Foster Care & Kinship Care

The mission of the Oneida Child Placement Agency is to recruit, license, train and support American Indian foster homes and the Oneida children they care for.

Oneida Nation Foster Care Program is a state licensed, tribal run Child Placing Agency developed to facilitate out-of-home placements for Oneida Children when family is unavailable. In Wisconsin, there are more Native American children in foster care than there are licensed Native American foster parents. Children are at risk of being placed outside of their communities and/or away from their tribes, thus creating more barriers to reunification.

We are currently in need of tribal foster parents to care for Oneida Children.

As part of the foster care program, we offer:

• Home visits to explain the licensing process and expectations of being a foster parent
• Training to help prepare you to become a well-informed foster parent
• Access to resources (libraries, additional / on-going training, support services)
• Respite Care
• On-going support when children are placed in your care by a team of caring professionals

Ongoing Training Resource – WI Child Welfare Professional Development System (PDS) Online

Foster Care Statutes – Chapter 56: WI Foster Care Statutes 

If you or someone you know would like to become a licensed Foster Parent, please contact one of our Child Placement Coordinators to learn more!

Kinship Care is a program to help support a child who lives outside of their home with a relative such as:

• An adult brother or sister
• A first cousin
• A nephew or niece
• An uncle or aunt or a grandparent
• Others by blood or marriage

The child may be living temporarily or long term with a relative to assist the family if they are under stress or when the child has experienced abuse or neglect. With this support, children are less likely to be placed in a foster home or another out-of-home care setting.

Eligibility requirements for Tribal Kinship Care:

1. The basic needs of the child can be better met with the relative than with the parent
2. The placement is in the best interests of the child
3. The child is currently in need of protection or services or might meet the requirements for services if the child were to remain with their parent(s).
4. The child or the caregiver must be Oneida enrolled who resides in Brown or Outagamie County

Other requirements include:

• A criminal background check on the relative caretaker and all adult household members
• Cooperation with the agency by the relative caretaker
• The relative caretaker must cooperate with referral of the parents to child support, unless the relative caretaker is granted a Good Cause exemption
• Kinship living arrangements and eligibility must be reviewed every 12 months

Ongoing Training Resource – WI Child Welfare Professional Development System (PDS) Online

Foster Care Statutes – Chapter 56: WI Foster Care Statutes 

Indian Child Welfare

The Oneida Indian Child Welfare program strives to care for families in the Oneida Community with the mission of Tsyakitsy^tha (Healing families together) and practicing the Core Values of the Oneida Nation. 

Missing Threads Video

How to Make a Report

Children are our most valuable asset, yet the most vulnerable, of our Nation. How we care for them is how they will care for their future children. This is how we ensure the continuation of the next 7 generations. Their safety and wellbeing are of the utmost importance, and it is our responsibility to uphold that. Our traditional way of life was built on the value of Kinship. This means that we took care of one another. All children were seen, nurtured and safe from harm. 

All employees of the Oneida Nation are required by law to report any suspected child abuse or neglect to the proper authorities.

But what about community members? Community members are not required by law to report suspected child abuse or neglect. However, it is the right thing to do.

If you are worried about any child in our community, or suspect child abuse / neglect may be occurring, report it!

You can call Oneida ICW during regular business hours, Monday through Friday 8:00a-4:30p. Or you can call the county CPS agency in which the child resides.

ICWA Cases

When children are enrolled or are eligible for enrollment with the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin and the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) applies, Oneida ICW will intervene. There are Oneida tribal members living throughout the United States and Oneida will file to intervene in all ICWA cases.

This means that Oneida ICW will partner with the assigned county worker to support families through case management and court proceedings, and advocate for the best interests of Oneida children and their families. 

Oneida Tribal Court Cases

When children are enrolled or are eligible for enrollment with the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin and reside within the boundaries of Brown or Outagamie County, Oneida ICW partners with that county to conduct Initial Assessments. When children are found to be unsafe as a result of those assessments, and depending on the available resources or services, the case may be transferred to tribal court.

When cases are transferred to Oneida Tribal Court, Oneida ICW will be the primary department working with the family. 

