Post on 06-Mar-2023
Common GoalsØ Effective Communication
Ø Respect for each other
Ø Ability to agree to disagree in some cases
What's WorkingØ Quarterly Meetings with CDSS & Local Tribes
Ø Collaborative meetings between the County and Tribe, to setup protocols
Ø Quarterly Roundtables
Ø Working with the County on providing ICWA 101 trainings for incoming Social workers
Ø County includes the Tribal contacts to all of Butte County workers
We create experiences that transform the heart, mind and practice.
https://theacademy.sdsu.edu/programs/tribal-star/
Tribal STAR’s work is driven by the deep love and connection to our people, the belief that our purpose and destiny is to support the healing of generations past, present and future and to engage through our passion and vision, partners who can create long term change.
Kim Mettler, Program Manager kmettler@sdsu.eduSunni Dominguez, Assistant Program Coordinator sadominguez@sdsu.eduLaPrincess Greene, Administrative Assistant lngreene@sdsu.edu
SOME HISTORY
TIMELINE§ 1989-CWS Indian Liaison position was created.
§ 1992-Indian Specialty Unit established
§ 1993-SIHC began ICWA Consortium Program
§ 1994-IHC began ICWA Consortium Program
§ 2003-Tribal STAR funded training to improve outcomes for Native foster youth
§ 2005-Tribal STAR training Summit & Gathering with focus on building collaboration
§ 2006-Systems Improvement Plan meeting with County and Tribal partners
§ 2008-Joint Peer Quality Case Review-County and Tribal social workers
§ 2009-California Breakthrough Series Collaborative:
§ 2010-IHC becomes Child Assessment Center
§ 2011-Tribal Customary Adoption (AB1325)
§ 2015-Pala Band of Mission Indians approval for live scan clearances (SB1460)
§ 2016-Protocol for Working with Indian Families, Children & Tribes; RFA Tribal Subcommittee
WHY A PROTOCOL?
§ Recognized the importance of having a document that records the collaborative work model and mutual understanding of how CWS and tribes work together to serve Native families and comply with the ICWA
§ Support CWS in decision-making that achieves compliance with the ICWA and promote positive outcomes for Native families
§ Aligns with Safety Enhanced Together (SET) practice framework by emphasizing efforts to safely stabilize and preserve families while appreciating the family’s culture and cultivating shared responsibility with our community partners.
BEST PRACTICES
INDIAN SPECIALTY UNIT§ Established in 1992
§ Currently have 2 units with two supervisors (ER and CI/CS)
§ Specialty trained unit assigned all ICWA cases in the County
§ Support the child permanent connection to their tribe
§ Joint child abuse investigation with tribal social workers on all on referrals affiliated with any of 17 San Diego tribes
§ Monthly Child Protection Team and Case consultation meetings to
discuss referrals, services, compliance and ongoing case
management
PROTOCOL GOALS
§ Whenever possible, keeping Indian families together; intervening only when necessary and consulting with tribes
and tribal social workers early and ongoing.
§ Ensuring the safety of Indian children through preventative and active efforts;
§ Ensuring timely permanence of Indian children by providing staff with guidelines on how to provide appropriate
services to Indian families; and
§ Promoting collaborative and respectful relationships among all entities serving Indian families.
§ Shared resources, training and support for children, families, tribal and county social workers
BEST PRACTICES
CULTURAL RESPONSIVENESS ACADEMY§ Established in 2016 in response to the awareness that issues including disproportionality, disparity of services, and bias in
decision making continue to impact the children and families involved in CWS.
§ Provides a unique learning experience that emphasizes:
§ facilitated discussions
§ creating a space for self-assessment
§ development of skills and strategies to manage bias
§ the opportunity to contribute to a project that will improve cultural responsiveness across the County.
ICWA FIELD ACTIVITIES
ICWA FIELD ACTIVITY
§ Meet and Greet Tribal Social Workers:
§ Utilizes the ICWA Field Activity to partner
with local tribes to build new staff
knowledge on our collaborative
relationship, overview of protocol, Native
resources, and best practices
§ Builds trust
§ Supports Workers
§ Recognizes the historical trauma
ICWA AT THE HOTLINE
§ Strengthening the Identification of Native
American Families
§ ICWA included in the mandated
reporter training
§ Inquire
§ Document
§ Importance of providing Native
American ancestry to Hotline
§ Documenting reported tribal affiliation on
the ERD including tribal SW contact
information
BEST PRACTICES
ICWA INQUIRY AND NOTICING § Beginning at the Hotline, all hotline
screeners ask families about Native
American ancestry and is documented
and assigned to ISU for investigation.
§ All information is entered into State
database system (CWS/CMS)
§ ICWA Inquiry and Noticing Specialists
accessible for every regional office
§ Two designated County Counsels trained
and specialized in ICWA matters
CONTACT INFORMATION Mike Green, Protective Services Program Manager (ISU)
Mike.Green@sdcounty.ca.gov
Antonia Torres, Protective Services Program Manager (Policy)
Antonia.Torres@sdcounty.ca.gov
Danielle DeLuca, Protective Services Supervisor (ISU)
Danielle.DeLuca@sdcounty.ca.gov
Pearce Robinson, Protective Services Worker (ISU)
Pearce.Robinson@sdcounty.ca.gov
Evangelina Woo, Office of County Counsel
Evangelina.Woo@sdcounty.ca.gov
Inaja-Cosmit TribeLa Jolla Band of LuisenoPauma Band of LuisenoMesa Grande Band of Diegueno
Los Coyotes Band of CahuillaRincon Band of LuisenoSan Pasqual Band of Diegueno
Tribal Family ServicesIndian Health Council, Inc.Valley Center, California
Karan Kolb, MASocial Services Director
California Disproportionality Projects Club 7 Advocates
• African American and Native American children and families are represented in numbers that far exceed their relative portion of the population.
• Rates of substantiated maltreatment referrals and out-of-home care are higher in these families.
• Rates of these children remaining in Long-Term Foster Care are higher.
• Club 7 was born!
IHC Assessment Center
• Approved Assessment Center• Child Welfare physical, &
assessment• Placement specialists look for
approved homes with Native preference while the child/ren are here at the IHC Assessment Center.
• No Trauma Zone!
Tribal Family Services (TFS)Karan
Social Services DirectorICWA/CWS/PEI/Cal OES/OCAP
Vacant
ICWA Case Manager
BIA ICWA
Nancy Spence
Social Services Manager
BIA Funded ICWA/WAP
Tricia Walsh
Administrative Assistant
BIA Funded WAP/Cal OES
County Funded Positions
MarisaMental Health Case
ManagerSD County PEI/MHSA
funded
AngieCWS Child Abuse Prevention
Case ManagerCounty Funded
CWS
Parent & Youth AdvocateCounty Funded CWS/CSF
WhitneyDV/SA Advocate
Cal OES/IHS
Lizzie JanaiSocial Services Navigators
“My Two Aunties” Office of Child Abuse Prevention
State Funded Projects