Cultural competence trainings offered

Submitted by Sarah McConnell
Phone: 479-0673 X 22
10/31/04

The Ch’eghutsen’ Project is sponsoring a series of three trainings on cultural competence in System of Care services to youth and their families. The Ch’eghutsen’ Project, in a collaborative effort of Fairbanks Native Association, Tanana Chiefs Conference, and University of Alaska Fairbanks will kick off their community training series with the first training on Nov. 5, with featured speakers Richard Two Dogs and Ethleen Iron Cloud Two Dogs sharing information on Building Family Partnerships. These trainings are free of charge, and provide certified Continuing Education Credits for those attending.

The first training will meet at the Princess Hotel, Jade Room, from 9 a.m.-4p.m. with a one hour break for lunch on your own.

The second session will be Nov. 19 with featured speaker Paulette Running Wolf sharing information about Mobilizing Natural Supports. This training will meet at the Noel Wien Public Library from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. with a one and one-half hour break for lunch on your own.

The third session will meet on Jan. 12 with featured speaker Elizabeth äóìCookieäó? Rose. Location, time, and specific topic will be announced at a later time.

The Ch’eghutsen’ Project is funded by a System of Care (SOC) grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and additional setaside funding which supports an extensive children’s mental health training program for the Ch’eghutsen’ staff, providers who are potential partners in SOC services, consumers, and community members.

We are exceptionally fortunate to share the experience and knowledge brought to our region by Richard Two Dogs, Ethleen Iron Cloud Two Dogs, Paulette Running Wolf, and Cookie Rose.

Rick currently works with Wakanyeja Pawicayapi, Inc. (The Children First), in Porcupine, South Dakota, where he provides technical assistance, consultation and Lakota traditional healing to children and families enrolled in the Nagi Kicopi (Calling the Spirit Back) Project administered by Wakanyeja Pawicayapi, Inc. He is an adjunct instructor at Oglala Lakota College.

Ethleen is currently Project Director/Principal Investigator for Nagi Kicopi (Calling the Spirit Back), which is also a SOC service project. She is an adjunct professor at Oglala Lakota College, serves on the Rosalyn Carter Mental Health Task Force, and is Vice President of the First Nations Behavioral Health Association.

Paulette has worked with the First Nations Behavioral Health Confederacy, and was a senior scientist with ORC Macro, evaluating tribal SOC projects throughout the nation. She received her PhD. In counseling psychology from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and was an assistant professor at Washington State University. She currently provides consultation, training and evaluation from her home in Babb, Montana.

Cookie Rose is a well-known consultant and trainer throughout Alaska. She was instrumental in the Circles of Care planning project which paved the way for the Ch’eghutsen’ Project. She has been very active in family systems training, and teaching for UA’s Rural Human Services Program. She has developed several training manuals, such as Return to Wholeness, used by many human service programs statewide.

We hope to bring together the System of Care serving youth who experience a temporary disharmony in their home, school or community. This includes, but is not limited to, family members, youth receiving services and their friends, providers in the fields of mental health, juvenile justice, education, health, Office of Children’s Services, recreation, vocational services, and family services, faith-based services, Elders, and concerned community members.