Ha.we, friends, family and community members,
We are getting excited to see you soon. We will have booths at upcoming resource fairs (details below) and would love have you stop by and meet our staff. DIFRC has a few new staffers who have been working hard during the pandemic and throughout the vaccination season to support families with the most barriers to well-being. Please stop by and say hello and pick up resources!
We are also working on planning a few in-person events later in the year and will share news about those soon. One on our minds is Orange Shirt Day, September 30, in which we support the survivors of indigenous boarding and residential schools and learn about the complex and nuanced effects these schools have had on our communities in Canada and the U.S. If you are interested in helping with planning, please reach out to Alyssa Willie at awillie@difrc.org.
Tara Manthey, Executive Director
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Come by the DIFRC booth for give-aways, resources and to say hello! We can't wait to see you. |
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Vaccinate because you care
The Colorado Native Partner Organizations affiliated with the Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs COVID-19 Committee created short videos for the Denver community expressing the importance of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine to help protect each other and especially elders. This campaign was funded by DIHFS and managed by Project Mosaic. Please watch the videos and share on your social media pages! "PSA, Colorado Natives, Shared Values" and "PSA, Colorado Natives, Path to Togetherness"
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Make Your Voice Heard!
Complete the Native Housing Survey
The Native American Housing Circle is conducting a survey on the housing needs of the Native community in the Denver Metro area. Information gathered from the survey will be used to inform housing efforts in the short- and long-term. Take the survey and be entered to win prizes!
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Colorado Springs friends, come see us July 31
Join us at the Haseya Outreach & Indigenous Community Resource Fair from 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 31 at the Hillside Community Center. There will be some great vendors, programs, and, of course, Indian tacos. Come for the giveaways, come network, and make sure to bring the whole family along.
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Staff Spotlight: Alyssa Willie
Meet Alyssa Willie (Oklahoma Choctaw/Florida Seminole), a Family Engagement Specialist at DIRFC who has been working with us for more than two and a half years. Alyssa is from the Brighton Seminole Reservation in Okeechobee, Florida, and has lived in Denver for almost five years.
"I like to do beadwork and play the keyboard," Alyssa said. And finally as life returns to normal, Alyssa is looking forward to concerts. She also loves learning, and has two bachelor's and two master's degrees. You can reach Alyssa at awillie@difrc.org or 720-500-1006.
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We are hiring a Family Engagement Specialist! |
Denver Indian Family Resource Center is looking for a caring and thoughtful individual to help keep American Indian and Alaska Native families strong, whole and healthy. We are adding a new Family Engagement Specialist position to support the work of our dedicated Family Engagement team.
The specialist is responsible for the engagement, intake, assessment, and case management of families seeking services from DIFRC. The specialist contributes to the positive adjustment and development of families by providing trauma-informed and strength-based services to meet the needs and goals of each family. Services include family engagement, direct intervention, intensive home-based services, assistance with service navigation, advocacy on behalf of children’s permanency, Indian Child Welfare Act (IWCA) advocacy, and collaboration with partner agencies to meet the specific needs of each family. The specialist assists families in the advancement of their life and parenting skills and supports families to attain their goals using a culturally responsive approach. This position reports directly to DIFRC’s Family Engagement Manager. Candidates for licensure in social work have access to direct supervision by an LCSW at no cost to the employee, and have access to generous training and support in the field of social work.
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Community in the News
Our partners Gina Lopez and Monycka Snowbird were recently interviewed by Colorado Public Radio’s Avery Lill about their formation of a grassroots task force to examine the issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives. We are grateful for their advocacy! Listen here. Photo by Gregg Deal.
Our friend Carla Respects Nothing, a member of the Native American Housing Circle, was recently profiled in Denverite for her work as a peer navigator at Denver Public Library. We are grateful for Carla and her work as she strives to bring unhoused relatives together in her Talking Circles with food, healing, conversation and resources. You can read her feature in The Denverite here.
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ICWA Corner
The Indian Child Welfare Act is critical to protecting Native families, our tribes and our cultures. Did you know that ICWA:
- Has been called the “gold standard” in child welfare policy and practice by a coalition of 18 national child advocacy organizations.
- Lessens the trauma of removal by promoting placement with family and community.
- Mandates that families receive intensive services (“active efforts”) to prevent child abuse and neglect and keep children safely in their homes.
- Promotes the best interest of Indian children by keeping them connected to their culture, extended family, and community, which are proven protective factors.
- Helps states access critical information and resources when emergencies arise.
- Promotes placement stability by ensuring that voluntary adoptions are truly voluntary.
- Disincentivizes adoption deals that fall outside accepted standards of practice.
- Encourages states and tribes to develop effective relationships and procedures to carefully coordinate the care of AI/AN children and families.
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Summer Meals for Kids
Remote life caused a strain in a number of ways but especially to families depending on school lunches to help feed their kids. Pandemic EBT is a program created by Congress in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act which makes sure that families receive extra food funds for children who are remote or hybrid learning. Discover meal sites around the Denver area at KidsFoodFinder.org or contact the Hunger Free Colorado Food Resource Hotline 855-855-4626.
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How You Can Help Support DIFRC
Our success over the past two decades demonstrates that our services play a vital role in protecting American Indian and Alaska Native children and strengthening their families, especially as we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. As we expand services after the pandemic, we hope you can continue your support.
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