477 Human Services.
The 477 Human Services Department includes the Tribes’ education and emergency assistance services. The department’s central office is located in the old Fort Hall Casino building on the north side. Please park and enter on the north side of the building.
The 477 Department was created in 2011 to streamline assistance to tribal members in need & to better assist those wanting to further their education to improve their employability.
About Our 477 Department .
The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes operate a consolidated 477 Program authorized under Public Law 102-477 or the Education, Employment, Training and Related Services Demonstration Act of 1992. Programs authorized under this program include Workforce Investment Act (WIA) services for youth and adults from the US Department of Labor, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) from the Department of Health and Human Services, and Adult Education, Job Placement and Training, and Higher Education funding from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The contract is authorized through the Division of Workforce Development under the Office Indian Energy and Economic Development, BIA in Washington, DC.\n\n[/cs_content_seo]
Applications and Resources.
477 Program Overview
477 Human Services overview document with important dates and deadlines
Download OverviewFAQs
TANF Cash Assistance – Residency: 1) If applicant is an enrolled member of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribe, the family must reside in Bingham, Bannock, Caribou, or Power County in Idaho; and 2) If applicant is not a member of the Tribe, they must live on the Fort Hall Reservation.
Higher Education – Scholarships for those seeking a four-year bachelor’s degree are only awarded to enrolled members of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribe; and there is no residency requirement, but the applicant must complete an application for services with supporting eligibility documents, and school document found in the Higher Education Scholarship packet.
LIHEAP (Low-Income Heating and Energy Assistance Program) – Applicants must reside
within a 50 mile radius of the reservation.
Areas of Service.
Education, Employment & Training.
The purposes of this program is to demonstrate how Tribes can more effectively serve low-income, unemployed or underemployed people who reside in the Tribe’s service area; to reduce joblessness; and to reduce welfare dependency by providing education, employment, training or related services.
For Adults – As a requirement for federal grant services, all requests for education, training, or employment services must demonstrate that the service will lead to the attainment of a job skill or occupational certification; degree; and/or employment. Services or activities include:
Adult Basic Education and GED services
Apprenticeship (and pre-apprenticeship) services
Applied Technology or Vocational Technical Training (Certified training to attain an Associate’s Degree or job skill or occupational certificate/license)
Higher Education Services
Job Search and Job Retention instruction and services
Employment Assistance
Transitional Work Experience (only for custodial TANF parents)
Workforce Training or short-term training
For Youth – Applicants must be 14 through 21 years of age at the time of enrollment. Priority for services is low income or young people who have barriers to employment such as the lack of a high school diploma or GED, no work experience, lack of marketable job skills. Services are the same as above, except that under WIA funds the department is able to provide training and work experience opportunities for youth during the summer when school is out.
Summer Youth Program.
Program services are available to eligible resident American Indian, Native Hawaiians, and Native Alaskan youth between the ages of 14-21.
We urge parents and family members to provide support to their youth by assisting them with the application, and to submit the application by the deadline, Friday, June 5, 2015 by 5PM. If an applicant or parents have questions or need assistance with the application, please refer them to the 477 Department and we will assist.
Important Information and Dates
Deadline for the application will be early June 2017.
Applications will be reviewed the week of June 8th
All applicants are notified by letter regarding the status of their application. Letters will be sent out no later than Friday, June 12th with one letter addressed to the applicant, and one addressed to the parent/guardian at the address listed on the application.
If an application is complete, the letter is an invitation to the Orientation. The date of Orientation has not been confirmed but will occur during the dates of June 18-30. Read the letter very carefully.
If an application is incomplete, the letter will ask the applicant to provide additional documentation needed to complete the process; when completed, the youth applicant will be placed on the Alternate List.
The program will begin on Monday, July 6th to August 6th
Cash Assistance or Temporary Assistance to Families in Need.
The Cash Assistance or Temporary Assistance to Families in Need (TANF) Program is for resident single parents of two-parent families in custody of children under 18 years of age. Parents are required to participate in work participation activities and may include any of the services identified above for youth or adult participants designed to assist with employability development, family self-sufficiency, and/or unsubsidized employment.
Cash Assistance for Families in Need – for resident single parents of two-parent families in custody of children under 18 years of age. Parents are required to participate in work participation activities and may include any of the services identified above for youth or adult participants designed to assist with employability development, family self-sufficiency, and/or unsubsidized employment.
Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) .
Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) or Energy Assistance and Weatherization Services are intended to help low-income families with energy assistance and services to help make their home more energy efficient and to reduce heating and cooling costs.
Other Shoshone-Bannock General Fund Services – These services include energy assistance, weatherization, and scholarships for those who are over income or do not qualify for federal grant assistance; emergency medical assistance, services for elderly and disabled persons, child protection, and other one-time or temporary assistance.
Tribal Youth Education Program .
The Tribal Youth Education Program was created and implemented in the Fall of 2005 to address and identify educational issues affecting local American Indian youth in kindergarten through twelfth grade.
The mission of the Tribal Youth Education Program is to increase ISAT scores, decrease student absenteeism, decrease the student dropout rate, increase high school graduation rates, and increase college preparedness of Indian students in this area.
TYEP Manager
Jessica James, M.A.
Tribal Library.
Our Tribal Library and Book Mobile offers a range of essential services, including book lending, access to information and technology resources, community programs, reference assistance, digital resources, educational support, cultural and historical preservation efforts, and community engagement initiatives.
Vocational Rehabilitation Program .
The Vocational Rehabilitation Program is designed to get people seeking work back into jobs.
The Vocational Rehabilitation Program is designed to break down barriers for American Indians with disabilities to become employable. VR is a eligibility program and must meet 5 main criteria:
- Enrolled in a Federal Recognized Tribe
- Live on or near Fort Hall Seeking employment
- Benefit from VR
- The disability must be a barrier to employment
477 Department Highlights.
Contact 477 Department.
Contact Us
P: (208)478-3845
Pima Drive
P.O. Box 306
Fort Hall, ID 83203
Summer Youth Program.
We continually strengthen our youth in the community through unique summer programs designed to keep kids healthy and educated. Download your application for the upcoming summer today.
Download Application