Tribal STAR (Successful Transitions for Adult Readiness) is a program of the San Diego State University School of Social Work, Academy for Professional Excellence. It’s mission is to ensure Tribal foster youth are connected to culture, community and resources. The program does this by providing training and technical assistance to tribes, tribal programs, county social workers, and others working with Tribal foster youth. Resources include:
- technical assistance to agencies to encourage collaboration and community engagement;
- technical assistance to tribes to better understand local resources;
- a bi-monthly newsletter – Tribal Star Drumbeats – that includes events and trainings, funding opportunities, legislation, promising practices and more;
- community forums in Southern California;
- materials about customary adoption;
- trainings and curriculum; and
- other publications and outreach materials.
Trainings include:
- Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA)
The revised ICWA training “ICWA: In The Best Interest of the Child: Where The Spirit Leads” is intended to provide today’s social workers with a foundation of knowledge of the Indian Child Welfare Act. - Summit
The Summit provides an overview of Native American culture, history, and distrust of government systems and services. The training include first-hand accounts of Tribal youth experiences receiving CWS services. Participants engage in collaborative brainstorming to support goals and objectives.The training allows organizations to focus on specific challenges and identify solutions. - Other Side of ICWA
The Other Side of ICWA is intended to address “the spirit of the law” and those concerns missing in traditional training that are essential for successful implementation of ICWA. - Gathering
The Gathering provides an overview of Native American culture, history, and distrust of government systems and services. The training reviews the unique issues that affect adolescent development of Tribal youth. Participants engage in collaborative brainstorming. The Gathering provides first hand accounts of Tribal youth who have experienced receiving CWS services and basic communication techniques that support more trusting relations with Tribal youth and families.The training allows organizations to focus on specific challenges and identify solutions. - Collaborative
The Collaborative is an adapted half-day training designed to introduce Tribal and non- tribal child welfare workers to the challenges of serving Tribal foster youth. It covers a brief historical overview and concludes with recommendations that support increased communication and collaboration among providers that strive to achieve positive outcomes for Tribal youth. - Training-for-Trainers
Training for Trainers focus on skill building to lead cross-cultural discussions that result in positive outcomes. The training also helps participants learn how to conduct Tribal STAR training in their area. Topics covered in the training include cross-cultural communication, cultivating and maintaining trust-based relationships, and understanding how history affects today’s relationships between CWS and Tribal programs.