Tribal TANF Case Management Professional Development
General overview
Tribal TANF programs in many places now serve clients who were once overlooked and underserved. Caseloads have grown quickly, as have individual and collective needs of clients on and off reservations and rancherias. Tribal TANF programs need skilled case managers to address the complex and unique needs of American Indian individuals and families.
The Center for Human Services at UC Davis Extension offers Tribal TANF case management training to better equip tribes to serve their own people.
About the Training
All courses are infused with cultural values and principles specific to American Indian culture. Staff explore the plight of Indian individuals and families who have been historically underserved. They learn how to use case management practice to preserve, support and promote Indian families' steps toward self-sufficiency, the core of American Indian culture. Content can be tailored to specific tribal cultures.
Core courses address a broad range of topics, including the history and practice of case management, the Native American Indian worldview, cross-cultural communication, and interviewing and assessment skills. Elective courses allow the sponsoring tribal TANF program to develop staff skills in areas such as alcohol and drug abuse, family violence, crisis management and child welfare.
Courses address all levels of learning: knowledge, skills and attitude. All coursework is highly interactive and experiential to ensure that knowledge gained can be transferred to the professional practice of participants and to their communities.
Tailored to tribal needs
UC Davis staff work closely with sponsoring tribal TANF programs to assess staff training needs and tailor coursework to specific tribal cultures. That allows the sponsoring agency to ensure that staff receive high quality training that combines the theory and practice of case management with the values and principles of American Indian culture. Sponsoring programs benefit from increased accountability and more efficient and effective service delivery.
Supported by experienced staff and trainers
UC Davis staff and trainers are experienced in training, case management and working with American Indian populations. With diverse cultural backgrounds, all trainers have been hand-selected for their knowledge, training skills and respect for Indian culture. The combination of knowledge, experience and culture-specific training allows UC Davis Extension to effectively design unique curriculum for tribal TANF programs.