The Child & Family Service (CFS) department is open for business, we have a staff of 3 members. Can you imagine a place in our tribe where people of all ages, incomes, and abilities are welcome to develop helpful and caring connections with each other? A place where skilled and thoughtful professionals along with Elders, Tribal Leaders, Medicine folks, and Clan Mothers help parents, children, and families find emotional support, financial support and practical assistance to succeed in life? A place that offers sensible solutions to families seeking health, safety, educational, and employment services? That is exactly what we are hoping to develop through the CFS department.

We will be hosting a community gathering/information session on February 22 at 2:00 p.m. at the Government Center, food & refreshments will be served. Cultural activities will be available for the children to attend during the event. This event is to ask the community what its greatest needs are as we develop the program, as well as inform the community as to what we can currently offer tribal families.

Child & Family Services goal is to strengthen the whole family unit, while keeping them all together. Teaching a variety of ways to handle some of life’s daily challenges. The CFS unit is here to assist tribal families with any challenges or concern they may have regarding raising a family in the society we live in. We are developing healthy ways to strengthen families and encourage cultural ways of connection to our land, our community and ourselves. We are also working on a Kinship Navigator Program, this will allow us to assist Kinship Caregivers even if it’s an informal placement of a child. This program will provide information, referral, and follow-up services to grandparents and other relatives raising children to link them to the benefits and services that they or the children need.

If you have any questions please contact 508-477-0208 extension 122, 142, 175 or the CFS cell phone 508-562-9975. If you plan to bring children could you please give us a head count by February 18.