Lac du Flambeau Family Circles AODA Traditional Parenting Program

Coalitions That Adopted

Healthier Community Action Team (HCAT) – Lac du Flambeau Tribal Community

Strategy Type

Community-based

Strategy Goal

To reduce the rate of alcohol and drug abuse within families through instruction and practice of Ojibwe Indian culture, language, values and lifestyles; assist individuals and families in discovering and strengthening their cultural identities; and develop holistic community wellness through the teachings and practice of traditional Ojibwe philosophies.

Intended Population

Families on the Ojibwe Indian Reservation.

Strategy Background

The Lac du Flambeau Family Circles alcohol and other drug abuse (AODA) Prevention Program is a culturally relevant method of teaching healthy lifestyles for Indian families. The program was developed out of a need identified by Indian families for AODA information that is culturally relevant to its people.

Woodland Style Dancers The Lac du Flambeau tribe believes that traditional culture offers healthy alternatives to otherwise unhealthy acculturated behavior, ideals, values, morals, and knowledge. Indian people have been exposed to years of acculturation that have left in its wake a damaged cultural self-esteem and self-concept, as well as feelings of apathy and helplessness. Historic and generational trauma experienced by American Indian and Alaska Native communities further produces symptoms of loss, grief, lowered identity formation and role confusion, increasing vulnerability to alcohol abuse.

The way Indian families act in their relationships is directly related to self-perceptions, values, self-esteem and self-awareness. Understanding that changing these feelings and behaviors involves changing oneself, the curriculum used by the coalition is two-fold in nature:

AODA prevention
Increase self-awareness and self-esteem through cultural awareness

Its emphasis is on nurturing oneself, one's family members, and one's community with the ultimate goal of preventing alcohol and other drug abuse. Further the program seeks to make life easier and happier for all family members by providing them with the opportunity to learn how to replace old, problematic ways of interacting with the nurturing ways of traditional Ojibwe culture.

The project is centered around three interconnected focus points designed to strengthen families through cultural immersion training, improve inter-organizational collaboration, and increase overall community awareness about substance use and abuse. At the heart of each strategy, lies the concept of TEK: “Traditional Ecological Knowledge,” or knowing what works.

As Ojibwe tribal elders have said, "We are in the seventh generation of Ashki Anishinaabe (new people)." Therefore, the tribe believes it is up to them to make the change – no matter how difficult or painful – in order to grow. In order to choose a healthy future for the community’s children and generations beyond, the tribe understands they must face the pain of making choices and avoid letting others make the choices for them.

In spite of all the problems Indian families have endured through history, there is still a strong family allegiance, which is the basis for the program, as it seeks to build upon this basic family strength. True family strength lies in cultural heritage, and it is through this culture that the Lac du Flambeau tribe fulfills their part in the name of the creator, Gitchi Manido.

Videos About the Family Circles Program

Family Circles Statistics

100%

of Family Circles participants believe their Native culture and beliefs are important in combating substance abuse

62%

of Lac du Flambeau residents believe that participating in traditional cultural practices is necessary for healing and protection against substance abuse

17%

growth in the number knowing the values of the Tribal Nation where they live

Strategy: Training Facilitators

After completing 48 hours of Facilitator Training, participants in Family Circles will conduct and/or assist with no less than two Parenting sessions during the fall and two Parenting sessions during the spring. The training will provide experiences and information that will assist the trainee with techniques to become a Program Facilitator, including the following:

all

Participate in Circle Discussions

Trainees will participate in circle discussions and practice ways in which the circle is used to teach, facilitate, restore peace, share history and enhance a healing environment.

Practice Presentations

After reviewing the curriculum materials, facilitators will practice effective methods to present the information to participants of the program.

Review Training Materials

Trainees will review the training materials and practice ways to present the program curriculum.

Create Resource List

Trainees will develop a list of resources to assist them with presenting the curriculum.

Create Personal Resource List

Trainees will develop a list of resource people to assist them with presenting the curriculum.

Present Practice Session

Trainees will present a five-minute practice session at the end of the training session.

Complete Evaluation

Trainees will complete an evaluation of the training session.

Strategy: Provide Program Structure

In order to successfully implement Family Circles, HCAT has listed the following core components as a guide to provide the program structure. While these items were key to the coalition’s success in the Lac du Flambeau tribal community, you should consider what changes might be necessary based on the needs and behavioral health environment of your own tribe.

