Organized by the National Indian Child Welfare Association, this is a professional development workshop series designed specifically for American Indian child welfare workers in reservation, urban, and rural settings. It will be held in Minneapolis, MN on March 18-19, 2013. Learn more and register at http://www.nicwa.org/training/institutes/MinneapolisWorkshops.asp.
This session will include the following three units:
Positive Indian Parenting
For years, Indian parents have been bombarded with the idea that using traditional methods of child rearing is not a good thing. Positive Indian Parenting reverses that concept. It revives traditional ways and provides a place for combining traditional and modern parenting methods.
This course will provide workers with information on how to organize and conduct parent training. Preparing lesson plans, setting up meetings, and helping parents through this training will be covered. Exercises and handouts are designed for use in small groups or with a family. A facilitator’s manual and worksheet packet are included in each participant’s course material.
Presenter: Ashley Kay Harding, Community Development Specialist
ICWA, Basic
This workshop is designed to give the participant an overview of the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (ICWA) and the practice issues involved in working with Indian families in child welfare. A brief history of Indian policy and ICWA, coupled with a brief summary of Indian cultural issues, set the stage for examination of specific implementation of ICWA. Implementation issues and methods for dealing with problem situations will be discussed. Recent and pending legislative proposals/actions will be summarized and examined for their implications for working with Indian families.
Presenter: Addie Smith, Government Affairs Associate
Understanding the Relational Worldview Model and Its Implications for Indigenous Social Work
his presentation examines an indigenous way of understanding the human experience including health and wellness in individuals, families, organizations and systems. The presenter will discuss how these concepts can be applied in social work, and in particular, child welfare in a post-colonial society. Applications to clinical practice, organizational development and health, leadership, research, systems change, and self-care will be reviewed. Participants will practice critical thinking skills using the model and will work in small teams to apply the model to the current challenges in their practice.
Presenter: Terry Cross, NICWA Executive Director