Cook Inlet Tribal Council, Inc
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Page 0 of 23 Cook Inlet Tribal Council, Inc. Cook Inlet Tribal Council, Inc. (CITC) provided fully integrated services under its 477 Plan for this fiscal year. The integrated services allowed for reduced duplication of services and paperwork, coordination of services and the “one-stop” approach for service delivery. This report will describe the service area and the state of the economy for the region. Next, it will provide a description of how CITC successfully implemented the 477 programs into seamless services, and lastly, share success stories and pictures of 477 participants. Native Population Increase Cook Inlet Tribal Council, Inc. service area is the CIRI Region. As reported in previous year, the region has experienced an increase of Alaska Native population over the last decade. For example, Anchorage alone has experienced an increase of 6,3601 Native People from 2000 to 2010, which is by far the largest increase across the state, and the Matanuska-Susitna Valley experienced an increase of 2,542 Native People from 2000 to 2010. Geographic Description Cook Inlet Tribal Council, Inc.’s primary service area is the 38,000 square mile CIRI region. The CIRI region includes the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, portions of the Kenai Borough, as well as the Municipality of Anchorage. Located between the Cook Inlet on Alaska’s southcentral coast and the nearby Chugach mountain range, Anchorage has a year-round open water harbor, anchors one end of the Alaska Railroad, and is an air transportation hub for hundreds of smaller communities disconnected from the road system throughout the state. Anchorage is home to 41% of Alaska’s total population[2] and serves as the economic, medical, judicial, transportation, and social service hub of the entire state. The city is also a temporary or permanent relocation site for many of Alaska’s rural, mostly Alaska Native, residents, whether by choice or in response to economic and other pressures. The CIRI region is large, with the northern-most point 140 miles from Anchorage and the southern-most point some 255 miles away. Some communities are completely inaccessible by road. For example, the village of Tyonek, on the western boundary of the region lies across the Cook Inlet and can only be reached from Anchorage by bush plane. Similarly, traveling to the village of Seldovia requires driving south for 4 ½ hours and then taking a 10-minute flight over the Kachemak Bay. 1 Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, http://labor.state.ak.us/trends/apr13.pdf 2 Alaska Department of Labor & Workforce Development. 2014 Population By Borough/Census Area and Economic Region. Research and Analysis Division. 2014. http://labor.state.ak.us/research/pop/popest.htm Page 1 of 23 Economic Description of CIRI region Due to lack of employment opportunities and depressed economic conditions in rural areas, the migration of Alaska Natives into urban areas -- primarily Anchorage -- continues to rise each year and is projected to steadily increase over the next decade. According to US Census data, CITC’s Alaska Native/American Indian service population in Anchorage has increased by 85% from 1990 (14,569 Natives) to 2000 (26,995 Natives) and 33% from 2000 to 2010 (36,062). CITC is not limited to Anchorage, but provides services throughout the 38,000-square mile Cook Inlet Region of Alaska whose Native population increased by 94% from 1990 (18,581 Natives) to 2000 (35,972 Natives) and 39% from 2000 to 2010 (50,173). Anchorage’s economy is seasonal and the prospects for jobs that offer any degree of stability are very challenging for workers who have little or no Unemployment Rate technical skills. As the accompanying table (based on 2013 National 8.3% Census data) illustrates, Anchorage’s Alaska Native Alaska 8.1% population experiences nearly three times the unemployment Anchorage 6.9% rate as other Anchorage residents – and this rate is even Anchorage 18.7% higher among young families without advanced degrees or Alaska Native technical skills. Currently in 2016, Alaska’s employment is down 1.6% in the first half of 2016 when compared to 20153. The largest loss of employment was in the oil and gas industry, which had an average monthly loss of 16.4%. The oil and gas industry was not the only area of major loss of employment; construction had a loss of 8.3% in the first half of 2016 as well. The cycles of seasonality of the available jobs contributes to difficulties many Alaska Native and American Indian families experience in establishing a stable home environment and substantial work history not only in Anchorage but in other communities within our regional service area: Chickaloon Village - Ahtna and Dena’ina Athabascan Indians have occupied this territory for centuries. Today 272 people live there, 90 minutes north east of Anchorage on the Alaska road system. Their median age is 48.8 years, and 34 are Alaska Native or Alaska Native in combination with other