Contracts & Programs
2020 Census
Suscol Intertribal Council has partnered with the 2020 Census in order to obtain adequate funding and resources for our community. Every member is valued, so don't forget to count all children, especially those under 5, as well as any family members and tenants living at the same address (even temporarily). Suscol Council has been contracted to spread the word about hard-to-count populations. We work to increase visibility of Native people in Napa county. With the Covid-19 emergency, the census was extended. Census 2020 contract completed successfully October, 2020.
Prevention & Early Intervention
Suscol Intertribal Council's partnership with Napa County's Prevention and Early Intervention Program (PEI) funded by the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) is designed to support the local Native American community in Napa County. The program goals are to create culturally structured activities and events that will strengthen family bonds and improve mental health and wellness for all ages. Suscol Intertribal Council facilitates an array of classes and events meant to strengthen the community and establish a relationship based in healing and support among the Native and non-Native populations of Napa Valley. With this contract, we provide:
- Monthly classes open to the public promoting cultural connection, mental wellness, and knowledge of mental health resources
- Annual events to raise money for the Suskol House
- Educational Outreach (Classroom presentations K-16)
- Community Outreach (Farmer's Market, attendance and tabling at local events, presentations)
- Referrals to other community organizations
Innovations
In 2018, Suscol Intertribal Council began work on a pilot project, funded through the Napa County Mental Health Service Act, Innovation Funds, called the "Historical Trauma & Traditional Healing Project". A cultural advisory board made up of California Native American elders and cultural specialists, along with Suscol staff, developed a curriculum with a mental health lens on the historical hardships Native Americans faced, and continue to face in contemporary times due to colonization. Many programs have been moved over to the Prevention & Early Intervention contract. Contact will be completed June, 2021.
T.E.A.M. & C.H.A.N.G.E.S.
Subcontracted by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)
Suscol Intertribal Council is a contracted agency to assist Native Americans and those living in rural and remote areas to resolve complaints with phone companies. A component of this project is to educate the consumer about how to resolve issues and to reduce phone costs by understanding the phone bill.
Community Help & Awareness of Natural Gas and Electric Services
Provides services to Limited English Proficient consumers who need help with energy issues. The program provides consumer education and complaint resolution (between the consumer and their investor owned utility). Program promoting awareness of utility and gas bills and the available programs that discount these costs. CHANGES provides educational outreach and assistance for low cost programs, such as CARE from PG&E, which provides monthly discounts to electricity and gas bills for qualified households.
​Additional programs:
FERA: provides monthly discount on electric bills for income qualified households of 3 or more persons
Medical Baseline: residential customers dependent on life-support equipment may be eligible to receive additional quantities of energy at lowest baseline price
LifeLine
The California LifeLine Program provides discounts on home phone and cell phone services to qualified households. The California LifeLine discounts help consumers lower the cost of their phone bills. Call a participating phone company and ask for the California LifeLine discounts to start the application process. Suscol Council educates on programs such as Enhanced Lifeline for Tribal lands. This program is specific to people living on tribal lands who are income qualified to have lifeline phone service for as little as $1 dollar per month. Please contact the Suscol Council office if you have any questions concerning phone services or complaints about phone service. A field representative is available to come to your tribal office, business, or agency to educate your clients about lower cost programs for which they might be eligible.