"Danialle Rose, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, is a licensed certified social worker and mental health professional with Capital Area Counseling Service, central South Dakota’s state mental health center, where she works with children and families on the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe’s reservation. Indian Country Today Media Network spoke to her about families who were separated by child-welfare issues but are now reunited.

When children removed from the home return to it, how do they seem?

I frequently see anger in the children and resistance to joining activities. Before they were taken and placed in foster care or a residential setting, they went to pow wows but now have forgotten how to dance. I see oversensitivity to stress; they’ll melt down quickly if problems arise. I also observe hypervigilance and fear when an unknown Caucasian arrives on the reservation. Even children who have never been removed from their families may be fearful when they see an unknown vehicle, because they know about the possibility of being taken away. If they were taken when they were at school, they may be afraid to go there again.

How do you handle that?

I use play therapy with young children and talking circles with older children. I involve the youngsters in gatherings, such as potlucks, to develop a sense of community and show them who their relatives are. I make sure they have fun!"

Get the Story:
Q&A With Social Worker Danialle Rose, Who Works With Crow Creek Sioux Families (Indian Country Today 2/15)

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Showing ‘Indianness’ for ICWA Benefits Isn’t Easy (Indian Country Today 2/15)

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