Presented by Deborah Painte, Director Joseph Walker, Evaluation Specialist

1. NATI ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW & MPCWIC ROLERegion VI Regional ForumTribal MeetingTuesday, April 14, 2009Arlington, TX Presented by Deborah Painte, Director Joseph Walker, Evaluation Specialist Native American Training Institute 3333 E. Broadway, Suite 1210 Bismarck, ND 58501 www.nativeinstitute.org

2. Our Journey begins. . . . In 1994, the ND Children & Family Services Report, stated, “Although all of North Dakota’s children ranked second nationally according to the 1994 Kids Count report, if its Native American children were the only children in a newly created 51st state they would rank 51st.” In 1995, every ND Tribe completed a “Comprehensive Five Year Plan for Children & Family Services” The plans were developed as part of the federal Family Preservation & Support Services Act of 1993. And in partnership with the State of ND as part of the Children’s Services Coordinating Committees (CSCCs) who provided additional funds Every one of the tribal plans stated the need for training for tribal child welfare workers, comprehensive child welfare family preservation & support services and mental health services.

3. The Importance of Strategic Planning Numerous positive outcomes resulted in this comprehensive unified effort: • Native American Training Institute • Sacred Child Project – CMHS Children’s Mental Health System of Care (SOC) • Medicine Moon Initiative to Improve Tribal Child Welfare Outcomes through System of Care

4. Native American Training Institute • Originally established in 1995 as the Native American Children & Family Services Training Institute, NATI is a non-profit organization, tribally-chartered by the Three Affiliated Tribes (MHA Nation) • Tribal child welfare agencies from North Dakota: Spirit Lake Nation, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Three Affiliated Tribes (Mandan, Hidatsa & Arikara Nation) and Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, including theTrenton Indian Service Area • Partnered with North Dakota Department of Human Services (DHS) Children & Family Services, the North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission and the Casey Family Program to unite in a common purpose

6. NATI Executive Board Members • Renee Mayer, Social Services Director, MHA Nation (Mandan, Hidatsa & Arikara) • Althea White Temple, Child Protection Services, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe • Ina Olsen, Children & Family Services Director, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians • Kevin Dauphinais, Social Services Director, Spirit Lake Nation • Vern Lambert, At-large, Spirit Lake Nation (founding board member)

7. Role of NATI within the Mountain and Plains Child Welfare Implementation Center (MPCWIC) Tribal Outreach Provide input and feedback regarding MPCWIC information, materials, processes, etc. Coordinate & Collaborate with Tribes, States, Bi-Regional Advisory Board, Regional Child Bureau Rep, Children’s Bureau federal staff, NRC’s and all members of the T/TA Network. Assist & Facilitate Peer-to-Peer Networking among Tribes and State-Tribal agencies Provide technical assistance to Tribes during the application process, working with them to develop their applications and on-going technical assistance for successful projects.

8. For More Information • UTA Arlington • Donna Cleveland —dcleveland@uta.edu • Susan Ferrari—sferrari@uta.edu • (817) 272-5225 • Butler Institute for Families, DU • Nancy McDaniel—nancy.mcdaniel@du.edu • (303) 871-4435 • The Native American • Training Institute • 3333 E. Broadway Ave., Suite 1210 • Bismarck, ND 58501 • (701) 255-6374 • Deborah Painte– debp@nativeinstitute.org • Joseph Walker– joew@nativeinstitute.org • For a description of the Children’s Bureau T/TA Network see • http://www.acf.gov/programs/cb/tta/index.htm#technical