Thursday, September 19, 2024

 

7:00am – 8:00am

Registration / Check-In

Room Location: Phoenix Front Foyer

 

7:30am – 8:15am

Morning Wellness

Room Location: Valley Overlook

 

8:30am – 9:45am

Opening

Room Location: Phoenix Ballroom C

• Welcome Remarks

 

Plenary

Reflections from former Wellness Court Judge on the Tribal Healing to Wellness Court Movement (PowerPoint PDF)

Room Location: Phoenix Ballroom C

• Gary E LaRance, former Chief Judge of the Hopi Tribal Courts and Juvenile Healing to Wellness Court Judge for the Hopi Youth Wellness Court

Plenary Description: Reflections on the Tribal Healing to Wellness Court Movement and Development of the Hopi Youth Wellness Court and Bishop Paiute Drug Court.

 

9:45am – 10:00am

Break (On your own – no federal funds used for food or beverage)

 

10:00am – 11:15am

1st  Breakout – Sessions D

 

D1 - Adult Healing to Wellness Courts

Thriving as a Human Being: Tools to Better Connect with Ourselves and Serving Our Communities (PowerPoint PDF)

Room Location: Desert Sky

• Victor Reyes, District Judge, (Ret.) 10th Judicial, Colorado, Mahakaruna Holistic Foundation

Session Description: Judge Victor Reyes has spent 7 years facilitating a Yoga and a Domestic Violence survivor's group at the Colorado Department of Corrections La Vista Women's Correctional Facility in Pueblo, Colorado. He has also led sessions in mindful practices at every facility located at Federal Correctional Center- Florence run by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Although the members of the groups have changed over the years, there are constant themes related to trauma and disconnection between body and spirit that have arisen, the awareness of which may assist community and systems members in having a better understanding of why people may act or think in a certain way.

 

D2 - Role Specific to Healing to Wellness Courts

Reclaiming Indigenous Justice: Mentor Court Roundtable (PowerPoint PDF)

Room Location: Phoenix Ballroom C

• Bernalillo County’s Metropolitan Court Urban Native American Healing to Wellness Program

• Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians Tribal Court

• Tulalip Tribal Court

• Alyssa Harrold, Tribal Wellness Court Specialist, Tribal Law and Policy Institute

Session Description: The Mentor Court Roundtable will feature a storytelling facilitation process to highlight the innovative strategies and foundational cultural principles of Mentor Court Healing to Wellness Programs, aimed at reclaiming Indigenous Justice. Moderated by Tribal Law and Policy Institute staff member Alyssa Harrold, the session will highlight experiences and strategies from Mentor Courts, including the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Tulalip, and Bernalillo County’s Metropolitan Court Urban Native American Healing to Wellness Program. Participants will engage in peer-to-peer learning, exploring best practices within a culturally appropriate framework.

 

D3 - Family/Veterans Healing to Wellness Courts

Why Values Matter: Using the Collaborative Values Inventory to Improve Services for Families (PowerPoint PDF)

Room Location: Camelback

• Will Blakeley, Program Associate, Center for Children and Family Futures

• Ashay Shah, Senior Program Associate, Center Children and Family Futures

Session Description: The subject of how substance use, and mental health disorder affects a person’s ability to parent is value laden. Different people bring vastly different outlooks and perspectives to this issue based on factors like professional training and experience, personal background, and the philosophy of the agency or organization in which they are employed. These differing perspectives can create barriers to working together, and all too often, collaborative teams carry out their work without discussing these differences.  The Center for Children and Family Futures and the Tribal Law and Policy Institute developed the Indian Country Collaborative Values Inventory (IC-CVI) to help teams overcome these barriers. The IC-CVI assesses differences in culture, values and worldview, communication styles, and understandings about family and community. This session will describe the IC-CVI, provide specific examples of how the tool has been used, and give attendees an opportunity to use the tool live.

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D4 - Juvenile Healing to Wellness Courts

Native Adolescent Development and the Implications for Juvenile Healing to Wellness Courts and Programs (PowerPoint PDF)

Room Location: Maryvale

• Erin Thin Elk, Tribal Juvenile Healing to Wellness Court TA Specialist, Tribal Youth Resource Center, Tribal Law and Policy Institute

• Ashley Anderson, Juvenile Healing to Wellness Court T/TA Specialist, Tribal Youth Resource Center, Tribal Law and Policy Institute

Session Description: This presentation will cover the topic of adolescent brain development and its influence on adolescent decision-making processes. The presenters seek to empower Tribes/Tribal Courts/communities and families to implement trauma-informed practices and to tailor effective services. Juvenile Healing two Wellness Courts and Programs play a critical role in nurturing positive youth development. By recognizing the significance of adolescent brain development and its influence on decision making, interventions can better support youth in navigating challenges and building resilience.