HCAT Community Engagement Presentation_Family Circles

all

Components of the Program Structure

Monthly Coalition Meetings to Advise Project Activities
Multi-Sector Strategic Planning
Community Resource and Agency/Organization Mapping
- HCAT Organizational Map (PDF)
Human Subjects Protection Training and Certification
Intensive Cultural Immersion Curriculum Planning and Facilitator Training
- Facilitator Training Agenda (PDF)
Design of Participant Agreements
- Family Circles Participant Agreement (PDF)
Tribal Council Presentations and Project Updates
Established Evaluation, Community Engagement and Policy Workgroups
Preparation of the Family Circles (Cultural Immersion) Training Manual
- Training Manual Summary Compilation (PDF)
Pre-and-Post-Test Family Circles Evaluation
- Pre-Test Evaluation Survey (PDF)
- Post-Test Evaluation Survey (PDF)
Community Engagement Participant Baseline Survey Followed by Annual Surveys
Community Awareness Campaign:
- Key informant interviews with Tribal officials and community leaders to assess baseline knowledge, attitudes and behaviors
- Impact Tribal official’s decisions to support and sustain resources to address substance use/abuse
- Impact the community norm through policy, systems and environmental change
- Increase community knowledge of physiologic, psychological, social and spiritual risks of substance use/abuse

Family Circle Trainers

Dr. Alton Sonny Smart, FC Master Teacher, Professor, UW Stevens Point, Tribal Judge, Bad River Tribal Court, Vietnam Era Veteran
Mobile: (715) 573-7960 | ssmart@uwsp.edu

Ernie St. Germaine, FC Master Teacher, Tribal Judge, retired, Educator, retired
Mobile: (715) 892-5199 | birkie.founder3@gmail.com

Melissa Doud, Cultural Competencies Teacher, WI. Veterans Liason, Educator, U.S. Army retired
Mobile: (715) 892-3683 | mdoud47@yahoo.com

Dr. Brian Jackson, FC Trainer, Teacher Assistant Professor, Medical College of Wisconsin
Mobile: (715) 614-1194 | brjackson@mcw.edu

Elder Doreen Wawronowicz, CEO, Waaswaganing Indigenous Institute Teaching Learning
kamewin@gmail.com

Family Circles Statistics

38%

growth in the number who try to follow the values of the Tribal Nation where they live

18%

increase in the number who believe their own Native language is important

10%

increase in the number who believe their Native culture and beliefs are important in combating substance abuse

Family Circles facilitators reported the following observations:

Participant’s increased ability to speak heartfelt, personal stories and life experiences
Increased open, honest self-reflective conversations among participants about their lives, pain and community losses
Increased cohesion and connecting with each other, culture, community and children
Participants felt included and accepted
Enjoyed language sessions expressing hope for future generations

Ability to set goals and accomplished
Growth, courage and resilience
Didn’t want the program to end; initiated a “women’s group and several proceeded to attend Family Circles facilitator training
“Community momentum is about being consistent and intentional to provide experiences to grow, and mentoring more families and providers into the circle of care.” - Brian Jackson, Project Director

Highlights/Honorings

Original Curriculum Developers: Ernie St. Germaine & Dr. Alton “Sonny” Smart still at the core of serving as a resource.
Development of Family Circles Facilitator Training Program certified by Elders and Supported by Lac Du Flambeau Tribe.
Public Service Announcement
History of Family Circles
Family Circles’ 24 week project for parent group curriculum has sustained seven years of programming
- Each session incorporates mindfulness and reinforces several words or phrases in each session:
  - When the mind is ready, teachers or teachings will appear
  - When the community is ready, teachers and teachings will appear
  - All Anishinabe (or human beings) want to be understood and appreciated
- Staff time, work hours and expertise have successfully been leveraged to extend project impact through partnerships with tribal council and other tribal programs. These groups foster connections that bring facilitators and participants into Family Circles, growing the confidence in the project’s sustainability over the ongoing journey.
- Community attitude is shifting to a more compassionate, less punitive approach to families struggling with substance abuse/use.
- The project is moving forward to credibly authenticate Family Circles as a best practice in preparation to disseminate widely among American Indian/Alaska Native communities.