Lakota Oyate Wakanyeja Owicakiyapi

1. Lakota Oyate Wakanyeja Owicakiyapi Business Processing Maps & LOWO Practice Standards

2. Background • LOWO Practice Standards are designed to establish a service delivery system based on wakanyeja and family need, as well as being guided by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Wakanyeja Na Tiwahe Ta Woope or the Oglala Sioux Tribe Wakanyeja & Family Code, federal laws, federal regulations and state law as defined by the Wakanyeja & Family Code. • Wakanyeja protective services (CPS) interventions may provide case management services during or following investigations or initial assessments. Case management involves working with families to establish goals, creating plans to achieve the goals, providing services to meet needs identified in assessments, monitoring progress toward achievement of the goals, and closing cases when goals have been achieved.

3. LOWO Practice Standards & Business Processing Maps Goals • A new beginning and new era of wakanyeja protection and family preservation on the Oglala Lakota Reservation • A collaborative effort by Oglala Sioux Tribal Agency Organizations, LOWO, Tiospaye Interpreters • Inter-agency dialog that embodies the spirit of Lakota wakanyeja protection and family preservation • Application of Federal/State Law and Lakota Traditions defined through a state of the art process • A visual mapping process referencing the Ta Wakanyeja Na Tiwahe Woope • Procedural guide that represents best practice scenarios and defines inter-agency partnerships for Lakota wakanyeja protection and family preservation • Established service delivery system based on wakanyeja and family need • Clearly defined ethics, rules, regulations, policies, procedures and standards that guide and shape the provision of highest quality wakanyeja welfare work • Oglala Lakota wakanyeja living with their biological families and the basic needs of those families are met including, food, housing and health care • Health families which understand the Lakota culture and live the Lakota culture • Indian wakanyeja who must be placed in care, are placed with relatives or in the absence of relatives, placed with other Indian families

4. LOWO Practice Standards & Business Processing Maps Training Objectives • Focus on Case Management or “On-Going Services” after the intake and investigation “Wopasi” have occurred • Enhance case management skills according to the Oglala Lakota Practice Model, Ta Wakanyeja Na Tiwahe Woope and LOWO Practice Standards • Engaging with wakanyeja and families to provide case planning & case management • Linking wakanyeja and families with services • Purposes of Case Management

5. Federal & Tribal Wakanyeja Welfare Laws & LOWO Practice Standards • Oglala Sioux Tribe Wakanyeja Na Tiwahe Ta Woope Adopted by the Oglala Sioux Tribe 2007 • Social Security Act Title IV-B • Social Security Act Title IV-E

6. LOWO Removal & Placement Type of Placement • Tiwahe/Tiospaye Care: Relative or Kinship Placement • Wakanyeja Care: Licensed foster care placement • Group/Residential Care • Boarding School

7. Notice of Removal & the Temporary Emergency Custody Hearing • Under the Ta Wakanyeja Na Tiwahe Woope, LOWO is responsible to make all reasonable efforts to notify the parents, guardian or custodian, as soon as possible and not later than twelve (12) hours after removal of the wakanyeja from the home. Reasonable efforts shall include personal, telephone and written contacts at the residence, place of employment, or other location where the parents, guardian or custodian are known to frequent with regularity. Notice shall also be given to the wakanyeja’s Tiospaye Interpreter(s)

8. Placement PreferencePlacement Preference (A) In the home with his/her parent(s), guardian or custodian;(B) In a home with Tiospaye members residing on the reservation;(C) In a home with neighbors or persons whom had a preexisting relationship with the wakanyeja prior to removal;(D) In a foster home located on the reservation;(E) In a residential care facility located on the reservation that is operated by the Tribe or the LOWO Division of Wakanyeja Protective Services;(F) In a home with tiospaye members residing off the reservation;

9. Placement Preference • In a Native foster home off the reservation; • (H) In a residential care facility off the reservation that is licensed by an • appropriate licensing entity and that has served Native wakanyeja; • Where all other alternative placements have been attempted, not including • a placement in a tribal jail or detention facility, in a residential care facility off the reservation licensed by a state or county entity subject to the terms of an agreement or contract with the Tribe recognizing the OST Wakanyeja and Family Court jurisdiction over the wakanyeja and subject

10. Pre-placement Activities • Assessment for out-of-home care • Least restrictive setting • Reasonable efforts • Special needs • Other considerations

11. Pre-Placement Forms/Documents • Education, e.g. name of school and grade • Health Care needs, e.g. immunization records, • Medications • Conditions requiring special care • Wakanyeja’s temperament and behavior • Visitation plans with the Wakanyeja and Tiwahe • Previous placement information

12. Pre-Placement Forms/Documents • Signed placement agreement • Copy of Medicaid card and primary care provider information • Copy of birth certificate • Copy of Tribal Enrollment • Copy of Social Security Card • Family Support Specialist contact information (business card) • Wakanyeja personal belongings

13. Group Activity Count by 3’s and break into small groups of 3. Question: What information should you share with the placement resource on the wakanyeja’s strengths & needs. 1 person is the LOWO Worker, 1 person is the placement resource provider and 1 person is the observer who will report back to the large group on what was discussed.

