bədaʔčəɬ

Mission: Provide a strong and healthy foundation, in the best interest of the child, to achieve an immediate and lasting positive change in their life.

In Lushootseed, the traditional language of Coastal Salish People, the word bədaʔčəɬ means, "our children". It is significant that this concept is depicted in a single word because, traditionally, children were considered to be sacred gifts to the entire community. The Tulalip Tribes bədaʔčəɬ program, formerly Indian Child Welfare, work creatively to design integrated services promoting family and cultural preservation, health and resiliency in its children and families.

bədaʔčəɬ has developed multiple programs for children and families, and it has established numerous agency partnerships both on the reservation and in the larger community.

Services Provided:

• Prevention work through Child Protective Services (CPS) to keep children and families together
• Ongoing case management for parents and youth in need of care
• Placement support services to link care givers to Tulalip resources
• Visitation for youth in need of care
• Guardianship social workers to connect families with services, cultural, and family
• Christmas event for caregivers, parents, and youth
• Family Preservation Services (FPS)
• Incredible Years (IY) In-Home program
• Positive Parenting Program (Triple P)
• Promoting First Relationships (PFR)
• SafeCare

Beda chelh holds a Family Team Decision Meeting to involve families in determining placement in the child's best interest. A background check must be completed and homes cleared before the youth is placed. A UA must only be provided if any drug/alcohol involvement shows on the background check or CPS history in the past five years. The court reviews dependency cases for permanent options one year from the date the case opened. Beda chelh co-investigates CPS cases with DCYF. Therefore we follow the State of Washington timelines for CPS involvement.

Report concerns for children by calling the CPS Intake line at 1-866-END-HARM.

We need more tribal placement homes for both long-term and emergency placement and homes to provide respite care for our Tulalip Youth In Need of Care so they can stay within our community.

If a youth needs to be placed in an out-of-home dependency, then beda?chelh follows a placement priority type to keep the youth within their family and community. Placement priority is found through:

• Relatives or person who qualifies as a relative (fictive kin= when parents request that their children remain with a relative of their choice)
• Tulalip Tribal member who is not a relative
• Other Native who lives within the boundaries of the Tulalip Reservation
• Non-Native home located within Tulalip Reservation boundaries
• Other Native located outside of Tulalip Reservation
• Non-Native located outside of Tulalip Reservation

When beda?chelh youth are set to turn 18 and age out of foster care, they become eligible for a voluntary program offered by the State of Washington called Extended Foster Care (EFC). This collaborative partnership between the Tribes and the State ensures youth aging out of foster care can transition to independence at their own pace. While this could look different for each youth, the idea is to help them successfully transition to independence and self-sufficiency.

Youth participating in EFC can choose to remain with their placement until age 21 or choose a different independent living option while continuing to receive support services that typically end when they turn 18. These services can help youth successfully transition to independence. Support services include:

• A monthly stipend to help with living expenses
• Support with placement options, such as Independent Living
• Transition planning support
• Accessing community resources
• Help to locate service providers and set up appointments
• Resume building and job searches

Eligibility Requirements: Clients are parents, children, and placements of Tulalip tribal members and other natives.