The overall goal of the Social Services Department is to provide quality social service programs that are sensitive and responsive to the cultural values of Indian clients. The services offered will emphasize the promotion of a healthy lifestyle by helping the client search for wellness, through prevention/intervention activities and-maintenance techniques to promote the restoration of family systems.

Advocate Programs
The Fond du Lac Advocates provide caring, culturally sensitive advocacy for victims of domestic abuse, sexual assault, child abuse and general crime, including the witnesses to crime. The Advocates and their trained volunteers assist community members to:

• Receive crisis calls
• Report crime to law enforcement
• Obtain Orders for Protection
• Seek and obtain available community resources
• Seek reparations
• Facilitate support groups

The Advocates are available to assist community members in times of crisis and can advocate for them during court appearances. The police or sheriffs department will contact the Advocates as needed or requested by the client.

Child Care Assistance Program
The Child Care Assistance Program provides eligible parents with financial assistance in order to continue an approved plan in a productive activity such as employment or education and training.

Limited funds (sliding fee scale) are available for American Indian people who reside on the Fond du Lac Reservation and are not eligible for other child care assistance programs such as MCT, STRIDE, AEOA or funding through Carlton or St. Louis County Human Services.

Day Care Licensing
Day Care Licensing is available to qualified applicants living on the Fond du Lac Reservation. The Fond du Lac Reservation Business Committee has adopted an Ordinance of Standards and Licensing Procedures that determines applicant eligibility.

Minnesota Rehabilitation Services
A representative of Minnesota Rehabilitation Services (MRS) is available at the Min No Aya Win Human Services Center and in Duluth on a regular basis to provide rehabilitation counseling to eligible Indian people. Those people with documented physical or mental disabilities are assisted in the preparation for and the actual seeking of suitable employment. Appointments can be scheduled by calling the Human Services Center at 8791227 or the MRS at 723-4622.

Families First
Social Workers provide intensive, short-term, in-home crisis intervention and family education services in order to preserve Indian families and avoid children. being placed out of, the home. Staff are on-call twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week to work with eligible families. Services include:

• Individual problem-solving skills
• Communication and negotiation skills
• Parenting education
• Child development training
• Homemakers
• Advocacy
• Job-readiness training
• Developing helping relationships with community resources

Involvement is usually no longer than four weeks as families are expected to become increasingly self-reliant. This program is offered only in St. Louis County.

Family Services Program
Resolving family problems and keeping families together, according to the federal Indian Child Welfare Act, is a major goal for the Fond du Lac Social Services department. Services offered include:

• Counseling
• Assessment
• Information and referral
• Transportation
• Consultation
• Family problem identification and problem resolution

Fond du Lac Social Workers provide child protection services to protect the best interests of Indian children. The child protection staff assists county social workers in serving Indian children who have been victims of abuse and/or neglect. They also help the Court understand the unique characteristics of Indian clients so that the Court can make sound decisions about Indian children. Child protection services include:

• Crisis intervention
• Case management
• Out-of-home placement supervision
• Referral services
• Assistance in obtaining available resources

Medical Social Services
Medical Social Workers help clients gain access to the numerous resources available to them. Medical social services to individuals and/or families include assistance with:

• Obtaining Medical Assistance and services offered by other county programs
• Discharge planning at local hospitals and nursing homes
• Obtaining medical equipment and/or supplies
• Making arrangements for those in need of special services such as physical, occupational, or speech therapy
• Social Security and Disability claims
• Advocacy, counseling, information and referral services in major life crisis; such as death, suicide, divorce, job change, illness, major surgery, etc.

Min no wii jii win
In 1995 the Fond du Lac Reservation Business Committee purchased a home on the Reservation and presented it to the Human Services Division so staff could work with clients in a home-like setting. The home's name, "Min no wii jii win", means "being together in a good way." The Advocates' offices are located in this home and they assist with the coordination of group activities there.
Men and Women Support, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Aftercare groups; supervised visitation, and staff/family meetings are held on a regular basis in this homelike atmosphere.

Off-Reservation Foster Care
The Fond du Lac Off-Reservation Foster Care Licensing & Placement Agency recruits Indian families residing outside of northern Minnesota reservation boundaries. The agency assists in the licensing process and provides support, training, and monitoring to its foster parents.

On-Reservation Foster Care
The Fond du Lac On-Reservation Foster Care Licensing Program recruits Indian families residing within the Fond du Lac Reservation boundaries. The agency assists in the licensing process and provides support, training, and monitoring to its foster parents. Contact numbers are (218) 879-1227 or 1-888-888-6007 (within Minnesota only).

Veterans Center
A representative is available on a regular basis at the Min No Aya Win Human Services Center and at the CAIR office to provide services to Indian veterans who were on active duty from 1964 to 1975. All counseling sessions are held in the strictest confidence and fulfill many needs that veterans may encounter in their readjustment to civilian life. For an appointment call 722-8654.

Walks Tall
A counselor is available for individuals recently released from prison to assist in making the transition back into the community. Transition is made with the use of cultural activities, ceremonies, education and assistance in pursuing_ employment opportunities.

Women and Family Services
The Women and Family Services Social Worker works with American Indian children in the juvenile corrections system and their families. The social worker facilitates weekly support group meetings in Duluth. In addition, the social worker will help women who are released from the Women's Offender Program make the transition back to the community.

Wrap Around Services for Adolescent Youth and their Families
This program, new in 1998, expands the Families First Program in Duluth to target youth between the ages of 13 through 17 years and their families. The Wrap Around Workers carry small caseloads of clients (5-8 families) in order to provide the intensive social services some families need. Referrals are accepted from multiple sources such as school personnel, human services agencies, parents, law enforcement and so on. This program is offered in Duluth only.