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CHEYENNE-ARAPAHO TRIBES OF OKLAHOMA

JOHNSON O’MALLEY PROGRAM

     The Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes began contracting the Johnson O'Malley Program from the Bureau of Indian Affairs in 1977.  The first contract was only a three (3) month contract as it began towards the end of the fiscal year.  The first full year contract began in 1978.  The Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes serve as the prime contractor of the JOM Program, serving the nine county service area.  The Cheyenne- Arapaho (C & A) JOM Program is a Tribal Contract, which means it is contracted and administered by the Tribes, not within the school system or by an incorporated JOM Parent Committee.  The JOM Contract year extends from January to December yearly.  The C & A JOM Program is responsible for administering JOM funding and working with JOM Parent Communities to provide educational assistance to eligible Indian students.

     The C & A JOM Program provides services to 20 JOM Parent Communities with a student count of 1433 eligible Indian students.  Of the 20 JOM Parent Communities, 17 provide services to students attending public school systems and 3 provide services to students enrolled within a local Head Start Center.  JOM Parent Communities serviced by the C&A Tribal Contract are as follows:

JOM Parent Committee’s:

Canton     Calumet     Clinton     Colony     Darlington     Elk City     Enid     Geary    Hammon     Kingfisher     Mustang     Seiling     Thomas     Watonga     Woodward     Yukon

The JOM Program Staff include:  If funding permits, a JOM Coordinator and a JOM Secretary. 

Duties of the JOM Coordinator include, but are not limited to, the following:

1.  Responsible for the Administration of the JOM Contract and services.
2.  Responsible for the preparation and submission of the JOM Budget and Contract.
3.  Responsible for obtaining approval of any modifications to the program budget.
4.  Responsible for setting meetings of the Indian Education Committee, as needed.
5.  Responsible for ensuring that each JOM Parent Committee is active, providing efficient services to
    students and meeting their program objectives.
6.  Responsible for ensuring that all expenditures are within the allowable cost and allowed for in the program budget.
7.  Responsible for ensuring that Educational Support & Incentive Award guidelines are followed.
8.  Responsible for determining student eligibility for services.
9.  Responsible for conducting the Annual Student Count.
10. Responsible for maintaining program records for annual Bureau of Indian Affairs Review.

 
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

The JOM Coordinator is responsible in determining student eligibility for JOM services.  Three components are used in determining student eligibility:

1.  Completed JOM Application:                    

Previous students application will be maintained.  The application itself serves as a Release of Information from the school system.  Information to be requested will be Verification of student enrollment (for student count purposes) and student listings (to determine who needs assistance for extra curricular activities or to verify eligibility for incentive awards).  Since this is an important form of documentation, services cannot be provided to students who do not have a current application on file.

The appearance and color of the JOM will vary each year in order to differentiate each school term.  The JOM Applications will be sent to the committee’s in July of each year.  This will give the committee sufficient time to distribute and collect completed applications for the new school term.  It is recommended that each committee plan an activity during the July or August (before the start of school) for the purpose of completing applications and approving expenditures for school supply purchases.

2.  Certified Degree of Indian Blood (CDIB):

Student eligibility is determined by submission of a Certified Degree of Indian Blood (CDIB) from a federally recognized tribe.  This information is required to be on file for monitoring purposes (when our files are reviewed by the BIA, they will verify that each student on our Student Listing has CDIB/documentation in place.  The CDIB must show the signature of this issuing tribal official).  For Cheyenne-Arapaho enrolled students we can obtain the CDIB from the Tribal Enrollment Office, however, parents of non-tribal students will be responsible for submitted a copy of the CDIB when completing the JOM Application.  If the student is a continuing student (and their name appears on the student listing) their CDIB and application is already on file.

3.  Students who are “not enrolled”  with a federally recognized tribe can be determined eligible if they meet the following qualifications:

     A.     Their total blood quantum is ¼ or more degree and
     B.     They are a descendant of an enrolled tribal member. 

In order to be considered under these conditions, the following documentation is required:

     1.      CDIB of enrolled parent or CDIB-2
     2.     Copy of Student’s Birth Certificate (to show relationship to enrolled parent)

The Johnson O'Malley Program does offer financial reimbursement for educational support items.  These items may include reimbursement for eye glasses, athletic footwear, school supplies, etc.  Please click the following link for additional information:

For Additional Information Regarding JOM
Please Contact:
Francine Williams
Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma
Department of Education
PO Box 38
Concho, Oklahoma  73022
(405) 422-7566
fwilliams@c-a-tribes.org

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