Indian Employment Assistance

To provide vocational training and employment opportunities to eligible American Indians and Alaska Natives to reduce Federal dependence.

Program assists eligible applicants in developing job skills, securing employment, and working toward self-sufficiency. Services provided include adult vocational training, direct employment assistance, and potential funding for employment, training, or supplemental support associated with job placement or training. To qualify for funding, individuals must be enrolled in a Federally Recognized Tribe, reside on or near the tribe's reservation or service area, be unemployed or underemployed as defined by the Tribe, and have an Individual Service Plan (ISP).

Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments and Native American Organizations authorized by Indian Tribal Governments may apply to administer the program. Individual American Indian and Alaska Native applicants must be a member of a Federally Recognized Indian Tribe, be in need of financial assistance, and reside on or near an Indian reservation or in Alaska under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Members of Federally Recognized Indian Tribes who are unemployed, underemployed, or in need of training to obtain reasonable and gainful employment. Complete information on beneficiary eligibility is found in 25 CFR, Part 26.

Financial aid is used to assist individual Indians to obtain a marketable skill through vocational training and to assist those who have a job skill to find permanent employment. Vocational and employment counseling are provided by the program. Eligible American Indians and Alaska Natives may receive vocational training or job placement on or near the reservation or in Urban and Rural settings.

Awards to Indian Tribal Governments and Native American Organizations to administer the program are made on an annual basis and the funds remain available until expended by the contractor/grantee. Payments may be made in advance or by way of reimbursement. The timing of payments will be negotiated with the Tribal Government. Grants to individual beneficiaries for subsistence, tuition and related training costs, supportive services, etc., are released as required by beneficiary, up to the amount of the award. Assistance for job placement is provided until the beneficiary receives the first full paycheck from employment. Individual beneficiaries may not receive more than 24 months of full-time training, except for Registered Nursing students who may receive 36 months of training.

To apply for program services, applicants must first submit their application through the designated servicing office or tribal service provider. Along with the application, individuals are required to provide an Individual Service Plan (ISP), which outlines their employment goals and the support needed to achieve them. Once all necessary documents have been submitted, applicants will undergo a review process, and those selected will receive assistance as part of the program.

The dollar value of the awards to Indian Tribal Governments depends upon the amount that has been prioritized by the individual Tribe through tribal participation in the Bureau of Indian Affairs' Tribal Priority Allocation budget formulation process. Applications for individual benefits are approved by the Bureau Agency Superintendent or authorized tribal representative.

Applications by Tribal Governments to administer the program will be processed within 90 days. Applications by individuals for benefits will be processed within 30 days.

Awards to Tribal Governments to administer the program may be renewed indefinitely upon satisfactory performance by the contractor/grantee. A notice of intent to renew should be submitted at least 90 days prior to the expiration of the current award. The amount of the award may be adjusted as a result of individual tribal priorities established in the budget formulation process. Renewals of grants to individual beneficiaries are based on evidence of satisfactory performance and the availability of funds.

A Tribal Government whose request to administer the program is denied may request an informal conference with the deciding official, or may appeal the denial of the application to the Federal Civilian Board of Appeals, or may bring suit in U.S. District Court. Full appeal procedures are found in 25 CFR, Part 900. An individual may appeal the BIA agency Superintendent's decision to the Regional Director. The complete appeal process for an individual is found in 25 CFR Part 2, "Appeals from Administrative Action." An appeal of a Tribal contractor's decision must be made under the Tribe's appeal procedures.