Training Strengthens Support for Native Youth in Foster Care

For Native youth in foster care, healing is about more than stability. It’s about belonging—being connected to culture, tradition, and community. Without that, children risk losing not only their sense of place but their sense of self.

That’s why Josie Brady, Native American Services Coordinator, and Kayla Goble, Family Resource Specialist, recently attended the Circle of Keepers Train the Trainer event in Billings, held alongside the Rocky Mountain Tribal Leaders Council’s Walking the Sacred Path Conference. The training provided them with new tools to ensure that Native youth in foster care feel seen, valued, and supported in ways that honor their identity.

A Deeper Understanding of Cultural Healing

The sessions, led by Rita Hart, MSW (Jicarilla Apache and Choctaw) and Kelly Tannehill, MSW, centered on the sacred meaning of the circle in Native traditions—symbolizing protection, belonging, and strength without end. Participants explored how trauma histories intersect with cultural healing practices, gaining insight into the unique challenges Native youth face.

For Josie and Kayla, this was more than professional development—it was a chance to deepen their understanding of how culture itself can be a source of healing.

Strengthening Circles of Care

Through this training, Josie and Kayla strengthened their ability to help create natural, protective circles of care for Native youth in foster care. Their commitment reflects YBGR’s promise to walk alongside every child, ensuring each one feels embraced by a community of caring people. Because when both stability and culture surround Native youth in foster care, they don’t just survive—they thrive.

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