Klamath Tribes met with DHS regarding Native American Children and the Child Welfare System

Left to right - Paul Bellatty Data systems Research Director; Christine Kamps- DHS ICWA Consultant; George Lopez- Klamath Tribes General Manager; Marvin Garcia- Klamath Tribes Social Services Director; Lisa Ruiz- Klamath Tribes ICWA Specialist; Candi UsesArrow- Klamath Tribes ICWA Program Manager; Kathleen Mitchell- Klamath Tribes ECDC Program Manager; Brandi Hatcher- Klamath Tribal Council Treasurer; Roberta Frost- Klamath Tribal Council Secretary; Clayton Dumont- Klamath Tribal Council Member; John Spence- Interim Tribal Affairs Director; Adam Becenti- Oregon Tribal Affairs Director of DHS; Don Gentry- Klamath Tribal Chairman. Submitted photo

Chiloquin OR.- Klamath Tribal Government, Administration Staff, and Tribal Social Services, met with members of the Oregon Department of Human Services to discuss the Child Welfare System and the Klamath Tribal children’s over-represented numbers in the state child welfare system.

Discussions centered around compliance with ICWA (Indian Child Welfare Act) and placement of tribal children to non-Native homes out of state. Specifically, statistics say that Klamath families are less likely to receive preventative services prior to child removals, (but are ironically, offered more services after removal and higher state services per child “after” removal). Stats also say native children are twice as likely to be removed due to domestic violence and 3x more likely to have at least one parent incarcerated compared to their non-Native counterparts in Klamath County.

Goals between the State and the Klamath Tribes are to provide effective services on both sides, make screening and assessment fair and unbiased (undoing racism and stereotypes), provide appropriate and successful intervention, provide safe and stable environments for our children that will create a lifetime of well-being.

Discussions, meetings and hard work will continue between the Tribe and the State as relationships and agreements move forward. Today, everyone at the table has the same goal of providing the best service possible to our most valuable asset - the children.

“Today we had a good meeting, the Klamath Tribes have always put our children as the priority, but when dealing with Child Welfare issues, it is most important to remember there are other major factors that contribute to this problem,” said Marvin Garcia, Director of Social Services. “We must identify and deal with the root problems within the family unit and treat the issues holistically - meaning also, the generational trauma associated with the family, addictions, etc. Once those core issues are identified, we can work towards cultural, spiritual and conventional treatment/healing. If that does not happen, and if all necessary resources are not adequate, we will continue to be over-represented in the child welfare system. We here at the Klamath Tribes are dedicated to working with the State on behalf of our children so they have a life-time of well-being.”