National Child Welfare Association

Training Institutes

Contact

IslaDane Isla Dane Email

Event Manager

(503) 222-4044, ext. 144

The National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA) offers a professional development workshop series designed specifically for child welfare workers and administrators in reservation, urban, and state settings. Training Institutes cover a variety of topics related to children’s issues in the areas of child welfare, mental health, the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (ICWA), and traditional parenting methods. Training Institutes are offered three to four times a year in different locations.

August 26–28, 2008, Portland, Oregon

Monarch Hotel
12566 SE 93rd Avenue
Clackamas, OR 97015
For Reservations: (800) 492-8700


Hotel provides the following:
• Complimentary airport shuttle service
• Shuttle service up to one mile radius of hotel
• Free Wi-Fi
• Free Parking
• Clackamas Town Center Mall two blocks from hotel
• Clackamas Promenade adjacent to hotel
• 20 Restaurants within walking distance
• On-site restaurant/lounge

Indicate that you are with the NICWA room block. The room rate is $77.00 per room (single), plus tax. This rate is guaranteed through August 7, 2008. Reservations must be guaranteed with a credit card or deposit. Cancellations must be made 24 hours prior to scheduled arrival date to avoid charges from the hotel.

ICWA, Basic

Trainer: Patty Elofson, NICWA Consultant
Price: $375 ($50 earlybird discount available until August 12, 2008)
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This workshop is designed to give the participant basic skills in Indian child welfare. It introduces the worker to principles, concepts, and skills of interviewing, assessment, and case management. This workshop is designed to provide the child welfare worker with an understanding of the historical context within which practice has developed. It examines the cultural issues with regard to Indian child welfare and presents an overview of child welfare services.

Positive Indian Parenting (Train-the-trainer)

Trainer: Nadja Jones, Senior Community Development Specialist, NICWA
Price: $375 ($50 earlybird discount available until August 12, 2008)
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For years, Indian parents have been bombarded with the idea that using traditional methods of child rearing is not a good thing. Positive Indian Parenting reverses that concept. It revives traditional ways and provides a place for combining traditional and modern parenting methods. This course will provide workers with information on how to organize and conduct parenting training. Preparing lesson plans, setting up meetings, and helping parents through this training will be covered. Exercises and handouts are designed for use in small groups or with a family. A facilitator’s manual is included in each participant’s course material.

Cross-Cultural Skills

Trainer: Pamela Hammond, NICWA Consultant
Price: $375 ($50 earlybird discount available until August 12, 2008)
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This training will offer participants an understanding of tribal culture, cross-cultural skills, Indian child welfare, and strategies for developing cross-cultural partnerships. Participants will be able to accurately determine if a child’s status is Native American from the beginning of a case throughout the life of a case, be able to understand the government-to-government relationship and tribal-state agreement, understand the cultural perspective and values of Native Americans, engage in effective relationships with tribes, and recognize and understand how one’s own values and experiences impact relationships and services offered to the tribes.

August 2008 Training Institute Flier PDF


Upcoming Training Institutes

October 28–30, 2008 Portland, Oregon ~ Monarch Hotel

• ICWA Basic
• Family-Centered Services
• Expert Witness Training

February 3–5, 2009 Portland, Oregon ~ Monarch Hotel

• ICWA Advanced
• Positive Indian Parenting
• Project Management