Month: October 2012

Article and photo by Jeannie Briones

 TULALIP, Washington – “Stewards of Children is an evidence-based program targeting adults to help give them tools to protect children from sexual abuse. It’s the only evidence-based program in the nation, which means its gone under a lot of research, over many years and has shown to be effective in preventing child sexual abuse,” said Leila K. Goldsmith, J.D., Child Advocacy Coordinator for Tulalip Legacy of Healing Children’s Advocacy Center.

  The Stewards of Children, a new program available at Tulalip Legacy of Healing Children’s Advocacy Center, is designed to educate adults about sexual abuse, how to look for signs that your child may be targeted or a victim, and how to prevent it in children.

 “I’m excited about giving community members and service providers’ tools to protect children,” explained Leila. “It’s meant to help to empower adults to know what actions they can take to protect children.”

Nearly 70 percent of all reported sexual assaults occur to children ages 17 and under. The lack of education and information puts these children at risk.

Programs like Stewards of Children equip participants with simple proactive steps in protecting children from sexual abuse. This effective program helps adults see signs beforehand and prevent abuse from happening, so children can live a happy life, a world free from fear and shame. Sexually abused children blame themselves and live in a world of secrecy. Without proper help these children are at much higher risk for future problems with violent crime, have higher rates of teen pregnancy, and are at much higher risk of substance abuse.

Adults participating in the Stewards of Children training program are introduced to concepts of consciousness, choice, personal power, and relentless compassion. These four tools become a part of their personal tool kit for protecting children.

The Stewards of Children program is offered to community members who are interested in protecting children in their community. Next training will be offered on November 30^th, 12:00 noon – 2:30 p.m. at the Tulalip Legacy of Healing Children’s Advocacy Center conference room. Light refreshments will be served and please respect that the location of the training is considered a safe zone.

One-on-one training is also available by request. For appointments, information on future training or information about the program, contact Leila K. Goldsmith at the Tulalip Legacy of Healing Children’s Advocacy Centerat 360-716-4100. To report child abuse call 1-866-363-4276 or contact the care crisis line at 1-800-584-3578 if you need to talk to someone for help 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Jeannie Briones: 360-716-4188; jbriones@tulaliptribes-nsn.gov

Article and photo by Jeannie Briones

TULALIP, Washington – Domestic Violence can happen to anyone. Victims of domestic violence usually turn to family and friends for help, so staff at the Tulalip Legacy ofHealingAdvocacyCenterand Safe House is working to educate the community about the realities of domestic violence, and teaching empathy rather than sympathy.

‘In Her Shoes’, a series of interactive workshops created by the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence (WSCADV), debuted at the TulalipAdministrativeBuildingthis month. These workshops are designed for learning about domestic violence through audience participation.  Participants act out real life scenarios of battered women – essentially putting themselves in their shoes. The October 18^th workshop, ‘In Her Shoes, Economic Justice Edition,’ focused on the added struggles that low-income battered women face and how the community can help bring justice to these survivors.

“‘In Her Shoes, Economic Justice Edition’ pays close attention to each one of these survivor’s stories and how finances and poverty impact their situation and create barriers that make them more unsafe and at risk,” said Traci Underwood, Program Coordinator for WSCADV.

During the workshop, participants stepped inside the victim’s world through an interactive exercise about life choices.  Participants were given cards printed with a real story of a victim and abuser. These stories are unique and the victims in each share a similar background, involving a lack of money and resources. Through these cards, participants make “life choices” concerning school, housing, legal situations, social services, friends, etc. These choices send them in different directions in life to face the consequences.

“When you are walking through the interactive process, you learn what happens in a woman’s life with domestic violence,” said Elishia Stewart, tribal member and Manager of the Tulalip Legacy ofHealingAdvocacyCenterand Safe House.

During the workshop wrap-up session, audience feedback was followed by an open discussion period where workshop participants were given the opportunity to voice concerns and questions about domestic violence.

