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Tribal Family & Youth Services
Miisaq
Mary Johnson Director
Xaasteen
Francine Eddy Jones Director July 1996 - October 2020 The Tribal Family & Youth Services (TFYS) department administers the Child Welfare, Elderly Services and Wellness programs. Utilizing tribal values and strength-based practices, the department assists children, youth, elderly and families in achieving safety, stability and security. In 2020, the department administered 26 federal, state and tribal grants, and employed 19 onsite staff and 5 field staff.
2020 Highlights
Implemented a transition plan following the retirement of TFYS Director Francine
Eddy Jones in October 2020 after 24 years of dedicated service. Mary Johnson was hired as the new TFYS Director in November 2020 and is working closely with
Francine under a contract to help with the transition. Renewed a five-year agreement with Casey Family Programs to provide technical assistance, training and peer-to-peer opportunities. This has been a strong partnership since 2000. Renegotiated a new Title IV-E Administration and Training Provider agreement with the State of Alaska to receive reimbursement for administration and training under the Child Welfare program. Renegotiated a Title IV-E Maintenance agreement with the State of Alaska which will provide $110,000 per year for a three-year pilot project to transfer more child welfare cases from the State of Alaska to Tribal
Court. Awarded a five-year federal TANF-Child Welfare grant in the amount of $1.125 million to develop a coordinated system to provide early intervention, wrap-around services to Temporary Assistance for
Needy Families (TANF) families who are at risk of becoming involved with the State of Alaska Office of
Children’s Services (OCS). Awarded $323,902 in federal COVID-19 funds under the Title VI Elderly Nutrition grant, Title IV-B Promoting Safe & Stable Families & Child
Welfare Services, and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Native Connections grant. In addition, received a $50,000 donation from
Sealaska for the Elders program and a $90,000 donation from Casey Family Programs to be used to support programming for children and families. Continued to work internally with the Child Welfare team to develop the Tribe’s readiness to pursue a direct Title IV-E program under the Title IV-E Planning grant. Formalized a partnership with the Tribal Court to support two caseworker positions to assist Elders in Juneau who are victims of abuse, neglect or fraud. Partnered with the Tribal Court to begin the process of recruiting for two full-time positions in Klawock, Alaska to assist with efforts surrounding child abuse and neglect. Continued strong partnerships with the TANF and Child Care departments to promote family preservation through culturally-based support groups and events focused on sobriety, parenting and trauma for mutual clients: » Women’s Group (28 participants), Wellbriety Support Group (57 participants), Fatherhood Is Sacred® (47 participants), Inter-Tribal Culture Night (145 participants) and Nurturing Parenting Program® (19 participants). » Hosted virtual Wellbriety events to celebrate wellness and sobriety (55 participants).
2020 Highlights (Cont.)
Child Welfare
The Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) program protects and maintains the integrity and rights of tribal children, their families or custodians, and the Tribe in involuntary custody proceedings. The program provides case management services to children and parents or guardians in communities served and serves as tribal advocates at the intake, research, investigative, prevention/early intervention and legal intervention stages of tribal child welfare cases.
Worked with the Office of the General Counsel to assume responsibility for the administration of the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) set-aside grant to establish an office based in Seattle, WA with an ICWA attorney, two family case workers and an administrative assistant to serve ICWA cases in Washington. Provided case management services for 222 ICWA Cases: Alaska (125),
Washington (56), Other States (41). Negotiated three new scopes of work under the Alaska Tribal Child Welfare Compact:
Licensing Assistance, Safety Evaluation of Relative Homes, and Family Contact. » Met the measurables for the original scopes of work to provide initial Diligent Relative Search and Ongoing Placement Searches. Received a three-year State Family First Prevention Services grant in the amount of $261,690 to provide in-home services, make referrals, and provide case management to preserve Native families and prevent the removal of children from their homes. Conducted monthly meetings between the TFYS ICWA team and OCS Family Services team to check in and review the Tribe’s ICWA caseload and identify prospective cases to transfer. Hosted a site visit with Casey Family Programs and Region X Children’s Bureau. Co-hosted four key events: » ICWA II Training with the Child Welfare Academy and State of Alaska Office of Children’s Services » ICWA Training with the Court Improvement Project » ICWA Training with the Tlingit & Haida Child Welfare Attorney » Knowing Who You Are Training
Elderly Services
The Elderly Services program provides Elder nutrition and caregiver support services, information and referral services, and promotes wellness and health-related education. The program serves Elders and caregivers in Douglas, Hydaburg and Juneau, Alaska. The program also administers the Elderly Emergency Assistance program that provides financial assistance to enrolled tribal citizens 65 years and older regardless of residency. Coordinated the annual fun Valentine’s Day
Dance held February 13. Over 100 Elders came dressed up and ready to dance or sit back, enjoy old time favorite music, share cookies they made, visit and get pictures under the bouquet of balloons! Provided support to 66 Elders from 11 communities through the Elderly
Emergency Assistance program.
