STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, OPPORTUNITIES & …

1 23 NATIVE AMERICAN TRAINING INSTITUTEM edicine Moon InitiativeSTRENGTHS, weaknesses , OPPORTUNITIES & threats ( swot )ANALYSISSTRENGTHS, ASSETS & RESOURCES:Fort BertholdSpirit LakeStanding RockTurtle MountainFORMAL SUPPORTS/SERVICES Private/Tribal/State Programs: Boys and Girls Club - presence in thecommunities CFP Addition, building and staff Diabetes Wellness Center Parshall Detox Center Parent aides provide parenting classes,intensive in-homeFORMAL SUPPORTS/SERVICES Tribal/State Programs: WIC- Early Headstart Mental Health Early Childhood Tracking Fuel Assistance Domestic Violence Program Recreation program in every site/districton the reservation & is open every night. Boys & Girls Club Senior Services & meal delivery Domestic Violence program for Women &Men Youth Drug & Alcohol Aftercare Program Youth Aftercare Cultural Camp Wiconi Halfway House for Men &Women Group Home for Teenagers that can t gointo Foster SUPPORTS/SERVICES Tribal/State Programs: Workers are from the communities so theyknow the families they work with.

2 Workers are very dedicated andcommitted to the families; they have avested interest in seeing families do wellbecause they are part of the community;they go above and beyond work; theywork for not the best salaries becausethey believe in what they do. Teamplayers; work well as a team in crisis. Workers are not like the non-Indiansystem where they don t get involved withfamilies ( enmeshed ). Workers are educated here (tribalcolleges) and know a lot about the familieshere. All are trained in wraparound. Workers work well with bringing out thepositive with the families and children. Using mentors Also have a resource in Juvenile courtFORMAL SUPPORTS/SERVICES Private/Tribal/State Programs: Mentoring Program PATH Sacred Child Program Nurturing Parenting Program (16 weekcourse w/transportation, meal, daycare bysocial worker & other participants) funactivity rather than class. Outcomemeasurements.

3 Cleo Keplin throughVillage Family Services & Lake at TMCC (Identified 5 different areasfor various age groups) Good Workers Family Focus Family preservation usingwraparound with full family, not just child Parent aides: provide transportation,assist with follow-up and home visits toassess further needs, attend meetingswith parents, look for resources to helpfamilies fill needs, come to house, checkon us. Positive experience with : Schools are the main hub in thecommunities and know the students andfamilies Babyface program in Mandaree and TwinButtes - early literacy and readingprograms, works with parents to help themcommunicate with child better and earlyprevention for school problems. Alternative programs in our communitiesthat help teens ( White ShieldAlternative School), helps kids who can tgo to school on a regular basis or haveother issues, helps kids stay in school;tutoring.

4 GED program Fort Berthold Community College New Headstart building in New Town andParshall Coach raised money for girls to go tobasketball camps all over the region. Native American Science Fair, national started in White ShieldEmployment & Training: Tribes have summer JOBS programs foryouth Emergency loan (wake fund) Academic carnival for youth on FortBerthold (involve students, parents andschool administration). Increasing economic OPPORTUNITIES ( and bridge project, Mandaree datacenters: MHA Systems, Fort BertholdDevelopment, small businessdevelopment) for people to have : Four Winds School Four Winds 21st Century Program has aafter school program & family night once amonth School sport programsEmployment & Training: Casino sponsored transportation forcasino workers Casino sponsored customer transportationto and from Devils Lake & :DomesSchools/Education: Working with school social workers;delinquent kids have a resource at theschools Village Family Services: home visits,family therapist, parent is taught to dofamily rules that family follows, taughtdiscipline skills (time-out vs.)

5 Spanking),domestic abuse counseling in home, referchildren that are physically or sexuallyabused to see counselors in humanservices departments; alcohol and drugcounseling, call you and see if have anyproblems, target population is children atrisk. VOCA Victims of Crime Assistance,Women s Shelter Attendant Care for high risk youth, forchildren who have suicide ideation: likean emergency shelter at that a 72 hour cool down period. Mental Health Services: Free pamphlets. Free education pamphlets STDs;underage pregnancy etc Turtle Mountain Child Welfare Staff whoare certified in Wraparound , secretaries, case managers,mentors, all child welfare staff Foster Care Coordinator PATH, provides extensive training,therapeutic Foster homes. How to workwith therapeutic needs, first aid, CPI, Indian Child Welfare Act Boys & Girls club Chippewa Youth Services find sponsorsfor SUPPORTS & COMMUNITYASSETS:Cultural strengthening activities: Communities are often all of one tribe;homogenous.

