Connection Is Protection: Keeping Kids Connected to Culture and Tribe Regardless of ICWA Status
***Training offered by UC Davis Human Services | Resource Center for Family-Focused Practice
Connection to culture and Tribal community should not depend on whether ICWA applies.
Youth in out-of-home care experience separation and disconnection every day — from family, community, culture, and the routines that create stability and familiarity. Over time, this disruption can also destabilize a young person’s sense of identity and belonging. For American Indian and Alaska Native children and families, this harm is compounded by historical injustices, including deliberate efforts to dismantle Tribal communities and child removal practices that targeted Native children.
Cultural connection is often approached as secondary or optional in practice. Yet, it is a protective factor – regardless if ICWA applies. When children and youth have a strong cultural identity and meaningful relationships with their Tribe and community, they can experience a greater sense of belonging that can buffer the harms of system involvement and build resilience.
In this ECHO session, we will focus on practical, everyday strategies professionals can use to help children, youth, and families develop or strengthen meaningful connections to their culture and Tribe(s) – whether ICWA applies or not. We will also examine how authentic Tribal engagement impacts outcomes, including research showing that when Tribes are actively involved, children spend 100 less days in out of home care.
Participants will leave with actionable ideas they can integrate immediately into their work.
Who Should Attend:
This series is designed for social workers, juvenile probation officers and other child and family serving professionals and will provide digestible, practical support focused on ICWA practice, Tribal sovereignty and respectful collaboration and partnership with Tribes.
