Healthy Start

Families First
Family Preservation Program. An intensive home based service, targeting Native Families of seven of the ten tribes, and community wide service in the Chippewa, Luce, Mackinac, Alger, and Schoolcraft counties for families at risk of separation; (four to six week intervention) where a worker may spend 15 hours or more per week with the family to prevent removal.

Kinship Care Model
A model program to explore the feasibility of providing a kinship care system to Indian children in Michigan State Protective Services custody. The project provides an outreach and recruitment system to identify and utilize extended family as the kinship caregivers for children who would otherwise be placed in foster homes.

Future Leaders Conference
Michigan Native Youth Leadership initiative provides activities intended to increase the influence of traditional tribal values on the selection and training of future tribal leaders. Camp I takes place annually, in July, Camp II takes place on Sugar Island during the Fall.

Teen Parent Program
Support services for pregnant or parenting teens (13-20) and significant others in Chippewa County. Includes home visits, transportation, emergency needs, educational activities, etc., and weekly support group.

Chippewa County Homemakers Program
The Homemakers program is available to eligible clients Chippewa County and assists families with homemaker skills and other limited support services.

Title VI - Elderly
Provides funding to participating tribes for congregate and home delivered meals to elders 55 or over. Also provides limited support services including outreach, transportation, and referrals.

Low Income Energy Assistance Program
Provides a one time payment to tribal members who are income eligible for heating assistance for the participating tribes.

Child Care Assistance Program
Provides financial assistance to tribes needing funds for placement or specialized care for tribal children not meeting FIA guidelines.