As we transition into fall this month, and families adjust to back to school, I am reminded of all the shifts and changes that are easier when we navigate them together. I hope we can all find ways to support each other as change and transition is a constant in our work.  

September is full of important observances that honor the role of extended family and chosen family, or kith and kin, in supporting children. It is significant that the word kith means familiar friends and neighbors or relatives. Family in most cultures goes beyond the biological. It includes those we deeply trust, and who know and understand us and our background. It’s these relationships that can be key to surrounding children with care, whether they have experienced trauma or not. This National Kinship Care Awareness Month, I’d like to honor all kinds of family, both kith and kin, who care for children and provide a sense of belonging and continuity that builds security for children. I’m grateful for our partners in this work, especially Oregon Kinship Navigator (OKN). OKN provides legal help, support groups and services for relative caregivers. Adding to this theme, National Grandparents Day was on Sept. 10, also highlighting the importance of grandfamilies in raising children. According to Generations United, about 7.8 million children across the country live in households headed by grandparents or other relatives. My grandmother was my childhood best friend and I’m grateful for all the dedicated grandfamilies contributing to the next generation! 

Later this month I’ll take part in the annual Tribal-State ICWA Conference in Grand Ronde. The theme this year is "Together we strengthen our people." I’m looking forward to working with the Nine Tribes of Oregon and colleagues in Tribal Affairs and Child Welfare to enhance and improve our work with tribal families, as well as planning our next phase of ORICWA implementation work. On Sept. 29, the last day of the conference, we’ll honor Orange Shirt Day and the devastating effects of the Indian boarding school system on Indigenous communities. I encourage you to wear orange to show support for those whose families were harmed and stand up for the principles of truth and reconciliation that Orange Shirt Day represents.  

Best regards, 

Aprille 

ORPARC’s new Culture Connection Collection (CCC) uplifts children and youth of color in foster care, adoption, guardianship, kinship care, and those working hard to support them. Talented cultural consultants, including foster/adoptee alumni, foster adoptive parent authors and illustrators curated this gorgeous collection. Get to know impressive foster/adoptee alumni contributors on the CCC page including:

• Maia Smith-Hart (Afro-Costa Rican American) 
• Christina Morgan (Grand Ronde, Umpqua Band) 
• Cristina Duarte (Mexican American) 
• Ruthie Pascall (Vietnamese American) 

In August, Child Welfare's Child Fatality Prevention and Review Program (CFPRP) held a Systems Mapping exercise led by CIRT (Critical Incident Review Team) Coordinator Eddie McDonald in partnership with The University of Kentucky’s Dr. Tiffany Lindsey. Safe systems mapping engages professionals with diverse experiences in a conversation about what gets in the way of quality case practice and positive outcomes related to a specific topic.  

The team of roughly 40 participants gathered to share their best thinking about what gets in the way of meaningful engagement with fathers and non-custodial parents. The group included caseworkers, managers, domestic violence, and substance use disorder subject matter experts, Tribal Affairs and ODHS executive leadership participated in two mapping sessions. Also included were state and national partners West Virginia and Washington; Casey Family Programs, Spark Learning, Oregon Health Authority, as well as local treatment and outreach/parent mentoring programs.  

The result of the exercise was visual map outlining the relationship between the problems (known as improvement opportunities) and factors at all levels of the system (case level to legislative/government level), as described by participants. The map is then used to supporting brainstorming system improvements and developing recommendations to be elevated to leadership.