Protecting Our Children Conference

National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA) hosts the largest national gathering on Native child advocacy issues. With over 2,000 attendees, this three-day conference is the premier national event addressing Tribal child welfare and well-being.

On Monday, March 30 at 1:30pm CST, Tahnee Poafpybitty & Roxy Sprowl  will be presenting — alongside Anita Horner from Casey Family Programs — Building Communities of Hope: A Training Guide to Bridge Lived Experience with Practice.

This workshop explores how culturally grounded leadership and resilience mechanisms support the well-being of Native youth in foster care. Participants will learn about CNAY’s co-created Native Foster Youth Well-Being curriculum, which transforms lived experience into advocacy and systemic change. Through discussion, reflection, youth-led insights, storytelling and a brief cultural activity, we will examine how culture, identity and good medicine can strengthen resilience and leadership. This session highlights how centering Native lived experience experts creates pathways for child welfare systems reforms to promote the advancement of Indian child welfare and culturally rooted wellness across communities.