North Dakota ICWA Partnership
Newsletter, Issue 3, March, 2019
Greetings from ND ICWA Partnership Grant Staff
Greetings all,
Spring is here!! We are so excited to be welcoming some warmer weather! The ICWA State Design Team, Tribal Design Team and Affinity Groups have all been working hard tackling ICWA issues here in North Dakota. The State Design Team decided to focus their Affinity Group work in the following areas: the Spirit of ICWA, Foster Care, Court System and Active Efforts. Each group has been working independently and together to address and improve ICWA implementation throughout the state.
The Tribal Design Team has been working hard to address issues and create opportunities for growth by focusing their attention on creating relationships and pathways for increased tribal involvement in in ICWA cases. The use of the ND ICWA Inquiry forms appears to be working fairly well, but like all new adventures we are troubleshooting as we move forward. If you have any feedback or questions on the use of the form please reach out to Harmony Bercier at harmony.bercier@und.edu.
The grant presented at this year's Native American Training Institute's Annual Indian Child Welfare Conference on our most exciting grant development: the ICWA Family Preservationist (IFP) Pilot Program. We also hosted our 3rd State Design Team meeting which focused on further discussion of the IFP model, as well as updates on Affinity group progress. We would like to thank everyone who was able to attend! It is only through partnership that we will be able to create meaningful relationships that will support the continued success
We are also very excited to announce that the Native American Training Institute will also be providing opportunities for training for those interested in serving as Qualified Expert Witnesses in state ICWA cases. If you are aware of anyone who is interested in serving in this capacity please reach out to Jessi Leneaugh at jessil@nativeinstitute.org. Stay tuned for dates, times and locations of upcoming trainings.
Be well and Happy Spring!
Staff Spotlight
Jessi Leneaugh is an enrolled member of the Sicangu Lakota Nation (Rosebud, SD). She currently works as an ICWA Partnership Trainer/ Coordinator at the Native American Training Institute in Bismarck ND. Jessi earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology at Black Hills State University and a Master’s degree in Administrative Studies with a concentration in Human Resources from the University of South Dakota.
Her experience ranges from working with at risk youth to children and adults with disabilities. She has been working on the partnership grant going on two years and has found that the field of child welfare offers many challenges but enjoys exploring innovative ways of improving practices in order to unify and preserve Native American families.
Email: JessiL@nativeinstitute.org
Website: http://65.110.95.150/
Location: Native American Training Institute, East Broadway Avenue, Bismarck, ND, USA
Phone: 701-255-6374
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nativeinstituteND/
Partner Spotlight
Heather Traynor is the Court Improvement Project (CIP) Coordinator with the North Dakota Supreme Court in Bismarck, North Dakota. Heather is a graduate of Minnesota State University Moorhead with a bachelor’s degree in social work and is a licensed social worker in the state of North Dakota. Prior to her work with the CIP Ms. Traynor was contracted and worked as a court liaison for the North Dakota ICWA Implantation Partnership Grant. Her responsibilities with the CIP include assessing the roles, responsibilities and effectiveness in state courts in carrying out state laws relating the child welfare proceedings.
The North Dakota court system reinstated the Court Improvement Project in October of 2018. The program aims to make improvements to provide for the safety, well-being, and permanence for children in foster care along with collaborating with the Department of Human Services Children and Family Services division in the development and implementation of Program Improvement Plans (PIPs) and Family First prevention services. The CIP will focus on continuous quality improvement in areas such as the Indian Child Welfare Act, Dual Status Youth Initiative, timely permanency in deprivation and termination of parental rights cases and training and education for judicial officers and attorneys. The program is also a key partner and works closely with the North Dakota ICWA Implementation Partnership Grant.
Email: HTraynor@ndcourts.gov
ND Indian Child Welfare and Wellness Conference
The 18th Annual North Dakota Indian Child Welfare & Wellness Conference, hosted by the Native American Training Institute, took place on February 12-14, 2019 at MHA Nation, 4 Bears Casino & Lodge (in New Town, ND). With a mission of “Families First: Keeping the Vision of the Indian Child Welfare Act Alive," this event was aimed at continuing the progress made for Native American tribes in the field of Indian Child Welfare. Participants left with many new tools to welcome the transition to Families First as well as ICWA specific sessions.