 

11:15am – 11:30am

Break (On your own – no federal funds used for food or beverage)

 

11:30 am – 12:45pm

2nd Breakout – Sessions E

 

E1 - Adult Healing to Wellness Courts

Healing to Wellness Roadmap; A Start to Finish Overview (PowerPoint PDF)

Room Location: Phoenix Ballroom C

• Peter Boome, Associate Judge, Tulalip Tribal Court

• Christine Frausto, Associate Judge, Tulalip Tribal Court

Session Description: This session will guide attendees through a Wellness Court case, from initial referral to successful graduation. The presenters will navigate attendees through each step, offering invaluable insights and guidance along the way, as well as share checklists, forms, and participant handbook.

 

E2 - Role Specific to Healing to Wellness Courts

BJA Listening Session (PowerPoint PDF)

Room Location: Desert Sky

• Presenter TBD

Session Description: TBD.

 

E3 - Family/Veterans Healing to Wellness Courts

Meeting the Needs of Native Veterans – Facilitating Access to Veteran Affairs Services (PowerPoint PDF)

Room Location: Camelback

• Angella Bates, Veteran Justice Outreach Coordinator, Department of Veteran Affairs

• Ellyn Black, Veterans Justice Outreach Coordinator, Department of Veteran Affairs

• Kyla Lout, Veterans Justice Outreach Peer Specialist, Department of Veteran Affairs

Session Description: Native Americans serve in the U.S. Armed Services at a higher rate than any other group, and a 2016 VA (Veterans Affairs) tribal consultation identified treatment for PTSD and mental health as a top priority for Native American Veterans in their communities. Both Native Veterans and Justice Involved Veterans were identified as “heavily impacted groups” in Veteran Affairs’ 2023 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report.  Additionally, most Veterans who died by suicide in 2021 did not receive VA services in the two years prior. This presentation will provide an overview of VA’s services for Veterans and will highlight partnerships providing direct services to Native Veterans. This presentation will also provide an in-depth overview of Veterans Justice Programs (VJP). This session will provide an overview to tribal courts of assistance available through Veterans Justice Outreach and will also facilitate a conversation about needs of justice involved Veterans in tribal and Veterans courts – and how VA can best partner with communities to meet those needs.

 

E4 - Juvenile Healing to Wellness Courts

Developing an Assessment Tool for Juvenile Healing to Wellness (JHW) Courts that is Trauma Informed (PowerPoint PDF)

Room Location: Maryvale

• Erin Thin Elk, Tribal Juvenile Healing to Wellness Court TA Specialist, Tribal Youth Resource Center, Tribal Law and Policy Institute

• Pat Sekaquaptewa, Juvenile Healing to Wellness Court T/TA Manager, Tribal Youth Resource Center, Tribal Law and Policy Institute

• Amy Foster Wolferman, M.Ed., Director of School-Based Training and Technical Assistance, National Native Children’s Trauma Center

• Kara Pasqua, MLS, Training and Technical Assistance Specialist, National Native Children’s Trauma Center

Session Description: This session will overview the work to develop a self-assessment tool for Juvenile Healing to Wellness (JHW) Courts and Programs to use in assessing and restructuring their approaches and processes to ensure that they are trauma informed. The presenters will use SAMHSA’s “Six Guiding Principles to a Trauma-informed Approach,” and the “Ten Domains” to explore this topic.

 

12:45pm – 2:15pm

Lunch (On your own – no federal funds used for food or beverage)

 

2:15pm – 3:30pm

3rd Breakout – Sessions F

​

F1 - Adult Healing to Wellness Courts

Revisiting Phases (PowerPoint PDF)

Room Location: Camelback

• Carolyn Hardin, Chief of Training and Research, AllRise

Session Description: Treatment courts should have a clear phase structure that addresses participant needs in a manageable and effective sequence. Participants progress to the next phase when they have achieved specific, attainable goals necessary for them to accomplish more challenging long-term goals. This progression is separate from the participants' treatment plans and is not based on the level, dosage, or type of treatment they are receiving.

 

F2 - Role Specific to Healing to Wellness Courts

Returning to Hózhó: How Peacemakers Restore Harmony and Balance through the Navajo Peacemaking Program Part 1 (PowerPoint PDF)

Room Location: Phoenix Ballroom C

• Harry Begay, Traditional Program Specialist, Dzil Yijiin Peacemaking Program, Navajo Nation

• Anna Scott, Traditional Program Specialist, Dzil Yijiin Peacemaking Program, Navajo Nation

Session Description: Peacemaking is the Diné traditional method for solving problems between people. It uses the core principles of Traditional Diné Teachings as they were practiced long before the Long Walk - Hweeldi.  Navajo Fundamental Law, traditions, and culture are all brought into Peacemaking. The participants work with a Peacemaker or Traditional Program Specialist to discuss the problems or events. Participants restore Hózhó (harmony and balance) through talking it out and using traditional values, thinking about the impacts of the events on everyone involved, seeking forgiveness, and focusing on the well- being of their families, Clan, and the Diné community. This session will explore the philosophy, values, concepts, and framework of the Navajo Nation Peacemaking Program and their practices; and engage attendees in a discussion about how these practices are being implemented by the Navajo Nation. Participants will be able to participate in a mock peacemaking session and gain a hands-on understanding of the Navajo peacemaking process.

