Office Hours: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday - Friday

Social Service Staff Members:

Jill Denault, LSW, County Director III
Diane Bjarnason, Administrative Assistant I
Tina Brevik, Account Technician II
Jennifer Polly, Licensed Social Worker III
Lynelle Fraser, Licensed Social Worker III
Charity Stegman, Eligibility Technician
Shan Pecka, Eligibility Worker Technician
Jessica Wellman, Eligibility Worker Technician
Carol Thompson, Eligibility Worker I
Jo Anne Lupien, Eligibility Worker I
Holly Parenteau, Eligibility Worker Supervisor
Jan Austfjord, Eligibility Worker I
Kathleen Carpenter, Parent Aide
Valorie Letkeman, In-Home Care Specialist II
Lori Lynch, In-Home Care Specialist II

Social Service Board Members:

Dwight Longtin, Chairman
Ardis Olson, Vice-Chair
Corene Vaughn, Member
Hugh Ralston, Member
Gail McMartin, Member

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FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

All financial assistance programs are administered by Eligibility Workers. Financial assistance programs are designed for short term assistance to enhance individuals who are able-bodied to become self-sufficient as soon as possible.

TANF
(Temporary Aid for Needy Families)
Provides the basic minimums for food, clothing and shelter for children who are deprived of those needs due to death, desertion, separation, or disability of one or both parents. Income and assets are considered for eligibility. Time limit of 60 months to receive this program.

JOBS
Provides education, training, child care, and incentives towards employment.

FOOD STAMPS

BASIC CARE ASSISTANCE
Payment to basic care facility to supplement an individual’s income to meet the rate for “Basic Care,” or Rest Home Care. Individuals must be eligible for Medicaid to receive Basic Care assistance.

MEDICAID
Referred to as MA or Medical Assistance. The purpose of this program is to provide assistance for persons whose income and resources are not sufficient to meet the cost of necessary medical expenses or long term care. Income and assets are considered for eligibility.

CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE

FUEL ASSISTANCE
Also referred to as LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program). Benefits are all Federal funds. Program is available from October 1st through May 31st each year to help with heating costs. Eligibility is based on income and assets.

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CHILDREN’S SPECIAL HEALTH SERVICES
Diagnostic services for treatment for children who have certain crippling conditions, i.e. cerebral palsy, cleft lip and palate, diabetes, hearing loss, heart condition, scoliosis, spina bifida, etc. There are income and asset maximums for eligibility.

DAY CARE LICENSING
Complete licensing for center, group, and family daycares.

FOSTER CARE LICENSING
The provision of substitute parental child care when children need to be removed from their home. Licensure is required. The process involves making application to County Social Services, a home study, fire and safety checks of the home, and references. Pembina County is in great need of foster care homes!

PRIME TIME DAY CARE
Paid childcare for families in crisis. These services are intended to enable parents to attend parenting classes, therapy, drug/alcohol treatment, or respite from parenting responsibilities.

PARENT AIDE SERVICES
This program is to empower parents to more effectively parent their children. This service helps prevent out-of-home placements.

CROSSROADS PROGRAM
Program that may be available to young parents who are age 20 years or under, who are the primary caretaker of their child, and who are pursuing their high school diploma, alternative high school placement, or a GED program. Childcare costs are paid for child while parent is attending school.

SUBSIDIZED ADOPTION
Provides financial assistance to assure the adoption of children whose handicap, age, sibling group, or minority background might otherwise prevent their adoption.

FAMILY HOME CARE
Assists persons who are experiencing difficulty living independently and unable to provide for their own needs.

HOMEMAKER / PERSONAL CARE
Assistance to complete environmental tasks that an elderly or disabled individual is not able to complete himself in order to maintain that individual’s own home.

ABC PROGRAM
Program for prevention of physical and sexual abuse of children provided to all Kindergarten classes in Pembina County.

CHILD PROTECTION SERVICES
Social Services is mandated by law to complete an assessment with regards to all alleged concerns our agency receives regarding children, ages 0-18, who are allegedly being neglected or abused that fall within the Child Abuse / Neglect Law. This assessment is completed by a licensed social worker to determine what, if any, services are needed to protect and promote the safety and well-being and permanence of children. All individuals making a report of concern of a child are protected by law and are kept confidential.

REGION IV – HEALTY FAMILIES
A collaboration of 14 private and public organizations in Grand Forks, Nelson, Pembina and Walsh Counties in North Dakota. This is a free, voluntary home visiting program for parents of newborns. The program is designed to provide support and education to families in their own home. For more information, please call: 701-746-2064 or 1-800-366-9841.

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TOLL FREE NUMBERS TO VARIOUS SERVICES

Child Support (ND) 1-800-755-2671
AIDS Hotline 1-800-472-2180
Alzheimer’s Association 1-800-438-4380
American Cancer Society 1-800-342-4535
American Heart Association 1-800-532-8688
Arthritis Foundation 1-800-437-5845
Ask-A-Nurse (24 hours) 1-800-552-0190
Better Hearing Institute 1-800-327-9355
Domestic Violence 1-800-472-2911
Epileptic Foundation 1-800-292-7932
Housing Discrimination 1-800-424-8590
Legal Aide of ND 1-800-634-5263
Mental Health Services 1-800-755-2719
Multiple Sclerosis Society 1-800-437-4757
Poison Control Ctr – Fargo 1-800-732-2200
Red Cross 1-800-252-6747
Senior Info Service 1-800-832-0120
Social Security Adm. 1-800-772-1213
Substance Abuse Services 1-800-642-6042
Suicide Prevention 1-800-472-2911

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