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Family/Tribal Liaison and Native American Unit

Liaisons for the MYFI Project

• Both liaisons work as Family/Tribal Liaisons. Each Liaison will work through “the life of the case”
• Both liaisons develop the team’s knowledge of resources available to enhance the use of Native resources utilized in meeting families’ needs. These resources include Tribal resources as well as other Native and community resources to facilitate families building informal support systems
• The Liaisons will maintain an up-to-date tribal contact list.
• Liaisons maintain tracking of flexible/emergency family resources and is responsible for completing activity reports as requested to assist in the completion of the Project Reports
• Each worker knows all of her cases
• Each liaison has a minimum of one scheduled individual conference with their supervisor each month
• Each liaison reviews case files as needed to stay informed of their case.
• As needs are identified, each liaison assists the families on their caseload in the mobilization of resources to meet those needs
• Liaisons will keep an up-to-date schedule on their Outlook calendar

CPS Assessment Phase

Liaisons are involved with all CPS cases that involve Native Americans. Upon being notified by the CPS Supervisor of a new Native American case, the assigned Liaison will contact the CPW no later than the next business day. Duties include the following (this is not meant to be an all-inclusive list)

Working with Tribes

The Native Liaison engages in communication with Tribes as soon as possible at the onset of the case both in verbal and written form. Other activities include

• assisting in determining tribal eligibility/enrollment status including obtaining paternity affidavits
• providing an avenue to facilitate the exchange of information with DHS
• assisting tribes in understanding DHS and State court structure and vice versa
• promote tribal involvement with services, court and family team meetings
• request tribes initiate home studies and follow up with relatives on reservations
• performing activities which enhance service delivery compliance with ICWA

Working with Families

The Native Liaison:

• completes the Ancestry Chart with the family within 20 working days of the intake
• contacts each family monthly. This may or may not include the CPW depending on the case situation
• gathers family background information from the family to help document their Native American heritage in effort to clarify enrollment status and ICWA applicability
• provides info as to potential relative placement options when necessary and assist in sending letters to relatives upon a removal, and complete relative log
• works with family and tribe to complete tribal enrollment as needed
• makes inquiries regarding enrollment status/eligibility
• conducts home visits
• attends court hearings
• attends the family focused meeting and/or family interaction meetings
• makes referrals and gets releases for cultural appropriate services
• facilitates linkage to Native resources for Native families to assist in building informal supports for the family
• assists families to mobilize resources to meet any needs as they are identified
• works with birth and placement families to develop a cultural plan and simultaneously working with the CPW and family to link families to community resources
• performs activities which enhance service delivery compliance with ICWA (e.g. assist in locating expert witnesses, active efforts)

Case Documentation

• Within 5 days, document all activity on a case (i.e. attempted contacts; phone calls; face to face)

Placement Families

• Educates non-native placements about native culture
• Provides support to foster homes as requested by CPW

Transfer Activities

As soon as it becomes known that the case qualifies for ongoing services:

• The liaison attends transfer (handoff) meetings for cases being assigned to ongoing with the CPW, SW2 and Ongoing Services Native Liaison
• The liaison gives copy of the completed packet to the SW2 so it can be placed in the file

If a CPS case is not going to be transferred to a SW2, the liaison’s involvement will phase out and the completed packet will be placed in the Liaison’s file cabinet.

Community Work

The Liaisons

• Participates in committee work (ie. CINCF, FAC and Foster Parent Recruitment, etc)
• Speaks at trainings as approved by supervisor
• Arranges and coordinates cultural events
• Arranges DHS/Tribal meetings and tours

While direct work with families is the most paramount, Liaison’s participation in community groups is also important. Participation in these efforts will be approved/assigned by the supervisor. Examples would include foster home recruitment efforts, assist in organizing conferences, attend local monthly collaboration meeting, etc.

Assist in planning and implementation of cultural activities to enhance opportunities for Native children, involved with DHS, have to build knowledge about their heritage.

Supervision

• Liaison’s will attend CPS staff meetings, as needed
• Take part in monthly supervisory conference with ongoing supervisor and report case and community activity for that month

Ongoing Service Phase

Attend all handoff meetings. In an assigned case, duties will vary from family to family and may include:

Working with Families

• Attend 5-day meeting with FSRP and DHS social worker
• Meet with families to advocate and be a support to them in obtaining the outcomes outlined in their Family Case plan
• Attend and participate in meetings on assigned cases as needed
• Attend court hearings on assigned cases as needed
• Facilitate linking families up to community and/or cultural resources as needed
• Provide transportation in some last resort instances
• Meet with family independent of the social worker to carry out the duties as noted
• As needs are identified, assist families to mobilize resources to meet those needs
• Make contact with each family at a minimum of one time per month 

Services to the Child

The liaisons will do cultural planning when a child is placed out of home - with relatives, foster home or group home. This initially involves conversations with the parents and/or caregivers to explore the family's cultural practices/values and document these conversations in contact narrative. Share this information with the social worker so as a team with the family a plan can be developed to address cultural connectivity. Prioritize those children living in non-Indian homes.

• Update the Ancestry Chart as new information is obtained. Gather family background information from the family to help document their Native American heritage in effort to clarify enrollment status and ICWA applicability

Working with Tribes

• The liaisons, at a minimum, will have contact with the tribe before every court hearing. This is to encourage the tribe’s participation and attendance. Assist in arranging telephonic appearance when needed. Reminder calls regarding the upcoming court hearings.

Case Documentation

• Within 5 days, document all activity on a case (i.e. attempted contacts; phone calls; face to face), by e-mailing the narrative form to the social worker.
• Liaison will update data tracking sheet weekly.

Education/Experience Requirement

High school diploma or equivalent required.

*SHIP is an equal opportunity employer.