Children & Family Services Program

Kawerak, Inc. Children and Family Services have a responsibility to provide where needed, tribal advocacy and social services to children and families. In carrying out this function, CFS involves all of the Tribes in the Bering Strait Region in the delivery of services to children and families. CFS takes into consideration each tribe’s distinct culture, customs, traditions and child rearing practices thereby adapting Kawerak’s services to meet the specific child welfare needs of the Tribe.

The Mission of Children and Family Services is to fulfill the social responsibilities and obligations of the Bering Strait Region Tribes. The CFS program is designed to preserve, protect, and strengthen the children and families. The program strives to empower individuals and their families, cultivate nurturing home environments and to educate individuals, families and communities.

Kawerak, Inc. Children and Family Services have a special relationship with the Office of Children’s Services for collaborative family assessment and services through a Dual Track Memorandum of Agreement. Children and Family Services provides services to abused and neglected children and assists Office of Children’s Services (OCS) to achieve cultural competence in the types of services offered to children and families throughout the Bering Strait Region to ensure cultural values are preserved and respected for the benefit of Alaska Native Families. Services include:

*Case management
*Referral to other programs
*Parenting & early childhood development training (individual training and support, self-help materials and classes);
*Training & skill development in health & nutrition
*Stress management training & skill development;
*Assistance in coordinating transportation between communities;
Following services only as appropriate and as resources permit:
*Respite care and arrangements for respite care;
*Ground transportation for clients to & from activates (only if transportation is available);
*Life-skills training and skill development (i.e. individual and family coping, budgeting, housekeeping, etc.);
*Escort clients to placements, treatment, homes & visits;
*Coordination & monitoring visitation between children & their families;
*Home visits with individual families to help the families.

Report Child Abuse and Neglect
If you suspect that a child is being abused or neglected CALL Office of Children’s Services 1-800-770-5247 in Nome or Kawerak, Inc., Children and Family Services 1-800-478-5153.

ICWA
The Indian Child Welfare Act, (ICWA) is the federal law created in 1978 “…to protect the best interests of Indian children and promote the stability and security of Indian families and tribes.” ICWA works to promote the preservation and protection of tribal member children, families and community. If the removal of an Indian child is necessary, the Act assures that efforts are made to preserve cultural ties by placing a child with an Indian family or organization. Tribal Family Coordinators are Para-professionals that reside in their respective communities and are trained to intervene in all Child in Need of Aid Proceedings and to represent their tribe’s best interest in these proceedings.

Foster Care/Adoption Services
Children and Family Services, Foster Care Specialists recruits and certifies Native and non-native homes to serve as foster care placements for children removed from their homes due to abuse and neglect. Licensed foster homes are homes approved by OCS that meet a standard of care established in the foster care regulations. CFS in our MOA with OCS will provide the following technical assistance to foster parents and potential foster homes.
§ Assistance with the application process
§ Order the criminal history checks
§ Conduct home visits
§ Reference checks
§ Fingerprinting
§ Forwarding completed packets to OCS Fairbanks for final approval and licensing.

Licensed foster care means a foster home that is OCS approved and meets basic standards of safety set by law and regulations. These standards reduce the physical risk that children may face in an unfamiliar home. Foster Parents must be at least 21 years of age, must not have a physical, mental health, or criminal issue that poses a risk to children. Licensed foster homes abide by the regulations that are set up for foster care. Licensed foster homes agree to meet standards, and are eligible for foster care payments to help with the cost of caring for a child. This money is designed to be a reimbursement for the child’s expenses and costs of items, which are normal in the care of a child.

Good foster homes are always needed; foster parents that make their homes available for children make a gift to their community as well as the children in their care. For more information regarding Foster Care contact Eva Menadelook at CFS @ , OCS at 1-800-770-5247 or the Alaska Foster Parent Training Center @ 1-800-478-7303.

