Humboldt Department of Social Work co-hosts 24th Annual California ICWA Conference
Tuesday, June 6th at the Bear River Casino Hotel
On June 6, 2017, Humboldt Department of Social Work co-hosted the 24th Annual Statewide California ICWA Conference. The theme – “Preserve and Protect Indian Children, Families and Tribes.” Partnerships included the Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria, California Tribal Families Coalition, California Indian Legal Services, and California Department of Social Services.
At this conference, the creation of the California Tribal Families Coalition was announced to a statewide audience. The California Tribal Families Coalition (CTFC) is a California tribal nonprofit public benefit corporation created to protect the health, safety, and welfare of tribal children and families. These values are at the core of tribal sovereignty and governance. CTFC is comprised of six of the seven co-chairs of the California ICWA Compliance Task Force and was formed to carry out the recommendations of the Task Force, to seek compliance of the ICWA, and to further the goals of Indian tribes as they relate to tribal families.
Welcome and prayer was led by Barry Brenard (Chairperson, Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria) followed by these key topics:
- After the California ICWA Task Force Report -Working to Achieve Compliance
- A Collaborative Approach to Child Welfare: The San Diego Example
- Legal Updates: BIA Regulations and BIA Guidelines and their Interaction with Cal-ICWA
- Engaging Indian Families and Children with Trauma Informed Care
- Strategies for Recruitment and Retention of Native Foster Homes
- Cultural Mentoring in Child Welfare
- The Impact of the Continuum of Care Reform/Resource Family Approvals on Tribes
The Humboldt Department of Social Work would like to recognize MSW Class of 2017 graduates Trilby Kerrigan – Director at Pinoleville Pomo Nation Vocational Rehabilitation Program – and Silver Galleto – Vice Chairperson at Cloverdale Rancheria of Pomo Indians – who presented their Masters Projects at the conference under the topic “Strategies for Recruitment and Retention of Native Foster Homes.” Shari Hostler, MSW Class of 2016 and Director at Hoopa Valley Child and Family Services, also participated on the panel.
This event met qualifications for 8.25 hours of continuing education credit for MFTs, LPCCs, and LCSWs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.
Special thanks to event organizer, Blair Kreuzer – Humboldt Department of Social Work Tribal and Community Child Welfare Educator.
