Direct Employment Program

Employment Assistance

This program provides funding for employment assistance to qualified applicants of labor-market-age to obtain and retain full-time employment. See if you meet the eligibility requirements (PDF).

Requirements 

  • An applicant can only apply twice in their lifetime.
  • If the applicant is approved and does receive funds from the direct employment program, the applicant must provide receipts of how the money was spent. If the applicant does not return the receipts to the Family Services Office, they will not be eligible for any other programs that the Family Services Department provides.
  • If there is any fraudulent or omitted information on the application, the applicant could be ineligible for any other programs the Family Services Department offers. Also, according to the 25 Code of Federal Regulations Part 20 Subpart F Section 20.607, applicants or recipients who knowingly and willfully provide false or fraudulent information are subject to prosecution under 18 United States Code 1001, which carries a fine of not more than $10,000 or imprisonment for not more than five years or both.
  • The applicant may turn in any bills, such as utilities, rent, care payment, etc., that they would like the direct employment program to pay for them, up to a certain amount. Our program cannot give the applicant any funds unless it is for items such as gasoline, food, clothing, necessity items for work, like tools, etc., but there are times that exceptions can be made under certain circumstances.
  • The applicant must be an enrolled member of a nationally recognized Tribe.
  • The application must be filled out completely. If the application is not complete, it will be returned to the applicant, which will delay the process.
  • The applicant must have started his / her job before they are eligible for any services.
  • The applicant must have the direct employment application (PDF) turned in before the applicant can receive his / her first paycheck.
  • The applicant must reside in Ottawa County.
  • The applicant must supply a yellow Tribal Enrollment Card, driver's license, or state ID, and their Social Security card.