Educational institutions have historically under-served several communities of color, especially our Native communities. During this time where we find increased opportunity to be with our children, we also find that we are needing to help our school aged children to engage in distance learning for their education. As parents we may find this process to be stressful and once again find ourselves feeling a lack of equity and a sense of disparity of access to learning. This further compounds our sense of insecurity as a parent within the educational setting. We may also carry the trauma of past school experiences or we may have learning challenges ourselves, all of which may combine to create a sense of possibly feeling frustrated or judged as a parent. Part of the work we do is to support parents and educational systems and providers in reducing harm and creating collaborative supportive networks for our youth to succeed.
Weekly playgroups, Chaku Manaqi-Łush, offers an Indigenized model of Help Me Grow. We provide referral networking, direct family support, and system navigation. This includes a Trauma and Healing Informed, culturally congruent space to make connections with early head start, early intervention services, and other health and early childhood providers including early/head start, case managers, and pediatricians. Family Support Specialists also provide system navigation, and technical assistance to system partners (ICWA, DHS, DOJ, etc.) to reduce harm caused to community.
Connect with Ashleigh or Erin for questions at chakumanaqilush.hmg@gmail.com.
Registration and Referrals - complete this form.
This packet includes a family letter, ideas of how to support each other, coloring pages, and activities to do as a family.
The Education Mode of the FGC provides individual support for families engaged in multiple systems including the education system. Suzie provides technical support to families who are needing advocacy, support with Individual Family Support Plans (IFSP) and Individual Education Plans (IEP).
This support includes strategies and skills for providers (agencies, organizations, school districts, justice center, human services, etc) who engage with people who are impacted with FASD. For training or technical assistance, contact Suzie directly.