The Supreme Court deliberated a major decision Thursday, June 15, 2023, in the Haaland v. Brackeen case, affirming the constitutionality of the Indian Child Welfare Act by a 7-2 vote.

Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito were the two to vote against the act. 

The decision represents a HUGE victory for federal Indian law and tribes nationwide.

The goal of the ICW act of 1978_ was to keep Native children within tribes in adoption, custody, and foster care cases.

It was articulated to correct centuries of racism against Native Americans.

Three states challenged the act, along with a non-Native white couple seeking adoption. They sued stated that the law illegally gave preference to Native families but was outvoted by the Justices in majority.

Advocates, including President Biden, are celebrating this victory. They see it as a way to keep in place a vital protection for tribal sovereignty and Native children!

This significance reaffirms the protect that Native Americans were eluded to; Efforts by the Federal and State governments to take away children from Native American families to assimilate Native children, cut their hair, make them speak English, and distance the children from their traditions.

– By Delaware Nation Public Relations Officer Wesley Boone 6/16/2023

The following report was provided to Public Relations 4/18/2023:

It reads as followed:

“On October 1, 2022, the Consortium Against Substance Abuse (CASA) was awarded contract #HHS124620220010 by the Indian Health Service in the amount of $220,852. Provided is a list of budget line items and amounts. See attachment. This contract was awarded for the continuation of the substance abuse program that was established between the Consortium Against Substance Abuse and Indian ‘Health Services. This program operates as an outpatient facility, provides education and prevention activities for adults as well as for youth, aftercare and referral services to inpatient treatment providing transportation. Also works with the BIA CFR court, District Court of Caddo County, Anadarko City Court, Department of Human Services, ICW, D.A. Probation Office, Department of Correction Probation Officer’s, Caddo County Drug Court, and local law enforcement. CASA provided services primarily to four Native American Indian tribes Of Oklahoma: The Caddo Nation, The Apache Tribe, The Delaware Nation, and The Fort Sill Apache Apache, provides services to Native American Indian tribal The members who reside in Caddo County. Kiowa Tribe, Wichita Tribe, and Comanche Tribe provide services to their tribal members. These seven tribes comprise the Southwest Oklahoma Area. The Caddo Nation of Oklahoma became a member of the Consortium October 1, 2021. CASA is expanding our services for in the foreseeable future our program is planning to build a inpatient facility to provide services to our Native American Indian population in our service area.

The Scope of Work for the Consortium Against Substance Abuse program will collaborate with the seven tribes, individuals, families, schools, community groups, and other substance abuse. providers within the tribal service area to establish and conduct public information programming focused on cause, prevention, and treatment. 

The Program Director for the Consortium Against Substance Abuse is Ralph Poolaw, A.A, B.S., Certified Anger Resolution Therapist (CART), Certified Alcohol Drug Counselor (CADC); Administrative Assistant, Dana Edge, Counselor in Training (CIT) Native American Peer Recovery Specialist; David Barnes, B.S., CADC; Manuel Saldivar, Native American Addiction Specialist, CIT, AA degree; Donna Sadongei, AS, BS, MA, CIT, Native American Addiction Specialist, Candidate for License Alcohol Drug Counselor.

Ralph Poolaw, has been an employee for CASA for 27 years. Most of those years he was a counselor and at times was Acting Director and Director. He has completed numerous training and attended workshops relating to alcohol and other drugs, Oklahoma Drug and Alcohol Professional Counselor Association (ODAPCA). He is a member of the Caddo County Drug Court Team as a Treatment Provider Anadarko, Oklahoma since 2006. He is the facilitator for CASA Anger Management Program. He is a guest speaker for the Caddo County Victims Impact Panel.

Dana Edge has been. with CASA for two years. She is CASA Administrative Assistant providing clerical services to the program as well as assisting clients with their needs. Performs other duties such as special projects, transporting female clients to inpatient treatment, administer UA’s to female clients. Has attended various alcohol and drug conferences and certified as a Substance Abuse Subtle Screening, lnventory (SASSl-4) assessor. She has attended NARCA

training Wichita Tribe of Oklahoma, Assist Training, QPR training for suicide prevention. She is a Counselor In Training.

David Barnes was employed on June 21, 2021 as a alcohol and drug counselor with the credential as a Certified Alcohol Drug Counselor (CAPC). He has a Bachelor of Arts Degree. He has completed various confereh.pis and Workshops ODAPCA relating to alcohol and other drugs and completion of assessment tool Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory (SASSl-4). He has completed training in Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), and Safe Talk Training Suicide Prevention. David is a member of the Caddo County Drug Court Team as a Treatment Provider Anadarko, Oklahoma.

