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14. TRIBES • Support Brokerage is the service or function that assists participating families and individuals make informed decisions about the individual budget, locating, accessing and coordinating services and reflecting their individual needs and preferences. The service is available to assist in identifying immediate and long-term needs, developing options to meet those needs, and obtaining identified supports and services. A support broker is the person that facilitates communication between the individual participant and the self-directed family support service provider, identifying and assisting as needed to ensure individuals and their families understand the responsibilities involved with directing one’s own service plan. The support broker fulfills the support brokerage service or function and includes consultation and assistance in the person-centered planning process. Specific qualifications shall be established by the Division of Public and Behavioral Health and must be met by the Support Broker provider. 14.1 Equitable Access to Indian Tribes Members of Indian tribes not eligible for assistance under a tribal family assistance plan, or that choose not to apply for tribal family assistance, will have the same access to TANF as other Nevada residents. The Division has offices throughout the state, and itinerant runs are made to outlying areas to ensure access to services. Nevada works closely with tribal social services to ensure applications for the TANF program are available to tribal members. Tribal social services liaisons work with the state agency and the applicant/recipient to gather and provide eligibility information. 14.2 Assistance with Implementation of Native TANF Program The Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California has established a family assistance plan for its people residing in Nevada called the Native TANF program. The Native TANF program provides tribal family assistance to its eligible members residing on or near the reservation. Washoe Tribal jurisdiction includes Dresslerville, Carson Colony, Stewart, and the counties of Douglas and Carson City, Nevada. The DWSS continues to meet with tribal representatives to discuss the coordination and implications of operating a Tribal TANF program. In the event a tribe opts to operate its own TANF program, the State will assist the tribe(s) in the following manner. • Provide financial information from fiscal year 1994 on expenditures for Indian families residing in the service area identified by the tribe; and • Meet with the tribe(s) to provide technical assistance on designing and implementing a tribal assistance program. 14.3 Tribal Coordination Because of the unique legal and jurisdictional issues of tribal governments and the variety of social conditions, economic resources, and geographical locations of