Native Dads Network

NDN PROVIDES PSYCHOEDUCATION COURSES, COUNSELING, ADVOCACY SUPPORT, COMMUNITY EVENTS AND CONFERENCES TO INDIGENOUS / NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITIES LIVING IN CALIFORNIA. NDN TRAINED STAFF PROVIDE CULTURALLY CENTERED SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION AND WELLNESS CURRICULA FOR NATIVE ADULTS AND YOUTH INCLUDING: RED ROAD APPROACHES; SONS & DAUGHTERS OF TRADITION; MENDING BROKEN HEARTS; MOTHERHOOD AND FATHERHOOD IS SACRED; ADDRESSING FAMILY VIOLENCE; AND LINKING GENERATIONS BY STRENGTHENING RELATIONSHIPS. STAFF HAVE ALL FACED DISPARITIES HISTORICALLY, SOCIALLY, AND ECONOMICALLY, AND ARE DEDICATED TO CREATING POSITIVE CHANGE THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE, WELL-COORDINATED, AND CULTURALLY SENSITIVE SERVICES. NDN HAS ASSISTED PARTICIPANTS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES TO ADDRESS AND OVERCOME DISTURBING CHALLENGES INTERFERING WITH THEIR OPTIMAL WELL-BEING. THESE CHALLENGES INCLUDE: LOW LEVELS OF EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT, POVERTY, UNEMPLOYMENT AND HOMELESSNESS, SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE AND TEEN PREGNANCY, INTIMATE PAR

PROVIDED RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES (NATIVE ALCOHOL-DRUG FREE SOFTBALL), CONFERENCES (ADDRESSING HISTORICAL TRAUMA, STIGMAS, MENTAL ILLNESS, AND RESILIENCE), WEEKLY SUPPORTIVE EDUCATIONAL GROUPS (FATHERHOOD/MOTHERHOOD IS SACRED) AND ANNUAL MENS GATHERINGS. DELIVERED OUTREACH AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AT RESERVATIONS THROUGHOUT NORTHERN CALIFORNIA TO INCREASE ACCESS TO AND UNDERSTANDING OF NARCAN, IN RESPONSE TO HIGH RATES OF FENTANYL OVERDOSE. HOSTED THE BOYS WITH BRAIDS CONFERENCE. THE CONFERENCE ADDRESSED THE RACIST HARASSMENT FACED BY NATIVE BOYS AND IT EDUCATES NATIVE AND NON-NATIVE YOUTH ON THE HISTORY, MEANINGS AND CARE OF LONG HAIR. THE CONFERENCE ALSO INCLUDES WORKSHOPS ON SUICIDE, ADDICTION, AND HISTORICAL TRAUMA, AS WELL AS ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN. RAN A YOUTH COUNCIL, SAC UNITED NATIVES, THAT INCLUDES BOYS AND GIRLS. THE COUNCIL IS DESIGNED TO DEVELOP LEADERSHIP, INCREASE YOUTH REPRESENTATION, AND ADVISE NCN ON YOUTH PROGRAMMING. PROVIDED WEEKLY SUPPORTIVE EDUCATIONAL GROUPS FOR GIRLS WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. NSC EMPHASIZES CULTURAL EMPOWERMENT, RISK REDUCTION, AND SOCIAL SUPPORT. WEEKLY TALKING CIRCLES ARE THE CENTERPIECE OF THE PROGRAM, BASED ON THE RED ROAD SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION CURRICULUM. USING A HARM REDUCTION APPROACH, NSC ADDRESSES ISSUES THAT NATIVE GIRLS FACE, INCLUDING SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND SEXUAL OBJECTIFICATION.