INDIAN ISLAND, Maine — The Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, in collaboration with Penobscot Nation, have announced the first-ever Wabanaki Child Support Consortium.
The goal of the Child Support Services program is to improve the lives of children, assist parents in their decision-making efforts, enhance family values to the benefit of family members and their tribal community, and strengthen tribal sovereignty through greater use of tribal institutions.
HBMI Chief Clarissa Sabattis signed the historic agreement June 4 at the Penobscot Nation’s administration building at Indian Island.
“This agreement is an opportunity to strengthen our sovereignty and self-determination,” Chief Sabattis said. “Having this authority under our own nation will allow for easier accessibility for our citizens.”
The tribe will be able to tailor the program to its own culture and specific to its population, which can lead to a more effective and successful program, she added.
“This vision has been a dream of the Penobscot Nation Program Coordinator for some time and Chief Sabattis supported this effort to bring more services to the community,” explained Awendela Williams, WCSC program coordinator. “This is an exciting new journey.”
The Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians will now be able to establish child support orders for separated or divorced parents, enforce those orders as well as modify child support orders.
The collaboration will bring tribal child support services, which is financial support for families, to the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians. Tribal child support programs locate custodial and noncustodial parents, establish legal fatherhood (paternity), establish child support orders and enforce orders.
The new program will provide child support establishment, enforcement, modification of child support and paternity establishment. It also cooperates with other tribal child support agencies and state agencies to ensure the well-being of children.
Since 2008, Penobscot Nation has been the only Tribal Child Support program in Region 1, which includes Maine, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.
Nationwide, there are currently 60 tribes operating comprehensive child support programs, providing services to Native American families consistent with tribal values and cultures, according to the Office of Child Support Enforcement. In FY 2020, these programs managed over 57,000 cases and collected over $57 million for Native American families.
HBMI is currently seeking a case manager for the program, to be based at the Houlton tribal reservation. A community informational meeting will be announced at a later date.
