NICWA invites you to participate in the 28th Annual "Protecting Our Children" National American Indian Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect National

NICWA invites you to participate in the 28th Annual "Protecting Our Children" National American Indian Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect
National Indian Child Welfare AssociationBulletin
Posted by Eddie Sherman

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Dear NICWA Cause Members:

National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA) invites you to participate in the 28th Annual "Protecting Our Children" National American Indian Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect
This year’s conference will focus on bringing our dream to access resources into reality through program development and implementation. Even though the legislative victory was won, our work continues, and our responsibility now is to build the systems to serve our children and families.


CONFERENCE THEME +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From Opportunity to Reality: Honoring Our Dream
For too long, the reality was that tribes struggled to access resources and services that would help to serve American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) children and families. The intent of the Indian Child Welfare Act is to help tribal communities strengthen and sustain their traditional methods of protecting and nurturing AI/AN children. When tribes exert their sovereignty to protect their children, the outcome for children to stay with their families and communities is much better. It is our dream to see our children play and laugh in our tribal communities.
In the last year, tribes embarked on the journey to access Title IV-E funding to expand effective child welfare programs and services. The Fostering Connections legislation provides tribes the opportunity to enhance and sustain effective child welfare programs and services that were not possible through government funding in the past. We have seen the expertise of our young people, families, and elders put into action to change systems and sustain traditional methods of protecting AI/AN children. Our young people, families, and elders continue to walk beside our leaders to make the dream of our ancestors a reality. It is our dream to continue to prevent the occurrence or reoccurrence of child abuse and neglect so our AI/AN children can thrive.
Please join us as we gather in the City of Roses and amongst the cedar trees of Portland, Oregon, to learn from each other and enhance positive outcomes for AI/AN children and families. This year’s conference will focus on bringing our dream to access resources into reality through program development and implementation. Even though the legislative victory was won, our work continues, and our responsibility now is to build the systems to serve our children and families.
Our conference will feature innovative workshops and presentations on strategically and tactically meeting the needs of our children and to improve healthy outcomes for our most precious resource—our children. We welcome you to join us in Portland, Oregon!


CONFERENCE GOALS +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
- To highlight successful strategies for building effective services
- To reveal the latest and most innovative practices of child welfare and children’s mental health service delivery
- To highlight tactics and strategies for the financing and sustainability of services that impact children
- To showcase strategies for involving youth and families in developing services and policy that lead to systems change


LOCATION +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
DoubleTree Hotel and Executive Meeting Center
1000 NE Multnomah Street
Portland, Oregon 97232
Reservations: 800-996-0510
http://www.portlandlloydcenter.doubletree.com

Rates are guaranteed until March 10, 2009. Reservations made after March 10 will be charged the standard rate.


REGISTRATION +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
How to Register
Fill out the registration form below and fax or mail with payment to:

National Indian Child Welfare Association
5100 SW Macadam Avenue, Suite 300 | Portland, OR 97239
Fax: (503) 222-4007

28th Annual "Protecting Our Children" Conference Registration Form:
http://www.nicwa.org/conference/documents/RegistrationFormver2.pdf

Cost
Early-bird (Postmarked/received with payment by 3/19/2010): $395
On-site (Postmarked/received with payment by 3/19/2010): $460
Presenter: $150
Student: $150 (Valid student ID must accompany registration)


SCHEDULES AND WORKSHOPS +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
NICWA's 2010 annual conference offers workshop opportunities from a variety of presenters from throughout the United States and Canada.

Click below for a tentative workshop schedule.
http://www.nicwa.org/conference/documents/TentativeConferenceSchedule_002.pdf

Click below for a list of conference workshop offerings.
http://www.nicwa.org/conference/documents/Workshops.pdf


EXHIBITOR INFORMATION +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The booth fees for this year's annual conference are:
Non-profit organization: $350
For-profit organization: $450
Arts/Crafts vendors: $300

Click below for a vendor application.
http://www.nicwa.org/conference/documents/ExhibitorApplication2010-ForWeb.pdf

Vendor applications will be accepted until all available spaces are filled; however, applications received after February 12, will not have their organization's information included in the agenda book.


VOLUNTEERS +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
NICWA is instituting an annual conference volunteer program and we are currently looking for people who will be in the Portland metro area April 11-14, 2010 who are interested in volunteering at our conference.

Positions include registration assistants, information agents, door monitors, auction assistants, office assistants, and more. There will be a brief volunteer orientation Sunday, April 11, 2010, at 4:00 p.m. at the Portland Doubletree Hotel.

Click below for the Volunteer Application and Waiver
http://www.nicwa.org/conference/documents/VOLUNTEER_LIABILITY_WAIVER.pdf

If you would like to volunteer, please download the volunteer application and waiver, fill them out entirely, and fax, email, or mail them to our office. If you have any questions please contact Leslie Miller at 503-222-4044, extension 126, or millerl@nicwa.org.


SILENT AUCTION +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
NICWA’s silent auction is held every year during our annual conference banquet. All items are donated by NICWA supporters and the proceeds go to underfunded projects.

In previous years, we have received blankets, baskets, jewelry, artwork, books, regalia, vacation packages, spa packages, food, and much more. All donations are tax deductible. Many artists have been incredibly generous with their donations and have received much praise from our conference attendees.

If you have any questions or would like to donate any items to the NICWA silent auction, please contact Leslie Miller at 503-222-4044, extension 126, ormillerl@nicwa.org.

Ahéhee' (Thank you),

Eddie Sherman (Diné | Umóⁿ'hoⁿ)
Development Manager
National Indian Child Welfare Association
Dedicated to the well-being of American Indian children and families.
T 503.222.4044, ext. 123
F 503.222.4007
E eddie@nicwa.org