Lakota Tiwahe Preservation & Reunification Services

1. Lakota Tiwahe Preservation & Reunification Services Lakota Oyate Wakanyeja Owicakiyapi

2. Background Tiwahe (Family) Preservation Services are intense family-focused and community-based services, provided directly in the home of the family, these services focus on assisting the whole family and not just the wakanyeja who have been exposed to abuse and neglect.

3. Background It is less traumatic for wakanyeja to remain in their homes with their parents then to be removed from the home and placed in an alternative placement, thus providing family preservation services allows for wakanyeja to remain in their home. While the intent is minimize the family crisis, which lead to the child protection services intervention, stabilizing the tiwahe and assuring that the wakanyeja will be safe is of priority

4. Learning Objectives • Recognize the importance of family preservation services and reunification services and apply methods to assist Lakota families. • The Family Support Specialist can utilize social/case work techniques to promote family preservation services and permanency for Wakanyeja. Involving birth parents, extended family in the case planning process while ensuring that Wakanyeja remain safely in their own homes. • The Family Support Specialist is able to prioritize case needs and objectives, and can develop case service plans, which reflect the family’s strengths and needs. • The Family Support Specialist understands cultural competencies and can meet the family on their own cultural continuum, can respect other cultures and ethnic backgrounds.

5. Learning Objectives • The Family Support Specialist will apply social/case work techniques to assess the safety of wakanyeja. • The Family Support Specialist will learn how to coordinate and collaborate with service providers so that services are provided to the Tiwahe to meet their identified needs. • Define or describe “Family Preservation Services” in the Lakota perspective as well as in mainstream society. • Give examples of “Lakota Family Preservation Services” offered through the child welfare system

6. Federal & Tribal Child Welfare Laws The following Federal and Tribal Child Welfare Laws guide the practice of Lakota Oyate Wakanyeja Owicakiyapi in providing child protection, child welfare services and family preservation services as well Traditional/Lakota cultural services to the families and residents of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Each of following laws will be cited throughout sections of the Tiwahe Preservation and Reunification Services training through the Oglala Lakota Practice Model, LOWO Practice Standards and current training module.

7. Wakanyeja Na Tiwahe Ta Woope • Section 401.4 Purposes and Construction • Section 408.5 removal of Child From Home and Reasonable Efforts to prevent removal or to return the child to home

8. Social Security Act IV-B Section 431 (1) • Sec. 421. [42 U.S.C. 621]  The purpose of this subpart is to promote State flexibility in the development and expansion of a coordinated child and family services program that utilizes community-based agencies and ensures all children are raised in safe, loving families, by— • (1) protecting and promoting the welfare of all children; • (2) preventing the neglect, abuse, or exploitation of children; • (3) supporting at-risk families through services which allow children, where appropriate, to remain safely with their families or return to their families in a timely manner; • (4) promoting the safety, permanence, and well-being of children in foster care and adoptive families; and • (5) providing training, professional development and support to ensure a well-qualified child welfare workforce.

9. Social Security Act IV-B Section 431 (1) • Service programs designed to provide follow-up care to families to whom a child has been returned after a foster care placement; • Respite care of children to provide temporary relief for parents and other caregivers (including foster parents); • Services designed to improve parenting skills (by reinforcing parents' confidence in their strengths, and helping them to identify where improvement is needed and to obtain assistance in improving those skills) with respect to matters such as child development, family budgeting, coping with stress, health, and nutrition; and • Case management services designed to stabilize families in crisis such as transportation, assistance with housing and utility payments, and access to adequate health care.

10. Social Security Act Title IV-E • Title IV-E Sec. 471 (a)(15)(A)&(B) (A) in determining reasonable efforts to be made with respect to a child, as described in this paragraph, and in making such reasonable efforts, the child's health and safety shall be the paramount concern;(B) except as provided in subparagraph (D), reasonable efforts shall be made to preserve and reunify families— • Title IV-E Sec. 471. [42 U.S.C. 671] (a) (15) (B) except as provided in subparagraph (D), reasonable efforts shall be made to preserve and reunify families (i) prior to the placement of a Child in foster care, to prevent or eliminate the need for removing the Child from the child’s home; and • Title IV-E Sec. 471. [42 U.S.C. 671] (a) (15) (B) except as provided in subparagraph (D), reasonable efforts shall be made to preserve and reunify families— • Title IV-E Sec. 471 (a) (15) (A) provides that—in determining reasonable efforts to be made with respect to a child, as described in this paragraph, and in making such reasonable efforts, the child's health and safety shall be the paramount concern; (B) (B) except as provided in subparagraph (D), reasonable efforts shall be made to preserve and reunify families—

