CCFL and the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska have partnered on a pilot project to provide culturally informed training to Child and Family Services Specialists serving Native American children and families. The project, "Bridging the Gap for Native American Children," received seed funding from the university's Engagement Collaborative, part of the N2025 Strategic Plan.
Child and Family Services Specialists serve a limited number of Native American children annually, leading them to have less experience in providing culturally aware support. Joe Fleming, director of Omaha Tribe Children and Family Services/ICWA, emphasizes that "understanding Tribal culture is key to understanding Tribal communities."
The project will address this need by partnering with Nebraska Tribes to offer educational resources to Child and Family Services Specialists, organizations, and community members serving Native American children and families.
Upon successful completion of the pilot, the team hopes to expand the project by creating training resources with the Ponca, Santee Sioux, and Winnebago Tribes.
