Tribe: Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin
§ 278-26 Netāēnawemākanak services (“all my relatives/family”). A. Provides a comprehensive, strength-based, youth- and family-driven way of responding when children, youth, and families experience challenges. The goal of Netāēnawemākanak services is to ensure families re-assume primary responsibility, with guidance from the Department, in regard to children’s safety and well-being to eliminate the need for Court intervention.
B.
Places the child or youth and family at the center of services and support. The family’s needs drive all of the work with support from a team of professionals and natural supports.
C.
The young person and their family members work with a facilitator to build their team, which can include the family’s friends, people from the wider community, and service providers.
D.
Families and their team members work together to put the plan into action, monitor how well it is working, and change it as needed.
E.
Designed to address crisis concerns and keep an individual child or adult in their home and community.
F.
While referrals are intended to eliminate the need for Court intervention, referrals do not prevent any mandatory or discretionary action under this chapter. Referrals do not preclude removal if reasonable grounds exist to believe that the child is a child in need of protection and services and removal is necessary. These referrals and family engagement are voluntary unless they are ordered by the Court. For children, juveniles, and families working under an informal disposition or consent decree, the referral is still voluntary but failing to work with Netāēnawemākanak may result in the termination of the informal disposition or consent decree and lead to Court-ordered services.
G.
The Department is required to refer every reported and substantiated case of child abuse, neglect or substantiated cases where the child is determined to need protection and services to Netāēnawemākanak services.
H.
The Department may refer families to Netāēnawemākanak services for:
(1)
Any allegation that is not assigned a preliminary assessment;
(2)
Cases involving family disputes or neglect where the child has not been removed from the home; or
(3)
Any other situation where the Department determines a referral is in the best interest of the family.
I.
Concerned family members and professionals and other Tribal Departments may refer any matter concerning a child’s welfare or well-being to Netāēnawemākanak services.
J.
A Court may refer a matter to Netāēnawemākanak services at any time after a petition is filed.