Bozho, everyone, and Happy May! My name is DeAnna Voeks, and I am the Foster Care and Adoption Specialist for FireLodge Children & Family Services at Citizen Potawatomi Nation. For the past three years, I have found great joy in supporting Potawatomi children and families in this role. With National Foster Care Month upon us, I would like to share an overview of how our Foster Care Program operates and how we assist our foster children and families.

National Foster Care Month is particularly important for those of us involved in child welfare. While we celebrate children daily in our department, this month allows us to acknowledge the children and youth in foster care, their family members, foster parents and siblings, volunteers and mentors, child welfare professionals and tribal nations that help children find permanent homes and connections. You might have seen billboards around the Shawnee area or our social media posts highlighting the urgent need for more Potawatomi foster homes. I felt it was the right moment to reach out more broadly and explain the importance of our collective efforts.

What is ICW, and what do they do?

ICW stands for Indian Child Welfare. In all child welfare cases, we play an active role as a tribe, meaning whenever a child is removed from their home, regardless of the state, we get involved to advocate for our Potawatomi children from the very beginning until the case is resolved. At FireLodge Children & Family Services, our primary goal is to reunite children with their parents or family members when it is safe to do so. Our Foster Care program works closely with FireLodge case managers, case manager supervisor, and the director to ensure that every child entering a tribal home is safe, healthy and well cared for.

For our children, maintaining a connection to their culture, Tribe, and community is essential for understanding their identity. When a child is removed from their home, ICW sends out a cultural box designed to strengthen their ties to the Tribe. This box typically includes books about Potawatomi history, language, a tribal coloring book, information about the Seven Grandfathers’ Teachings, information on cultural traditions, crafts and a letter detailing the historical families of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. These boxes have become extremely popular with the families who receive them, especially among those who may not have extensive knowledge of their Potawatomi heritage.

Tell me more about the foster home licensing process…

We encourage you to think about the wonderful opportunity of fostering children, no matter where you live. If you’re located outside of Oklahoma, we invite you to connect with a local licensing agency (whether public or private) that can conduct a home study and open your home in whatever area you reside. You can then share that home study with us, and we will add your name to a list of homes we would contact if a Potawatomi child needs care in your area or state. Once licensed in your state, as long as you remain a member of a federally recognized tribe, you would be classified as an ICWA-compliant (Indian Child Welfare Act) home and could foster Native children under the custody of your state or possibly even another tribal agency. Every state in the nation is in need of more tribal home availability; without it, children risk being placed in homes with non-Natives.

If you reside in Oklahoma and are interested in becoming a foster parent with us, please contact us, and we would be happy to send you a packet.

Some requirements to qualify as a CPN tribal home include:

  • Be at least 21 years old
  • Have a verifiable source of income
  • Possess the financial capacity to care for a child without relying solely on a foster care payment
  • Ensuring appropriate sleeping arrangements based on age and gender
  • Have no criminal or child welfare history
  • Be willing to foster a positive relationship between the biological parents and the child in care when appropriate

All prospective foster parents must undergo background checks and fingerprinting. These requirements apply to anyone living in the household who is 18 and older. After the background forms are processed, a home study will be scheduled. We will visit your home to meet your family, speak with everyone individually and do a home assessment. Medical exams will then be requested, and foster parent training will be required. The home study then goes for final approval from the director. Although the home study process can be lengthy, it helps us understand your entire family dynamic. Typically, a home can be approved within 6-8 weeks. Once we receive that approval and when a child enters custody, we will contact the homes that we believe will best support the child’s needs. We will consider several factors, including gender, age, behaviors, foster home location, disabilities, allergies and sleeping arrangements. Each foster home is assigned two workers: one for the child and one for the foster parents. The child’s needs will be addressed with their case manager, and the foster care worker will assist families in signing up for daycare, resolving issues with foster care payments, answering any questions about medical coverage and completing your annual home reassessment. Children in Tribal custody will receive regular visits from their assigned case manager throughout the case.

Let’s talk about the different types of homes we need…

We are hopeful of opening not only more Tribal foster homes but also homes that would be available to provide respite for other families who may just need a date night, time to attend foster care training, take a vacation, do some grocery shopping or attend an appointment. We also need homes capable of emergency placement for Potawatomi children. Emergency placement is a temporary commitment (usually of a few days or a weekend) that allows child welfare time to reach out to prospective family members and do emergency background checks or to find other Tribal homes that may be interested in taking placement of a child.

Let’s talk about kinship care too, because it’s super important to recognize that we strive to keep children who enter custody with a relative whenever possible. ICW will reach out to relatives to inquire about placement since they are our top preference, which can reduce or limit trauma to children when they are placed with family.

How does CPN celebrate and support its foster families?

Every year, FireLodge Children and Family Services hosts a Christmas banquet for Potawatomi children in custody and their foster families. Our dedicated employees consistently demonstrate their generosity by supporting the ICW Angel Tree, ensuring that these children enjoy a joyful holiday season. In May, we launched a pledge website on the CPN intranet, encouraging employees to advocate for Potawatomi children, highlighting the urgent need for CPN foster homes and urging them to report any instances of abuse they may witness. Additionally, we organize giveaways for employees who sign the pledge and giveaways on our Facebook page for those who help promote our mission.

In support of our families for National Foster Care Month, our foster families receive a specially curated box filled with items they can enjoy together. Each year features a different theme that typically aligns with the custom T-shirts included in the box. This year’s theme is “Making a difference, one child at a time.” The inspiration stems from a story about a boy walking along a beach covered with starfish. As he tossed them back into the ocean, a man passing by questioned his actions, claiming that what he was doing wouldn’t make a difference. The boy replied by throwing another starfish back, saying, “I made a difference for that one!” This story illustrates that impacting a child’s life doesn’t require grand gestures as simple actions can make a significant difference. Even if you can’t help everyone, you can still positively change one person’s life. That’s what our foster homes are doing for children, and we are immensely grateful for the wonderful homes we have.

What’s next?

With all of this in mind, fostering is not for the faint of heart; it requires considerable dedication, patience and emotional commitment. The many different phases of a case can sometimes feel overwhelming and draining, but providing these children with a safe and nurturing environment is crucial to their well-being. They will seek reassurance that they are secure and protected in your home. Remember that each child separated from their family carries their own trauma, which may manifest differently each day. Although children are remarkably resilient, they will still question their removal and why they can’t be with their parents, regardless of the circumstances surrounding their separation. Employing a trauma-informed approach will significantly support their healing journey in a constructive manner. FireLodge can assist with referrals to resources and training to help each family in their foster care journey. If you have more questions, reach out to me. I can be reached at 405-878-4831 or via email at [email protected].

If you will be attending the Family Reunion Festival next month, FireLodge will have a table in one of the reunion halls. Come see me for more information — I look forward to speaking with you!

Migwetch, DeAnna Voeks