Vision Quest Trip for Native American Youth

About the Program

Category: Children and Youth (Best in Category)

Year: 2011

A young person leaving long-term foster care should be given the opportunity to transform their perspective on their identity and their culture. There needs to be a consistent understanding with workers, foster parents, and the native community. Too often, youth struggle and create crisis to see if anyone will listen. The goal is to acknowledge their struggle and provide opportunities for growth because of what they have experienced. It is the mission of the Hennepin County Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) unit to establish and promote the culture of Native American youth in foster care. It is with this understanding that the count holds a quarterly cultural or educational event provided consistently so youth and foster parents can attend together. It is called Vision Quest. Another outcome was the provision of a summer opportunity for Native youth to return to their reservation to explore their history, understand what resources exist in being enrolled with their tribe, complete the enrollment process, and experience a connection with elders and family with traditions within their culture.