CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES
Go Blue – April is Child Abuse Prevention Month
The Child Advocacy Center has teamed up with other departments and organizations to bring you Child Abuse Prevention Month activities! Don’t forget to wear your blue!
You can check out the events below, or download the calendar here: 2024 CAP Activity Calendar
Children & Family Services
The Children and Family Services (CFS) program is designed to preserve, protect, and strengthen the children and families of the Bering Strait Region Tribes.
Services Include:
Case Management
Referral to other programs
Parenting & early childhood development training (individual training and support, self-help materials and classes)
Training & skill development in health & nutrition
Stress management training & skill development
Assistance in coordinating transportation between communities
Additional Services:
Respite care and arrangements for respite care
Ground transportation for clients to & from activities (only if transportation is available)
Life-skills training and skill development (i.e. individual and family coping, budgeting, housekeeping, etc.)
Escort clients to placements, treatment, homes & visits
Coordination & monitoring visitation between children & their families
Home visits with individual families to help the families
We strive to empower individuals and their families, cultivate nurturing home environments and to educate individuals, families and communities.
Child Abuse and Neglect
Children and Family Services provides services to abused and neglected children and assists with the cultural competence of the Office of Children’s Services (OCS) to ensure cultural values are preserved and respected for the benefit of Alaska Native Families.
If you suspect that a child is being abused or neglected CALL Office of Children’s Services statewide 1-800-478-4444 or by email to reportchildabuse@alaska.gov. Find out more information about reporting at http://dhss.alaska.gov/ocs/Pages/childrensjustice/mandatoryreporting.aspx.
If you are unsure whether or not to report, please report or ask a mandated report or call the Child Advocacy Center at 907-443-4488. You can also find more information online at https://kawerak.org/community-services/child-advocacy-center/.
Indian Child Welfare Act
The Indian Child Welfare Act, (ICWA) is the federal law created in 1978 “…to protect the best interests of Indian children and promote the stability and security of Indian families and tribes.” ICWA works to promote the preservation and protection of tribal member children, families and community. If the removal of an Indian child is necessary, the Act assures that efforts are made to preserve cultural ties by placing a child with an Indian family or organization. Tribal Family Coordinators are Para-professionals that reside in their respective communities and are trained to intervene in all Child in Need of Aid Proceedings and to represent their tribe’s best interest in these proceedings.
Foster Care/Adoption Services
Children and Family Services, Foster Care Specialists recruits and certifies Native and non-native homes to serve as foster care placements for children removed from their homes. Licensed foster homes are homes approved by the Office of Children’s Services that meet a standard of care established in the foster care regulations. The Foster Care Recruiter will provide the following technical assistance to foster parents and potential foster homes.
- Assistance with the application process
- Ensure homes are able to pass licensing regulations and statutes
- Reference checks
- Fingerprinting
- Forwarding completed packets to OCS Fairbanks for final approval and licensing.
Contact the Foster Care Recruiter:
Kirstie Ione
kione@kawerak.org
Phone: (907) 434-1693
Toll Free: 1-800-478-5153
Resources:
Alaska Center for Resource Families
Tips, training, and the Resource Family Handbook
www.acrf.org
You need:
- A willingness to open your home to a child in need
- Patience, understanding, and a non-judgmental attitude
- Willingness to adapt to continuously changing regulations
- A willingness to deal with uncertainty and the temporary nature of fostering
Children are our most precious resource. Help keep them safe.
To be a Foster parent:
- You DON’T have to be married
- You DON’T have to be a homeowner
- You DON’T need a lot of money
- You DON’T have to live in a big house
- You CAN work full-time
- You CAN get licensed for a specific age group or child
Children need to remain connected to know who they are. All children want to stay close to their home, family and remain within their traditions and cultures. To do this we need more foster homes in the Bering Strait Region, both in villages and in Nome.
- The satisfaction of seeing a dramatic improvement in a child’s condition and behavior once their needs are met
- An enriching family experience
- Keeping more tribal members in their home community and region
- Making a difference in the life of a child
There is always room for one more. <3
- Must be 21 years old.
- Have no physical health impairments, mental health conditions, or substance use that will pose a risk to a child or affect the adult’s ability to care for a child.
- Everyone in the household over 16 must complete fingerprinting and pass a background check.*
- Agree not to use any form of physical discipline with a child in care.
- Support the case plan for the family, including reunification with family or placement with relatives.
- Provide references to the Office of Children’s Services that will speak to your character, judgement, and ability to care for children.
*A variance can be completed for certain background check items. Contact the Foster Care Recruiter for more information.
Other Helpful Resources:
Alaska Center for Resource Families
Tips, training, and the Resource Family Handbook
www.acrf.org
Good Foster Homes are Always Needed
Foster parents that make their homes available for children make a gift to their community, as well as the children in their care.
For more information regarding Foster Care contact the Foster Care Recruiter @ 434-1693, OCS at 1-800-770-5247 or the Alaska Foster Parent Training Center @ 1-800-478-7303. You can also download the Foster Home application.
