St. Regis Mohawk Tribe: News & Resources

Jeffrey C. Whelan, Director for the Tribe’s Human Services Division said, “The renewed funding will allow TVR to continue working with businesses on and off the reservation in locating employees.” Whalen added, “We have established a good working relationship with local employers and TVR will continue helping tribal members with disabilities to find meaningful jobs.”

Since it was created in 2000, TVR has provided vocational services to disabled tribal members that support individual efforts to find and maintain employment. Specific services they provide include job placement, on the job training, job related tools and uniforms, vocational counseling, medical and physical evaluations, and any other services that may be required for employment purposes.

In order to receive services, individual’s need to complete an Individualized Plan of Employment that outlines their efforts to locate a job and stay employed. In the past, TVR had to assist disabled tribal members in covering the cost of Aim High Driving School , mandatory training programs, psychological assessments and tuition fees.

Many of the TVR’s consumers come as referrals from other tribal agencies and from outside agencies, such as Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities and BOCES. The renewed funding will enable them to continue servicing their current consumers and to accept now ones.

The program also offer services to local employers, such as on-site assistance and job coaching, transportation for up to three days when a consumer starts a job, counseling and rehabilitative programs and support, wage reimbursement for up to two weeks with prior approval, and continued long-term support as needed.

Over the last three years, TVR along with the Human Services Division hosted a Disability Awareness Day. The event is typically help during May or June and provides the program with an opportunity to educate the community on services that exist for people with disabilities. Planning for the 2006 Disability Awareness Day will get underway next month.

Previous Disability Awareness Days included tribal programs and various agencies from the surrounding region. Tables were set-up for programs to provide informational handout and to answer specific questions on their services. One event included a performance by a Cornwall , Ontario comedy group aimed at addressing the lack of understanding people may have of blindness.

Congress first funded the Native American Vocational Rehabilitation Program in 1986, with the Tribe’s TVR program receiving its initial funding in October 2000. Since then, TVR has provided vocational services to 318 consumers, well surpassing the 150 proposed in the original grant. From the more than 300 consumers, 109 have found lasting employment, exceeding the proposed figure of 25.

Jason McDonald, TVR Program Manager expressed his enthusiasm, “Our first five years of services was a tremendous success with the program surpassing the number of consumers that was originally proposed.” McDonald is looking forward to building upon TVR’s success, adding, “The staff of the Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation Program looks forward to continue serving the Akwesasne Community.”

If you would like more information, or have questions regarding what services you may be eligible to receive, please call the Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation Program at (518) 358-358-6125 or 358-6176. Information on TVR’s services can also be found on the Tribe’s website at www.stregismohawktribe.com.








		PRESS RELEASE For immediate release: Tsiothohrha/December 15, 2005 For information contact: Public Information Office St. Regis Mohawk Tribe Tel: (518) 358-2272 ext. 236 Fax: (518) 358-9675 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION RENEWS GRANT FOR TRIBAL REHABILITATION PROGRAM Funding Will Help Disabled Tribal Members Find Employment A KWESASNE , NY – The St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation Program (TVR) received a renewal of their federal grant last month that will permit them to continue serving disabled tribal members for the next five years. The U.S. Department of Education’s Rehabilitation Services Administration awarded TVR with $1.85 million to provide various services to support individual’s efforts to locate employment. Jeffrey C. Whelan, Director for the Tribe’s Human Services Division said, “The renewed funding will allow TVR to continue working with businesses on and off the reservation in locating employees.” Whalen added, “We have established a good working relationship with local employers and TVR will continue helping tribal members with disabilities to find meaningful jobs.” Since it was created in 2000, TVR has provided vocational services to disabled tribal members that support individual efforts to find and maintain employment. Specific services they provide include job placement, on the job training, job related tools and uniforms, vocational counseling, medical and physical evaluations, and any other services that may be required for employment purposes. In order to receive services, individual’s need to complete an Individualized Plan of Employment that outlines their efforts to locate a job and stay employed. In the past, TVR had to assist disabled tribal members in covering the cost of Aim High Driving School , mandatory training programs, psychological assessments and tuition fees. Many of the TVR’s consumers come as referrals from other tribal agencies and from outside agencies, such as Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities and BOCES. The renewed funding will enable them to continue servicing their current consumers and to accept now ones. The program also offer services to local employers, such as on-site assistance and job coaching, transportation for up to three days when a consumer starts a job, counseling and rehabilitative programs and support, wage reimbursement for up to two weeks with prior approval, and continued long-term support as needed. Over the last three years, TVR along with the Human Services Division hosted a Disability Awareness Day. The event is typically help during May or June and provides the program with an opportunity to educate the community on services that exist for people with disabilities. Planning for the 2006 Disability Awareness Day will get underway next month. Previous Disability Awareness Days included tribal programs and various agencies from the surrounding region. Tables were set-up for programs to provide informational handout and to answer specific questions on their services. One event included a performance by a Cornwall , Ontario comedy group aimed at addressing the lack of understanding people may have of blindness. Congress first funded the Native American Vocational Rehabilitation Program in 1986, with the Tribe’s TVR program receiving its initial funding in October 2000. Since then, TVR has provided vocational services to 318 consumers, well surpassing the 150 proposed in the original grant. From the more than 300 consumers, 109 have found lasting employment, exceeding the proposed figure of 25. Jason McDonald, TVR Program Manager expressed his enthusiasm, “Our first five years of services was a tremendous success with the program surpassing the number of consumers that was originally proposed.” McDonald is looking forward to building upon TVR’s success, adding, “The staff of the Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation Program looks forward to continue serving the Akwesasne Community.” If you would like more information, or have questions regarding what services you may be eligible to receive, please call the Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation Program at (518) 358-358-6125 or 358-6176. Information on TVR’s services can also be found on the Tribe’s website at www.stregismohawktribe.com. --30-- The St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Council is the duly elected and federally recognized government of the Mohawk people.