Contact the Children & Family Services Program P.O. Box 948 Nome, AK 99762 Phone # 1800-478-5153 907-443-4353 Fax # 907-443-4457 Click here to email the Children & Family Services Program
		Kawerak, Inc. Children and Family Services have a responsibility to provide where needed, tribal advocacy and social services to children and families. In carrying out this function, CFS involves all of the Tribes in the Bering Strait Region in the delivery of services to children and families. CFS takes into consideration each tribe’s distinct culture, customs, traditions and child rearing practices thereby adapting Kawerak’s services to meet the specific child welfare needs of the Tribe. The Mission of Children and Family Services is to fulfill the social responsibilities and obligations of the Bering Strait Region Tribes. The CFS program is designed to preserve, protect, and strengthen the children and families. The program strives to empower individuals and their families, cultivate nurturing home environments and to educate individuals, families and communities. Kawerak, Inc. Children and Family Services have a special relationship with the Office of Children’s Services for collaborative family assessment and services through a Dual Track Memorandum of Agreement. Children and Family Services provides services to abused and neglected children and assists Office of Children’s Services (OCS) to achieve cultural competence in the types of services offered to children and families throughout the Bering Strait Region to ensure cultural values are preserved and respected for the benefit of Alaska Native Families. Services include: Case management Referral to other programs Parenting & early childhood development training (individual training and support, self-help materials and classes); Training & skill development in health & nutrition Stress management training & skill development; Assistance in coordinating transportation between communities; Following services only as appropriate and as resources permit: Respite care and arrangements for respite care; Ground transportation for clients to & from activates (only if transportation is available); Life-skills training and skill development (i.e. individual and family coping, budgeting, housekeeping, etc.); Escort clients to placements, treatment, homes & visits; Coordination & monitoring visitation between children & their families; Home visits with individual families to help the families. Report Child Abuse and Neglect If you suspect that a child is being abused or neglected CALL Office of Children’s Services 1-800-770-5247 in Nome or Kawerak, Inc., Children and Family Services 1-800-478-5153. ICWA The Indian Child Welfare Act, (ICWA) is the federal law created in 1978 “…to protect the best interests of Indian children and promote the stability and security of Indian families and tribes.” ICWA works to promote the preservation and protection of tribal member children, families and community. If the removal of an Indian child is necessary, the Act assures that efforts are made to preserve cultural ties by placing a child with an Indian family or organization. Tribal Family Coordinators are Para-professionals that reside in their respective communities and are trained to intervene in all Child in Need of Aid Proceedings and to represent their tribe’s best interest in these proceedings. Foster Care/Adoption Services Children and Family Services, Foster Care Specialists recruits and certifies Native and non-native homes to serve as foster care placements for children removed from their homes due to abuse and neglect. Licensed foster homes are homes approved by OCS that meet a standard of care established in the foster care regulations. CFS in our MOA with OCS will provide the following technical assistance to foster parents and potential foster homes. § Assistance with the application process § Order the criminal history checks § Conduct home visits § Reference checks § Fingerprinting § Forwarding completed packets to OCS Fairbanks for final approval and licensing. Licensed foster care means a foster home that is OCS approved and meets basic standards of safety set by law and regulations. These standards reduce the physical risk that children may face in an unfamiliar home. Foster Parents must be at least 21 years of age, must not have a physical, mental health, or criminal issue that poses a risk to children. Licensed foster homes abide by the regulations that are set up for foster care. Licensed foster homes agree to meet standards, and are eligible for foster care payments to help with the cost of caring for a child. This money is designed to be a reimbursement for the child’s expenses and costs of items, which are normal in the care of a child. Good foster homes are always needed; foster parents that make their homes available for children make a gift to their community as well as the children in their care. For more information regarding Foster Care contact Eva Menadelook at CFS @ , OCS at 1-800-770-5247 or the Alaska Foster Parent Training Center @ 1-800-478-7303. Back to Top