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Health Center, as well as participation in major Native American events such as the annual
largest Pow-wow hosted at the University of Illinois. Other interactions within the community
include collaboration in activities with the Native American Title VII Program through Chicago
Public Schools, the American Indian Citywide Education Council, Chicago Public Schools
Interfaith Breakfast meetings and Positive Paths, a Native American Youth Group sponsored
through the American Indian Center in Chicago. These interactions have afforded
opportunities for collaboration with the Native American community, as well as helped build
relationships in which community leaders have felt comfortable facilitating linkage between the
ICWA advocates and Indian families who have recently come to the attention of the child
welfare system; this has permitted opportunities for prompt, culturally relevant services for
Native American families at risk of disruption.
To help provide input and collaboration between the Native American community and the
Department, the program has continued to consult with educators who are active members of
the Native American community and experts in the area of Native American, as well as
religious leaders and community leaders. The ICWA advocates have participated on several
advisory boards serving Native American children and families including the Chicago Title VII
American Indian Educational Program, American Indian Health Services/Youth Advisory
Council and Kateri Center of Chicago to help support communication and collaborative work
between the child welfare community and Native American community. Recently, the program
met with a Native American religious leader from the United Methodist Native American
community for discussion on building relationships through the state to support Native
American children outside of Chicago. Part of the church’s mission is to provide camp and
religious retreats activities for children and families to support their heritage. Dialogue was
recently initiated with a number of downstate Native American leaders to discuss how best to
meet the needs of Native American children and families including development of activities
for DCFS-involved children to support their cultural identity. A teleconference with
participants throughout the state is being scheduled for the summer of 2011. Other
collaborative efforts proposed include training on Native American culture for non-Indian
mental health providers and Departmental training on topics such as trauma for Native
American providers working in the community with Indian children and families. A monthly
meeting of agencies/programs working with Native American children and families within the
Chicago metropolitan is under discussion and will include representatives from the ICWA
program.
To assist with the goal of improved communication and access to resources for Native
American community members, the ICWA program has set up a website for the program
within the Department’s D-Net with extensive links to other resources within the Native
American community throughout the State including contact information for prospective
Native American foster parents. With the support and assistance of the Chicago Title VII
American Indian Educational Program, the program’s foster care recruitment brochure has been
distributed to all identified Native American families within the Chicago Public School system.
Training to Support Compliance with the Indian Child Welfare Act:
The Department has continued to provide training led by Native American staff to educate
child welfare professionals, mental health professionals, legal staff and members of the Native
