Program Goals

The goals for Minority Youth and Family Initiative for American Indian/Alaskan Native Children (MYFI) are:

• Decrease proportion of AI/AN children in child welfare system
• Increase relative or Tribal placements for child welfare involved AI/AN children
• Increase transfer to Tribal jurisdiction for child welfare involved AI/AN children

Logic Model

The program representative did not provide information about a Logic Model for Minority Youth and Family Initiative for American Indian/Alaskan Native Children (MYFI).

Essential Components

The essential components of Minority Youth and Family Initiative for American Indian/Alaskan Native Children (MYFI) include:

• Specialized unit for AI/AN families at the county level of the state child welfare system
• Approaching every self-identified AI/AN child as being eligible for Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) practice requirements, even if they do not qualify for ICWA
• Use of AI/AN staff as consistent liaisons to families and tribes throughout the case
• Hiring of AI/AN social workers
• Continual use and updating of ancestry chart to understand family relationships, the possibility of enrollment with a tribe, and/or placement options
• Routine cultural competency training and education for child welfare staff, including interaction with area tribes
• Flexible funds to purchase items families need to provide or maintain placement for a child. Purchases have included: beds, diapers, utility bills, filing fees for guardianship papers, gas money, etc.
• Use and support of parenting and recovery programs designed and delivered for and by AI/AN agencies in the community
• Participation with AI/AN agency that provides advocacy for child welfare-involved families
• Monthly meeting with an interdisciplinary group, including members of the AI/AN community to present data and other indicators of program progress

Program Delivery

Parent/Caregiver Services

Minority Youth and Family Initiative for American Indian/Alaskan Native Children (MYFI) directly provides services to parents/caregivers and addresses the following:

• Referral to the public child welfare system. Associated symptoms vary from substance abuse and domestic violence to poverty to mental health issues, etc.

Services Involve Family/Support Structures:

This program involves the family or other support systems in the individual's treatment: Family Team Meetings are utilized to identify and maintain family supports. Families also receive advocacy services through an AI/AN agency in the community.

Recommended Intensity:

1-2 hours per week with family team meeting, advocacy involvement, and other referrals based on need

Recommended Duration:

2-4 months

Delivery Settings

This program is typically conducted in a(n):

• Birth Family Home
• Foster / Kinship Care
• Community-based Agency / Organization / Provider

Homework

This program does not include a homework component.

Resources Needed to Run Program

The typical resources for implementing the program are:

Trained social workers and family group conferencing facilitators

Manuals and Training

Prerequisite/Minimum Provider Qualifications

Bachelor's level degree for child welfare workers; prefer Master's level degree in social work or related field for supervisors

Manual Information

There is a manual that describes how to deliver this program.

Training Information

There is not training available for this program.

Relevant Published, Peer-Reviewed Research

Currently, there are no published, peer-reviewed research studies for Minority Youth and Family Initiative for American Indian/Alaskan Native Children (MYFI).

Additional References