ABSTRACT
Service providers and others who are to be involved in the service delivery system go through a period of orientation, in which they receive information on the local history, culture, social structures and values, for the purpose of sensitizing them to the needs of the elders. The Office of Senior Affairs (OSA) is a central coordinating point for the array of services and programs in the village that address the needs of the elders. Elders’ Rights is a legal assistance program in which the OSA makes referrals to state-provided legal aid or to the tribal courts, in cases where the elders’ rights have been violated. The Elder Assist campaign is a communitywide effort in which community members give two to four hours per week providing various kinds of assistance to the elders. Cooperative agreements are also developed between service provider agencies, helping to eliminate “turfism” and gaps or overlap in the delivery of services.
