“A Child of the Indian Race” A Story of Return
In the 1950s, when Sandy White Hawk was a toddler, she was taken from her Lakota family on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Her adoption papers identify her […]
Building Understanding and Connection Across Wisconsin
Every family’s story is different, and every child deserves to feel understood, respected, and supported for who they are. We offer resources, training, and support to help families and caregivers navigate identity, culture, and mental health with confidence, whether you’re supporting an LGBTQIA2S+ young person, caring for a child with Native heritage, or working through mental health challenges together as a family.
Explore Resources by Topic
LGBTQIA2S+ Resources
We offer guidance for caregivers supporting a young person’s identity, resources for LGBTQIA2S+ teens and young adults, and parents who are themselves part of the community and are navigating foster care or adoption.
Native & Tribal Resources
We offer trainings, tip sheets, and guidance for foster, adoptive, kinship, and relative caregivers of Native children, covering cultural traditions, the significance of hair, and how to advocate for a Native child in your care.
Mental Health Resources
We offer resources to help foster, adoptive, and kinship children work through trauma, grief, and other mental health needs, along with guidance and tools to support your own mental health as a caregiver.
How We Provide Support
Information and Referrals
Speak with a specialist who can help you find the right resources, services, and support for your situation.
Training & Support Groups
Join workshops, webinars, and support groups to build skills, connect with others, and feel supported.
Resource Library
Browse guides, tools, and articles on parenting, mental health, adoption, and more.
Case Management Services (GIFTS)
Short-term personalized support for adoptive, guardianship, and reunified families in Wisconsin.
Identity & Community Resources
The Great Vanishing Act – Blood Quantum and the Future of Native Nations
The Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 was the US government’s attempt to define who “Indians” were. Among the criteria, the act set was a blood quantum, which declared that “Indians” […]
Giving Thanks – A Native American Good Morning Message
Reading Rainbow Selection – PBS Kids A traditional Iroquois celebration of the beauty and spirit of Mother Earth, as told by a contemporary Mohawk chief. For as long as anyone […]
Virtual Resource Kit: Tribal Nations of Wisconsin
This Virtual Resource Kit contains a collection of tribal cultural customs, traditions, celebrations, ceremonies, and additional resources that provide important and insightful information regarding tribal communities throughout Wisconsin. Download Resource […]
Supporting Transgender Autistic Youth and Adults – A Guide for Professionals and Families
Providing advice on how professionals working with autistic trans youth and adults can tailor their practice to best serve their clients and how parents can support their trans autistic children, […]
Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity
A deep dive into the spectrum of Autistic experience and the phenomenon of masked Autism, giving individuals the tools to safely uncover their true selves while broadening society’s narrow understanding of neurodiversity […]
