does not constitute an entitlement of funds.
Elders Program
The Elders Program is open to all community elders and is designed for socialization. Nutritional meals are offered daily for elders and for home-bound elders. Homebound elders must have approved documentation for deliveries.
Emergency Assistance
Household Assistance
The Chehalis Tribe’s Household Assistance Program provides short-term assistance to help enrolled Tribal members during a crisis or transition. To be eligible for a voucher, you must meet one of the following: 1. Be an enrolled Chehalis Tribal member; or 2. Have custody of an Enrolled Chehalis Indian Youth.
Voucher Amounts: $500 per household, twice a year. This amount includes utility assistance. Housing assistance funds may only be used for eligible expenses at the Tribal member’s primary residence. Payments will be made directly to the vendor. Max amount of $500 per application. Basic utilities (electricity, gas, or heating sources such as propane, firewood, or pellets) with a late or shut off notice in the Tribal member’s name. Rent or mortgage payments with a lease or mortgage statement in the Tribal member’s name.
Medical Travel Assistance
The Emergency Medical Travel Assistance Program provides limited financial assistance with transportation and overnight travel associated with qualifying medical care located outside of the local service area and requiring significant travel.
Gas cards may be issued according to the total round-trip mileage.
Round Trip Mileage
51–100 miles
101–149 miles
150 miles or more
Overnight Stay
Multiple Night Stays
Assistance
$25 Gas Card
$50 Gas Card
$125 Gas Card
$150 Cut Check
$250 Cut Check
Overnight Lodging Assistance
When a medical appointment requires an overnight stay due to travel distance, appointment scheduling, multiple consecutive treatments, or medical necessity, the member may receive: $150 Cut Check
Overnight assistance is intended to help offset lodging or related travel expenses and may require documentation verifying the need for overnight travel. Social Services will not book and pay for hotel stays.
Frequency
Emergency Medical Assistance is limited to $500 per enrolled Tribal member, per calendar year.
Eligibility
- Be an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation.
- Have a qualifying medical appointment requiring travel of more than fifty-one (51) miles round trip from the member’s residence.
Emergency Home Assistance Program
The Once-in-a-Lifetime Emergency Home Assistance Program provides one-time financial assistance to help enrolled Chehalis Tribal members cover the cost of home repairs during a significant emergency that threatens the safety, stability, or habitability of their primary residence.
The Emergency Home Assistance Program is subject to annual funding availability and may be suspended or modified if funds become unavailable.
Frequency
Emergency Home Assistance is limited to one award per enrolled Tribal member during their lifetime, with a maximum award of $5,000.
Eligibility
- Be an enrolled Chehalis Tribal member
- Be 18 years or older
- Own and occupy the residence as their primary home
- Demonstrate a verified emergency affecting the health, safety, or habitability of the residence
- Show that the need cannot reasonably be met through personal resources, insurance, or other available assistance programs
- Provide documentation supporting the emergency and estimated repair costs
The Social Services Department is committed to administering this program with fairness, consistency, accountability, and respect while ensuring that Tribal resources are used responsibly to assist those facing genuine emergencies. Approval of assistance is not guaranteed and remains subject to eligibility requirements, program guidelines, funding availability, and final authorization by the Social Services Department.
Meet The Team
Social Services
Amy Mendoza
Melanie Hjelm
Ryan Lyle
Lisa Strozyk
Elders Program
Skylar White Eagle
Ricky Charles
