The information in this program outline is provided by the program representative and edited by the CEBC staff. The Minority Youth and Family Initiative for American Indian/Alaskan Native Children (MYFI) program has been reviewed by the CEBC in the area of: Family Stabilization, but lacks the necessary research evidence to be given a Scientific Rating.

• Types of Maltreatment: Does not target any specific kind of maltreatment
• Target Population: American Indian and Alaskan Native children and families

Through culturally competent practice approaches consistent with the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) and the utilization of American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN) staff, flexible support funds, and community resources, MYFI decreases entry of AI/AN children into the child welfare system and increases reunification with their family of origin, transfer to tribal jurisdiction, and/or placement within relative or tribal networks.

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

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

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.

Minority Youth and Family Initiative for American Indian/Alaskan Native Children (MYFI) was not designed with a child component.

Minority Youth and Family Initiative for American Indian/Alaskan Native Children (MYFI) was designed with a parent/caregiver component that addresses the following presenting problems and symptoms:

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

Treatment Involves 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.

Minority Youth and Family Initiative for American Indian/Alaskan Native Children (MYFI) was not designed to be conducted in a group setting, and has not been tested for use in a group setting.

Recommended Intensity:

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

Recommended Duration:

2-4 months

This program is typically conducted in a(n):

• Birth Family Home
• Community Agency
• Foster Home

This program does not include a homework component.

Minority Youth and Family Initiative for American Indian/Alaskan Native Children (MYFI) does not have materials available in a language other than English.

The typical resources for implementing the program are:

Trained social workers and family group conferencing facilitators.

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

There is a manual that describes how to implement this program; but there is not training available for this program.

This program has been reviewed and it was determined that this program lacks the type of published, peer-reviewed research that meets the CEBC criteria for a scientific rating of 1 – 5. Therefore, the program has been given the classification of "NR - Not able to be Rated." It was reviewed because it was identified by the topic expert as a program being used in the field, or it is being marketed and/or used in California with children receiving services from child welfare or related systems and their parents/caregivers. Some programs that are not rated may have published, peer-reviewed research that does not meet the above stated criteria or may have eligible studies that have not yet been published in the peer-reviewed literature. For more information on the "NR - Not able to be Rated" classification, please see the Scientific Rating Scale.

Child Welfare Outcomes: Not Specified

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