At the Sept. 9 Sawyer County Health and Human Services meeting Lorraine (identified in the transcript as "Miss Lorraine") said she has been appointed to rejoin the board as the tribe's representative and asked county staff to collaborate on several services for tribal members.

Lorraine said the tribal elder center is up and running and that tribal leaders are seeking ways to expand respite care so elders can remain at home while caregivers receive breaks. She asked the county to work with the tribe on respite options and to coordinate on the Indian Child Welfare (ICW) 161 agreement, which Lorraine said "hasn't been renewed for a couple years" and needs updating to continue collaborative child and family services.

"We would like to have more respite care for our elders," Lorraine said. "We are looking for ways on how we can keep increasing that area so that they can remain home, but yet have more people helping to care for them."

Lorraine also reported the tribe's clinic and a cultural Bijiki Center are operating, two nurse practitioners will be joining clinic staff soon, and LCO University recently opened dorms that will house up to 80 students. She described the Bijiki Center's focus on cultural teachings and community healing events.

Carol Martin, representing the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) and adult protective services, reported an increase in complex APS cases and outlined upcoming dementia and caregiver programs. Martin said the ADRC will present a dementia-care program starting in October in collaboration with the LCO dementia care specialist, and noted the ADRC will staff a booth and panel at the tribe's Sept. 19 health benefits fair.

Why it matters: The tribal representative's return to the board and the shared programming—dementia training, respite care, and the ICW agreement—affect continuity of elder and child welfare services that span tribal and county jurisdictions. Board members and staff discussed coordination and the practical steps of bringing directors together when the 161 agreement is finalized.

Next steps: Lorraine asked that the county work with tribal ICW and county directors to finalize the 161 agreement; ADRC and tribal dementia specialists will proceed with joint programming and outreach to caregivers.