NEWS RELEASE
April 5, 2007

TRIBAL CHILD SUPPORT UNIT
OPEN FOR YOUR CHILD SUPPORT NEEDS

The Employment and Training Tribal Child Support Unit (TCSU) is proud to announce full-funding has been received for our Comprehensive IV-D Program.  TCSU has hired all necessary staff for year one of our program and is operating under a strict timeline.  We are officially open for business and are enthusiastic to assist our people.

The Tribal Child Support Unit (TCSU) was created to ensure that Tlingit and Haida children receive the emotional and financial support of both their parents, and their parent’s extended family.  The Program strives to support and affirm the traditions of the Tribe and tribal families when making decisions on paternity, support obligations, and enforcement of support obligations.

The TCSU has two principles that motivate all its actions and activities.  First, our families.  Child support should be a reliable source of income for families.  TCSU will focus its efforts on the needs of children, and in doing so, we have to empower parents (this includes mother, father, and their extended families) to ensure children’s needs are met.   Second, TCSU has a cooperative approach to establishing and enforcing support obligations.  Reaching consensus among families ensures that families will work together to provide for their children.

AVAILABILITY OF SERVICES

The TCSU provides the following services to all applicants:

• Family assessment on Child Support needs
• Referral to appropriate agencies for support services needed by the family
• Location of parents and assets
• Paternity establishment and enrollment
• Support obligation establishment and modification
• Enforcement of court orders
• Tracking, collection and distribution of payments
• Intergovernmental case processing and assistance

WHO MAY APPLY

There are no application requirements.  Any one may apply to TCSU for services.  The TCSU must accept the application, make an assessment on the services needed, and provide the required TCSU services.  In the event the TCSU cannot provide services, it will make a referral to a Child Support Program that can provide the appropriate services.

For more information or to set an appointment to open your child support case with Tlingit and Haida Tribal Child Support contact Carlene Nore at 1.800.344.1432 ext. 7132.

Eddie Brakes, TCSU Manager

Irene Tupou, TCSU Specialist

Carlene Nore, TCSU Office Leader

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