Pictured: Patrick Kills Crow and his grandson Noah at the 2021 Orange Shirt Day. |
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Happy Father's Day!
Hello,
We have a great lineup of information this month from education opportunities to job opportunities. Plus, kicking things off this month is Father's Day! Not all heroes wear capes, let's celebrate dads everywhere for all they do and the love they give. None of us would be here without them!
Have a great month everyone,
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Meet DIFRC's New Executive Director:
Tallerita Tunney Rogers (Diné)
Tallerita is from Grey Mountain, Arizona on the Navajo Nation. She has a BA in Sociology from Macalester College and an MSW and MPA from Arizona State University, and she is currently working on an MBA in Healthcare from Northern Arizona University.
We asked Tallerita a couple questions to help you get to know her better:
What did you do in the last two-year period before coming to DIFRC?
I spent 2 months with Native American Connections (NAC) in Phoenix as Senior Director of Housing Programs overseeing the Permanent Supportive Housing (Individuals with a disability determination and history of chronic homelessness), Shelter Programs (COVID Bridge and youth shelter), and Transitional housing program for youth ages 18-24. My role was to ensure that programs were implemented to support the needs of clients and residents, so that we can help them to avoid ongoing homelessness.
Before NAC, I was at Native Americans for Community Action (NACA) in Flagstaff, AZ where I oversaw 5 programs that supported the development of a healthy community: Support Services, Reach UR Life youth suicide prevention program, Native Connections youth suicide prevention program, L.I.F.E. (Lasting Indigenous Family enrichment, a diabetes prevention program that utilizes and revitalizes traditional practices) and the Pathways Program (a youth substance use prevention program).
During this time, I experienced the start and helped manage NACA’s pandemic response which included securing funding to support the safety and health of the community in Flagstaff, which focused heavily on the unsheltered (aka homeless) population. This turned into providing basic needs requests such as bus passes, to having a coordinated response to weather (distributing coats, sleeping bags and paying for motels) to securing $300,000 from the Governor’s office plus other funding from other sources, to establish a drop-in center for daytime access to resources and services.
Scroll to the bottom to read more answered questions!
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Our Barbecue Fun Day was a Success!
Over 50 people joined us at our BBQ and application assistance event despite the May blizzard.
We wanted to provide DIFRC clients and community members with peer support so they can apply for, and access public benefits. We aimed to make a supportive place to help those who may feel anxious or overwhelmed when filling out applications (because we’ve all felt that at one time or another!)
12 families came by and got SNAP, WIC, State/County rental assistance, RTD LIVE, and Library card application help.
We want to give a huge thanks to our peer support volunteers, the Denver Indian Center, Megan Berry (Denver Department of Public Health and Environment), all of our volunteers, and to our DIFRC staff. Thank you all for making this event successful!
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We are adding to our team!
The current job openings at DIFRC are:
If you're interested in working with Native families in the Denver Metro Area, we invite you to apply. Send a cover letter and resume to apply@difrc.org
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MSU Denver Grants 100% Free Tuition to Indigenous Students
This new program will pay for Indigenous students’ higher education. The MSU Denver grant will cover 100% of tuition and fees for eligible participants who are Colorado residents and are enrolled with federally recognized nations.
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Paid Research Opportunity for University of Denver
Biology, Environment, and Mood Studies Lab is trying to understand how relationships, stress, and the environment in the lives of teenagers and parents affect mental and physical health.
Participating in this study can help better understand what contributes to depression, anxiety, and other important health outcomes, to better support families and communities. Results from this study can be used to collaborate at the policy and legislative level to improve mental health care in all communities, including the American Indian community.
Parents and their children may be eligible if the child is between 13-17 years.
More information on this paid study opportunity is available here.
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Denver Youth Program Locator for Summer Events
The Youth Program Locator connects Denver families with in-person and virtual programs that keep youth safe, engaged and active after school, over the summer, and during school breaks.
Search the Youth Program Locator today to find for up-to-date program offerings for all ages and interests.
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Voz y Corazón - Suicide Prevention Program
From 6-7:30 p.m. every Thursday at 4407 Morrison Rd. in Denver
This weekly art group is a free program for youth ages 11-17.
An artist will work with youth and their art projects. There is also a suicide prevention component where they teach youth how to look for signs or help others who could be suicidal.
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DIHFS’ Behavioral Health Announces their Summer Youth Series |
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Free Poetry Youth Summer Program
This free poetry summer program for artistic youth aged 14-25 is an opportunity to get to grow with culture, develop leadership skills, engage in creative expression, and heal yourself through culturally responsive mental health and holistic practices.
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NOW HIRING: CU Denver Director of American Indian
Student Services
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DIFRC's Founding
In 2000, community members realized that ICWA was not being adequately enforced, and that AI/AN children continued to be overwhelmingly overrepresented in the child welfare system. Culturally-responsive services were limited, and families faced many barriers in accessing needed services.
Ever since, DIFRC has offered intensive case management and Indian Child Welfare Act advocacy continuously over the past seventeen years. Many families who receive services from DIFRC report that they have felt misunderstood at other agencies and that DIFRC has been able to assist them in connecting with services that “understand who they are.”
Our wraparound approach to service delivery works to develop partnerships with other agencies, reduce risk of abuse and neglect, and encourage resiliency and ability to thrive.
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The Operations Team Highlights
The DIFRC Operations Team is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations to ensure that DIFRC achieves its mission, vision, and purpose. This team works hard to keep our doors open so we can do our work everyday. They help with directing activities, determining where the organization can improve, managing relationships, and contributing to organizational development.
Contact info:
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What experience do you bring that is relevant to the DIFRC Executive Director Role?
The most relevant experiences have been during my times with NACA and A Place to Call Home in Mesa, AZ. At NACA I was really tasked with working with community members, from concerned citizens to elected officials and other non-profit executives to think and create real solutions to challenges people were facing. At APTCH, I licensed potential foster families and adoptive families to care for foster children and found my calling in social services. This experience led me to pursue the MSW and MPA with a concentration in Child Welfare.
How do you hope to apply the experience to this role?
All my educational and professional experiences are neatly combined with the work that DIFRC does here in Denver. It has also been a dream to someday lead an organization (which is why I pursued the MPA and currently working on the MBA) and the timing worked out well to pursue and accept this role.
What do you like to do for fun?
My primary fun activity is to read, but now I have to focus on entertaining and teaching my kids to be good people while trying to pass on their culture and pride as Diné. My husband and I have a 10 year old boy, 8 year old girl, 19 month old boy and another baby set to arrive sometime in September.
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Include DIFRC in your gift giving plan and support American Indian and Alaska Native families. Donate today! |
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