The SummitThe SummitTRIBAL STAR’sTRIBAL STAR’s

mission is to ENSURE that mission is to ENSURE that Tribal foster youth Tribal foster youth are connected toare connected to

CULTURE, CULTURE, community and resources community and resources

throughout their transition to adulthood throughout their transition to adulthood thereby increasing thereby increasing POSITIVE outcomes POSITIVE outcomes

for Tribal Foster YOUTH.for Tribal Foster YOUTH. 

Tribal STAR is a program of the Academy for Professional Excellence at San Diego State University

School of Social Work

Stepping onto the PathStepping onto the Path**

Understanding The PastUnderstanding The Past**

Valuing The PresentValuing The Present**

Creating The VisionCreating The Vision

Welcome & Introductions

Why are you here today?~

Introduction of Clans~

Introduction to materials

MODULE 1

History and Purposeof the Tribal STAR Project

 Funded by the California Department of Social Services, Tribal STAR is a result of a partnership between the SDSU School of Social Work, Academy for Professional Excellence and:

•Southern Indian Health Council•SD HHSA Indian Specialty Unit•Indian Health Council•Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel•SD HHSA Independent Living Unit•YMCA YFS •South Bay Community Services•San Diego Community Services•Intertribal Court of Southern California, Southern CA Tribal Chairmen’s Association•Pala Band of Mission Indians Social Services Dept.•Valley Oaks Foster Family Agency•County of San Diego Office of Education Foster Youth Services•San Bernardino County Child and Family Services•Orange County Social Service Agency•Casey Family Programs San Diego Field Office•Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians

  

Training & Technical Assistance

• The Summit (training for management/supervisory staff)

• The Gathering (training for frontline workers)

• The Collaborative (1/2 day training for those who work with Tribal foster youth)

• Technical Assistance includes:• Independent Living / Trainer Forums• Tribal STAR website• Drumbeats bi-monthly newsletter• Community based collaborative support

What do we know about the needs of Tribal Youth?

• Dropout rates range from 45-85%• High teen pregnancy rates (45% before the age

of 20)• Unemployment rates of up to 80% on the

reservations• 35% of Tribal youth experience out of home

placement (more than any other racial group)

The Landscape of California

• CA has the largest Native American population in the nation (333,511 / 2000 Census, US Census Bureau / www.nahc.ca.gov)

• CA is the State with the largest number of foster youth

Chafee Guidelines

“States must make benefits and services available to Indian children in the state on the same

basis as other children.”

“State must certify in its plan that: state will consult and coordinate with each Indian tribe in

the state.”

*all CA Tribal Chairs received a copy of the Proposed State Plan for Fiscal Years 2001-2004

How are Tribal Foster Youth

Affected By The…CFSR (Child & Family Services

Review)

PQCR (Peer Quality Case Review)

SIP (System Improvement Plan)

What outcomes does your county intend to improve in the area of

Tribal Youth & their families?

What goals do you have to improve services for Tribal

youth?

MODULE 2

Connectionand Loss

What About Connections?

How could grief and loss affect the way youth and families interact with you and your

staff?

Bringing Them Back – A Tribal Perspective

• Host a traditional ceremony• Open communication• Cultural awareness• Non-judgmental• Host a gathering• Address their fears• Help them find balance• Patience

MODULE 4

Historical Context of American Indians

What Events Have Shaped Our Current Cross-Cultural Relations

With Native Communities?

The “Indian Problem vs. Euro-American Problem”

For four centuries, non-Indians in North America have had an “Indian problem”. In its most basic form, this problem has had three aspects:

1. Economic: how best to secure access to Indian resources, land in particular

2. Cultural Transformation: how best to accomplish the cultural transformation of Indians into non-Indians

3. Political: how to maintain effective controls so that the problems 1 and 2 could be more

satisfactorily resolved

Euro-American problem

In essence, Tribal survival: the maintenance of particular sets of social relations, more or less distinct cultural orders, and some measure of political autonomy in the face of invasion, conquest and loss of power.

The working out of these two conflicting agendas has given context and shape to

Indian-White relations.

