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TRIBAL ALERT!
FEDERAL CHILD & FAMILY SERVICES REVIEW
OF THE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
January 29, 2002
Survey Responses DUE by Friday,
February 1, 2002,
or as soon as possible thereafter!
The California Department of
Social Services (DSS) is preparing for its first federal review under a new
Federal Child and Family Services Review which should serve as an important
tool in improving and ensuring compliance with Federal child welfare
requirements. The Federal Administration for Children and Families will
evaluate the California social services system, specifically giving California
a grade as to issues of safety, permanency and overall child and family
well-being. In preparation for the Federal Review, DSS is compiling data and
information and gathering input from stakeholders, including Tribes, Indian
social services providers, ICWA advocates, Indian families and others who work
with families in Indian communities and have had contact with the California
social services system.
This is an opportunity for Tribes,
Indian children and their families,
and people working with Indian families to have a voice!
DSS is sending out a survey,
which we have attached, requesting input from stakeholders. Please complete
the attached survey and return it to our office and we will ensure that all of
the surveys are forwarded to the Federal Review Project. If you have already
received and returned the survey directly to the Federal Review Project, we
would appreciate it if you would also forward a copy of your completed survey
to us. CILS is participating in the review by encouraging and facilitating
your input, providing our own input, and identifying areas where the current
review may fall short in assessing the performance of DSS in promoting the
well-being of Indian children and their families.
MOST IMPORTANT
Add your comments to make the
survey relevant for Indian Country
Though most of the survey
responses are limited to the check boxes, we strongly encourage you to include
comments at the end of the survey which address some of the existing needs and
issues that we have identified below, as well as others you may wish to add.
-
Improve recruitment and
retention of Native social workers because Indian people are more
successful if the assistance offered is culturally relevant and they can
work with individuals from within the Indian community;
-
Improve the content,
amount and frequency of training for social workers, supervisors and
other personnel within the system regarding ICWA, culturally relevant
services and the specific needs of Indian families;
-
Improve culturally
appropriate services and access to such services to prevent removal
and promote reunification. There is a lack of understanding of existing
resources and thus a failure to utilize the appropriate resources that
are available;
-
Increase state support
for, and coordination with, Tribally based social services programs
so that the counties, Tribes and Indian social services providers can
work together with maximum efficiency to take advantage of the growing
number of Tribally based social services programs;
-
Consider Tribally based
solutions when reunification is not possible because for many Tribes
termination of parental rights is contrary to Tribal culture and
tradition. Working with Tribes and Tribal advocates to shape a
culturally appropriate outcome in these cases is essential; and
-
Shift the approach to
working with Indian families and Indian Tribes in order to achieve
the spirit of the law and improve Indian child and family welfare rather
than perform at a minimal level in doing only what is necessary to
comply with the law (ICWA). An approach that integrates the state
systems with Tribal systems, provides for mutual education and
cooperation and respects Indian culture and families must be
implemented.
Responses after February 1st
are still important and very useful! If
you have any questions please call Kimberly at the Oakland office,
1-800-829-0284 or your local CILS office. If you would be available to be
interviewed by the Federal Review Team, please call us so that we can arrange
this.
Documents
Alert (PDF - opens new window)
Survey
(PDF - opens new window)
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