Go Blue – April is Child Abuse Prevention Month
The Child Advocacy Center has teamed up with other departments and organizations to bring you Child Abuse Prevention Month activities! Don’t forget to wear your blue!
You can check out the events below, or download the calendar here: 2024 CAP Activity Calendar
Children & Family Services
The Children and Family Services (CFS) program is designed to preserve, protect, and strengthen the children and families of the Bering Strait Region Tribes.
Services Include:
Case Management
Referral to other programs
Parenting & early childhood development training (individual training and support, self-help materials and classes)
Training & skill development in health & nutrition
Stress management training & skill development
Assistance in coordinating transportation between communities
Additional Services:
Respite care and arrangements for respite care
Ground transportation for clients to & from activities (only if transportation is available)
Life-skills training and skill development (i.e. individual and family coping, budgeting, housekeeping, etc.)
Escort clients to placements, treatment, homes & visits
Coordination & monitoring visitation between children & their families
Home visits with individual families to help the families
We strive to empower individuals and their families, cultivate nurturing home environments and to educate individuals, families and communities.
Child Abuse and Neglect
Children and Family Services provides services to abused and neglected children and assists with the cultural competence of the Office of Children’s Services (OCS) to ensure cultural values are preserved and respected for the benefit of Alaska Native Families.
If you suspect that a child is being abused or neglected CALL Office of Children’s Services statewide 1-800-478-4444 or by email to reportchildabuse@alaska.gov. Find out more information about reporting at http://dhss.alaska.gov/ocs/Pages/childrensjustice/mandatoryreporting.aspx.
If you are unsure whether or not to report, please report or ask a mandated report or call the Child Advocacy Center at 907-443-4488. You can also find more information online at https://kawerak.org/community-services/child-advocacy-center/.
Indian Child Welfare Act
The Indian Child Welfare Act, (ICWA) is the federal law created in 1978 “…to protect the best interests of Indian children and promote the stability and security of Indian families and tribes.” ICWA works to promote the preservation and protection of tribal member children, families and community. If the removal of an Indian child is necessary, the Act assures that efforts are made to preserve cultural ties by placing a child with an Indian family or organization. Tribal Family Coordinators are Para-professionals that reside in their respective communities and are trained to intervene in all Child in Need of Aid Proceedings and to represent their tribe’s best interest in these proceedings.
Foster Care/Adoption Services
Children and Family Services, Foster Care Specialists recruits and certifies Native and non-native homes to serve as foster care placements for children removed from their homes. Licensed foster homes are homes approved by the Office of Children’s Services that meet a standard of care established in the foster care regulations. The Foster Care Recruiter will provide the following technical assistance to foster parents and potential foster homes.
- Assistance with the application process
- Ensure homes are able to pass licensing regulations and statutes
- Reference checks
- Fingerprinting
- Forwarding completed packets to OCS Fairbanks for final approval and licensing.
Contact the Foster Care Recruiter:
Kirstie Ione
kione@kawerak.org
Phone: (907) 434-1693
Toll Free: 1-800-478-5153
Resources:
Alaska Center for Resource Families
Tips, training, and the Resource Family Handbook
www.acrf.org
You need:
- A willingness to open your home to a child in need
- Patience, understanding, and a non-judgmental attitude
- Willingness to adapt to continuously changing regulations
- A willingness to deal with uncertainty and the temporary nature of fostering
Children are our most precious resource. Help keep them safe.
To be a Foster parent:
- You DON’T have to be married
- You DON’T have to be a homeowner
- You DON’T need a lot of money
- You DON’T have to live in a big house
- You CAN work full-time
- You CAN get licensed for a specific age group or child
Children need to remain connected to know who they are. All children want to stay close to their home, family and remain within their traditions and cultures. To do this we need more foster homes in the Bering Strait Region, both in villages and in Nome.
- The satisfaction of seeing a dramatic improvement in a child’s condition and behavior once their needs are met
- An enriching family experience
- Keeping more tribal members in their home community and region
- Making a difference in the life of a child
There is always room for one more. <3
- Must be 21 years old.
- Have no physical health impairments, mental health conditions, or substance use that will pose a risk to a child or affect the adult’s ability to care for a child.
- Everyone in the household over 16 must complete fingerprinting and pass a background check.*
- Agree not to use any form of physical discipline with a child in care.
- Support the case plan for the family, including reunification with family or placement with relatives.
- Provide references to the Office of Children’s Services that will speak to your character, judgement, and ability to care for children.
*A variance can be completed for certain background check items. Contact the Foster Care Recruiter for more information.
Other Helpful Resources:
Alaska Center for Resource Families
Tips, training, and the Resource Family Handbook
www.acrf.org
Good Foster Homes are Always Needed
Foster parents that make their homes available for children make a gift to their community, as well as the children in their care.
For more information regarding Foster Care contact the Foster Care Recruiter @ 434-1693, OCS at 1-800-770-5247 or the Alaska Foster Parent Training Center @ 1-800-478-7303. You can also download the Foster Home application.