500 Nations

An Apology

Remarks ofKevin Gover, Assistant Secretary-Indian

AffairsDepartment of the Interior

at the Ceremony Acknowledging the 175th

Anniversaryof the Establishment of the

Bureau of Indian AffairsSeptember 8, 2000

Another Apology

In 2001, the Child Welfare League of America acknowledged wrongful involvement in the 1950’s/1960’s effort to facilitate the adoption of Indian children into White homes for the purpose of “saving” these children from their own culture and language.

MODULE 3

Walking in Their Moccasins

Resilience A New Word; An Old Meaning

Spirituality Family Strength

Elders Ceremonial Rituals

Oral Traditions Tribal Identity

Support Networks

Traditional Indian Values vs. All American Values

Clan/communal emphasis Individual EmphasisSharing WinningPresent-time orientation Future OrientationSpiritualistic MaterialisticTime non-awareness Time awarenessHarmony with nature Conquest of naturePassive AggressiveGiving/spending Acquiring/savingAppreciates/honors silence Avoids silenceRespect of other religions

Converting/proselytizing

(Source: The Indian Child Welfare Act, Handbook by Rose-Margaret Orrantia; Cultural Awareness; the Indian Perspective, Marilyn Robinson).

PresentationListening to Those Who Have Been

Affected by Foster Care

• What do youth & families feel when they are in the system?

• What do youth experience?• What would help us provide more

effective services in the future?

Considerations

What stands out from the presentation?

What solutions could be suggested to

address the challenges?

What are some of the contributions

of Native Americans to contemporary society?

Presentation

Contributions of Native Americans

Working Lunch

Community Announcements

The Indian Child Welfare Act

Purpose

The purpose of ICWA is to protect the best interests of the Indian children

and to promote the stability and security of Indian tribes and families

by establishing minimum federal standards for the removal of Indian children from their parents or Indian

custodians.

Intent of ICWA• Prevent the unwarranted breakup of

American Indian families• Recognize tribal jurisdiction to make

custody decisions• Establish minimum federal standards

that are to be followed when children are removed

Placement PreferencesFor Out of Home Placement

1. Extended family

2. Foster care licensed by Tribe

FOSTER CARE

3. Indian foster home licensed by State

4. Institution approvedby Tribe

Placement PreferencesFor Pre-Adoptive and Adoptive (Permanent)

Placements

1. Extended family

2. Tribal member

Permanent Placement

3. Other Indian family

What is your role in ensuring ICWA compliance?

Case Worker Follow ICWA and local protocols for notification and

placement

IL Staff, Probation Officer, Case Manager, Counselor, Education staff etc.

If there is any reason to believe youth is a member of a tribe, report to the CW case worker and

collaborate with local ICWA staff

Resources• www.gpo.gov• www.nicwa.org• www.childsworlds.ca.gov• www.americanindiansource.com• http://theacademy.sdsu.edu/

TribalSTAR/• www.kumeyaay.com

Elevating Practice Standards

How Does Knowledge of Tribal History Change The Way You Provide Services?

How Does This Affect How You Will Conduct Yourself Among

Native People and Native Youth?

MODULE 5

Current Strengths and Barriers to Connections Between

Agencies and Tribes

Preparing a young person to take his/her place in the

community as a young adult is the community’s

responsibility.

Group Exploration

What are examples of successful local collaborations?

Why are they successful?

What is the difference between collaboration, coordination and

cooperation?

Collaboration

Coordination Cooperation

Commitment to common mission

Understanding of compatible mission

Individual interpretations of mission

Mutual goals and plans

Some planning and division of roles

Informal structure

Well-defined communication channels operating on many different levels

Communication channels established

Information shared as needed

Resources contributed and pooled or jointly secured

Resources available

Limited or no resources

(Jones, et al., 1999).

Positive Outcomes from a Tribal Perspective

• Youth are contributing members of the community• Youth have a sense of belonging to the community• Youth are actively connected to Tribal and non-Tribal resources to

achieve inter-dependency• Youth recognize the importance of community involvement• Youth are continuously exposed to culture, customs, and traditions• Achieve cultural permanency through modification of parental

rights (flexibility)• Non-Tribal guardians of Tribal youth have access to Tribal cultural

& community resources and allow youth to experience and explore their cultural identity

Discussion Questions

• How could collaboration support successful outcomes for your agencies, your county and Tribal youth?

