White Earth Indian Child Welfare Initiative

2010

Tribal Sovereignty – The Reason for the Initiative’s Importance to us Our Tribe is a separate and

distinct Nation. Tribal sovereignty predates

the establishment of the United States.

Our customs predate the establishment of the United States.

Defining our child rearing practices is not something a State government can readily do.

Department of Human Services Priorities Reduce disparities in service access and

outcomes for racial and ethnic populations.

Strategies:

1) Support tribes as they develop the capacity to deliver services directly.

2) Take action steps to reduce disparities in specific program areas, such as the Native American population

Disparate Outcomes

Why were there disparate outcomes for Native American children involved in the child welfare system?

13,755 children in out of home placement in 2008; Native children represented 1.6% of the State child population but represented more than 7% of children in out of home placement, with 1,798 children in placement in 2008.

White Earth Initiative Phase I

Authorized August 2005 – Minn. Stat. 256.01, Subd. 14b

Phase I grant contracts executed Feb/March 2007: Planning and building capacity

Child abuse/neglect prevention and family preservation services begin

Legal Work

State grant contracts Title IV-E agreements between

tribal and state government Memorandum of Understanding’s

between tribal, county and state governments

State information system agreements Service Level Agreement and

Memorandum of Understanding

Individual user agreements

Phase I: Planning and Building Capacity (March 2007 – April 2008) Hire and train staff Provide child abuse

prevention and family preservation services

Access to major state information systems: SSIS - case management, MAXIS - Title IV-E eligibility determinations and PRISM interface- child support

Phase II

During Phase II White Earth accepted all cases from Mahnomen, Clearwater, and Becker Counties that included Initiative eligible child welfare, child protection, and reunification. White Earth accepted all placement cases from these three counties beginning April 4, 2008.

Phase II: Full Continuum of Service Delivery System (April 2008)

Child abuse and neglect prevention

Family preservation services 24/7 child protection

response system Accept new reports of

maltreatment and respond Began the case transfer

process for accepting existing county cases that met AICWI criteria.

Goals and Purpose

Build our own Tribal service delivery capacity. Deliver full child welfare services. Reduce the overrepresentation of American

Indian children in the child welfare system. Provide child welfare services in a culturally

appropriate way that results in improved child safety and well-being.

Goals continued…

DemonstrateTribal leadership Providing child Welfare services And improveOutcomes for ourFamilies

What types of cases are eligible?

Child welfare (cases that do not include out of home placement, but services to avoid placements)

Child protection (may include cases that result in out of home placement)

What services are being provided?

Prevention

Preservation

Safely maintaining

children in the home

of a parent or relative

Maltreatment Response System

24/7 child protection

response system

Tribal Foster Care System

70 licensed homes Predominantly relative homes Located throughout all of the Tribal communities Adhere to Tribal Foster Care Standards Monitored by Tribal Worker Monthly trainings

Reunification

Case plan within 30 days Frequent court hearings Frequent home visiting Family Drug Treatment Court Tribal Team collaboration

Funding

State appropriations $4.8 million annually

Federal reimbursement – Title IV-E maintenance, administrative and training

First federal claim submitted 2008

Lessons Learned

Migwetch (Thank you)