14. Placement Agreement • Respite Care • Responsibilities of Resource Family • Responsibilities of LOWO Staff • Responsibilities of Wakanyeja

15. Mandatory Face-to-Face • Case Planning progress and areas to strategize (where are we at on the case plan, what needs to change, what is working, etc) • Educational strengths/needs • Social strengths/needs • Medical strengths/needs • Spiritual strengths/needs • Mental Health strengths/needs • Spiritual strengths/needs

16. Monthly Reporting Form • Why it is important • Assessment Tool • Best Practice for child permanency & well-being • All children in out of home care should have one completed

17. Group Activity What information do you feel should be included into a Court Report when reporting to the Court the status of the wakanyeja, parents and family?

18. Wakanyeja In Need of Care • Temporary Emergency Custody Hearing Section 406.9 • Advisory Hearing Section 408.11 • Status Hearing • Adjudication Hearing • Adjudication Hearing – Finding default • Dispositional Hearing • Temporary Dispositions – When warranted • Temporary Dispositional Alternatives • Review Hearing after Temporary Dispositions • Permanency Planning Hearing • Permanency Plan after ASFA Certification • Informal Resolution

19. Court Hearings • Prepare Court Report • Supervisor Reviews Court Report • Restore custody to parents, guardians or custodians • Supervision or supportive services • Support Services Not Required • Support Services recommended • Tiwahe Preservation Services • Placement Continued

20. Permanency Planning • Restore physical and legal custody of the wakanyeja to the parents, guardian or custodian, if such a restoration of custody would not harm the best interest of the wakanyeja • Place the wakanyeja with an extended family member, a member of his Tiospaye or other eligible person with that person awarded permanent guardianship • Certify the completion of a valid traditional adoption of the wakanyeja • Place the wakanyeja in another planned permanent living arrangement or • In the case of the a wakanyeja who has attained age 16 and where the Wakanyeja & Family Court determines that it would not harm the best interest of the wakanyeja to order that he live independently and where the Wakanyeja and Family Court orders that the services needed to assist the wakanyeja to make the transition from foster care to independent living be provided to the wakanyeja

21. Tiospaye Interpreter • Function of Tiospaye Interpreter • Wokigna • Adult In-Home Resource • Tiospaye Care-Giver • Awayanka

22. Waiver of Liability • “I hereby waive and release hold harmless LOWO, it’s employees, board of directors, affiliates of and from any and all claims, demands, debts, contracts, expenses, causes of action, lawsuits, damages and liabilities of every kind and nature, whether known or unknown, in the services or activities received by on the premises of or for the benefit of _____ provided that the waiver of liability does not apply to any acts of gross negligence or intentional and willful conduct”

23. Safety Plan Assessment • The focus of the Safety Evaluation Plan is to identify any existing conditions of placing the wakanyeja in an unprotected situation and/or imminent danger. • The Risk Assessment examines risk factors predictive of future maltreatment of the Wakanyeja

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

25. Consent for Services • This consent for services form ensures that the family has agreed to LOWO providing services such as a) family preservation services; b) transition services; c) family group decision making; d) family support services; e) parenting classes; f) cultural/spiritual services. The family also has the right to revoke the signed consent for services when they feel that services are no longer warranted for their family.

26. Individual Rights & Responsibilities • Prior to providing services to the tiwahe, the Family Support Specialist should make every effort to request that the tiwahe sign the “Individual Rights, Responsibilities and Grievance Procedure” form. This form ensures that the Family Support Specialist has met with the family and reviewed their individual rights, as well as the grievance procedures. This is a legal binding form to assure that the client’s rights will not be violated.

27. Group Activity Count by 2’s and break into small groups of 2. Directions, read the case plan and answer the questions at the bottom of the activity handout. HANDOUT: Copy of case plan for each LOWO staff member.

28. Case Narratives • Importance of Narratives • Narratives should include • Written format • Reasons to documents • Who has access

29. Indian Child Welfare Act • ICWA Requests • Exclusive Jurisdiction • Ward of Tribal Court • Right to Intervene • Verification of Tribal Enrollment • ICWA Eligibility

30. Group Activity Count by 3’s and break into small groups of 3. Directions, read the case scenarios and answer the questions within the activity sheet. HANDOUT: Copy of ICWA case scenario for each LOWO staff member

31. Relative Searches • A relative search form should be completed on all wakanyeja under your case load • You can perform relative searches utilizing the TI, family members, LOWO Staff members, community members, other service providers who are working with the family • OST Enrollment Office • Death notices • Using social network systems • Sending letters or contacting family members and requesting that they provide a list of relatives

32. Questions, Comments, Feedback • ?