National Indian Child Welfare Association

1. National Indian Child Welfare Association Let us put our minds together and see what kind of life we can build for our children - Sitting Bull

2. Welcome!Youth Guided Model: What does it mean Melissa Clyde, MSW, Community Development Specialist, NICWA Denver Indian Family Resource Center Youth Representatives August 21, 2007 Circles of Care Grantee Meeting, Denver, CO

3. Acknowledge Our Elders Present • Raised to respect our Elders and the role they have in our communities • Must apologize to the elders present today—they are the true teachers • “Keep the fire going”

4. The Voice of the Youth • You have a sacred place within your family, community, and tribe • You are important • You can be successful—healthy—happy • We want to hear your voice E.g. Music, words, traditional outfit, storytelling

5. As babies you were able to cry and be heard You can ask for all your wants and needs in a RESPECTFUL manner You fit into a circle of relationships that is only balanced with your voice The Voice of the Youth

6. The Voice of the Youth “You cannot have a movement until you have included the youth.”

7. Youth Guided Youth guided means that young people have the right to be empowered, educated, and given a decision making role in the care of their own lives as well as the policies and procedures governing care for all youth in the community, state, and nation. • Youth will get empowered to create a safe place/environment through culture and beliefs. • Service providers should recognize that there is a continuum of power, choice, understanding and maturity of young people. We should build on the young people’s strengths. • Youth guided also means that the process should be fun and worthwhile. Osher, Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health and Child, Adolescent and Family Branch, CMHS, SAMHSA

8. Youth-Guided • Youth have rights. • Youth are utilized as resources. • Youth have an equal voice and are engaged in developing and sustaining the policies and systems that serve and support them. • Youth are active partners in creating their individual support plans. • Youth have access to information that is pertinent. • Youth are valued as experts in creating systems transformation Youth’s strengths and interests are focused on and utilized. • Adults and youth respect and value youth culture and all forms of diversity. • Youth are supported in a way that is developmentally targeted to their individual needs. Osher, Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health and Child, Adolescent and Family Branch, CMHS, SAMHSA

9. Youth MOVE Vision “We the members of Youth MOVE envision a system of care in which every young person that enters any youth-serving system is successfully prepared for life. We help guide the redevelopment of the system so that no youth falls through the cracks. We advocate for youth to utilize their power to foster change in their communities and in their own lives. Youth MOVE works toward the day when all people will recognize and accept the culture of youth, their families, and the communities that serve them in order to be truly culturally-competent. Youth MOVE looks forward to the day when youth are no longer treated as numbers, problems, or caseloads, but as individuals and humans. We will all stand as partners: youth, youth advocates, supporters, parents, and professionals, to see our youth become successful.”

10. Youth MOVE Vision • Every young person that enters any youth serving system is successfully prepared for life • No youth should fall through the cracks • Empower the youth to foster change in their community and life • Receive services that are culturally competent • Youth should be treated as individuals and humans • Youth should grow up in communities, not programs

11. Why do some youth make it and become successful? Resiliency: • Care • Support • High expectations • Opportunities to participate • Develop problem solving skills • Positive relationships with adults • Sense of competence, safety, identity, autonomy, purpose, respect and future

12. Example: Circles of Care • Youth Track—Denver, CO August 2007 • Services are developed over a series of planning stages • CoC participants recognized that the youth play a major role in the Team and want to hear their voices, experiences, etc. • We are including them in a leadership activity, participate in meetings, share presentations through stories, pictures, music, dance, etc.

13. Navajo Example • Young girl going through a Puberty Ceremony • She asked for the ceremony on her own • She learned about the ceremony by talking to local elders • Program, families, community supported her

14. Daw, 2006

15. Relational Worldview • Creation Story—all original people of this part of the world are the People • Our Creation Story is explained to us as children in our native language • It’s a voice that we must learn how to carry forward for future generations—your parents and elders teach you this is many ways

16. Relational Worldview • Connection to our Land • Relationship with our surroundings and others (animals, plants, land formations) • Our life is about maintaining a balance—it is a beautiful • We are survivors—we are still here

17. K’e Each individual has a relationship with another person, place, the world (Daw, 2006)

18. Listening Listen, before talking. Think, before, talking. (Daw, 2006)

19. Reverence Responsibility is for each person to respect and to honor self and relationships. (Daw, 2006)

20. Belonging Premise: all persons belong and have purpose. (Daw, 2006)

21. Spirituality Indigenous Understanding of Balance • ach'ąh sodizin: protective blessing • Hozho ji: celebratory blessing • (Daw, 2006)

22. In Closing: Beauty Way “May there be Beauty before me, May there be Beauty behind me, May there be Beauty above me, May there be Beauty under me, May there be Beauty all around me.” I hope you to will find Beauty in who you are and where you fit in this World. Ahee’ (Thank you)

23. For More Information National Indian Child Welfare Association 5100 SW Macadam Ave. Suite 300 Portland, OR 97239 503-222-4044 Ext. 129 www.nicwa.org Melissa Clyde, MSW, Community Development Specialist melissa@nicwa.org