The Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is offering Positive Indian Parenting (PIP) Train-the-Trainer courses at no cost. Trainings are designed to prepare facilitators to educate and support Native parents using a culturally specific approach.
About Positive Indian Parenting
Developed by the National Indian Child Welfare Association, PIP is grounded in traditional Native teachings about child rearing. The goal of PIP is to help parents explore the values and attitudes expressed in traditional child-rearing practices and apply those values to modern parenting skills.
PIP facilitators teach lessons on storytelling, mother nature, praise in traditional parenting, and much more. The 8-week curriculum addresses the historic impact of Native American boarding schools, intergenerational trauma, grief, and forced assimilation of parenting practices. PIP empowers Native families to reclaim their right to their heritage and to harness that resiliency to be positive parents.
Who should attend a Facilitator Training?
Organizations interested in providing PIP to their community are encouraged to register. Registration preference will be given to Tribes, Native Serving Organizations, and Recognized American Indian Organizations in Washington state.
Upcoming Facilitator Training Dates
Join DCYF for one of the below offerings:
Virtual
- Jan. 13-16, 2025, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- March 3-6, 2025, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
In-Person
- May 20-22, 2025, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Puyallup Tribal Health, Spirit House, Tacoma, WA
How to Register
Register early — space is limited!
For information and to register, visit www.dcyf.wa.gov/tribal-relations/training.
If you have questions, please contact Shannel.Squally-Janzen@dcyf.wa.gov.
“I really enjoy teaching this class because not only is it helpful for those that participate — but for myself and my family as well. Positive Indian Parenting helps think of other ways of teaching and how storytelling is important to help teach our youth. Learning how to accept and give praise was difficult even for myself but practicing that with the group was really insightful and enlightening to hear others make observations on oneself.”
-Amanda James, Lummi Nation