Working Together To Strengthen Agency Working Together To Strengthen Agency CollaborationCollaboration

January 8, 2010January 8, 2010

Offered Jointly By: Humboldt State University, Offered Jointly By: Humboldt State University, Northern California Training Academy Northern California Training Academy UC Davis ExtensionUC Davis ExtensionFunded by California Department of Social ServicesFunded by California Department of Social Services

Weaving Good RelationsWeaving Good Relations

Stepping onto the PathStepping onto the Path**

Understanding The PastUnderstanding The Past**

Valuing The PresentValuing The Present**

Creating The VisionCreating The Vision

ConnectingConnecting

Where did we come from?Where did we come from?Where are we going? Where are we going?

Where did we come from?Where did we come from?

Where are we going? Where are we going?

ConnectingConnecting

ConnectingConnecting

Where did we come from?Where did we come from?Where are we going? Where are we going?

How do we increase our awareness and How do we increase our awareness and

potential to increase outcomes?potential to increase outcomes?

What are our challenges?What are our challenges?

What are our What are our values?values?

Traditional Indian Values vs. Traditional Indian Values vs. All All AmericanAmerican ValuesValues Mainstream ValuesMainstream Values

Clan/communal emphasisClan/communal emphasis Individual EmphasisIndividual EmphasisSharingSharing WinningWinningPresent-time orientationPresent-time orientation Future OrientationFuture OrientationSpiritualisticSpiritualistic MaterialisticMaterialisticTime non-awarenessTime non-awareness Time awarenessTime awarenessHarmony with natureHarmony with nature Conquest of natureConquest of naturePassivePassive AggressiveAggressiveGiving/spendingGiving/spending Acquiring/savingAcquiring/savingAppreciates/honors silenceAppreciates/honors silence Avoids silenceAvoids silenceRespect of other religionsRespect of other religions

Converting/proselytizingConverting/proselytizing

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

Tribal Values? University Values? County Tribal Values? University Values? County Values? Community Values? Family Values? Community Values? Family

Values? Values?

In these systems, who is In these systems, who is the expert?the expert?

What is our history?What is our history?

What Events Have Shaped Our Current Cross-Cultural Relations With Native Communities?

The ApologyThe ApologyRemarks of

Kevin Gover, Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs

Department of the Interiorat the

Ceremony Acknowledging the 175th Anniversary

of the Establishment of theBureau of Indian Affairs

September 8, 2000

What are our contributions?What are our contributions?

What are our successes?What are our successes?

Examples of collaborative Examples of collaborative successes:successes:

Riverside Court-County-Tribal AllianceRiverside Court-County-Tribal AllianceNative American Justice ProjectNative American Justice Project

Tribal STARTribal STARThis ConferenceThis Conference

HSU American Indian ProgramsHSU American Indian Programs

 

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•Santa Ysabel Band of Digueno Indians•SD HHSA Independent Living Unit•YMCA YFS •South Bay Community Services•San Diego Youth & Community Services•Intertribal Court of Southern California, Southern CA Tribal Chairmen’s Association•County of San Bernardino Childrens Services•County of Orange SSA•Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians•Casey Family Programs

  

Following the Spirit of ICWA On Nov 17, 2009 the American Indian Caucus of the State ICWA Workgroup had a discussion about the benefits of applying ICWA to children who may not be from or be eligible to enroll into a federal- or state- recognized tribe. Background: Gold was discovered in Coloma, CA in 1848. In 1928 a census was conducted to determine the number of American Indians in California, resulting in the establishment of the 1933 California Indian Rolls (also referred to as the California Judgment Rolls). The purpose of the census and the rolls was to determine how many Indians there were in CA who had families that were alive in 1851-1852, when 18 treaties were signed by the original Californians. Between 1953-1964 the US Congress terminated federal recognition status of 109 tribes, which exemplifies what is known as the “Termination Era” of the 1940’s – 1960’s. As a result there are many California Indian tribes that are neither federal- nor state- recognized and the descendants of these tribes may have at one time been federally recognized. There are many tribes that were never recognized but are applying for federal recognition today. Today there are individuals with documents that show their family name on the California Roll of 1933, with a notarization from the BIA, however these individuals may not be members of nor eligible to enroll in a federally recognized tribe of California. Reasons For Implementing ICWA to Children From Tribes That Are Neither Federal or State Recognized: Treating these children as ICWA cases can open access to a wider range of services: e.g.

Tribal TANF does not require enrollment, some tribal health centers do not require enrollment, and Title VII Indian Education programs would also be available. ICWA determination is an opportunity for county workers to access more services than before.

SB 678, approved by CA legislature puts into law ensuring ICWA, leaving determination

of services to individuals of non-recognized tribes to the presiding judge of the jurisdiction.

Although individuals may not be enrolled, they may still be part of a larger Indian

community, which can serve as a strength of resources and enhance resilience factors for the youth.

Culturally centered practice, provided as early as possible, will result in more long-

lasting positive outcomes for tribal youth – maintaining and linking them to cultural resources that support their development as healthy self-reliant adults, and reducing the number of times this individual will enter public systems. Ultimately, culturally centered practice at the front end to American Indian children, regardless of their tribe's recognition statues, reduces the public burden of cost, over time.

CollaboratioCollaborationn

CoordinationCoordination CooperationCooperation

Commitment to Commitment to common missioncommon mission

Understanding Understanding of compatible of compatible missionmission

Individual Individual interpretations interpretations of missionof mission

Mutual goals and Mutual goals and plansplans

Some planning Some planning and division of and division of rolesroles

Informal Informal structurestructure

Well-defined Well-defined communication communication channels channels operating on operating on many different many different levelslevels

Communication Communication channels channels establishedestablished

Information Information shared as shared as neededneeded

Resources Resources contributed and contributed and pooled or jointly pooled or jointly securedsecured

Resources Resources availableavailable

Limited or no Limited or no resourcesresources

(Jones, et al., (Jones, et al., 1999). 1999).

Tools to consider:Tools to consider:

Mediation as conscious Mediation as conscious process.process.

Position vs InterestPosition vs Interest

Neutral ReframeNeutral Reframe

Tips for Following ProtocolTips for Following Protocol

Disproportionality Program Logic ModelDisproportionality Program Logic Model

Timing is everything.Timing is everything.

Re-Center around the consumer, Re-Center around the consumer, focus on an outcome.focus on an outcome.

What are our concerns?What are our concerns?

What are our strengths?What are our strengths?

CornerstonesCornerstonesHave direction and keep moving.Have direction and keep moving.

Respond to community needs.Respond to community needs.Elevate partnership strengths, Elevate partnership strengths, successes, and leverage PR for successes, and leverage PR for

sustainability.sustainability.Hold the family together.Hold the family together.

Know who you areKnow who you areWhere you are fromWhere you are from

You don’t know where you You don’t know where you are goingare going

Until you know where you Until you know where you come fromcome from

ConnectingConnecting

Tribal STAR, SDSU School of Social Work Tribal STAR, SDSU School of Social Work Academy for Professional Excellence, Academy for Professional Excellence,

Pacific Mountain PhilanthropyPacific Mountain Philanthropy

TomLidot@aol.comTomLidot@aol.com 760-774-4782760-774-4782