Family Services
The FCP Child Care Program will assist parents with child care who are Forest County Potawatomi Tribal Members or Native Americans who live on or within 10 miles of the Forest County Potawatomi reservation so they may be employed, attend education, training and/or seek employment.
The emotional, spiritual and financial support of the Potawatomi children and their care and safety is an important element of Potawatomi culture, tradition and custom. The children are the community's future and parents have the moral and legal obligation to provide for their health, welfare and safety. With this in mind, the Forest County Potawatomi Community - Tribal Child Support Agency (FCPC-TCSA) was established in 2003.
What is child support?
Child support is money that an absent parent pays to the custodial party (the person the child lives with) to help meet the needs of the child. The amount and schedule of the payments are usually established through the Court.
Child support is based on the guidelines adopted by the Forest County Potawatomi Tribe in the Tribal Child Support Ordinance, passed on August 12, 2000 in GC 009-2000. A complete copy of this ordinance can be found on the Tribal Court's link at http://fcpotawatomi.com/government/code-of-laws.
An court order for child support may be a part of a temporary, permanent or modified order in a:
- Divorce
- Paternity Action
- Child Custody Action
- Family support Action
- Inter-Jurisdictional Action
Who can receive child support?
You may be eligible for services if you are the parent of a minor child, or have physical custody of a minor child and:
- The child lives in your home;
- Is financially dependent on you;
- One or both parents are absent from the home
What does a child support order include?
An order for child support may include provisions for:
- A monetary amount to be paid to the family for the support of the child;
- One or both parents to provide medical, dental and vision health care coverage;
- Determination on tax benefits; or
- Other provisions to meet the specific needs of the child.
A child support order can be established in two ways:
- Stipulation (agreement of the parties) and Order for Support
- Court Order
FCPC-TCSA currently works child support and paternity cases in which the payer is an enrolled member of the Forest County Potawatomi Community. We accept all applications and will assist all applicants in working with other agencies if the case does not fall within the Tribe's jurisdiction.
Main Phone: (715) 478-7260
Office Hours:
Monday – Thursday
7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Jacquelyn Pische, Director
Email:
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Phone: 715-478-7333
P.O. Box 340, 5415 Everybody's Rd.
Crandon Wisconsin 54520
Phone:
(715) 478-7292 Case Worker
(715) 478-7295 Case Manager
(715) 478-7206 Director
(715) 478-4433 Support Staff
(715) 478-7262 Family Resource Center
Toll Free:
1-800-960-5479
Fax:
(715)478-7294
Bakakwsen i Shkwadem
24-Hour Line: (715) 478-7201
The Forest County Potawatomi Domestic Violence Shelter is dedicated to providing services to all Anishinabe women, their families, and the surrounding community of Forest County. We provide a safe living environment and encourage a healthy life-style by understanding the effects of the cycle of violence in our community. Through community education and intervention techniques, we can change the social views of domestic abuse and the impact it has on our generations and traditional way of life.
Did You Know?
Download our Sexual Assault Brochure
Emergency Assistance to tribal members for extenuating conditions that might require temporary & immediate financial services.
Income withholding is the most efficient means of enforcing a child support order. We also manage all child support income withholding orders for FCPC employees.
What is Income Withholding?
At the time a child support order is established, the court order may include provisions for income withholding.
FCPC-TCSA will send a notice to the Payer's employer. The notice contains information telling the employer how much money to withhold from the employee's wages and how often to withhold it. The employer sends the money directly to FCPC-TCSA who credits the Payer's account and issues a check to the Custodial Party.
If you are an FCPC employee and have a state or other tribal court child support order, FCPC-TCSA must register your order with the Tribal Court. Once the Tribal Court issues an Order acknowledging the Order, FCPC-TCSA will send you a notice of the registration and will also issue an income withholding order to the FCPC employer. Please note that in most cases FCPC-TCSA is unable to modify your order issued from another jurisdiction. If you feel your order is incorrect based on the guidelines or other circumstances, you must contact the originating jurisdiction.
Where can payments be made if Income Withholding is not in place?
Some non-custodial parties choose to make child support payments themselves. Payments can be made in person at the FCPC-TCSA located in the Old Executive Building at 5415 Everybody's Road, Crandon, WI 54520.
If you are mailing a payment, please send a money order, personal check or cashier's check to:
FCPC-TCSA
PO Box 340
Crandon, WI 54520
Please do not send cash in the mail!
FCP received a grant for the coordination of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and the Indian Child welfare (ICW) services to tribal families at risk of child abuse or neglect from the Administration for Children and Families (ACF). The main objective is to collaborate and implement a one stop, family resource center that will offer a wide array of services for tribal families in order to enhance, engage and strengthen families.