Yonʌhali:yó - Community Advocacy

Yonʌhali:yó “A Good Vine”

With deep roots, a broad reach, and healthy fruit in the community formerly known as Oneida Domestic Abuse and Prevention. Yonʌhali:yó  Community Advocacy inspires Native People to engage in healthy life choices, promoting total wellness for the next seven generations.

Programs Offered

• Gender Based Violence Program
• Healthy Relationship Program
• Youth Mentor & Advocates
• Young Adult Mentor & Advocate
• Prevention Program

For more information please contact:
Phone: (920)-490-3700
Email: yca_general@oneidanation.org
Business Hours: Monday – Friday 8 AM-4:30PM

Typical response time is 1-2 business days

Gender Based Violence Program, formerly Domestic Abuse, is a program to help those living with and experiencing abuse, to seek help & safety while healing within the family. In addition to Domestic Violence, our services also assist victims and family members of those impacted by Sexual Assault.

Advocacy
We offer legal help, and personal Advocacy because no one should have to feel alone

Education
Knowledgeable staff will educate on the different forms of abuse including:
+Financial
+Physical
+Sexual
+Spiritual
+Emotional

Groups
Women’s Domestic Violence Education Group 
Beading Circle
Women’s Empowerment Group
Identifying Childhood Trauma Group
A Mile in My Moccasins (Guided Journaling)
Book Club

Culture
Our program’s values are on the traditional teachings of our Culture. These teachings are used to strengthen the ways that were forgotten.

Safety
+Our Programs helps create a safety plan when:
+Leaving a relationship
+After a violent relationship
+Seeking a restraining order

Warnings
+Jealousy
+Possessiveness
+Isolation
+Checks cell phone
+Blames others
+Verbally Abusive Explosive Behavior

Statistics 
Native People are 3x more likely to experience abuse than any other race.
ODAP Resources

After Hour Crisis Centers:
Brown county – Family Services 
Crisis Center Hotline at (920) 436-8888
https://www.familyservicesnew.org/crisis-center/

Outagamie County 
24-Hour Mental Health Crisis Line
(920) 832-4646 or toll free at (800) 719-4418
https://www.outagamie.org/government/f-through-m/health-human-services/mental-health

For more information please contact:
Phone: (920)-490-3700
Email: yca_general@oneidanation.org
Business Hours: Monday – Friday 8 AM-4:30PM

The Oneida Healthy Relationship Program is a weekly domestic abuse intervention program. This program takes an educational approach using evidenced based curriculum with a Native focus to help offenders understand the complex cultural, social, and historical dimensions of the many forms of intimate partner violence. 

Participants

• Are held accountable for their actions
• Learn alternatives to violence and controlling behavior
• Learn about the impact of violence
• Learn how to identify healthy relationships
• Learn behavioral, emotional, and physical cues that proceed escalating violence
• Examine current beliefs and attitudes that need to be re-examined to overcome violent behavior
• Focus on cultural and spiritual values
• Learn how historical trauma has led to violence and abusive behaviors
• Learn about traditional spiritual ways using traditional ceremonies of native people

Benefits

The Oneida Healthy Relationship Program offers a supportive safe environment for participants to work on tools to change behaviors and take responsibility. 

Reclaiming Culture

In the Oneida tradition, a man would retain allegiance to the clan of his birth, but live “matrilocally” in the longhouse of his wife’s clan. There was a natural element of protection. Iroquois society was organized to maintain a balance of equality between women and men. The women and children were protected from violence. 

The program teaches families that this is not a traditional belief and that it is acceptable and natural for men to have emotions, the same as women and children. Information about historical trauma, boarding schools, the authority and power the government policies had over native people, assimilation and adoption of the western beliefs system is shared and discussed. As a result, internalized oppression and acceptance of these influences led to Native people becoming ashamed of whom they were, and they began disowning their own traditional cultural values and beliefs.

This program helps Native Families reclaim their culture through education, ceremonies, and storytelling.

