OKMULGEE, Okla. – The Muscogee (Creek) Nation Certification Placement Recruitment and Training department is painting the reservation teal by handing out ribbons, t-shirts and most importantly, informational materials for Mvskoke citizens to learn about what it takes to become a foster resource parent. May marks Foster Care Awareness Month, which the department dedicates to spreading awareness for the training services they provide for the community. Teal is the color commonly associated with spreading awareness for children who are in need of a foster family to provide them with a loving, safe home. According to CPRT, there are 347 Mvskoke children currently in the foster care system.
“It takes a tribe to raise a child,” can be found on T-shirts, table covers and in presentations at events hosted by the MCN CPRT. During Foster Awareness Month the department sets up at several different clinics and locations across the reservation.
To kick off Foster Awareness Month on May 2, CPRT erected a pop-up teal ribbon pledge wall at the Community & Human Services building. The wall served as a visual reminder of the reason why the Tribe fights to provide as many resource homes as it can for Mvskoke children in the foster care system.
On May 13, the department provided an in-service training for MCN employees interested in becoming resource parents. On May 15, the department hosted The Reading Tree at the Council House. The family-friendly event allowed children to attend and listen to a Mvskoke story.
CPRT Relative Care Program Case Worker Maranda Ward (Cherokee) knows that in order for an individual or couple to open their home to a child, it takes a lot of love, grace and understanding. Her job is to find those parents who believe that they are up to the challenge of caring for children who are in need of a safe, secure home.
“It takes a big heart, someone that’s willing to care for the children, to understand it’s not the children’s fault that they are in the situation that they are in, to provide a loving and safe home for them,” Ward said. “Someone that’s understanding that kids come with trauma. Someone that has space in their home to take on additional children.”
According to CPRT, applicants are screened to make sure children are put in a secure household. In order to become certified as a foster parent through MCN, applicants must be 21 years of age, they must be an enrolled Mvskoke citizen or from another federally-recognized Tribal nation, and they must be able to pass a background check. Applicants must be financially independent and physically able to take care of a child. Once an application is complete, CPRT will conduct a home inspection to make sure it is suitable for a foster child to live in. A total of 27 hours of preservice training must be completed during the application process.
CPRT will then conduct a home study on the parent. This involves asking personal questions regarding how they were raised, family members, schools attended, and personal hobbies. If an applicant is approved to become a foster parent they are designated a resource number and can begin taking in foster children in their home. Once a year foster parents must complete a six hour recertification training.
According to CPRT, the National Council passed an incentive initiative for the program in June 2022 that financially encourages foster families based on how long they have been fostering children. The rate for the incentive initiative is $100 per year that a family has been certified through the program.
When asked about misconceptions some people may have with the foster care system, Ward said one is that older children over 10 years of age are harder to foster than younger children. According to Ward, these children need consistency just as much as younger children.
“The misconception is that they’re bad children, that they’re going to be threatening, or have behaviors that are not suitable to be around their (foster parents) biological children,” Ward said. “That is not the case. A lot of these kids are really good kids that need a safe home to be in.”
The next CPRT pop-up booths will appear at the Eufaula and Okemah Health Clinics from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. on Tuesday, May 20. On Thursday, May 22 the pop up booths will appear at the Checotah and Koweta Health Clinics from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. Friday May 23 is wear teal day where supporters are encouraged to wear teal clothing. The last pop up booth will appear at Council Oak Hospital on May 28 from 10 a.m until 12 p.m.
For those interested in becoming a foster parent for a Mvskoke child, call the main office number at 918-732-7869, or contact by email at mcnfamily411@muscogeenation.com.
