The National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children requested NCJTC to assist with a tribal track of training at the National DEC Conference on August 29-31, 2023 in Kansas City, MO. The 2023 conference theme is: Coming Together for Hope, Healing and Support. Conference sessions focus on challenges and risks drug endangered children often face when living in households where there is parental addiction; the intersection of drug trafficking and human trafficking; understanding substance use disorder; recovery-oriented strategies; multidisciplinary and multijurisdictional approaches; promising practices highlights and more. NCJTC sessions would offer tribal and culturally specific approaches and promising practices. NCJTC staff will meet with tribal representatives throughout the conference to share information on NCJTC’s available BJA Tribal TTA services and other relevant resources.
The National DEC Conference includes numerous sessions applicable to the TTA requests/work received by our Tribal grantees. NCJTC staff will attend sessions and network with presenters that have applicable resources and presentations that may serve our grantees. Sessions include: the intersectionality of drug endangered children and human trafficking with survivor insights, research on science of hope and building MDTs to create safer, healthier communities, SAMHSAs harm reduction resources, the impact of familial substance use on children, combatting compassion fatigue and trauma exposure, strategies for managing unexpected changes and adversity.
Proposed Sessions:
Tribal Law Enforcement Youth Diversion: Fostering Positive Relationships with Tribal Youth as a Means of Prevention
Kevin Mariano, Project Coordinator, National Criminal Justice Training Center of Fox Valley Technical College
This session will provide an overview of how tribal law enforcement youth diversion programs can benefit tribal communities. A case example focused on Camp Triumph will be reviewed. Camp Triumph is a week-long camp for children ages 10 – 16 who have been, or may be victims due to exposure to illegal substances and other substance misuse, gangs, or family trauma. It is a mentor-style camp run by the Isleta Police Department that encourages community building between campers and local law enforcement. Its goal is to provide kids the skills they need to make the right choices, while also building their self-esteem and sense of belonging. It offers both cultural education and physical activity to get kids moving and learning in a healthy and safe way.
Pathways to Tribal Law Enforcement Diversion
Kevin Mariano, Project Coordinator, National Criminal Justice Training Center of Fox Valley Technical College
This session will discuss how tribal law enforcement can be a key intercept point to divert individuals struggling with alcohol and substance use to treatment and recovery services as opposed to them cycling through the justice system. Critical elements to establishing and implementing a tribal law enforcement diversion program will be explored. A 6-step problem solving/action planning process will be reviewed as a template to identify challenges, resources, analyze underlying conditions, plan a
strategy and action steps, and evaluation plan. Multidisciplinary team development, team building, partnership development, collaboration, and communication strategies will also be discussed as a means to establish and implement a successful tribal law enforcement diversion program. The goal of this session is to demonstrate how tribal community wellness can assist child victims and families and can be achieved through collaboration between tribal law enforcement, other key tribal stakeholders, and the community. This workshop session includes audience engagement and adult learning strategies and open Q&A. The speaker will share direct field experience implementing tribal law enforcement led diversion and tribal community policing initiatives.
Culture is Healing - Part 1:
LoVina Louie, Associate, National Criminal Justice Training Center of Fox Valley Technical College
How do we connect Native youth back to their culture? Why are they disconnected? How do we help youth express themselves through art, song, dance, writing and culture? These questions will be addressed in this session. The Rock n' the Rez, a program on the Coeur d'Alene reservation will be explored, including how this program led to a shift in the community as the tribal youth were able to express themselves and heal from trauma through expression and connection. How reintroduction of canoe culture, traditional foods and the creation of Powwow Sweat through a CDC REACH grant helped in reconnecting to culture will be discussed.
Culture is Healing Part 2:
LoVina Louie, Associate, National Criminal Justice Training Center of Fox Valley Technical College
This session will explore strategies that will help you help your youth. Identify resources within your community that will assist you in reconnecting youth back to their culture. We will create a community vision for your community.
Drug Endangered Children, Families, and Communities in Indian Country: A Real-Life Story of the Impact of Substance Use
Hon. Richard Blake, Chief Judge, Hoopa Valley Tribe
Substance use has impacted so many across the nation. Tribal children, families, and communities have become victims of the drug epidemic; so many Tribal people of all ages are impacted with what feels like no end in sight. Judge Blake will share his experience as a judge for a Tribal Court and the impact that he has seen when substance use hits a family and a tribal community. The speaker will discuss the needs and challenges of tribal communities in finding solutions to address this impact and stop the multigenerational cycle. Judge Blake will also discuss the need for collaboration, a multidisciplinary approach, and a time for healing so that Tribal victims and Tribal communities can come together to fight for the future...their children who are often times the unseen victims.
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