It is now 2 pm, and Navajo Nation Division of Social Services Deputy Director Marlinda Littleman, is making the Report on Burial Assistance.
I was Hired July 2021, and so catching up. COVID related Burial assistance was funded with General funds, CARES, UUFB and Council appropriated $2 million in CARES for Burial Assistance in April and not all of the $2M was spent by Dec. 30, 2020, Deadline, and so those funds reverted to CARES Hardship Assistance.
We have been strategizing on funding. ARPA funds have been used for burial assistance. Used $87,500 for burial assistance. Through Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety donations, $6.7 million raised and $4 million will be used for burial.
There is another pot of money and that is with Navajo Department of Emergency Management and budget has not been created.
Funds for DV shelter will remain with DV shelters. And there will be a Report on Funding for DV shelters later.
Moving forward, we are seeking from $4M from DPS and don’t know how much from DEM
Regina Yazzie, Department Manager III for Department of Family Services, reports:
The DSS allocated more than $6M in donations under Dept of Emergency Management. Paulsen Chaco, chief of staff, signed budget form for $4M to ay for outstanding invoices because BIA burial assistance restrictive. Person has to be indigent, live on Navajo, service delivery, designated area for past six months, CIB to receive funding.
There is some funding available and whatever balance is, will be used for burial assistance.
There are families not qualified as indigent but they need assistance.
President Nez sent memo to Speaker Damon for Moratorium on using Undesignated Unreserved Fund Balance and Sihasin Funds so why not advancing our Requests for Additional Funding for COVID related burial assistance.
It is now 2:22 pm, 1.11.22, and HEHS chairman Daniel Tso reminds HEHS that the social services division informed HEHS that funding for domestic violence shelters would arrive in December 2021.
Regina Yazzie, Department Manager III for Department of Family Services, reports that she emailed a written report that carryover 2021 budgets for 6 or 7 shelters for $2.223,830 based on seven contracts and two new ones, Roberta’s Place and Ironhawk Shelter in Blanding, Utah.
Emphasis is getting funding out. Do we need to amend contracts? Understood on time line to spend by end of September.
That is my report.
NAVAJO DIVISION OF SOCIAL SERVICES DIRECTOR Deannah Nezwood-Gishey
Meetings in December for more funding for burial assistance and division of public safety donations has funds and chief of staff paulsen chaco signed off on budget forms for burial assistance from public safety.
We would take COVID related burial assistance applications and forward to Navajo emergency management dept for payout.
We would not need legislation.
We will continue COVID related burial assistance with $4 million from $6 million in donations collected by Navajo Division of Public Safety, We have served more than 1400 individuals with burial assistance since April 2020. We do not require that burial assistance applicants reside on the Navajo Nation.
It is now 2:41 pm, 1.11.22, and HEHS vice chairman Carl Slater asks Social Services division director Deannah Nezwood-Gishey if mortuaries will be paid in a timely manner.
NEZWOOD-GIESHY
We hope to get case management base data to pay vendors which eliminates family from worrying about whether burial costs will be covered by Navajo social services.
COVID related burial assistance provides for $3,500 in individual burial assistance.
For FEMA, families could work with FEMA on reimbursement for what family paid out of pocket for burial assistance.
It is now 2:50 pm, 1.11.22, and HEHS vice chairman Carl Slater reminds Regina Yazzie, Navajo Social Services Division Department Manager III for Department of Family Services,
ADABI had to lay off staff cuz of Navajo social services processing of reimbursements to domestic violence shelters.
REGINA YAZZIE
I am correcting myself that funds for ADABI released, but as of Jan. 7, the funds for ADABI remain with Navajo Office of Management and Budget. And yes, the Unpaid Invoices of shelters goes back to October, and they remain Unpaid.
It is now 2:50 pm, 1.11.22, and Health, Education & Human Services Committee VICE CHAIRMAN Carl Slater informs Regina Yazzie, whose dept is responsible for the funding of Domestic Violence Shelters on and off the Navajo Nation, that her department, which is under the Navajo Social Services Division, has not done its job in proving funding for DV shelters and has given a negative picture to the federal government and other DV funding agencies in its handling of lack of providing federal DV funding to DV shelters on and off the rez.
It is 3:16 pm, 1.11.22, and the Navajo Council Health, Education & Human Services Committee voted to go into Executive Session regarding a Personnel Matter.
The HEHS also moved a Report on Negotiated Rates for Meals and Transporation for Navajo Senior Citizen Centers from Navajo Social Services Director Deannah Nezwood-Gieshy to its 1.12.22 agenda.
PROPOSED AGENDA HEALTH, EDUCATION AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE 24th NAVAJO NATION COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
Jan. 11, 2022, 10 AM
PRESIDING : Honorable Daniel E. Tso, Chairperson, Honorable Carl R. Slater, Vice-Chairperson
PLACE : Via Telecommunications: Call-In Number: 1-669-900-6833 MTG ID: 979-985-0956, Passcode: 86515
Window Rock, Navajo Nation (AZ)
[ ] Paul Begay, Jr. [ ] Charlaine Tso
[ ] Pernell Halona [ ] Daniel E. Tso
[ ] Carl R. Slate [ ] Edison J. Wauneka
- CALL MEETING TO ORDER; ROLL CALL; INVOCATION; ANNOUNCEMENTS
- RECOGNIZE GUESTS AND VISITING OFFICIALS
- REVIEW AND ADOPT AGENDA
m: s: v: not voting: - REVIEW AND ADOPT THE JOURNAL(S): None
- RECEIVING REPORTS:
A. Report: Navajo Area Indian Health Service
➢ Shortages of Nurses and Healthcare providers on the Navajo Nation.
➢ Short-term and long-term plans to address health personnel shortages.
Presenters: Roselyn Tso, Area Director; Marquis Yazzie, Director Office of Indian Self-Determination, Navajo Area Indian Health Service
m: s: v: not voting:
B. Update: Shonto Preparatory School
➢ Shonto Preparatory School Operations
Presenter: Melanie Dewakuku, Interim Superintendent Shonto Preparatory Schools
Available for Presentation:
Mr. Darrick Franklin, Educational Program Manager and Ms. Lavida Maestas, Senior Education Specialist, Office of Dine’Accountability and Compliance (ODAC); Dr. Harold Begay, Superintendent of Schools, DODE
m: s: v: not voting:
C. Report / Updates: NN Division of Social Services
➢ Status of COVID related Burial Assistance
➢ Update on Funding Distribution to Domestic Violence Shelters
➢ Update on Negotiation on Meals and Transportation Rates for Senior Citizen Centers.
Presenters: Deannah Nezwood-Gishey, Executive Director Division of Social Services; Marlinda Littleman, Deputy Director Navajo Division of Social Services; Regina Yazzie, Department Manager III for Department of Family Services.
m: s: v: not voting: - OLD BUSINESS: None
- NEW BUSINESS: None
- CLOSE OF MEETING; ANNOUNCEMENTS; ADJOURNMENT, NEXT MEETING(S)
m: s: v: Not Voting:
THIS AGENDA SUBJECT TO CHANGE: The public is advised that the Navajo Nation Council Agenda and the Agendas of the Standing Committees are not final until adopted by a majority vote of the Navajo Nation Council or the Standing Committees at a Navajo Nation Council or a Standing Committee meeting pursuant to 2 N.N.C. §§163 and 183, Navajo Nation Council Rule of Order No. 7, and Standing Rule of Order No. 8.
