This Grandfamilies and Kinship Support Network and National Indian Child Welfare Association tipsheet was developed for service providers to share with relatives/kin caring for Native children. It provides guidance to help caregivers access services, utilize the services effectively, and advocate for Native children in their care. This resource can support families to identify and connect to services such as childcare, behavioral health, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), TANF non-needy (child-only) grants, assistance with Social Security Income and other paperwork, and much more.

Many non-Natives work in various capacities in Indian Country, from tribal administrators to front line workers to urban Indian center employees. Other non-Natives work in other agencies that serve or collaborate with Indian Country. Learning by doing is the way most allies become allies. The Native Wellness Institute will host an interactive training on November 19 and 20, 2024 that is intended for non-Natives and Natives who want to learn more about being an ally in Indian Country. The training will include large and small group discussions, opportunities for reflection and assessment, and tools to take back to the workplace. The goal of the training is to better help participants to help the tribe/organization for which they work.

The most sustainable Tribal responses to domestic violence, sexual violence, sex trafficking, and related disparities are those rooted in Indigenous cultures and values. The challenge for those receiving federal funds is balancing the development of their responses with administering varying requirements of federal funds. This recorded Fireside Session, hosted by the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center, shares how Tribes and Tribal organizations can develop their sustainable responses, including responding to challenges to best meet the needs of survivors and Tribal communities by pooling together different federal funds and maximizing impact.

The Administration for Native Americans is partnering with the Office of Early Childhood Development to host a four-part webinar series, focused on key strategies and initiatives to support the optimal growth, development, and well-being of Native children and families. Three sessions remain: 

• Session 2: Strategies for Supporting the Success and Well-being of the Native Early Childhood Education Workforce will take place on September 5, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. ET;
• Session 3: The Power of Data in Native Early Childhood Development — Strategies for Effective Data Use and Impact will take place on October 3, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. ET; and
• Session 4: Native Early Childhood Development Funds — Maximizing Impact Through Flexible Funding Strategies will take place on November 7, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. ET.

This Grandfamilies and Kinship Support Network and National Indian Child Welfare Association fact sheet highlights the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe (PGST) Kinship Parenting Program. The PGST Kinship Parenting Program provides outreach and support to kin caregivers and their families in Kitsap County, Washington, including helping them identify and connect to services such as childcare, behavioral health, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), TANF non-needy (child-only) grants, assistance with Social Security Income and other paperwork, and much more. Other tribal nations and service providers can utilize the outlined practices as a guide as they develop or modify their own programming that best aligns with their community values, needs, and resources.

The National Indian Child Welfare Association will be hosting a new virtual training on September 24, 2024 to prepare tribal child welfare workers who want to gain insight and increase their skills on the basics. This training will consist of three 90-minute sessions.

There is a registration fee to attend this training.

This re-occurring breakout session took place during the 2024 National Tribal Technical Assistance Meeting to provide an overview of the grants management cycle for Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Native Employment Works (NEW) programs. The Administration for Children and Families’ Office of Grants Management provided guidance and resources to help navigate the fiscal roles and responsibilities associated with these program awards. This session shared updates in fiscal policy and practices, trending audit findings, and the opportunity to gauge attendees’ fiscal awareness and knowledge of these program awards.