Thank you to all those who helped get the word out and identified youth for the American Indian Foster Youth Academy. The Academy was an amazing success and an incredible experience. Thank you also to The California Endowment and the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians for funding. A huge Thank You to California Youth Connection for their two day training on foster youth rights in California and policy advocacy. The Academy would not have been a success without the kind and timely support of Mark and Mandi Thompson. IDRS interns Lydia Navarro and Preston Massey were instrumental in designing and organizing the the Youth ICWA Training. Finally, thank you to the 9 amazing youth whose honesty, passion, creativity, and intelligence made the Youth ICWA Training so amazing. Thank you all!
The Youth ICWA Training developed for the American Indian Foster Youth Academy is now available online. It is free to use or adapt for your own purposes. All the materials and instruction you need to host the training yourself is available on the Youth ICWA Training website.
The Indian Child Welfare Act piece was adapted for youth from Tribal STAR‘s ICWA training for Social Workers. The Communication skills training was adapted for youth from Indian Dispute Resolution Services’ Cross-Cultural Communication training. Indian Dispute Resolution Services and Tribal STAR will be grateful if you give them credit and site their materials in your trainings. If you have questions about the specific information provided in these pieces, or would like to organize trainings for your friends, staff, or organization please contact Tribal STAR and Indian Dispute Resolution Services. If you have questions about the Youth Training, or would like to have the Training hosted, you may contact IDRS or me directly, Heather Zenone.
Click to find more information on the research IDRS performed related to the health services for Transition-age American Indian foster youth.
Click to learn about potential policy change options for Tribes, Counties/California, and the Federal government.
Click to learn what foster care policy changes Native Youth would like to see.
Filed under: ICWA Policy, Update, Youth Resources