On October 30^th, the second workshop in the series, will feature a Native twist, focusing on the struggles that pertain to Native American victims and their abusers.

For more information, call the Tulalip Legacy of Healing Advocacy Center and Safe House at 360-716-4100, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. and more information about the “In Her Shoes” series, visit WSCADV at www.wscadv.org

Totem Middle School teachers reach out to parents

 Article and photo by Jeannie Briones

TULALIP, Washington – Teachers are always looking for ways to better communicate with their students, and now they are reaching out to the parents. Community Partnership, a new program at Totem Middle School, is simply designed for teachers to meet one-on-one with parents outside of the classroom, at their homes or any other location of the parents choosing.

These out-of-classroom visits enable the teachers and parents to form better relationships and build trust. Questions such as, what are your child’s hopes and dreams, bring both teachers and parents to a common understanding about the kids needs and academic standing.

Daniel Natividad, Native Equity Access Specialist and Interim Associate Principal for Totem Middle School is elated with the progress the program has made so far. In the few months that the program has been in operation, school staff has seen an improvement in attendance and test scores and a decrease is suspensions and expulsions, along with less vandalism around the school.

 “It’s been a positive program,” said Daniel, referring to the positive changes in the children’s behavior.

Staff is striving to make 60 home visits to parents by the end of the first quarter of school. 25 visits have already been made, ten of these to tribal member families. 

Teachers have received warm welcomes from the families, many of which give thanks to Totem Middle School staff for taking the time to show they care about their child’s education.

“It’s all about building a relationship, and once we have that relationship, everyone is going to be successful,” said Daniel.

Staff are available to meet with parents after school and weekends. For more information, contact Daniel Natividad at 360-653-0608 or email, Daniel_natividad@msvl.k12.wa.us.

Article and photo by Jeannie Briones    

TULALIP, Washington – Something exciting is happening at Totem Middle School.  New to the school this year is Watch D.O.G.S. – Dads of Great Students –a program that encourages fathers to get more involved at their child’s school. Father, grandfathers, step-dads, uncles, and all father figures are encouraged to volunteer at the school to provide positive male role models, and work with the kids to enhance their learning environment.

These mentors assists in a variety of ways, such as monitoring the school lunch room, helping out in classrooms, and other activities assigned by the school’s administrative staff. Their presence also provides an extra set of eyes and ears, which reduces signs of bullying.

 Daniel Natividad, Native Equity Access Specialist and Interim Associate Principal for Totem Middle School is one of the dedicated employees working to get this project underway. As an advocate for Native American kids, David feels that this positive program helps kids grow socially and academically, creating a solid foundation for their future.

 “We are in the opening stages of this program. We had 21 dads sign up for different days throughout the school year, to help out in the classroom, lunchroom, and on campus,” said Daniel.

Through the Watch D.O.G.S. program, these role models are asked to volunteer for at least one full day during the school year

“We are trying to increase male positive role models on campus. Kids can feel like they are cared for, especially the kids who don’t have a positive role model at home,” Daniel continued. “The first dad is coming in this month, and he’s going to help out with the classroom and buses.”

Daniel encourages all tribal and non-tribal parents to participate in the program, saying,  “One the big goals this year is to make sure the community understands that education is not a one sided street. It’s not a one person process, it requires everyone, the teachers, students, and lastly the parents.”

Watch D.O.G.S., an educational initiative of the National Center For Fathering, has been in operation since 1998, helping children thrive through father and father figure involvement at schools across the nation. For Totem Middle School it means a step in the right direction to enhancing children’s lives, especially for kids dealing with challenging issues at home like poverty, drug abuse, abuse, and the lack of parental guidance.

For information on volunteering at Totem Middle School, contact Daniel Natividad at 360-653-0608. For information on the Watch D.O.G.S. program, visit www.fathers.com/watchdogs.