races. The unemployment rate at the time of the 2010 census was 26% although 57.3% of all adults (Native and non-Native) were considered not to be in the labor force at the time. Eklutna Village - Eklutna lies 25 miles south of Anchorage, on the Alaska road system. The Native residents’ average income is $19,494. The unemployment rate at the time of the 2010 census was 24.2% although 35.9% of all adults were considered not to be in the labor force at the time. 3 http://labor.alaska.gov/news/2016/news16-42.pdf Page 2 of 23 Knik Village – 14,923 people live in Knik-Fairview CDB, which is 37 miles northwest of Anchorage. Their median age is 31.2 years, and 1,859 are Alaska Native or Alaska Native in combination with other races. The area is the fastest growing region in the state of Alaska. The unemployment rate in 2000 was 13.45% although 44.38% of all adults were not in the force at the time. Ninilchik Village – 883 people live in Ninilchik, which is 188 miles from Anchorage. Their median age is 51.8 years, and 183 of them are Alaska Native or Alaska Native in combination with other races. Tourism, fishing--both for subsistence and recreation--and related retail businesses are the main employers. The unemployment rate at the time of the 2010 Census was 7.1%, although 38.2% of all adults were considered not to be in the labor force at the time. Seldovia Village – The total population of Seldova is 165 people, with a median age of 49 years; 66 of them are Alaska Native or Alaska Native in combination with other races. The unemployment rate at the time of the 2010 Census was 0.0% although 30% of all adults were considered to be not in the labor force. Tyonek Village – 171 people live in Tyonek, with a median age of 33.6 years; 162 of them are Alaska Native or Alaska Native in combination with other races. The economy is primarily based on subsistence, commercial and recreational fishing, and hunting guide services. During the 2010 Census the unemployment rate was 28.2% although 32.7% of all adults were considered not to be in the labor force. Services Integrated The CITC 477 services are grouped into two departments, Employment and Training Services and Youth Education and Employment Services. The formula funded federal program that were included in the services delivery of the CITC P.L. 102-477 Plan are as follows: A. Department of the Interior Job Placement and Training Higher Education Johnson-O’Malley General Assistance B. Department of Labor Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Comprehensive Services Supplemental Youth Services C. Department of Health and Human Services Native Employment Works (NEW) Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) Tribal Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) Page 3 of 23 Employment & Training Services The Employment & Training Services (ETS) provides a comprehensive system of services using a one-stop center approach designed to provide wrap-around services that exist to help Alaska Native/American Indian job seekers achieve their potential. Our direct services are enhanced by close partnerships with state agency services and other non-profit organizations to provide the necessary supports to help job seekers get and keep employment and achieve self-sufficiency. 477 Programs and services in ETS: • Intake & Assessment • Tribal Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) Program & TANF Fraud • Youth Services • Alaska’s People Career Development Center (GED Preparation and Job Placement Services) • Tribal Training • Community Services (General Assistance, Burial Assistance, Supportive Services, and Intensive Case Management/Crisis Prevention) • Child Care Assistance and Village Child Care Services Non-477 Programs and services in ETS (not described in this report): • Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation • Tribal Heating Assistance • Grant Funding Training Programs (Health Professions Opportunity Grant, Health Information Technology Program) Intake & Assessment Services The intake & assessment process is the first point of entry for participants to learn about opportunities in employment, education and training available within ETSD. Participants start with a “Fast Track Screening” which is done with Eligibility Technicians. This screening is on average 15 minutes to give the participants information on all the services provided and which are the correct or most appropriate for their family. The screening was designed to inform participants on services for their whole family, including their children. Once the Eligibility Technician completes the screening the participant is given the common application and provided an in person appointment to finish their eligibility for the ETSD services. The interview is designed to provide eligibility to all services, therefore reducing the number of appointments, staff to meet with, and decrease duplication. After the participants complete their interview for eligibility, they are assigned an Employment Specialist, Job Coach or Intensive Case Manager.