Children's Bureau Express

Promising Strategies to Strengthen Tribal Families

On November 17, 2004, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families (ACF) released a series of reports on the Promoting Safe and Stable Families program. The reports reveal ways that greater State flexibility in Federal funding could strengthen the abilities of tribal families to care for their children.

The reports also highlight promising practices tribes have adopted to meet unique challenges they face in managing services to strengthen tribal families, children, and youth. A major finding is that State flexibility in funding is critical in order for tribes to implement the best programs according to their unique history and circumstances.

Promising strategies to strengthen tribal families include:

Developing collaborative teams to coordinate services across systems such as courts, police, education, Head Start, and child protective services
Developing collaborative relationships among tribes to pool resources and expertise
Focusing on ways to promote positive youth activities within tribal families and communities
Expanding service delivery to tribal families in remote regions

The reports can be viewed online at the following links:

www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/strengthen/imple_prom/reports/imp_of_pro/imp_of_pro_title.html
www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/strengthen/imple_prom/reports/imp_of_pro2/imp_of_pro2_title.html
www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/strengthen/imple_prom/reports/coor_ait/coor_ait_title.html
www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/strengthen/imple_prom/reports/fund_res/fund_res_title.html

The full press release can be viewed at www.acf.hhs.gov/news/press/2004/pssf.htm.

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