Tribal 121 Programs within the State of Oklahoma
Apache Nation
Cherokee Nation
Cheyenne and Arapaho
Chickasaw Nation
Choctaw Nation
Delaware Nation
Prepared by Del “Wade” Walters
Iowa Nation
Muscogee (Creek) Nation
Muscogee (Creek) Nation Vocational Rehabilitation
wadewalt37@hotmail.com
The Navajo Nation's successful endeavor paved the way for American Indian vocational rehabilitation programs and
functioned as the model for service provision to American Indians with disabilities. Support that included Native people who
were from the community served, who knew the language, community, and resources.
In about 1985 the Northern Cheyenne and Chippewa-Cree Tribes in Montana applied for and were funded under the
Rehabilitation Act legislation.
Today, Indian issues that were challenges in 1978 - nearly 25 years ago - are still prevalent today: poverty, rural and remote
communities, high unemployment rates (some tribes experience 50% plus), high rates of disabling conditions: cancer, heart
disease, substance abuse, specific learning disabilities, and traumatic brain injuries and off-reservation service agencies are
still trying to understand the distinct cultures within tribal communities.
From the seeds planted by a few in 1978, the American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation projects have grown to 67 programs
located in 23 states in 2002. Funding increased from $650,000 in 1981 to $23,998,000 today.
AIVRP's providing services on or near their reservation communities (as determined by the tribes) successfully rehabilitated
1,088 American Indians with disabilities in FY 2001. Those services are often provided by American Indian people from the
community who understand the culture, speak the language, and know the resources.
Tribal programs adhere to the Rehabilitation Act in establishing eligibility (which includes serving only American Indians
who are recognized as members of a tribe) and provide assistance comparable to the State VR system under an Individualized
Plan for Employment (IPE). Tribal VRP's provide culturally-relevant supports to American Indians with disabilities often
coupling those services with Indian Health Services, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Tribal services.
Because of the 1998 Amendments to the Rehabilitation Act, cooperative agreements are required between states and Tribal
VRP's. Each agency is responsible for establishment of eligibility and IPE components but each agency can blend its service
to best meet the needs of the consumer. This collaborative assistance frequently results in both agencies claiming successful
rehabilitations when an American Indian with disabilities is employed for 90 days.
Footnotes:
Federal Register, 1977
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration for Native
Americans web site, 1/23/2001
Rehabilitation and American Indians with Disabilities: A Handbook for Administrators, Practitioners, and Researchers, C.A.
Marshall, Ph.D., C.R.C., Editor, AIRRTC, 2002, page 28, American Indians: An Overview of Factors Influencing Health
Care, Disability, and Service Delivery, Priscilla Lansing Sanderson, Author.
Rehabilitation and American Indians with Disabilities: A Handbook for Administrators, Practitioners, and Researchers, C.A.
Marshall, Ph.D., C.R.C., Editor, AIRRTC, 2001, page Xiii, Preface
1997 Trends in Indian Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Indian Health Services, Office of Public Health,
p.6
References:
New Perspectives for Handicapped Indian Individuals, a White Paper issued by the Department of Health and Human
Services, Indian Children's Program in the 1980's
A Study of the Special Problems and Needs of American Indians with Handicaps Both On and Off the Reservation, Vol. I,
Native American Research and Training Center, NAU, 1987
American Indians/Alaska Natives & Cancer, Intercultural Cancer Council,
Various documents prepared by Richard W. Corbridge, Assistant Commissioner, Region X RSA
Rehabilitation and American Indians with Disabilities: A Handbook for Administrators, Practitioners, and Researchers, C. A.
Marshall, Ph.D., C.R.C., Editor, AIRRTC, 2001, page Xiii, Preface
Federal Register, 1997
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration for Native
Americans web site, 1/23/2001
Rehabilitation and American Indians with Disabilities: A Handbook for Administrators, Practitioners, and Researchers, C. A.
Marshall, Ph.D., C.R.C., Editor, AIRRTC, 2001, page 28, American Indians: An Overview of Factors Influencing Health
Care, Disability, and Service Delivery, Priscilla Lansing Sanderson, Author.
1997 Trends in Indian Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Indian Health Services, Office of Public Health
Used with Permission of the Author. 8/21/03
*
History of Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation in Oklahoma
In 1992 the Cherokee Nation and Apache Tribe established a Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation
Program (TVR)
In 1993 the Choctaw Nation establish TVR Program
In 1994 the Iowa Tribe establish TVR Program
In 1996 the Chickasaw Nation establish TVR Program
In 1997 the Cheyenne and Arapaho establish TVR Program
In 1998 the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and the Western Delaware Nation establish TVR Program
Eligibility Criteria

Must be a member of a Federally recognized tribe residing
within the tribes jurisdictional area

Must have a mental or physical disability that results in a
substantial impediment to employment.

Must be able to benefit in terms of employment outcome from
VR services.