Manuel Saldivar was employed on March 23, 2021 with duties as alcohol and other drug counselor. He is a Counselor In Traini11g,a11d completed various conferences and workshops ODAPCA relating to substance abuse. His training includes the assessment tool Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory Certificate of Completion Applied Suicide. intervention Skills Training (ASIST), Tribal Opioid Response Narcan Training Wichita Tribe of Oklahoma; American Red Cross Training Services, Standard CPR/AED Certificate of Completion; National Health & Safety Association, member of NAADAC, The Association For Addiction Professional, and Native American Addiction Specialist. Also, Manuel is a Notary. He has an AA degree relating to behavioral health.

Donna Sadongei was employed on March 23, 2021 as an alcohol and other drug counselor. She has completed her graduate work in chemical dependency and received a Masters Degree. Ms. Sadongei is a License Alcohol and Drug Counselor Candidate (LADC). She has attended various workshops and conference through ODAPCA relating to alcohol and other drugs. She received a Certificate of Completion for assessment tool Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory (SASSl-4), Certificate of Completion for Tribal Opioid Response Narcan Training Wichita Tribe of Oklahoma.

The Consortium Against Substance Abuse (CASA) program provides the following services:

1. Prevention: (School Based) Drug Free Schools, Provide Drug and Alcohol prevention Services to local schools. Set IJP booths to distribute hand outs relating to alcohol and other drugs. 
2. Prevention (Community Based): Develop, coordinate and implement workshops, training session, and presentations. Set up booths to distribute hand outs relating to alcohol and other drugs.
3. Outreach Services: Provide prevention and intervention services to Native American Indians in our service area, high risk children, adolescents, adults, elders and network with other agencies.
4. Outpatient counseling: Provide counseling to individuals who do not enter an inpatient facility. lndividual Counseling that assists clients in exploring the problems that need resolving with alcohol and drug abuse. Finding alternative solution, decision making and changing inappropriate behaviors.
5. Referrals: Make referrals to other allied agencies such as Courts, Department of Human Services, Indian Child Welfare {ICW), Probation, inpatient facilities and provide transportation.
6. Assessments: Assessments to evaluate what extent substance abuse has affected major life areas such as physical health, vocational, social functioning, legal issues, and psychological health. CASA utilize the assessments tools: SASSI, Addiction Severity Index (ASI).
7. Follow-up and Aftercare: Aftercare enhances the needs and recovery process of CASA clients. An aftercare plan is developed with the client to meet the client’s recovery plan. Usually after inpatient treatment the client is encourage to participate in after care.

The Consortium Against Substance Abuse Program has provided the following services and activities to meet the needs of the lndian People under the provisions of this contract:

1. October 1, 2022 to April 1; 2023: The Consortium Against Substance Abuse provided a total of 751 services to the four tribes of the Consortium and other tribes located in Caddo County. The services provided were AA meetings, individual Counseling, assessments, transport, court visit, UA, referrals, jail visits, anger management total 462 contacts. Also, CASA provided noon sack lunch to the indigents of Anadarko and have available a cloths closet for clients and needy.
2. CASA collaborates services for self help/support group meetings within and other surrounding counties/communitles.
3. CASA collaborates services for cultural/spiritual healing for adults and youth for self support, prevention, and education for information booths at various functions is available.

CASA staff members participated and/or Sponsored the following:

1. October 1, 2022 – CASA staff participated in setting up a booth to distribute alcohol and other drugs material at the Comanche Nation Fair, Lawton, Oklahoma. Distribute 510 information pamphlets.
2. October 6-7, 2022 -Attended Semi-Annual ODAPCA Conference, Norman, Oklahoma.
3. October 21, 2022 – Set up booth at Randlett Park, Anadarko, Oklahoma for Delaware Nation Bigfoot Festival. Distributed hand outs to 310 people.
4. October 31, 2022 – Set up Haunted Hallway at CASA for kids and adults for Halloween. Over 500 walked through.
5. March 22-23, 2023 -Three staff attended workshop at Shawnee, Oklahoma sponsor by the Kickapoo Tribal Health Center Behavioral Health: Building Positive Relationships Through Wellness
6. Provided lunch sacks for “street people”. Native American once a week. Also, Thanksgiving meal to street people.

The Consortium Against Substance Abuse Program is here to serve the Indian People of Caddo County, Oklahoma who are having issues with alcohol and other drugs and referral for mental health. We extend an invitation to all Native American Indian population to come and visit our office located at 119 SE 1st Street, Anadarko, Oklahoma 73005 (across from the post office, east). Any questions you may have please contact the CASA program phone number 405- 247-7313. Fax number is 405-247-6913″

CONSORTIUM AGAINST SUBSTANCE ABUSE

119 S.E. 1st STREET P.O. BOX 612 ANADARKO, OKLAHOMA 73005

PHONE 405-247-7313/7216

FAX 405-247-6913