Port Gamble S'klallam Tribal Child Welfare Program
"If a tribe does not have its children, there are not many other things worth fighting for in the future." Port Gamble S'Klallam official
Tribal Sovereignty and Tribal Values
The Port Gamble S'klallam Tribe is one of the Salish-speaking peoples of the Pacific Northwest.
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Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribal Child Welfare ProgramHonoring Nations
In the past, when a S'Klallam child entered foster care,
often that child grew up in an urban environment, disconnection from his or her cultural heritage - a tragedy in any circumstance, but catastrophic for small nation.
Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribal Child Welfare Program (picture by SeattleTimes)Honoring Nations
In the 1980s, the S'Klallam established its own Child Welfare Program. Then, in 2003, the nation worked with the State of Washington to broaden the definition of “family” to include “tribe."
A Happy Growing-Up Life
This critical decision eventually enabled the S’Klallam to operate in its own Title IV-E program, giving the Tribe control over federal child welfare funds. Living with S’Klallam foster parents allows children to stay in their own community and maintain connection with their biological families.
"Every child deserves a happy growing-up life.” S’Klallam elder
Keeping the Community Intact
Since the program began in 2012 - the first of its kind in the
US - it has benefitted over 60 children from more than 40 families.
Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribal Child Welfare Program Site Visit (2014)Honoring Nations
The increased trust has resulted in rising caseloads, with families increasingly ‘self-referring’ into the program.
Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribal Child Welfare Program Site VisitHonoring Nations
Such success has inspired nine other tribes and tribal consortia to get approval for similar Title IV-E child services initiatives.
Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribal Child Welfare ProgramHonoring Nations
Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribal Child Welfare Program
The Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development
John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
www.hpaied.org
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS 2014 HONORING NATIONS AWARDEE, READ THE FULL STORY AT: http://hpaied.org/publications/port-gamble-sklallam-tribal-child-welfare-program?combine=&field_pub_type_value=Honoring+Nations+Report&field_tribe_tid=156&field_region_tid=All&field_topic_tid=All&field_author_tid=All&field_season_value=All&field_year_value=
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