Must require VR services to prepare for, enter in, or retain
gainful employment.
*
SSI/SSDI and Eligibility for VR Services
The Act stipulates that an individual that has a disability and is an
SSI/SSDI recipient under the provisions of the Social Security Act, is
presumed to meet eligibility criteria, and is therefore eligible for VR
services, provided that:
The individual intends to achieve an employment outcome, and
The individual is capable of achieving an employment outcome.
*
Federal Regulations Mandate Three and only
three goals of Vocational Rehabilitation.
Employment
Employment
Employment
*
What is Employment?

Entering or retaining full-time or, if appropriate, part-time
competitive employment in the integrated labor market;

It could also mean “supported employment” where the
individual is competitively employed in an integrated setting
but requires on-going support services, due to the nature and
significance of their impairment.

Other vocational outcomes include work that is consistent
with the individual’s strengths, resources, priorities,
concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests, and informed
choice.
*
Types of case closures
Employed full-time in the integrated labor market
Employed part-time in the integrated labor market
Satisfying a vocational outcome of Supported Employment
Satisfying a vocational outcome of self-employment, telecommuting, or
business ownership
All other types of employment (e.g., subsistence activities, unpaid work
on family farm or business, employment in a nonintegrated site, or for
less than minimum wage.
*
Types of Services provided by Tribal VR Programs:
•Assessment for determining eligibility
•
•Assessment for determining vocational rehabilitation needs.
•Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling and Guidance.
•Recruitment and training services to provide new employment
opportunities in the field of rehabilitation, health, welfare, public
safety, law enforcement, and other appropriate public service
employment.
•Job search and placement assistance and job retention services.
•Referral Services
•Supported employment services.
•Physical and Mental restoration Services.
•Personal assistance services.
•Vocational and other training services.
•Post-employment services.
•Maintenance
•Transportation
•Occupational licenses, tools, equipment, initial stock and supplies.
•Vocational rehabilitation Services to family members of an
applicant or eligible individual if necessary to enable eligible
individual to achieve an employment outcome.
•Rehabilitation technology.
•Interpreter services for individual who are deaf And tactile
interpreting services for indivduals who are deaf-blind.
•Reader services, rehabilitation teaching services, and orientation
and mobility services for individuals who are blind.
*
•Transition services
•Other goods and services determined necessary for the individual
with a disability to achieve an employment outcome.
•the above is in accordance with 34 CFR 361.48 Scope of
vocational rehabilitation services for individuals with
disabilities.
•Check with tribal program to see what services
individual program offers.
Funding:
Funding for tribal 121 program is determined by the commissioner
of RSA with a maximum of 1.25% of the overall RSA budget. For
FY 2002 the 121 programs were awarded 1.01% of the RSA budget.
The average grant award is between $350,000 - $500,000 per year.
This means for every one dollar the state of Oklahoma receives from
RSA the tribal unit received just over one cent. Funding is provided
by RSA at a rate of 90% federal with a 10% tribal match, no DRS
funds are provided to the tribal program.
How Services are Provided
Partnerships with other agencies
*
DRS
Department of Rehab
Services
IHS
Indian Health
Service
Other State
agencies
121 Tribal
VR Program
Tribal Health Service
Tribal Programs
Private Organizations
Federal Agencies
121 Programs within the State of Oklahoma
Apache Nation VR
Cherokee Nation VR
Cheyenne and Arapaho VR
Chickasaw Nation VR
Choctaw Nation VR
Delaware Nation VR
Iowa Nation VR
Muscogee (Creek) Nation VR
Not served by a 121 program
* Counties with more than one
color are served by more than one
121 program. Call the program to
define the boundaries.
Anadarko
Apache Tribal VR Program
Address:
Telephone Number:
P.O. Box 1220
1-405-247-7494
Anadarko, OK 73005
Fax Number:
*
1-405-247-9872
Counties served by the Apache Nation VR
1. Caddo *
2. Comanche
3. Cotton
4. Grady * and **
5. Jackson
6. Kiowa **
7. Tillman