For more information please contact:
Phone: (920)-490-3700
Email: yca_general@oneidanation.org
Business Hours: Monday – Friday 8 AM-4:30PM

Typical response time is 1-2 business days

Youth Mentor & Advocate Program

Mission Statement:

To help build and foster healing and resiliency within our youth. To teach them empowerment strategies to preserve safety and build up their self-esteem using Tsi?niyukwalihoti’ (our ways) as the foundation.

Available Services

• Advocating/ Mentoring/ 1 on 1 support
• Group Facilitation
• Referral Assistance
• Goal Setting/Empowerment
• Healthy Identity Support and Personal Development
• Youth Leadership Development

Benefits

Our goal is to enhance positive qualities the students already possess and help students to see their true potential.
Goal setting/Empowerment

• Identity Support & Personal Development
• Youth Leadership Development
• Develop Positive Relationships & Connections
• Domestic & Relationship violence awareness

Eligibility
School aged youth aging K-12 who identify as Indigenous
 

Resources
LGBTQIA2S+ Resource Hub

For more information please contact:
Phone: (920)-490-3700
Email: yca_general@oneidanation.org
Business Hours: Monday – Friday 8 AM-4:30PM

Typical response time is 1-2 business days

Prevention Program

Mission

The Prevention Program provides quality educational activities aimed at enhancing youth participation, self-esteem, positive life choices and emotional well-being as to promote healthy lifestyles and total wellness to youth and community.

Summary

The Oneida Prevention Program Taking Responsibility and Initiating Life Skills (T.R.A.I.L.S.) has several Community Advocates that work in the schools and in the community to provide quality educational activities aimed at enhancing youth participation, self-esteem, positive life choices and emotional well-being as to promote healthy lifestyles and total wellness to youth and community.
The Prevention Program is not a behavior modification program. Please know that while our community advocates provide quality educational activities to address certain topics, they will not be providing counseling, mental health and/or other professional services.
The Community Advocate’s purpose is to enhance the positive qualities the students already possess and help students to see their true potential.

Resources

Facts and Stats About Child Sexual Abuse

Services

• 1 on 1 youth services
• Group facilitation at schools and community centers
• Culturally based programming and practices
• T.R.A.I.L.S youth summer program 

Goals

For more information please contact:
Phone: (920)-490-3700
Email: yca_general@oneidanation.org
Business Hours: Monday – Friday 8 AM-4:30PM

Typical response time is 1-2 business days

Coordinate Community Response (CCR)

The Oneida Coordinate Community Response Team (CCR) is currently the longest running Native American led team of its kind in the country.  Formed in 1999, the Oneida CCR is a collaboration of tribal and non-tribal victim service agencies, social services, law enforcement, judges and other court staff, probation and parole officers, advocates, and community members. The CCR Team meets monthly to address current gender-based violence issues and to improve coordination and system response for victims on or near the Oneida Reservation.

Mission statement: The Oneida Nation Coordinated Community Response Team is dedicated to addressing domestic violence, and sexual assault through a multijurisdictional approach rooted in traditional Native Values. Our purpose is to improve the safety of all victims and their families, provide community education, facilitate healing, and hold people that cause harm accountable.

Mental Health Resources

• Brown County – Family Services Crisis Center

  Hotline: (920) 436-8888
  Website: https://www.familyservicesnew.org/crisis-center/

• Bellin Health Psychiatric Center

  Phone: 920.433.3630 | Fax: 920.431.0333
  Website: https://www.bellin.org/locations/hospital_surgery-locations/bellin-health-psychiatric-center

• Outagamie County – 24-Hour Mental Health Crisis Lines

  Hotline: (920) 832-4646 or toll-free at (800) 719-4418
  Website: https://www.outagamie.org/government/f-through-m/health-human-services/mental-health

Other Mental Health Resources

• Aurora Behavioral Health (East Side Green Bay)

  Phone: 920-288-5630
  Website: https://care.aurorahealthcare.org/locations/aurora-behavioral-health-center-green-bay

• Willow Creek 

  Call: 888-258-9756 or toll-free: 844-216-1112
  Website: https://willowcreekbh.com/

