Denver indian family resource center (difrc) proposes to provide comprehensive indian child welfare act (icwa) services to american indian and alaska natives to preserve families in the denver metro…

The Denver Indian Family Resource Center (DIFRC) received a $200,000 Project Grant award from the Department of the Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs under the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) Title II Grants program. The grant period runs from November 15, 2023 to November 14, 2025. DIFRC, a non-profit organization serving the Denver metro area, will use the funding to provide comprehensive ICWA services to preserve American Indian and Alaska Native families. Key activities include family preservation and reunification services, implementation of the evidence-based Nurturing Parenting Program American Indian Adaptation, and advocacy for the expansion of ICWA courts and increased compliance. DIFRC will also strengthen its resource and systems navigation services to support 100 American Indian and Alaska Native families and youth per year. Additionally, DIFRC has received sub-awards from the Colorado Department of Human Services and Enterprise Community Partners, Inc. to provide Nurturing Parenting classes and conduct a housing needs assessment for the American Indian/Alaskan Native homeless and vulnerable population in the Denver area.

Denver indian family resource center (difrc) proposes to provide comprehensive indian child welfare act (icwa) services to american indian and alaska natives to preserve families in the denver metro area, and thereby, to support the sovereignty of tribal nations across indian country to express their sovereignty and their efforts to preserve their tribal cultures. The goals and objectives of the project are: goal 1: decrease the over-representation of AI an families involved with the child welfare system. Objective 1: provide family preservation services to 25 families with children eligible for indian child welfare act (icwa) protections.objective 2: provide family reunification services to 25 families with children eligible for icwa protections. Objective 3: implement the evidence-based nurturing parenting program american indian adaptation for 30 families per year for two year to improve family functioning and parenting skills for parents caregivers involved with or at risk of involvement with the child welfare system. Objective 4: expand difrcs capacity to advocate for the expansion of the use of icwa courts in colorado counties, as well as increase icwa compliance in courts that do not have specialized knowledge in the area. Goal 2: connect AI an individuals and families with resources and services to support family preservation and reunification as well as cultural well-being. Objective 1: strengthen and expand difrcs resource and systems navigation services to support 100 AI an families and youth per year seeking services to support family well-being and self-sufficiency.