The food pantry is now located at Midwest Indian Mission at 601 N. Summit Dr. in Crandon, WI 54520 715-478-2730.
Hours are as follows: Monday 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., Wednesday 11 a.m. – 1p.m. & 3 p.m. – 5 p.m., Friday 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
The pantry is open to anyone for their food needs. There is no income limit.
Donations are appreciated.
Alternate site for: Food Share or Badger Care applications can be picked up from Sandy Campbell in the Health & Wellness Center or
Apply Online, check your benefits or find out about eligibility for food share or Badgercare at access.wisconsin.gov
Provides assists to income eligible tribal community family members, disabled individuals and elderly members (over age 65) living on the F.C. Potawatomi reservation with Badger Care and Food Share programs. These programs are guided by state and federal guidelines through the Department of Health Services.
In accordance with Federal Law and USDA policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, political beliefs, or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 or (202) 720-6382 (TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Provide basic relief assistance for single adults enrolled in a federally recognized tribe who are living on the FC Potawatomi Reservation. The individual must meet income guidelines and participate in a plan developed to assist in obtaining full-time employment guided by BIA regulations.
We have numerous tools to locate parents and/or their assets for purposes of child support enforcement and paternity establishment.
If circumstance have changed that you believe could affect your child support order, you can contact the FCPC-TCSA and request a review of your case for possible modification.
The Tribal Court may consider a revision in a child support order if there is a substantial change in circumstances. This can include, but is not limited to:
- Increase or decrease in gross income;
- Change in placement of the minor children;
- The needs of the children have changed substantially.
FCPC-TCSA can only request a modification if a party completes a Review Request Form. A Review form can be downloaded from this site, be picked up in person or can be mailed to you upon request.
If you want your order reviewed, you must submit a Request for Review in writing to FCPC-TCSA.
Please be aware that if a modification of your order is required, it might increase or decrease the amount of support you receive or pay.
Additional Informtion to Help Highten Awareness:
The National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline has some information and resources for February
A January 2011 Katie Couric online show on teen dating violence
The Liz Claiborne web site has some general resources on teen dating violence
See It and Stop It has some media resources on TDV
Provides supportive employment assistance and guidance in obtaining full-time employment for individuals living on the reservation and Forest County Potawatomi Tribal members within a 60-mile radius of the reservation.
LIFE SKILLS CLASSES
In partnership with the FCP Family Resource Center and other tribal entities, The classes are held every Wednesday at FCP Family Resource Center on various life skill classes such as home improvement, time management, etc.
DRIVERS LICENSE SERVICES (DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES - DMV)
• Provides direct connection between DMV and individual for obtaining driver's license information and/or status of driver's record, Provides assistance with vehicle registration through DMV,
• Provides tips for visiting Driver Centers - how to speed up process,
• Provides information on online services through DMV, Assists with the coordination of services for individuals in obtaining a driver's license in a timely manner and also set up transportation to DMV
RÉSUME DEVELOPING
•Winway Resume Deluxe Software, Tools and resume´paper are available by utilizing the computers in resource room to update and develop your résume´
TURBO TYPING
• Interactive fun practice available on computer to increase your hand/eye coordination and speed
QUICK SKILLS
• Hands-on training to learn and enhance your computer skills of Microsoft programs, such as Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Access
WISCAREERS WEBSITE
• Career exploration guide and opportunities on computer program
• Complete a variety of assessments based on interests, work values, career skills and workplace skills
• Help coordinate your work values into an exciting career
• Check out a variety of technical schools and colleges
• Practice writing great cover letters
• Guided program to set up your portfolio
• Save résume´s, assessments and cover letter in your own personal locker
MOCK INTERVIEWS
• To prepare individuals for obtaining their dream job and/or career changes
• Also provides tips to improve and enhance your valuable employability skills
• Improves communication skills and builds self-esteem
Basic Education Classes (GED/HSED) are held in the Museum lower level classroom
Tuesday and Thursday from 9 am – 1:30pm
An instructor is available to assist adult students in earning a General Education Development Certificate (GED) or a high school equivalency diploma (HSED) and to brush up on academic skills. If you have any questions, please call John Brueggemann, instructor at (715)-478-4904 or Christie Schmidt, Economic Support at (715)-478-7206
Parenting Coordinator is available to provide family support, education and available resources to promote and nurture healthy tribal families.
If a woman is married at the time that she becomes pregnant or at the time of the child's birth, her husband is considered, by law, the legal father of the child. This is commonly known as "Martial Presumption. Because the Tribe has adopted WI law with respect to paternity, this too applies for Tribal cases.