• Reach Counseling

  Phone: (920) 722-8150
  Website: https://reachcounseling.com/

Traditional Healing

• Oneida Cultural Heritage 

           Phone: Main (920) 496-5395 | Fax (920) 496-5390

           Website: Oneida Nation | Oneida Cultural Heritage

For more information please contact:
Phone: (920)-490-3700
Email: yca_general@oneidanation.org
Business Hours: Monday – Friday 8 AM-4:30PM

Typical response time is 1-2 business days

Parenting Program

The Oneida Parenting Program will strengthen families and cherish children by providing families with an educational and culturally based parenting program that will give helpful strategies to further the positive overall growth of children and families. The Parenting Program will add to the family’s capacity to meet the basic spiritual, emotional and physical needs of its members, reduce barriers that prevent people from knowing their importance within their family, develop a family environment that is a source of strength and support, and strengthen sense of belonging among family members.

Parenting Education Class (PEC)

The Oneida Nation Parenting Education Class (PEC) is an (8)-week class designed to assist parents and caregivers in understanding and building connections with their children. The class will explore parenting tools while incorporating cultural knowledge to deal with a variety of childhood challenges to strengthen the parent/caregiver-to-child bond while teaching positive discipline techniques.  

The PEC teaches a brain & research-based curriculum called Conscious Discipline. The curriculum is relationship and safety focused, and begins with exploring tools for self-healing and behavioral changes that encourage a healthy relationship with ourselves and our young ones. Conscious Discipline gives the skills and language we need to be a conscious parent/caregiver who responds and teaches, instead of reacts and punishes. The skills we focus on help us center Safety, Connection and Problem Solving to encourage self-regulation so we can respond instead of react, in turn teaching that to our children. The curriculum is an Adult First Approach. Us as the parents/caregivers learn the tools and skills first which is self-discipline. Then when we teach our children the skills it becomes Conscious Discipline.

Check out Conscious Discipline’s website for more information. 
http://consciousdiscipline.com/

*We offer multiple class sessions per year. Check the class schedules tab for upcoming session information. Please call or text Vaughn Brown at (920) 613-6077 for further information and to register.

* This course is recognized by Brown County and Tribal court systems and meets the requirements needed in court ordered cases.

* PEC is open to all. Priority registration for Oneida families & Oneida ICW cases.

Teen Parent Support Group

The Oneida Nation offers Teen Parent Support to individuals who are under the age of 20 and are pregnant or have children. The goals of this support is to help teen parents with tools to build a healthy family, assist with the challenges faced by teen parents, develop and define a family environment that is a source of strength and support (to include) community services, and build independent living skills to strengthen the family and those relationships within it.

Discussion topics include community resources, health, safety, self-care, child development, nurturing, and culture. Topics can be based on individual needs and interest. Lessons are approached through various activities including art, discussion, speakers, and trips. This provides a good way for teen parents to connect and share with others who are experiencing similar life events. Incentives for participation, including diapers and wipes, and ‘saving’ incentives for a larger item.

*Currently teen parent support is offered individually. Group support will become available if / when there is a need in the community. Call or text Vaughn Brown at (920) 613-6077 for the status of teen parent support.

Trauma Informed Parenting (TIP)

The Oneida Nation Trauma Informed Parenting (TIP) class is an (8)-week class designed to focus on how to care for a child who has experienced trauma and recognize how our own trauma as parents/caregivers affects how we parent. Understanding how trauma affects children can help parents/caregivers make sense of their child’s behaviors, feelings and attitudes; can help parents/caregivers develop greater insight around how to help their child cope with the effects of trauma; and help parents understand how to provide a safe and stable home environment. This class has cultural components and focuses on healing generational patterns through education, awareness, resiliency, community support and advocacy.

Check out the National Child Traumatic Stress Network for more information.

https://www.nctsn.org/

*We offer multiple class sessions per year. Check the class schedules tab for upcoming session information. Please call or text Vaughn Brown at (920) 613-6077 for further information and to register.

* This course is recognized by Brown County and Tribal court systems and meets the requirements needed in court ordered cases.

*TIP is open to all. Priority registration to Oneida families & Oneida ICW cases.

Class Schedules

Events, Groups and Classes

Events

Groups

Classes