Relational Worldview and Its Implications for Decolonizing the Self, Services, and Systems
Date: Thursday, October 20, 2011
Time: 8:30am to 4:00pm
Fee: $15 per person
Location: Northstar Ballroom, Saint Paul Student Center, 2017 Buford Ave.,
University of Minnesota Saint Paul Campus
Parking Information: PDF of parking options on St Paul Campus
This presentation examines an Indigenous way of understanding health and wellness in individuals, organizations and systems and discusses how these concepts can be applied in child welfare in a post-colonial society. Working in an emotionally and spiritually healthy way is important for everyone, but especially for those involved in the difficult work of Indian child welfare practice. Indigenous people and organizations can intentionally work to decolonize themselves through this trauma informed approach.
The presentation is valuable for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) families, adult adoptees, as well as caseworkers, supervisors and managers and can help create and maintain an open and supportive mindset for healing and healthier living, working and service delivery. Using the Relational Worldview as a critical thinking tool along with the application of historic teachings and taking specific decolonizing actions individuals can begin to take an intentional approach to living, collaborating, and serving others.
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Featured Presenter:
Terry L. Cross, MSW, ACSW, LCSW (Seneca Nation of Indians)Terry Cross is an enrolled member of the Seneca Nation of Indians and is the developer, founder, and executive director of the National Indian Child Welfare Association. He is the author of Heritage and Helping, an 11-manual curriculum for tribal child welfare staff. He is also the author of the Positive Indian Parenting curriculum, as well as Cross-Cultural Skills in Indian Child Welfare. He co-authoredToward a Culturally Competent System of Care and Reclaiming Customary Adoption. Terry has 38 years of experience in child welfare, including 10 years working directly with children and families. He served on the faculty of Portland State University School of Social Work as adjunct professor for 15 years.
Upon completing this session participants will:
- Understand the basic concepts of the relational world view
- Examine indigenous concepts of health and current theories about trauma to understand the impact of living in a post colonial environment
- List key strategies for decolonizing themselves, their child welfare agency, and the larger system in order to create more positive outcomes for American Indian and Alaska Native children and families
This conference is co-sponsored by the First Nations Repatriation Institute and the Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare (CASCW), University of Minnesota School of Social Work.