6 Similar histories andcultures ( agricultural). Communities are also good at providingcultural activities, schools helpingpreserve language. Circle of Life and Boys and Girls Clubcultural camps Traditional people who are able to holdsundances and sweats, healingceremonies, namings, coming of ageceremonies Family reunions Clanships and extended family systems Traditional societies ( Dead Grass,Antelope, Sahnish, Enemy Women,Posses, Kit Fox, Mandaree regulators,etc.) Schools have Indian clubs Arikara Corn festival recognize youth andadult community contributionsCommunity Assets: Unity riders promoting sobriety andengaging youth Communities are small, people know eachother and can communicate well with eachother Parshall clinic and wellness center,wellness activities Stores in smaller districts that provide forbasic necessities. New Town Community Center (gym,offices, tribal education program, etc.)

7 NATURAL SUPPORTS & COMMUNITYASSETS:Cultural strengthening activities: Language program (Volunteer) Pow wow committee School & Church sponsored culturalactivitiesCommunity Assets: Close proximity to Devil s Lake (City) Informal Foster parent group Quilting Sessions at Home Rodeo Club Girl Scouts AlanonNATURAL SUPPORTS & COMMUNITYASSETS:Cultural strengthening activities: Spirituality Have very good spiritual people in thecommunities that could come in and helpfamilies in their homes (smudging,praying, etc.). Community people Assets: Working with the Tribal Council,sometimes we may disagree but they aresupportive of the needs of kids; councilmembers help when they can to help community members provide thathelp when they can and all believe thatchildren are sacred. Dedicated foster families. Take teenagedkids and kids that nobody else will takeand don t give up on the kids when othershave.

8 Developed a relationship with kidsplaced there. Other families will takebabies in the middle of the night and carefor them. Families get paid but it s notenough to cover the expenses and workthat goes into caring for these SUPPORTS & COMMUNITYASSETS:Cultural strengthening activities: Pow-wows, grandparents, extended families TM Heritage centers TM hospital has artifacts; School cultural activitiesCommunity Assets: Fight on Drugs (against meth use andabuse) education against drug abusethrough pamphlets, active efforts toreduce problem. Everyone needs to beeducated. It is just now hitting homes. Newspaper is positive because helping tocommunicate to the community. Knights and Daughters of Columbus Women s Wellness Community Wellness Men s WellnessFaith Based Services & Support: Catholic church doing summer youthprogram; catholic school coffee house Teenagers Encountering Christ Quest Natural Family Planning sponsorcouples Catholic Sisters and Daughters26offices, tribal education program, etc.

9 All of the communities have communitycenters In each community, there is some type ofdaycare for parents that work Camps for volleyball, basketball, etc. Community volunteers ( Boxing club). Families that sponsor memorial typeevents ( basketball tourneys, feeds,etc.). When families need resources ( care, etc.), communities do fundraising and offer donations to Based Services& Supports: Catholic church brought in group fromMinnesota of young people who interactedwith reservation youth at summer camps Episcopal church does this too. Bible school in , SERVICE/SUPPORT GAPS & CHALLENGES:Fort BertholdSpirit LakeStanding RockTurtle MountainWeaknesses: Need more communication andinformation dissemination for all of theservices that are available. Many times,people in rural areas aren t aware of whatis available. Domestic violence and other codes needto be updated. Don t have laws updatedand brought current and used.

10 Thereshould be committees that address thesecodes. Now there is a fee for services, manyfamilies can t afford the fee for evaluation($80/$85). weaknesses : Need for more resources for FosterParents, beds, room, food, space,clothing, higher maintenance payments forFoster parents. Taking care of teenagers, need foradditional resources for foster children forspecial occasions, graduation,(placements hardly have anything), sports,school activities Foster parents need more backgroundinformation & history of child when cominginto a foster home. Six month waiting period for backgroundcheck to be completed by State (GladysKarn s office) Need for further consequences for parentswho are abusing/neglecting their : How do we know that foster families arededicated? Had experience as fosterparent but didn t have worker talk aboutchild with family (history, home visits,progress, etc.). Example: foster girl saidshe was the first foster mother who askedher about : Family members who work for agencies inTM that impact child custody decisionsbased on family biases rather than what isfair and impartial child welfare decisions.