DIVISION OF INDIAN WORK
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Mission Statement
The Division of Indian Work's mission is to support and strengthen American Indian people through culturally-based education, traditional healing approaches, and leadership development.
About This Cause
Organization History: (1,000 characters) 818 Since 1952 the Division of Indian Work (DIW) has served our Twin Cities American Indian community with programs that help them stabilize their families and work toward establishing productive lives. Originally a program of the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches (GMCC), DIW finalized separation from GMCC in 2018 and now has its own 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status making us a truly American Indian-led organization. DIW is also an inter-tribal serving agency and provides services to at least 60 different tribes residing in the Twin Cities. In 1998, DIW moved into our current residence—a beautiful building designed by award-winning Arapaho architect Dennis Sun Rhodes. The building bustles with activity and is used by staff, program participants, other organizations, and the community. Because culture is vitally important to Indian people, DIW incorporates tribal values, beliefs, and practices into its work. Our programs are provided free-of-charge and work to nurture and guide youth; foster physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually healthy families; support elders; end family violence; offer supportive housing to long-term foster care boys; and address hunger issues. Our agency exists to help our people tap into their potential and provides them the tools and skills they need to live their best lives. All of this is to move them steadily toward DIW’s vision: American Indian communities that build upon inherent strengths and create safe, healthy, and nurturing environments in which everyone thrives. DIW is governed by a 13-member board of directors comprised of people from the legal, financial, social work, and design fields—77% of board members are American Indian. We employ 41 full-time and 8 part-time staff—90% of staff are American Indian. Programs and Services: (4,000 characters) 3,938 Health Services: • Horizons Unlimited food shelf – supplements the food budgets of families and offers healthier food choices to help individuals better manage chronic conditions, e.g., diabetes and high blood pressure. • Minozekwedaa Traditional Foods program – our Native Chef serves healthy meals comprised of traditional and wild foods to program participants. • Women of Traditional Birthing – helps women refrain from using alcohol and other drugs while pregnant through education, information, and cultural support. • Ninde Doula Program – provides informational, emotional, physical, and cultural support to Indigenous families during labor, birth, and the post-partum healing period. • Two Home Visiting programs: Parenting Capacity Services; Family Spirit – work with families/parents to set and meet goals to prevent child protection involvement; provide early childhood education on the age-appropriate development of their children; provide cultural supports; and connect them with additional community resources as needed. • Strong Families Support Services – works with families residing in Hennepin County to reduce American Indian children placements in foster care by connecting families to local community intervention services and providing guidance, incentives, and other supports needed. Strengthening Family Circles: • Family Violence Prevention Program – provides victims and perpetrators of domestic violence with access to men’s and women’s anger management groups, a women’s domestic abuse support group, and legal advocacy for victims. • Elders Resources Program – supports elders with grocery delivery, transportation to appointments, social activities, and access to other community services. • Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Resources Program – provides support and resources to grandparents who have taken on the role of primary caregiver to their grandchildren. • Mikwendaagozi (“be remembered” in Ojibwe) Dementia Program – educates and informs elders and their families about dementia and encourages early assessment. Healing Spirit Program: • Healing Spirit House – provides a supportive, safe, positive, drug- and alcohol-free environment and in-house services for foster care American Indian males ages 16-21. • STAY in the Community Program – provides American Indian youth ages 14-22 who are or have been in foster care with the basic support, skills, and tools they need for successful, independent living. • Youth Leadership Council – works with youth ages 14-21 who are in or have been in foster care, providing them opportunities to develop advocacy skills around implementation and evaluation of foster care policy and practice. Youth Leadership Development Program – serves youth in grades 1-12 year-round through six program components: • Academic Support & Activities – offers homework help and tutoring, cultural activities, Dakota/Ojibwe language instruction, recreational activities and field trips, and education to prevent at-risk behavior. • TRiP (The Right Path) – teaches the use of culture and life skills as preventative measures against alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use by providing education and cultural activities. • Youth Intervention Program – supplements TRiP activities with a focus on literacy and traditional teachings with elders. • Indigenous Scholars Summer Program – is an 8-week program that focuses on cultural teachings, culturally relevant literacy, civic engagement, and American Indian language and culture. • Be@School Attendance Support: works with school staff, parents, and students to track, monitor, and improve school attendance for American Indian youth in K-8. • Young Women’s Society – provides at-risk young Native women ages 11 to 21 with guidance, purpose, and positive support. • Live It! Train the Trainer Curriculum – addresses the high percentages of American Indian teen pregnancies. Trained facilitators present Live It! sex education topics using culturally relevant teachings and modern methodologies.