8:15 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Anoka Foyer Area, Level 1

Registration

9:15–10:00 a.m.
Anoka Meeting Rooms, Level 1

Welcome and Opening Blessing

Introductions by Denise Edwards, blessing from a tribal elder, and an opening welcome from Clarence H. Carter.

• Clarence H. Carter, Director, Office of Family Assistance (OFA)
• Denise Edwards, Branch Chief, Division of Tribal TANF Management, OFA

10:00–10:15 a.m.

Technical Assistance Highlight Session: Case Management Bootcamp

• Stanley Koutstaal, Division Director, Tribal TANF Management and Regional Operations, OFA (Moderator)

10:15–10:30 a.m.

Break

10:30–11:45 a.m.
Anoka Meeting Rooms, Level 1

Addressing the Needs of Non-Custodial Parents in Tribal TANF Families

Compared to children raised in two-parent families, children raised by a single parent are more likely to be poor and have exposure to negative circumstances. Risk factors associated with living in poverty can be reduced if children have strong family bonds. Research suggests that children benefit from positive relationships with both parents, even if they do not share the same residence. In this plenary, participants will hear from the Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE), the Office of Family Assistance, and the National Resource Center for Healthy Marriage and Families. They will address the needs of non-custodial parents, how Tribal TANF and OCSE can collaborate to respond to those needs, and the supports eligible under TANF.

• Stanley Koutstaal, Division Director, Tribal TANF Management and Regional Operations, OFA
• Lisa White, Region VIII Program Specialist, Office of Child Support Enforcement, Administration for Children and Families (ACF)
• Robyn Cenizal, Project Director, National Resource Center for Healthy Marriage and Families, ICF

11:45 a.m.–1:30 p.m.

Lunch On Your Own

1:30–2:45 p.m.
Anoka Meeting Rooms, Level 1

Concurrent Session: Promoting Workforce Strategies for Reintegrating Ex-Offenders

Approximately 20,000 Native American ex-offenders leave prison every year. Many encounter a variety of difficulties as they work to reintegrate back into society. Among the most challenging is gaining employment and achieving earnings to live self-sufficiently. This session will highlight the collaborative efforts of two Oklahoma Tribes – Muscogee Creek Nation and Cherokee Nation – as they work with clients released from prison to stabilize their immediate basic needs and work with agencies like TANF and NEW to support long-term educational and workforce goals. The speakers will also highlight best practices for collaboration between TANF/NEW, Tribal Justice, and other reintegration programs.

• Daryl Legg, Director, Economic Development/Re-Entry, Cherokee Nation Career Services
• Tony Fish, Manager, Reintegration Program, Muscogee Creek Nation
• Larry McDowell, Region VI Program Manager, ACF (Moderator)

1:30–2:45 p.m.
Chaska Meeting Rooms, Level 3

Concurrent Session: Are Barriers Really Obstacles that can be Overcome?

The session will explore different ways to find out if it is truly a "barrier" or if it is just an "obstacle" standing in the way of success. There are different "obstacles" in the way of success that we can overcome. We are reaching to find solutions for dealing with everyday challenges and ways to motivate ourselves for the harder-to-reach participants. The goal of this session is to find alternative and creative ways of dealing with unique situations that occur with our participants. You should walk away from this session with new tools and techniques to help you manage casework challenges with a renewed sense of motivation.

• Gina Bundy, Case Manager at Citizen Potawatomi Nation in Oklahoma, Workforce and Social Services Department
• Melissa Duis, Region IV Program Specialist, ACF (Moderator)

2:45–3:00 p.m.

Break

3:00–4:30 p.m.
Anoka Meeting Rooms, Level 1
Chaska Meeting Rooms, Level 3

Regional Breakout Meetings
Regions IV–VI
Regions VII–VIII

4:30 p.m.

Adjourn for the Day

8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Anoka Foyer Area, Level 1

Registration

8:45–9:00 a.m.
Anoka Meeting Rooms, Level 1

Recap from Day One

• Stanley Koutstaal, Division Director, Tribal TANF Management and Regional Operations, OFA

9:00–11:00 a.m.

Good for Business: Making the Case for Employer Engagement

This interactive, 2-hour workshop provides an opportunity for organizations to take an inventory of the employment services they provide, and to articulate how those services address an employer’s workforce needs. Participants will develop talking points using simple business language to best describe their program’s value to a potential employer partner. Participants will practice their "employer pitch" with colleagues in a supportive small group format and receive constructive feedback to use in building their employer network.

• Judith Lorei, Workforce Consultant
• Kisha Russell, Region VIII Program Manager, ACF (Moderator)

11:00–11:20 a.m.

Break

11:20 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Anoka Meeting Rooms, Level 1

Leadership and Employment Opportunities for Low-Income and At-Risk Youth

Cookie Cart is a youth development and employment training program, as well as a social enterprise. The organization is well known for its unique model of teaching life, leadership, and employment skills to at-risk teens. In this session, Matt Halley will discuss opportunities for innovation through the lens of Cookie Cart’s 30-year history and invite you to bring your innovative ideas to life in your community.

• Matt Halley, Executive Director, Cookie Cart
• Gary Allen, Region VII Program Manager, ACF (Moderator)

12:20–12:40 p.m.

Closing Remarks, Blessing, and Cultural Exchange

• Denise Edwards, Branch Chief, Division of Tribal TANF Management, OFA

12:40 p.m.

Adjournment

12:40–1:30 p.m.

Lunch On Your Own (for Joint Tribal and State Regional Breakout Sessions participants)

1:30–3:00 p.m.
Chaska Meeting Rooms, Level 3

Joint Tribal and State Regional Breakout Sessions