 

F3 - Family/Veterans Healing to Wellness Courts

Office Hours / BJA Listening Session (PowerPoint PDF)

Room Location: Desert Sky

• Presenter TBD

Session Description: TBD.

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F4 - Juvenile Healing to Wellness Courts

Breaking Down the Stigma around Medication Assisted Treatments (MAT) and Leveraging MATs to Support Native/Tribal Adolescents in their Recovery Journeys (PowerPoint PDF)

Room Location: Maryvale

• Dr. Anjali Nandi, Consultant, National Criminal Justice Training Center of Fox Valley Technical College

• Tribal MAT Program presenter, Spotted Bull Resource Recovery Center (Tentative)

Session Description: This session will provide an overview of opiate addiction, and the role of medication assisted treatments (MATs). The presenters will review recent research on effective treatment strategies for opioid addiction, with particular emphasis on adolescents. They will compare common myths and misconceptions about MATs. They will also review a specific tribal program model and their cultural approaches to MATs.

 

3:30pm – 3:45pm

Break (On your own – no federal funds used for food or beverage)

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3:45pm – 5:00pm

4th Breakout – Sessions G

 

G1 - Adult Healing to Wellness Courts

An Overview of the 2024 Census of Tribal Court Systems (PowerPoint PDF)

Room Location: Desert Sky

• Steven Perry, Statistician, Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice

Session Description: The Tribal Law and Order Act (TLOA) of 2010 required Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) to establish and implement a tribal rime data collection system. The Census of Tribal Court Systems (CTCS) is BJS first statistical collection to focus solely on tribal court systems operating in the United States. National Opinion Research Center (NORC) has partnered with the National American Indian Court Judges Association, international Association of Chiefs of Polices and the Tribal Law and Policy Institute to conduct the 2024 Census of Tribal Law Enforcement and 2024 Census of Tribal Court Systems (CTCS). The presentation is geared toward tribal leaders, court judges, clerks and administrators to include program support staff.

 

G2 - Role Specific to Healing to Wellness Courts

Returning to Hózhó: How Peacemakers Restore Harmony and Balance through the Navajo Peacemaking Program Part 2 (PowerPoint PDF)

Room Location: Phoenix Ballroom C

• Harry Begay, Traditional Program Specialist, Dzil Yijiin Peacemaking Program, Navajo Nation

• Anna Scott, Traditional Program Specialist, Dzil Yijiin Peacemaking Program, Navajo Nation

Session Description: Peacemaking is the Diné traditional method for solving problems between people. It uses the core principles of Traditional Diné Teachings as they were practiced long before the Long Walk - Hweeldi.  Navajo Fundamental Law, traditions, and culture are all brought into Peacemaking. The participants work with a Peacemaker or Traditional Program Specialist to discuss the problems or events. Participants restore Hózhó (harmony and balance) through talking it out and using traditional values, thinking about the impacts of the events on everyone involved, seeking forgiveness, and focusing on the well- being of their families, Clan, and the Diné community. This session will explore the philosophy, values, concepts, and framework of the Navajo Nation Peacemaking Program and their practices; and engage attendees in a discussion about how these practices are being implemented by the Navajo Nation. Participants will be able to participate in a mock peacemaking session and gain a hands-on understanding of the Navajo peacemaking process.

 

G3 - Family/Veterans Healing to Wellness Courts

Family Healing to Wellness Court Community of Practice: Peer to peer connection with colleagues serving families in their communities! (PowerPoint PDF)

Room Location: Desert Sky

• Will Blakeley, Program Associate, Center for Children and Family Futures

• Ashay Shah, Senior Program Associate, Center Children and Family Futures

• Kristina Pacheco, Tribal Healing to Wellness Court Specialist, Tribal Law and Policy Institute

Session Description: Join us for the first ever in-person Family Healing to Wellness Court (FHWC) Community of Practice (CoP)! In 2022, The Center for Children and Family Futures (CCFF) and The Tribal Law and Policy Institute (TLPI) started a monthly virtual gathering to promote cross-systems peer-to-peer learning by sharing knowledge, offering support through challenges, and brainstorming strategies. This session is perfect for any FHWC team member, a professional who serves families, or individuals interested in implementing a FHWC. Discussion topics will include celebrating successes of Tribes and Nations, a discussion of challenges and barriers, and specific strategies to infuse culture into FHWC practices and policies.

 

G4 - Juvenile Healing to Wellness Courts

Native/Tribal Adolescent Substance Use Trends (PowerPoint PDF)

Room Location: Maryvale

• Chris Cuestas, Law Enforcement and Gangs Consultant, Tribal Youth Resource Center, Tribal Law and Policy Institute

• Pat Sekaquaptewa, Juvenile Healing to Wellness Court TTA Manager, Tribal Law and Policy Institute

Session Description: This presentation will cover current adolescent drug use and abuse trends. The presenters will explore the contemporary terrain of what JHW Court and Program teams need to know to design and implement their JHW Courts and Programs.