[Fmhc] Fwd: Am. Indian Children in Foster care/termination of rights

[Michael Carbone]

Hello Coalition Members,

Please take a minute of your time and read the email below from Sandy Berlin
to the Moorhead Human Rights Commission. Sandy is right to be very concerned
about the wellbeing of Native American children in our community. *Please go
to the web address at the bottom of her email and look at the reports from
the Pew Charitable Trust. *We all agree that "family values" are important
to our community. We need to show our support for family values by *valuing
families--especially those at risk of being disolved due to poverty. *

Let us use this opportunity to begin a community-wide conversation about how
we can better serve Native American families who are struggling with issues
of housing, poverty, health care, education, chemical
dependancy, institutional racism, system dependence, and communtiy
prejudice.

*Please read the reports.*
**
Thank you and have a great day,




---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Sandra Berlin <sberlin at ideaone.net>
Date: Thu, Jun 19, 2008 at 1:41 PM
Subject: Am. Indian Children in Foster care/termination of rights
To: Mary John <mary.john30 at gmail.com>, hold0108 at umn.edu,
ms.prairierose at gmail.com, Dan Fremling <fremlid at fargo.k12.nd.us>, Donald
Martin <don.martin at fmambulance.com>, Jaclynn Davis Wallette <
jaclynn.wallette at ndsu.nodak.edu>, Ronald LaVerdure <MetisRon at aol.com>, Sam &
Liz Robertson <samandliz_50 at yahoo.com>, Scott Satermo <
scott at risingsunconst.com>, Sharon White Bear <sharon.whitebear at ndsu.edu>,
Willard Yellow Bird <wyellowbird at cityoffargo.com>, nativeguitarist at yahoo.com,
Anita Wilson <a.dumwil5 at gmail.com>, April S <fruitfulforhim at hotmail.com>,
Becky Molldrem <rmolldrem at jlgarchitects.com>, Bonita M <mzbon at hotmail.com>,
Dion Laffrty <smilesalot_44 at yahoo.com>, Eagleplume <eagleplume at 702.com.net>,
Jeff Borchert <shunka at live.com>, Joan Bachman <joan at bachmanconsulting.net>,
Kristen B <benais92583 at yahoo.com>, Lenora Yellow Bird <
Lenora.YellowBird at ndsu.edu>, Michael Carbone <directorfmchp at gmail.com>,
Nadine <grandnad_2005 at gomoorhead.com>, Orville Mandan <omandan at hotmail.com>,
Ramona Lincoln <rlincoln45 at yahoo.com>, "Roger Straw []" <waboose58 at yahoo.com>,
Serena Turner <prettyfeather at msn.com>, Tia Thomas <tthomas at lja-1.com>,
ajtraaseth at yahoo.com, Del Rae Williams <delraecpa at hotmail.com>, John Lee <
jlee at cord.edu>, Keith Zeh <kczeh at aol.com>, Paul Miller <paul at trinitymhd.org>,
Rich Zeck <pastorrwzeck at firstumcfargo.org>, Rick Foss <rick.foss at ecunet.org>,
Tiffany Sundeen <tsundeen at olivet.org>, Twila Evans <evanemu at tvutel.com>


 Dear Commissioners,



Most of you know, for a number of years, I have worked with the Native
American Christian Ministry, and with Native American Families and
Individuals who are or recently have been homeless.  My heart goes out to
the many Native American children that are homeless on any given night.



Not only, am I concerned about the health and well-being of our Native
American Children, there are too many currently in Foster care.



I am also concerned about the number of Native American parents who are
losing parental rights, because they are homeless, or live in poverty, and
unable to provide stable and adequate housing for their families.



Even though I am a daily witness to the over-representation of minorities
that are homeless on any given night, my heart still breaks when I see the
number of families that are being broken, every day in our courts and social
services.  Moms and dads - that are unable to provide for their families,
due to health, income or whatever the reason, too often, pay the ultimate
price for thier inability to meet the requirements of social services or
courts,  and have their parental rights taken away-permanently.



If we were to visit all the local group homes, juvenile systems, and foster
homes, we would find our children - on any given night.



I feel we, as a Native American Commission have the power to address and ask
questions to help find a way to help the parents in our court systems today,
(and before it gets this far), to ensure and secure our greatest assets, our
children - our future.



Prayerfully, I ask you to take a look at the following report/press release
& consider where or how we might fit in to support and strengthen our
families in our community.



American Indian Children Overrepresented in Nation's Foster Care System, New
Report Finds (Press Release Washington, DC. – 11-19-2007)



http://www.pewtrusts.org/our_work_detail.aspx?id=370



-- 
Michael Carbone
Executive Director
FM Coalition for Homeless Persons
P.O. Box 862
Moorhead MN 56561
701-364-2697 office
701-232-2590 fax


THE MISSION of the Fargo Moorhead Coalition for Homeless Persons is to
increase access to services for people facing homelessness and provide
homeless awareness, education and advocacy in the FM area.

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