11. Tiwahe Preservation Goals • To improve the Tiwahe parental skills to provide a nurturing, safe and loving environment for the Wakanyeja • Increase parental protective capacity that allows for the tiwahe, Tiospaye, guardian or custodian to protect wakanyeja and keep them safe. • Provide community resources to the tiwahe, tiospaye, guardian or custodian so that services and resources are provided to the tiwahe as a whole for the tiwahe needs. • Tiwahe, Tiospaye, guardians or custodian provide for the mental, physical, medical and spiritual needs of the wakanyeja

12. Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 Major Provisions of the Act • Reauthorized the Family Preservation and Support Services Program: • Renamed it the Safe and Stable Families Program • Extended categories of services to include time-limited reunification services and adoption promotion and support services

13. Mainstream Family Preservation Services • The family drives the system, power for change resides with the family • Services are intense and provided in 90 days or less • Case Worker is in-home providing services on a weekly or more as needed bases • Services are provided to families where the children are at risk for removal • Provide crisis relief services until parental functioning and protective capacities have improved

14. ACTIVITY • Are Tiwahe Preservation Services Appropriate

15. Lakota Tiwahe Preservation Services • LOWO provides an array of services based on traditional Lakota philosophies and life values, these values provide guidance to LOWO family support specialists who work to keep the wakanyeja from being removed from their home. If placement is necessary then a home that is least restrictive should be located for the children to be placed until any safety risks to the wakanyeja have passed. Lakota traditional values, philosophies and way of life mirror mainstream Family Preservation Services.

16. Oglala Lakota Practice Model The OLPM is depicted into two (2) Changleska, prayers and colors of the medicine wheel, that are designated for the Wakanyeja and the tiwahe to live a healthy, holistic life. The first Changleska is the Wakanyeja Otakuye Okilepi, Search for Relatives. The second Changleska is Tiwahe Changleska Un Zanipi Kte, Healing for the Family Circle. This medicine wheel presents an approach that offers culturally appropriate interventions designed to help the tiwahe on their healing journey. • Phase One – is initiated when a potential client requests services. • Phase Two – is initiated when the decision is made to provide the client with evaluative services. • Phase Three and Four - are initiated when the decision to operationalize the service plan is made. • Phase Five – is initiated when the decision is made by the client and/or staff to discontinue services.

17. Wokigna • LOWO FSS explains the role of the child protection worker, offering comforting words and reassurance. • LOWO FSS introduces the Tiospaye interpreter to the wakanyeja and explains their role. This is appropriate if the family has made a request and gave permission for the Tiospaye to be involved. • Give the Wakanyeja blessed water or tap water and acknowledge the sacredness and healing effects of the water • Offers an item of comfort like a stuffed animal such as a buffalo, eagle, turtle or horse to the wakanyeja along with the explanation of the animals attributes. • Aziliea (smudge) the wakanyeja and the home of the wakanyeja remain in the home, if the Tiwahe gives their permission.

18. Adult “In-Home” Resource • When assessing an adult resource may be the non-maltreating parent or trusted adult who has a significant relationship with the wakanyeja. This type of care allows the wakanyeja to remain in the home.

19. Tiospaye Interpreter Caregiver • Support and stabilizing services will be provided to the Tiwahe when the Wakanyeja is not in imminent danger and the situation does not include removal from the parental home. • Support services can include smudging the home and tiwahe members, offering prayer, mediation, and or individual/tiwahe “counseling” • Referral for traditional Lakota treatment, non-traditional services, or a combination of traditional and non-traditional services

20. Awayanka • Awayanka introduces self and provides Wokigna to the wakanyeja in the home. • Awayanka reviews the Awayanka Home Safety Check-list, if necessary prepares a meal for the wakanyeja in the home, assures that prescribed medication is given, may prepare wakanyeja for school and tend to other required tasks • Awayanka will maintain as much of a daily routine for the wakanyeja and will inform the wakanyeja when they will be leaving • Awayanka provides completed forms and required documentation to LOWO which details their observations and any identified needs of the wakanyeja, the Tiwahe and parents.

21. Tiwahe Tantahan Wostanpi (Tiwahe Group Decision Making) • Tiwahe’s have strengths and are capable of making decisions and plans which keep their wakanyeja safe • Tiwahe’s have the most information about themselves to make well-informed decisions • Individuals find security and a sense of belonging with their family; families provide an identity for their wakanyeja • Tiwahe’s have the ability if given the opportunity to activate helping networks within communities to keep wakanyeja safe • Plans to protect wakanyeja are most effective when they develop out of the strengths of the community and the culture in which the family lives

22. ACTIVITY • Assessing Family Strengths

23. Licensed Foster Home • Licensed foster care provides short-term or long-term placement care until the family crisis has stabilized and family reunification can occur. • Licensed foster parents are trained and encouraged to assist the Wakanyeja, Tiwahe, Tiospaye in Tiwahe reunification, foster parents should support visits between the wakanyeja and the tiwahe.

24. Kinship (Relative) Placement Although the mainstream child welfare system identifies kinship care as an out-of-home care placement, the Lakota and other Native American cultures view not just the mother and father as immediate family. But aunts and uncles are viewed as mother’s and father’s to the wakanyeja as well, therefore when “kinship placement” does occur it could often times be referred to “family preservation” or “maintaining the family”.

25. Safety Intervention & Safety Plan The Safety Plan allows for Wakanyeja to remain in the parental home or custodial home without the need for removal. • Use of the Tiospaye Interpreter as intervention resource • Use of the Tiwahe/Tiospaye as care provider • Use of the Awayanka (In home over night care) • The non-offending caregiver appropriately protect the wakanyeja from the alleged perpetrator • The alleged perpetrator must leave the home • The non-offending caregiver must move to a safe environment with the wakanyeja • Wakanyeja is placed in protective custody to assure safety

26. Reunification Supportive Services • It is imperative that the agency, Tiwahe, Tiospaye, foster parents and wakanyeja if age appropriate work together as a team to discuss the plan for the Wakanyeja to return to the home of their biological parents. A reunification supportive plan should be discussed to clarify what type of supportive services will be provided to the Tiwahe, Wakanyeja and Tiospaye for the wakanyeja to remain in the home or to prevent removal from the home.

27. Case Management Services • Family Engagement • Cultural Services • Comprehensive Tiwahe Assessment • Maintaining Connections • Reunification Preparation

28. Respite Care • Providing respite care to the biological parents, tiwahe and Tiospaye allows for the biological parents, guardians or custodians to regroup or de-stress when they feel that a break is in order to maintain the wakanyeja in their home and to preserve the tiwahe.

29. Home-Based Services • Assisting and supporting the Tiwahe through home-based services include coming into the home and discussing areas of tiwahe strength and need and how LOWO or another service provider can meet those needs through in-home services or by accessing resources through another service provider and providing transportation services.

30. Community-Based Services • Keeping children in their homes, neighborhood schools, and local communities has a positive effect on child and family. • By remaining in the community, the child retains critical bonds with friends, family, and school personnel. • When services are community-based, the work done with the child and family is in the context of where the child lives. • The community can provide additional positive, informal supports to the child and family.

31. Community-Based Services • Child Care & Development Services: OST Child Care; State Child Care Services, Child Developmental Stages, Healthy Start • Parenting Education Classes: LOWO Positive Indian Parenting, Catholic Social Services, School Parenting Education Classes • Social Services Programs: Catholic Social Services, IHS Social Services, BIA Social Services, State Social Services, School Social Work Programs • Crisis Intervention Programs: OST Sweet Grass Project, • Child Protection & Welfare Services: LOWO, CASA • Community & Self-Help Groups: AA & Co-Dependency Support Groups

32. Community-Based Services • Oglala Sioux Tribal Programs: Child Care, Energy Assistance, Health Administration, • Spiritual/Cultural Services: • Religious: Catholic, Episcopal, Baptist, and local religious churches • Educational Services: Reservation Elementary & High Schools, Oglala Lakota College, Lakota Fund • Judicial Legal Services: OST Civil, Youth & Family Court, Dakota Plains Legal Services • Housing Services: OST Housing Authority, OST Partnership for Housing, Lakota Fund • Medical Services: Indian Health Services (Pine Ridge & Kyle), State Medicaid Services; surrounding medical service providers (Martin, Gordon, Rushville, Hot Springs) • Home Management Services (budgeting, meal preparation):

33. Tiwahe & Tiospaye Support • Support and stabilizing services will be provided to the Tiwahe when the Wakanyeja is not in imminent danger and the situation does not include removal from the parental home. • Support services can include smudging the home and tiwahe members, offering prayer, mediation, and or individual/tiwahe “counseling” • Referral for traditional Lakota treatment, non-traditional services, or a combination of traditional and non-traditional services

34. Safety Plan • Use of the Tiospaye Interpreter as intervention resource • Use of the Tiwahe/Tiospaye as care provider • Use of the Awayanka (In home over night care) • The non-offending caregiver appropriately protect the wakanyeja from the alleged perpetrator • The alleged perpetrator must leave the home • The non-offending caregiver must move to a safe environment with the wakanyeja • Wakanyeja is placed in protective custody to assure safety

35. Activity • Values of Family Preservation

36. LOWO Availability • LOWO staff will be available to the wakanyeja, tiwahe and Tiospaye on a 24-hour basis, this availability assists with preserving the family and maintaining the wakanyeja in the home and prevent out-of-home care. Staff will: 1. Provide timely response calls or requests for assistance, 2. Complete a critical incident report if applicable, 3. Provide resource support as appropriate.

37. Comments or Questions