• What outcomes can be achieved?

• Who are potential collaborative partners for each?

MODULE 6

Applying Strengths and Addressing Barriers

to Improve Outcomes

• What strengths exist in your organization that support successful collaboration?

• What strengths exist in your organization that support successful outcomes for Tribal Youth?

• What strategy can you initiate within your organization that will support successful outcomes?

• Who can you support to achieve successful outcomes in another organization?

The Importance of Introductions

Cross-Cultural Collaboration

A recognition and appreciation of each participant’s world view, role and

function and the values and mission of the

organization they represent.

Culturally Responsive Communities, Tribes and Native Organizations Increase Cross-

Cultural Understanding Through the Following:

• Establish a welcoming environment• Assist local organization/tribes/communities that enhance cross-

cultural understanding• Sponsor regular meetings with the community/leaders• Assist organizational personnel with the involvement of Elders• Provide an annual open house /workshop• Develop mechanisms to coordinate services of all local programs

• Provide encouragement and support for community members

who show an interest & involve them as resources

Who to Contact First?

ICWA representative or Tribal contact

A personal visit, or phone call is better than a letter or an email.

-Is anyone in the community working with Tribal foster youth?

-Who do people go to for advice when working with Tribal foster youth?

-Who should I contact at Tribal council / what is the best way to approach them?

Tips for Following Protocol• Demonstrate respect for Elders & leaders

• Schedule meetings and events around meals

• Publicly acknowledge Tribal participation in meetings & make introductions

• Model a spirit of cross-cultural collaboration by including and recognizing all efforts

Values and Protocol That Enhance Collaboration

• Personal connection will go farther than a written letter

• Accepting food and drink and scheduling meetings during mealtimes cultivates trust

• Be natural – but not intrusive, remember that communication within communities is also non-verbal

Tribal STAR Best Practice ModelCircle of Care

ICWAWorker

Probation Officer

Community Based

Organization

Foster/Kinship Parent, Group

Home Staff

Independent Living Skills Case Manager

Social Worker

Biological Family

CASA

Education System-Teacher-Guidance Counselor-School Social Worker

Community College Independent Living

Skills Director

Cultural ConnectionsReligious, ethnic and

community leaders/members

Juvenile Judge / Attorney

Tribal Foster Youth

Recommendations for Workers• Build on young peoples’ connection to all living entities

• Encourage & openly discuss spiritual development• Recognize the vital role played by elders & extended

family / encourage participation• Make use of the outdoors• Encourage generosity of spirit• Cooperative learning activities• Respect their individualism• Allow for a longer response time• Be more flexible with timelines• Respect that learning can occur through listening and

in silence

Discussion Questions

• What steps can your agency take to strengthen cross-cultural collaboration?

• What steps can individuals take to increase cross-cultural collaboration?

• How can managers and supervisors support their staff in achieving outcomes that require cross-cultural collaboration?

Discussion Questions

• Identify 3 potential outcomes

• Identify strategies

• Potential partners

Developing Action Plans

• Participants complete personal action plan.

• Participants share with the larger group their Action Plans and their intentions in

following-up after the Summit.

Groups share responses & engage in group discovery.

• What outcomes can be achieved through these next steps? What changes in CW or in our communities as a result of these activities?

• Individually• Organizationally

• Community• County

• Statewide

MODULE 7

Stepping Into The Circle

The Talking Circle Process• Every individual participates and some can

choose not to speak

• When someone else is speaking it is our turn to listen

• This is our time to speak our thoughts, our truth

• The process is not complete until everyone has participated

Thank you…

for working to ensure that outcomes for Native American

foster youth improve!Tribal STAR

Academy for Professional ExcellenceSDSU School of Social Work

http://theacademy.sdsu.edu/TribalSTAR619-594-3546

Copyright © October 2010. All Rights Reserved.