Office of the Family Advocate
Weekdays, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
After hours On-Call available
Contact:
Mission: To complement Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Programs in meeting the needs of families and supporting their journey to healing through family-centered advocacy.
The purpose of Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe's Family Advocate is to expand the scope of services available to families that have experienced a crisis or trauma, and to ensure that their needs are being met. As an independent position, the Family Advocate assists families in specific situations that do not otherwise meet the criteria for services offered with Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Programs.
The Family Advocate provides advocacy to meet the specific needs of each family. When needed, the Family Advocate will assist families in a crisis/emergency, or on a short-term basis in navigating through agencies such as social services, health services, law enforcement and criminal justice, among others. The Family Advocate is responsible for providing support, education, appropriate referrals, and coordination of services for families.
The Family Advocate is not a substitute for long-term case management, a substitute for grievance or complaint procedures, nor financial assistance. The Family Advocate is to be utilized as a last resort after all other available services have been attempted. Family Advocate cannot be utilized to duplicate services that are available through other Tribal, County, or State programs or agencies.
The Family Advocate continually strives to establish cooperative relationships with the agencies involved with a family in order to promote the best possible outcomes for the families.
Who we serve: Tribally-enrolled members residing on the Southern portion of the territory and within the 15-mile radius.
Services Offered:
- Referrals and application assistance for:
- Food Assistance (Food Distribution, SNAP, local food pantries);
- Housing Assistance (Akwesasne Housing Authority, Mohawk Indian Housing Corporation, Massena Housing Authority, Malone Housing Authority, and crisis/homeless/emergency shelters);
- Utility Assistance (EAP application, National Grid Liaison, LIHEAP and HEAP/other area resources for utilities);
- Emergency/Crisis Assistance (Red Cross, Tribal PD, State Police, Sheriff’s Office)
- Referrals to Tribal programs such as DSS, Office for the Aging, Family Support, Mental Health, A/CDP, Employment and Training Services, Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation, and others.
- Response to non-medical and non-law enforcement-related emergency, crisis, or urgent situations that cause hardship on families where no other services or programs can help.
- Advocacy in navigating various programs and systems within and outside of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe.