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The YES! Academy

The YES! Academy through the Denver Indian Family Resource Center is a great way for Indian youth aging out of foster care, and enrolled or needing to be enrolled in the Chafee Program, to receive resources and support to help them develop their own support system. With YES! Academy, youth services are designed to help with Housing, Life Skills, Culturally Appropriate Mental Health, Substance Abuse, Legal Issues, Education, Employment, Cultural Awareness, Cultural Sensitivity and Community Support.

We work closely with the Denver Indian Center, Inc., Denver Indian Health and Family Services, Inc., Colorado Department of Human Services and Casey Family programs in providing resources to strengthen Indian families and youth. Collaborating with Tribes and other human service agencies and schools allows us to restore the balance to Indian people. Nurturing pride through the recognition and the celebration of the richness of Indian values and traditions allows us to remain centered as native people.

 FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE YES! ACADEMY PLEASE CALL:

(Toll Free)1-866-920-0325 ext. 243, In the Denver area call: 303-871-8035 or email us at yesacademy@difrc.org

Family Support and Prevention

Our goal is to help strengthen families to avoid involvement with the child welfare system. The focus of our Family Support and Prevention Services is on assisting families to develop skills that will help them deal with stressful situations and to access the culturally appropriate resources they need for stability and safety. Family support services offered may include:

  • parenting education
  • advocacy
  • legal referral
  • cultural consultation with other agencies
  • case management
  • Nurturing Parenting Program
  • Circles of Healing
  • Kinship Support Group
  • Prep Relationship Enhancement

Our Resource and Referral Specialist is available with information and referral to resources to help families meet their basic needs for housing, health care, food, clothing and employment.
 
Family Preservation

Families who are experiencing serious disruptions that have been associated with child abuse and neglect are offered our personalized Family Preservation Services. In addition to the services listed above, Case Coordinators make frequent contact with families and engage in intensive case management. Clinical interventions focus on rehabilitation and problem solving for long-term change in family functioning.
 
Indian Child Welfare Advocacy

We advocate for application of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) standards in all cases where Indian children become involved in the child welfare system due to abuse or neglect. Our efforts include:

  • encouraging human services to apply ICWA’s higher standards in cases of -  child removal or termination of parental rights
  • assisting tribes to identify options for intervention
  • partnering with counties and tribes to assure the best permanency outcomes for Indian children
  • supporting families in permanency planning and dependency and neglect hearings
  • advocating for culturally appropriate services and treatment
  • advocating for active rehabilitation and reunification efforts on behalf of families
  • assisting with tribal enrollment
While some Indian families may be eligible under ICWA, we work for application of the same standards of care so that Indian children’s cultural and family ties are maintained during out-of-home placement.
 
Youth in Transition

Indian youth who lack family, tribal and other community support are eligible for our Youth in Transition Services. These services are geared toward youth (15-24) who are in transition for reasons that may include:

  • emancipation from foster care
  • juvenile detention
  • residential treatment
  • recent relocation from reservation

Integration into community support systems is the focus of our transitional services. These services include:

  • life skills education
  • educational/vocational information
  • health/mental health treatment
  • cultural and spiritual guidance
  • housing referral
  • wraparound case planning
 
 
 

Copyright © 2002 Denver Indian Family Resource Center, all rights reserved.
Website created  by Donald Henry Jr. Maintained by DIFRC.