If a woman is not married at the time she becomes pregnant or gives birth, paternity needs to be established after the child is born.
Paternity establishment means the legal process to determine the parentage of a child born outside a marriage. FCPC-TCSA paternity establishment services include genetic testing at a substantially reduced fee.
Establishing paternity can have many benefits:
- Tribal Identity and Enrollment
- Tribal Benefits
- Social Security Benefits
- Insurance
- Inheritance Rights
- Veteran's Benefits
Paternity can be established in two ways:
- Voluntary Acknowledgement of Paternity
- Court Order
The federal regulations under which FCPC-TCSA receives funding for the program prohibits them from accepting paternity cases for adult children wanting paternity establishment. However, they can assist with the collection of the parties' DNA after arrangements have been privately established with the genetic testing company.
It may not be easy to identify abuse. Abuse does not happen over night; it’s a gradual process. The abuser may criticize your appearance or be unreasonably jealous. Gradually, abuse becomes more frequent, severe and potentially life threatening. However, many characteristics signify an abusive relationship. For example, you may be abused if you:
• Have been hit, kicked, shoved or threatened with violence
• Feel that you have no choice about how you spend your time, where you go or what you wear
• Must ask your partner for permission to make every day decisions
• Feel bad about yourself because your partner calls you names, insults you or puts you down
• Limit time with your family & friends because of your partner’s demands
• Submit to sex acts against your will
• Accept your partner’s decisions because you’re afraid of ensuing anger
• Change your behavior in an effort to not anger your partner
• Do not have your own money and are not allowed to participate in family finances
• You are told that you may not worship, must worship a God not to your understanding or can’t practice spirituality in your life
This room is open to all tribal members and community members living on or near the reservation. The room is equipped with four computers loaded with a turbo typing software, resume developer software; self-paced computer based training software to learn the Microsoft and Resume Developer Software programs such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint & Access. The computers are also available for resume writing or any typing needs.
Eligible families are provided with a grant payment to cover the basic necessities such as food, shelter, clothing & utilities. In return, the program participants are required to be involved in a minimum of 24 hours per week in work-related activities. This program is for families living in Forest County who have tribal children and can prove FC Potawatomi Tribal affiliation. The individual must meet income limits and other guidelines outlined in the plan.
The mission of the Tribal Employment Program is to enable FCP tribal members and their descendents to engage in work-related activities and to develop the skills necessary to achieve employment. This will be achieved through:
CAREER EXPLORATION, appointment and also assessing each individual's barriers to becoming employed and providing tools to overcome those barriers,
WORK EXPERIENCE- Provides individuals with an opportunity to learn valuable work skills and work etiquette in different areas of the tribe, Provides a work history for individuals, Provides an opportunity to see if that job/position is the right fit
EMPLOYMENT COUNSELING- Provides guidance in career decision-making skills, Expectation of work environment and ability to relate to others, Mentorship, encouragement and support
JOB SEEKING SKILLS- Job application assistance, tips on how to avoid common application and résume errors, dissemination of labor market data -- hot jobs -- which job is high on demand for this area, Tips on how to keep employment
Sexual assaults are acts of violence where sex is used as the weapon. Assaults are motivated primarily out of a sense of entitlement and/or a need to feel powerful by controlling, dominating or humiliating the victim. Victims/survivors of sexual assaults are forced, coerced, and/or manipulated to participate in unwanted sexual activity. If you examine the situations in which sexual abuse occurs, there is always a perceived or real power differential.
The perpetrator feels entitled to take advantage of another person and believes that he or she can get away with the crime either because the victim will be afraid to tell, or because s/he is unlikely to be believed if s/he does tell. Whether the crime is rape, incest, child sexual abuse, stalking or sexual harassment, sexual assault impacts our schools, our workplace, our streets and our homes. Victims are our sons, our daughters, our brothers, sisters, friends and grandparents. It is estimated that as many as 1 in 3 women have been the victim of sexual assault at some point in her life; 1 in 5 men. 93% of sexual assault survivors are violated by someone they know and trusted.
WHEAP/KEEP WISCONSIN WARM FUND/WEATHERIZATION
These programs help to assist individuals with home energy costs depending on household size, income level and heating cost for individuals living on the FC Potawatomi Reservation.
The Weatherization is a preventive program to reduce the energy cost and consumption by providing tips and suggestions.
This program offers legal assistance to low-income families. Upon verification of income eligibility, a Judicare card is issued and a list of attorneys that accept Judicare is given to the eligible applicant.
