CANCELED DUE TO VIRUS
Some of the wording of this notice has been amended from the Commission’s official version to better communicate to CAICW’s audience.
The Commission is in the process of hiring a vendor to create a website, which will be accepting written testimony.
The Commission is also developing a process to efficiently process and analyze all written testimony.
COMMISSION MEDIA RELEASE….
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NOTICE: 1st PUBLIC HEARING OF THE ALYCE SPOTTED BEAR AND WALTER SOBOLEFF COMMISSION ON NATIVE CHILDREN, MARCH 13-14, 2020, IN SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA
The 11-member Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children (Commission) was established by Congress to conduct a comprehensive study of federal, state, local, and tribal programs and to develop recommendations, goals, and plans for achieving goals, for federal policy relating to these children, as well as modifications necessary to improve programs that serve children of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian heritage at the federal, state, local, and tribal levels. The Commission is tasked with issuing a report focusing recommendations on solutions to issues that would improve the health, safety, and well-being of the children, including: child welfare; physical, mental, and behavioral health; educational and vocational opportunities; school district policies and practices; access to cultural and extracurricular activities; juvenile justice; early education and development; wraparound services for Native children through increased coordination; flexible use of existing federal programs; improved data collection methods; and models of successful federal, state, local and tribal programs. The Commission’s goal is to develop a sustainable system that assists parents in meeting the needs of their children.
Written testimony will also be accepted throughout the 2 year period of data collection.
The Commission will be holding hearings in and reviewing documentation from tribal communities throughout the country to hear from affected children, their families, their community members, and tribal leaders. The Commission will also hear from researchers and experts as they consider their recommendations. The first hearing will be March 13-14, 2020 at the Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale, AZ. Members of the public are invited to provide testimony on the afternoon of March 13th, and are invited to hear from panels of invited witnesses on March 14th. Interested parties will be given an opportunity to be heard on topics related to the health, education, and well-being of Native children.
Where: Talking Stick Resort, 9800 Talking Stick Way, Scottsdale, AZ 85256
When: Open public hearing: 12 – 5:45 pm on Friday, March 13th (includes lunch from 12-1 pm)
Panels of invited witnesses (open to public): 9 am – 6 pm on Saturday, March 14th
Individuals who wish to provide testimony at the public hearing should email asbwsnc@gmail.com. There will also be an opportunity to sign up to provide testimony on site. Individuals will be allowed to provide testimony for up to 5 minutes.
Any person with a disability who desires reasonable accommodation to attend this meeting may contact asbwsnc@gmail.com.
The Commissioners of the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children are:
Gloria O’Neill (Chair), President/CEO, Cook Inlet Tribal Council, Inc., AK
Tami DeCoteau, Ph.D. (Vice-Chair), DeCoteau Trauma-Informed Care & Practice, PLLC, ND
Carlyle Begay, Former State Senator, AZ
Dolores Subia BigFoot, Ph.D., Director, Indian Country Child Trauma Center, OK
Jesse Delmar, Director, Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety, AZ
Anita Fineday, Managing Director, Indian Child Welfare Program, Casey Family Programs, MN
Don Atqaqsaq Gray, Board Member, Ukpeagvik Inupiat Corporation, AK
Leander R. McDonald, Ph. D., President, United Tribes Technical College, ND
Elizabeth (Lisa) Morris, Administrator, Christian Alliance for Indian Child Welfare, ND
Melody Staebner, Fargo/West Fargo Indian Education Coordinator, ND