“Providing culturally sensitive services to promote economic self-sufficiency and the social well-being of tribal citizens and tribal communities."
“Promoting health and wellness for tribal Elders through health and social services."
2020 Highlights (Cont.)
Elderly Services (Cont.)
Provided exercise options for Elders (January-February) which included Fall
Prevention classes focused on balance and stability twice per week and weekly Chair Fitness and Tai Chi classes that focused on balance and wellbeing. Continued partnership with the Juneau Tlingit & Haida Community Council to host the ever-growing Elderly Services’ weekly lunch program (January 1-March 5) with 86
Elders consistently attending and up to 150 Elders participating at times. Coordinated the weekly delivery of non-perishable food bags to 102 Elders to provide support to them during the COVID-19 pandemic. Provided 125 Thanksgiving and 130
Christmas food boxes to Elders to hold them up during the holiday season. Served approximately 50 Elders and caregivers through the Hydaburg Elders program (January-February).
Wellness — Wooch Yax Haa Kusteeyí (Balance is Our Way of Life)
The Wellness program works to support the health and well-being of tribal citizens by linking and empowering Elders, youth and families. Expanded multi-generational exchanges to connect Elders with youth. A total of nine
Elders participated during the weekly gatherings: » Dzantik’i Heeni Elders Lunches (144 students and 4 Elders participated). » Thunder Mountain Culture Club (30 students and 5 Elders participated). » Floyd Dryden Tlingit Language and Culture Classes (5 students and 4 Elders participated). » Harborview Elders in School (22 students and 4 Elders participated). » Gastineau Elders in School (15 students and 4 Elders participated). Co-sponsored a virtual Strengthening Families Culture Camp to teach youth healthy ways of living, traditional harvest and science; 87 youth participated. Created Strengthening Families Through Culture program to reach youth and families virtually to teach culturally-based mindfulness and Science, Technology, Art and Math (STEAM) lessons; 27 youth participated. Created Haa Aaní Káa Át Kugaxtootéen Adventure Club to build on the success of the Strengthening Families Through Culture program and support culturally-based mindfulness and STEAM learning; 24 youth participated. Created the TFYS CARES program to virtually support the material, educational and social emotional needs of 38 families, 44 adults and 82 children.
2020 Highlights (Cont.)
Field Staff
Field staff are the first point of contact on child welfare related matters in their respective communities, as well as out of state ICWA cases. They also provide assistance for a variety of applications (Tlingit & Haida, Tlingit Haida Regional Housing Authority, State of Alaska, Native corporations, etc.) and referrals for mental health and supportive services. There are five field offices: Craig, Haines, Klawock, Saxman and Wrangell. The Klawock office oversees Klawock and Kasaan ICWA cases and houses the supervisor for all field offices. Provided assistance to families who have open investigations with OCS and other state child protective service agencies. Participated in the following trainings and events: » Domestic Violence Summit, » ICWA Training, » National Indian Child Welfare Virtual Conference, and » Child Maltreatment Conference.
2021 Goals
Transfer an additional five ICWA cases from the State of Alaska to Tribal Court under the expansion of the Tribal Title IV-E Maintenance program. Fully implement scopes of work (licensing assistance, safety evaluation of relative homes and family contact) under the Alaska Tribal Child Welfare Compact. Complete planning process to explore the Direct Title IV-E option under the Tribal
Title IV-E Planning grant and submit formal recommendations to Tlingit & Haida’s
Executive Team and Executive Council.
“Serving as a community liaison to ensure tribal citizens have access to the Tribe’s services."
