Preventing Child Maltreatment in the U.S.: American Indian and Alaska Native Perspectives

This book is part of a concentrated series of books that examines child maltreatment across minoritized, cultural groups.Specifically, this volume addresses American Indian and Alaska Native populations. However, in an effort to contextualize the experiences of 574 federally recognized tribes and 50+ state recognized tribes, as well as villages, the authors focus on populations within rural and remote regions and discuss the experiences of some tribal communities throughout US history. It should be noted that established research has primarily drawn attention to the pervasive problems impacting Indigenous individuals, families, and communities. Aligned with an attempt to adhere to a decolonizing praxis, the authors share information in a strength-based framework for the Indigenous communities discussed within the text. The authors review federally funded programs (prevention, intervention, and treatment) that have been adapted for tribal communities (e.g., Safecare) and include cultural teachings that address child maltreatment. The intention of this book is to inform researchers, practitioners, policy makers, and advocates about the current state of child maltreatment from an Indigenous perspective.

Table of Contents:
Foreword Introduction 1 Understanding American Indian and Alaska Native Families from the Precolonial and Contemporary Context 2 Systemic, Institutional, and Historical Implications of Child Maltreatment 3 Protective and Risk Factors 4 Current Policies and Laws Impacting Native Children, Adolescents, and Women 5 Child Maltreatment Best Practices: Implications for Native Children 6 Contemporary Cultural and Ethical Issues in Child Maltreatment 7 Bringing It All Together: Not about Us without Us Recommended Readings and Resources References Index

About the Author :
ROYLEEN J. ROSS is tribally enrolled at the Pueblo of Laguna in New Mexico. She is employed as a cultural psychologist at a regional southwest tribal organization. Ross has coauthored book chapters on American Indian and Alaska Native health equity and cognitive behavior therapy for depression with American Indians. She is involved in other projects related to the intersectionality between mental health and law enforcement in Indian Country, attributed in part to her former career experience as an FBI Agent and New Mexico State Policeman. JULII M. GREEN (African American & Eastern Band Cherokee) is an associate professor in the clinical psychology PsyD department at CSPP/AIU-San Diego. Green is also a therapist focusing on ethnically diverse clients, navigating systemic racism, and mental health concerns. Additionally, she serves on department, local, and national psychological committees addressing equity, diversity, inclusion, sexism, and systemic racism. MILTON A. FUENTES is a professor of psychology at Montclair State University in New Jersey and a licensed psychologist in New Jersey and New York. His scholarship focuses on equity, diversity and inclusion and he has authored several peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and books in this area. Fuentes also co-authored a manual with Julia Silva for facilitators of the ACT Raising Safe Kids Program, an international parenting program housed at the American Psychological Association.

Review :
"A thoughtful read on the history of child maltreatment. Origin stories are important, and this book presents a native perspective that shifts the questions of how, what, and why from individual families to the broader perspective of nation building that degraded and, in many ways, eliminated support networks and destroyed tribal identity for many children. This book clearly illustrates these heartbreaking outcomes while also giving hope by restoring the origin stories of identity and reclaiming lost children."— Dolores Subia BigFoot, Presidential Professor and Director of the Indian Country Child Trauma Center at the University of O "This book by Royleen Ross, Julii Green, and Milton Fuentes is essential reading for anyone interested in the prevention of child maltreatment in American Indian/Alaska Native communities. The stories in this book highlight the loving, rich history of these communities and how they care for and protect their children today."— Marlyn Bennett, co-editor of Imagining Child Welfare in the Spirit of Reconciliation: Voices from the Prairies