California Tribal Families Coalition

Ctfc assists California tribes to increase social services capacity through development of Tribal title iv-e and similar programs. This includes assisting tribes to develop programming (Tribal policies, Tribal codes, Tribal practice manuals, etc.) To support their ability to protect Tribal children and Families. Ctfc also started an initiative this year focused on the health and wellness of the youngest Tribal children who have or are at risk of having intellectual or developmental disabilities (i/dd) by hosting listening sessions and providing training on early start - federal and state funded early intervention services available for young children. The umbrella program service is considered Tribal capaity building here and, in addition to the two initiatives already mentioned, includes a new body of work at the coalition this year reseaching and conducting listening sessions about challenges faced by Tribal youth in the juvenille justice system.

Ctfc continued to work this year to improve access to services in Tribal communities by providing training and developing culturally appropriate educational materials for Tribal service providers and state agencies like regional centers and child welfare services.

Ctfc works to increase compliance with the indian child welfare act (icwa) through state agency meetings and providing direct legal representation to tribes in state dependency cases. Ctfc participated in state agency meetings throughout the year to discuss and advocate for compliance with the federal law and its codification in California law. Ctfc participated in at least six state workgroups regarding child welfare practice and consulted on behalf of member tribes at least four times throughout the year. Ctfc also launched the legal counsel for tribes (lc4t) project this year which aims to provide an attorney to every tribe in California in every child welfare case involoving their Tribal member children. Lc4t began providing legal representation to tribes in two regions, covering three counties.