Additionally, the night entertainment included a viewing of the just released documentary Blood Memory, which explores the untold story of the American Indian Adoption Era. The conference is one of a kind and looks forward to exploring the current trends in Child Welfare and helping to support all workers to continue the great work they do with Native American families.
ICWA Partnership Facebook page
ND Indian Child Welfare and Wellness Conference
The 18th Annual North Dakota Indian Child Welfare & Wellness Conference, hosted by the Native American Training Institute, took place on February 12-14, 2019 at MHA Nation, 4 Bears Casino & Lodge (in New Town, ND). With a mission of “Families First: Keeping the Vision of the Indian Child Welfare Act Alive," this event was aimed at continuing the progress made for Native American tribes in the field of Indian Child Welfare. Participants left with many new tools to welcome the transition to Families First as well as ICWA specific sessions.
Additionally, the night entertainment included a viewing of the just released documentary Blood Memory, which explores the untold story of the American Indian Adoption Era. The conference is one of a kind and looks forward to exploring the current trends in Child Welfare and helping to support all workers to continue the great work they do with Native American families.
ICWA Family Preservationists: Pathway to Tribes and States Partnering for Better Family Outcomes
The ND ICWA Partnership is a national dissemination grant. The Children's Bureau is counting on us to develop pathways and models to support the accurate implementation of ICWA. We hope that other states can model and adapt our efforts here in North Dakota, to improve the state of ICWA in their own homelands. One of our main vehicles for National dissemination is the NICWA Annual Conference.
Henceforth, the grant staff will be traveling to Albuquerque, New Mexico in April to network, learn and present the progress we have made here in North Dakota. We are most excited about sharing our pilot project: the ICWA Family Preservationist Model.
This model creates the potential for tribes to be more meaningfully involved in ICWA cases providing a pathway to provide support to the team serving the family and the ICWA family itself. We are hopeful that the real time involvement of the IFP creates improved implementation and outcomes for Native American families.
ND ICWA Partnership Facebook Page
ND ICWA Inquiry Form
Exciting collaboration is happening in ND! Grant staff, Tribal, County and State collaboration produced forms to aid in communicating vital information quickly at the start of all child welfare cases.
How the form works: The inquiry form is sent from the county to the ND ICWA agent that corresponds with the child's tribal affiliation. Then, the ND ICWA agent provides a response to the ICWA Inquiry within 3 working days. However, official response via the ICWA Inquiry Response Form will only occur once Tribal affiliation has been determined by the appropriate Tribal authorities (Tribal Enrollment Offices).
Any questions? Please feel free to email a staff member or send us a message on here or on Facebook.The ICWA Agents ask that case workers do not contact the ND BIA/Tribal Enrollment offices directly.
We hope these forms will aid in creating better communication between Tribes and Counties while meeting the needs of North Dakota Children and Families more efficiently!
Click on the link below to access the form and the detailed instructions. Please read the instructions in full to ensure proper use of the form.
Children and Family Services Training Center's ICWA Website
Do you have an ICWA question? Are you looking for resources to help your work? Do you need somewhere to access the 2016 Regulations and Guidelines in a quick and easy manner?
If so, please visit the CFSTC's ICWA Website. It is designed to be a source of quick and easy information and resources.
If you have any suggestions, events, tips or ideas for practice, movies or books that are must reads please feel free to contact Harmony Bercier at harmony.bercier@und.edu.
QEW Training - Devils Lake Area
Friday, May 17, 2019, 08:30 AM
Fireside Inn & Suites, U.S. 2, Devils Lake, ND, USA
QEW Training - Fargo Area
Wednesday, Mar 27, 2019, 08:30 AM
Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Fargo, ND, 13th Avenue South, Fargo, ND, USA
QEW Training - Bismarck Area
For more details contact Jessi Leneaugh at