bədaʔčəɬ

Mission:
Our mission is to provide children with a strong and healthy foundation, ensuring their best interests are met to achieve immediate and lasting positive changes in their lives.

About bədaʔčəɬ:
In Lushootseed, the traditional language of the Coastal Salish People, the word bədaʔčəɬ means "our children." This concept is significant because, traditionally, children were considered sacred gifts to the entire community. The Tulalip Tribes' bədaʔčəɬ program, formerly known as Indian Child Welfare, creatively designs integrated services that promote family and cultural preservation, health, and resiliency in children and families.

Our Programs and Services:
bədaʔčəɬ has developed multiple programs for children and families and established numerous agency partnerships both on the reservation and in the larger community.

Our services include:

• Prevention Work: Through Child Protective Services (CPS) to keep children and families together.
• Ongoing Case Management: For parents and youth in need of care.
• Placement Support Services: Linking caregivers to Tulalip resources.
• Visitation Services: For youth in need of care.
• Guardianship Social Workers: Connecting families with services, cultural, and family support.
• Special Events: Such as a Christmas event for caregivers, parents, and youth.

Placement Priorities:
If a youth needs to be placed in an out-of-home dependency, bədaʔčəɬ holds a Family Team Decision Meeting to involve families in determining the best placement for the child.

Our placement priorities are:

• Relatives or persons who qualify as relatives (fictive kin).
• Tulalip Tribal members who are not relatives.
• Other Natives living within the boundaries of the Tulalip Reservation.
• Non-Native homes located within Tulalip Reservation boundaries.
• Other Natives located outside of the Tulalip Reservation.
• Non-Natives located outside of the Tulalip Reservation.

Becoming a Foster Parent:
We need more tribal placement homes for both long-term and emergency placements and homes to provide respite care for our Tulalip Youth In Need of Care. Those wishing to provide placement must complete a background check and a home study before the youth is placed. For more information, please contact our office at 360-716-4047.

Extended Foster Care (EFC):
When bədaʔčəɬ youth turn 18 and age out of foster care, they become eligible for the Extended Foster Care (EFC) program offered by the State of Washington. This program helps youth transition to independence at their own pace, providing support services until age 21.

Services include:

• A monthly stipend for living expenses.
• Support with placement options, such as Independent Living.
• Transition planning support.
• Access to community resources.
• Assistance with locating service providers and setting up appointments.
• Resume building and job search support.

Reporting Concerns:
To report concerns of child abuse or neglect, call the CPS Intake line at 1-866-END-HARM.

Advocacy and Grievance Process:
bədaʔčəɬ has established a process for families with an open CPS case or current Youth In Need of Care dependency to express concerns about staff members or the CPS/YINC dependency process.

The bədaʔčəɬ Advocacy Committee works to protect and cultivate the best remedies for children in need of care. To schedule a meeting with the committee, complete the Release of Information form and submit it to advocacycommittee@tulaliptribes-nsn.gov.

Reports: