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Resources & Materials

Indian Child Welfare Best Practices

2019-Understanding-ICWA-Placements-Using-Kinship-Care-Research-Final

FINAL IFPA HB0135

Active Efforts Guide

Comprehensive-Guide-to-Active-Efforts-Lummi-Nation-Published-3-26-21

 Recent CYFD and Tribal Title IV-E JPAs

Jemez Pueblo IV-E JPA

Pueblo of Zuni JPA 2021

Pueblo of Laguna JPA

Below you will find links to external websites with valuable information.

Meet Our Speakers

Alejandra Gomez, First Nations Ojibwe-Cree

Alejandra has dedicated her life to advocating for foster youth nationally and Indigenous people internationally. As an Indigenous former foster youth, Alejandra understands firsthand the challenges of losing family, language, culture, and traditions and starting over again. Her experiences in foster care, including homelessness as a youth, exposed her to trauma, loss of her cultural identity as a First Nations Ojibwe-Cree and Chicana, and the injustices of the foster care system.

Christina Kaltsukis, Yakama Nation

Known as Mool-Mool or “Bubbles in the Spring Water”, Christina, a Yakama Nation member, is making significant ripples in Indigenous advocacy. Currently in her 2nd year majoring in Organizational Sciences at the University of Idaho, she passionately leads as Miss Tutxinmepu 23-24. As a former Building Indigenous Communities of Hope Fellow with the Center for Native American Youth, she is committed to inspiring hope and fostering change within Indigenous Communities.

Veronica Krupnick, Hopi Tribe & Jemez Pueblo

Veronica Krupnick is a Youth & Tribal Advocate and Leader within the local, state and national child welfare community. After serving for 4 years as the Mentorship, Advocacy and Peer Support Program Coordinator at CASA first, Veronica now serves as the Vice President of the organization’s Board of Directors. In the Fall of 2022, Veronica began her venture into the New Mexico Legislature, first serving as a campaign assistant, then the Senate Liaison, and now as the Majority Leadership Analyst for the New Mexico House of Representatives Majority Office.

Shanell Lavallie, Aaniih & Nakoda

Shanell Lavallie is from the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. Shanell is in her third year of teaching and is a 4th grade teacher at Whittier Elementary. She aspires to pursue her Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership at Harvard School of Education. Shanell is very passionate about the foster care community and has participated in a variety of opportunities provided for former foster youth.

Robert Mesa, Navajo Nation & Soboba

Robert is a Navajo and Soboba actor, writer, multi-disciplinary artist and humanitarian who lives in Santa Fe and works internationally. He studied filmmaking at the Institute of American Indian Arts. He has donated art pieces to the Lightning Boy Foundation and the Stop Violence Against Women Act. Robert also continues to be a leader of service work in Ukraine with the organization, Ukrainians of New Mexico.

Deanna Mousseau, Kul Wicasa Oyate & Oglala Sioux Tribe

Deanna earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resource Management from Black Hills State University. As an alumna of the Encampment for Citizenship nonprofit organization, Deanna was inspired to pursue her social justice aspirations. She remains committed to their mission and continues to volunteer on their fundraising committee.

Judge John Romero (Ret.)

Judge John Romero (Ret.) served in New Mexico’s Second Judicial District Court in the Children’s Court Division for over 17 years. His docket included juvenile justice and child welfare cases. Judge Romero is Co-Chair Emeritus of New Mexico’s Children’s Court Improvement Commission. He remains involved with the New Mexico Tribal-State Judicial Consortium.

Donalyn Sarracino, LMSW

Donalyn is a member of the Pueblo of Acoma and the proud mother of three children. Since October 2019, Donalyn serves as the Director of Tribal Affairs with the Office of the Secretary for the New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department (CYFD). Prior to working with CYFD, Donalyn served as the Director of the Pueblo of Acoma Social Services and was the 2016 recipient of the Children’s Law Institute Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice Excellence Award.

Jack F. Trope

Jack is a Senior Director in Indian Child Welfare Programs at Casey Family Programs. Prior to joining Casey, he served as the Executive Director of the Association on American Indian Affairs (AAIA), Director of the Western Area Office in New Mexico for the Save the Children Federation and held a number of legal prositions, including having been a partner with the law firm of Sant’ Angelo & Trope and a senior staff attorney with AAIA. He first began working on Indian child welfare matters in 1985 and is a co-author of the 3rd Edition of The Indian Child Welfare Act Handbook published by the American Bar Association.

Wyatt Wilson, Navajo Nation

Wyatt was raised in Flagstaff, Arizona but also spent much of his formative years in his hometown of Shonto, Arizona. He currently attends Fort Lewis College as a pre-law student, majoring in Political Science with a minor in Native American and Indigenous Studies. After completing his baccalaureate studies, Wyatt plans on pursuing law school with the intent of focusing on Tribal Advocacy and Environmental Policy. He is passionate about land stewardship, youth advocacy, civic engagement, and a plethora of Indigenous social issues.

Dr. Pearl Yellowman, Navajo Nation

Pearl was recently selected as the Vice-President College Operations of the Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute. Pearl oversees all campus operations and is a member of the President’s Cabinet. Pearl was previously appointed by Navajo Nation President Johnathan Nez and Vice-President Myron Lizer on January 15, 2019 as the Executive Director of the Division of Community Development. 

Kimberly Cluff

Since becoming a member of the California Bar in 1998, Kimberly has worked exclusively in the field of Indian law. Starting as a law clerk then attorney at California Indian Legal Services, Kimberly went into private practice as a partner at Forman & Associates. Kimberly then served as In-House General Counsel for the Morongo Band of Mission Indians before joining California Tribal Families Coalition as the Legal Director and also returning to graduate school at the Goldman School of Public Policy, U. C. Berkeley. Kimberly’s career has always focused on advocating for tribes and native non-profits, including advocacy and litigation connected to tribal economic development, Intergovernmental agreements, Indian child and family welfare, strengthening of tribal courts and tribal governance and development and protection of tribal infrastructure. Kimberly also extends her advocacy to state and federal legislative efforts, for example spearheading the California Tribal Customary Adoption Act and working with lawmakers to secure federal resources for Indian Country. Kimberly is admitted to practice in California.

Thank You to Our Partners