Tribal and migrant grantees

The purpose of this grant is to provide financial support to selected Tribes, Tribal organizations, and migrant programs for child abuse prevention programs and activities that are consistent with the goals outlined by Title II of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA). This legislation specifies that one percent of the available funding from Title II will be reserved to fund Tribes, Tribal organizations, and migrant programs. The goal of the programs and activities supported by these funds is to prevent child abuse and neglect within tribal and migrant populations.

The funds must support more effective and comprehensive child abuse prevention activities and family support services that will enhance the lives and ensure the safety and well-being of migrant and Native American children and their families. Some examples of programs that may be funded include, but are not limited to, voluntary home visiting, respite care, parenting education, mutual support, family resource centers, domestic violence services, and other family support services. Applicants were strongly encouraged to implement and adapt evidence-based and evidence-informed programs and practices that reflect the unique cultural characteristics and needs of their communities. The funds must also be used to support an evaluation of the programs and services funded by the grant. Finally, programs funded should develop stronger linkages with the Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention Program (CBCAP) State Lead Agency funded under Title II of CAPTA.

These grantees have developed unique approaches to address child abuse and neglect prevention in their communities. Each grantee has chosen a different evaluation approach, but they all share similar program outcomes. Some of these outcomes include increased knowledge of parenting skills, access to support services within the community, implementation fidelity, cultural competence, parental empowerment and development, and improvements in children’s behaviors in response to positive parenting. Dissemination efforts include a focus at the community, state, and national levels, providing information directly to service agencies and researchers through conference and workshop presentations. FRIENDS provides Training and TA to the Tribal and Migrant Grantees. For more information, please contact Magdalena Benitez (mbenitez@friendsnrc.org) or Samantha Florey (sflorey@friendsnrc.org).

On October 1, 2021, ACF funded three projects for five years that include:

Cook Inlet Tribal Council, Inc.

Location: Anchorage, AK
Contact: Deborah Northburg
(907) 793-3134
dnorthburg@citci.org

The Cook Inlet Tribal Council, Inc. (CITC) proposes Parents’ Journey – Community Strengths Enhancement (PJ-CSE) to build on CITC’s fourteen-year history of parenting skill development, rooted in a suite of culturally reflective services for full spectrum child and family wellbeing. Building on these current parenting skills group classes will expand the didactic learning already provided to include community-based family activities and cultural mentor peer supports, in an approach anticipated to engage families in building their safe parenting skills prior to child welfare system involvement. This program enhancement leverages and adds to CITC’s already robust offerings of affirming, strengths-based supports, addressing the needs of Alaska Native and American Indian families in one of the country’s largest urban Indigenous populations.

Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma

Location: Peoria, OK
Contact: Ashley Lebonte
(918) 540-2535 x9242
alabonte@peoriatribe.com

Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma (PTIO) plans to reshape child welfare in its Native American and local communities by creating a rich support network for parents and family units, giving parents the skill sets and knowledge to have a happy, healthy, and thriving family. Through the Peoria Advantage program, the PTIO will mobilize the community around parents and caregivers to build a layer of protection around Native American families by using the Brazelton Touchpoint’s parenting curriculum. Utilizing cultural knowledge, teachings, and cultural practices, the Tribe will teach Native Americans how to turn to historically crucial cultural knowledge and relevant ways to improve family connections within the home and the community. Throughout this prevention program, the PTIO will continuously provide culturally appropriate educational training to front-line workers and families to increase the knowledge base of cultural family practices that prevent child abuse and neglect.

Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic

Location: Toppenish, WA
Contact: Annie Contreras
(509) 225-3388 ext. 3681
AnnaC@yvfwc.org

Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic will expand its Spanish-language Parenting Education program and classes using the Los Niños Bien Educados curriculum to low-income, Spanish-speaking migrant families in Benton and Franklin counties. These three counties contain (44.7%) of the Migrant/Seasonal Agricultural Workers (MSAW) in the state. The parenting education curriculum is culturally specific to meet the needs of Spanish-speaking migrant families. The in-person program provides high-quality, developmentally appropriate childcare during class sessions to reduce parents’ attendance barriers. Online programs expand access to parenting education classes to reach additional low-income migrant parents and lead to improved outcomes for at-risk families. The Spanish-language parenting education program objectives are to improve family communication; increase the use of nonpunitive discipline and positive guidance skills; improve mutual support and access to support services in the community; improve protective factors; and improve child development measures. Programmatic goals include increasing family and community protective factors and resilience and demonstrating the benefits of collaboration among child abuse and neglect prevention programming, major early learning programming, and youth delinquency and gang prevention programming.

On October 1, 2021, ACF funded the following project which has funding through FY2025:

HELPING OURSELVES PREVENT EMERGENCIES

Location: Prince of Wales Island, AK
Contact: Tiffany Mills
(907) 826-2581
hopeprevention@aptalaska.net

Helping Ourselves Prevent Emergencies (HOPE) will strengthen families and continue building protective factors and increase family safety in tribal communities. Programming will increase understanding, appreciation, knowledge of tribal traditions and culture to combat child abuse and neglect more effectively in tribal communities. HOPE will enhance its services by providing two new culturally appropriate parent education curriculums for tribal families Motherhood is Sacred, Fatherhood is Sacred and the Positive Indian Parenting curricula (NICWA). HOPE will provide home visitation, case plan support, and opportunities to build social connections in the Prince of Wales community.