* Part of County served by Chickasaw Nation VR
** Part of County served by Delaware Nation VR
Tahlequah
Cherokee Tribal VR Program
Address:
Telephone Number:
P.O. Box 948
1-918-458-4415
Tahlequah, OK 74465
Fax Number:
1-918-458-4482
*
Counties served by the Cherokee Nation
VR
1. Adair
2. Cherokee
3. Craig
4. Delaware
5. Mayes *
6. McIntosh *
7. Muskogee *
8. Nowata
9. Ottawa
10. Rogers *
11. Sequoyah
12. Tulsa *
13. Wagoner *
14. Washington
* Part of County served by Creek Nation VR
Concho
Cheyenne & Arapaho
Tribal VR Program
Address:
Telephone Number:
P.O. Box 38
1-405-422-1178
Concho, OK 73022
*
Fax Number:
1-405-422-7618
Counties served by the
Cheyenne and Arapaho Nation VR
1. Beckham
2. Blaine *
4. Custer
5. Dewey
7. Kingfisher
8. Major
10. Washita
11. Woodward
* Part of County served by Delaware Nation VR
3. Canadian
6. Ellis
9. Roger Mills
Ada
Chickasaw Tribal VR Program
Address:
Telephone Number:
222 South Mississippi
1-580-436-0553
Ada, OK 74820
Fax Number:
*
1-580-436-0830
Counties served by the Chickasaw Nation VR
1. Bryan *
2. Carter
4. Garvin
5. Grady * and **
7. Johnston
8. Love
10. McClain **
11. Murray
13. Stephens
* Part of County served by Choctaw Nation VR
** Part of County served by Delaware Nation VR
3. Coal *
6. Jefferson
9. Marshall
12. Pontotoc
Hugo
Choctaw Nation Tribal VR
Program
Address:
Telephone Number:
P.O. Box 88
1-580-326-8304
Hugo, OK 74743
Fax Number:
1-580-326-2410
Counties served by the Choctaw Nation VR
1. Atoka
2. Bryan *
4. Coal *
5. Haskell
7. LeFlore
8. McCurtain
10. Pushmataha
11. Hughes **
* Part of County served by Chickasaw Nation VR
** Part of County served by Creek Nation VR
3. Choctaw
6. Latimer
9. Pittsburg
*
Oklahoma City
Delaware Nation Tribal VR Program
Address:
Telephone Number:
7249 S. Western, Suite 104
1-405-632-3749
Oklahoma City, OK 73139
Fax Number:
1-405-632-9753
Counties served by the Delaware Nation VR
1. Blaine *
4. Grady ** and ***
7. McLain ***
2. Caddo **
5. Kiowa **
8. Oklahoma
3. Cleveland
6. Logan ****
* Part of County served by Cheyenne and Arapaho Nation VR
** Part of County served by Apache Nation VR
*** Part of County served by Chickasaw Nation VR
**** Part of County served by Iowa Nation VR
*
Perkins
Iowa Nation
Tribal VR Program
Address:
Telephone Number:
R.R. 1, Box 721
1-405-547-5721
Perkins, OK 74059
Fax Number:
*
1-405-547-1090
Counties served by the Iowa Nation VR
1. Kay
4. Noble
7. Pottawatomie
2. Lincoln
5. Pawnee
* Part of County served by Delaware Nation VR
3. Logan *
6. Payne
Okemah
Muscogee (Creek) Nation
Tribal VR Program
Address:
Telephone Number:
401 S. Woody Guthrie
1-918-623-1197
Okemah, OK 74859
Fax Number:
*
1-918-623-2796
Counties served by the MCNVRP
1. Creek
4. McIntosh *
7. Okmulgee
10. Tulsa *
2. Hughes
5. Muskogee *
8. Rogers *
11. Wagoner *
* Part of County served by Cherokee Nation VR
** Part of County not served by 121 Program.
3. Mayes *
6. Okfuskee
9. Seminole **
Counties not served by a 121 VR Program
Counties not served by
a 121 Program
1. Alfalfa
2. Beaver
3. Cimarron
4. Garfield
5. Grant
6. Greer
7. Harman
8. Harper
9. Osage
10. Ottawa *
11. Seminole **
12.Texas
*
* Part of County served by Cherokee
Nation VR
** Part of County served by Creek
Nation VR
VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION SERVICE PROJECTS
FOR AMERICAN INDIANS WITH DISABILITIES
Alaska total:
Arizona total:
California total:
Colorado total:
Connecticut total:
Georgia total:
Idaho total:
Kansas total:
Louisiana total:
Michigan total:
Minnesota total:
Mississippi total:
Montana total:
10
4
4
2
1
1
3
1
2
1
2
1
5
http://www.nau.edu/ihd/CANAR/map.html
Nevada total:
New Mexico total:
New York total:
North Carolina total:
North Dakota total:
Oklahoma total:
Oregon total:
South Dakota total:
Washington total:
Wisconsin total:
Wyoming total:
Ontario Canada total:
1
4
2
1
4
8
2
4
5
3
2
1
Federally-Recognized
Indian Tribes In Kansas
Iowa Tribe of KS & NV
Route 1, Box 58A
White Cloud, Kansas 66094
(913) 595-3258 (FAX) 595-6610
Kickapoo Tribe of Indians
P.O. Box 271
Horton, Kansas 64439
(913) 486-2131 (FAX) 486-2801
Prairie Band of Potawatomi
14880 K Road
Mayetta, Kansas 66439
(913) 966-2255 (FAX) 966-2144
Sac & Fox Nation of MO
Route 1, Box 60
Reserve, Kansas 66434
(913) 742-7471 (FAX) 742-3785
On April 4, 2008, the U.S. government's Federal Register issued an
official list of 562 tribes in the Federal Register as Indian Entities
Recognized and Eligible To Receive Services From the United States
Bureau of Indian Affairs.
MVTO
Thank you
From Muscogee (Creek)
Nation Vocational
Rehabilitation