Program Overview | Southern Arizona | Yavapai County, Arizona | New Mexico
In-Home Programs for Native American Youth in New Mexico
Independent Living Program in Dozens of Native New Mexico Communities
The Independent Living Program (ILP) was initiated seven years ago through a contract with the Children, Youth and Families Department of the State of New Mexico to provide Independent Living services and the Life Skills curriculum to Native American Youth. Originally a pilot program funded through the federal Foster Care Independent Act of 1999, the ILP provides innovative, non-residential, transitional support services to Native American youth, age 16-21 years, who are leaving the custody of Child Welfare programs and have lived in Foster Care or group homes. The primary goal of the Independent Living Program is to assist youth in becoming independent, healthy, functional adults in their communities.
Two home-based therapists provide services to approximately 50 Native youth who reside in the Northern and Southern pueblos of New Mexico and the Navajo and Apache tribes. The therapists provide individualized assistance to each of the youth to foster development of a wide range of skills to make healthy choices as young adults and to become self-sufficient as they transition back into Native communities. The ILP works with tribes, families, the youth and communities to:
- Assist the youth to transition to self-sufficiency;
- Receive education, skills and services necessary to obtain employment;
- Provide financial, housing, counseling, employment assistance and other appropriate services; and
- Provide personal and emotional support through mentors and interactions with other dedicated adults.
Transition to Self Sufficiency
The definition of self-sufficiency for a youth who lives in Indian Country differs from a youth that lives in the city. Services delivered by the home-based therapists include access to cultural, educational and vocational resources, assistance in establishing a safe home environment, and a wide array of living skills which range from budgeting and meal planning to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
17 Step Curriculum
Intermountain IL staff members have devised a 17 Step Curriculum that each teen works through with the assistance of his/her home-based therapist. The therapists provide group instruction in each community where more than one individual resides but usually work through the curriculum one-on-one. The skill training includes topics in education, employment, leisure skills, community skills, self care/daily routine and social interaction. Among the 50 points covered are such subjects as:
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Using a telephone and telephone book; - Using public transportation;
- Accessing community services;
- Shopping comparatively;
- Becoming financially literate and knowing how to open a checking account, balance a checkbook, obtain and use credit wisely;
- Shopping for and obtaining insurance;
- Searching for and obtaining employment, knowing how to read employment ads, fill out applications and interview for jobs;
- Knowing consumer rights;
- Seeking and obtaining housing; and
- Finding and maintaining positive leisure skills and hobbies.
As each Native youth has a different living situation, Individualized markers and goals are attended to, as well. These might include knowing how to care for grandma, respecting what needs to be respected, balancing a checkbook, or knowing how to apply for college. Independence for Native American youth actually computes to interdependence or the ability to live in harmony with others, to lead and to support the leaders, to share responsibilities and help the community function as a whole. Indian youth have to learn skills that will serve them well in their own community and in the non-Native world, as well.
All of the program youth also participate in monthly group activities and field trips such as hiking in wilderness areas, attending concerts, holiday parties and tribal functions together. Youth representatives attend each State and National Conference for Foster Care youth, too, to share the knowledge and reinforcement that they gain by participating in the ILP.
Contact and Referral Information
Genevieve Young or Oscar Hokeah
Program Director
P. O. Box 1089
Santa Fe, NM 87504
Tel: (505) 986-8481
Fax: (505) 986-8491
Email: GenevieveY@ichd.net or OHokeah@ichd.net