Department Overview
Waaziswan is composed of a team of family home visitors, Anishinaabe birth specialists who provide family reunification services, family advocacy and community connections. We work collaboratively to provide one to one support to members who are seeking to strengthen their family systems. This program is grounded in traditional Anishinaabe approaches to family structure, practices and living.
Traditional Ojibwe Teachings
Waziswan staff utilize traditional curriculums based on life stages and foundational teaching provided by local elders and knowledge. Learning is undergirded by the 7 grandfather teachings and the concept of mino bimaadiziwin. Staff work one on one with members and support development plans to help members become culturally understood and be empowered to their potential to lead a good life.
Our Programs
The Perinatal and Infant Health program is an expansion of our existing multi-generational family services model. It builds community and cross-system collaboration for referrals and care, raises awareness of our children’s intrinsic value, encourages and supports parents to do better--so children do better. NWICDC will strengthen continuum of care through:
- Education - pregnancy prevention, pre and postnatal care of mothers/babies, traditional teachings in child care, nutrition, mental/spiritual techniques, sleep care education, making healthy choices while pregnant/nursing, and child development.
- Supports - lactation/breastfeeding consults, Anishinaabe birth doulas, recovery services, housing, nutrition/food pantry, workforce, diapers and wipes, traditional cultural activity access, family reunification.
- Outreach - identify women earlier in their pregnancies through outreach and more intentionally through the NWICDC intake process and more through partner agencies.
The Family Spirit and Family Home Visiting program is an early intervention, voluntary program to help strengthen families and to address risk factors leading to child maltreatment and to decrease the disparities American Indian families experience in child welfare outcomes. The Family Spirit program starts with prenatal care at 28 weeks gestation and continues through childhood development to the age of 5.
The Strong Beginnings program focuses on improving birth outcomes, reducing health disparities and perinatal loss for Native American women by aiding them with support services.
The Women’s Culturally Responsive Recovery program serves mothers who are pregnant or recently gave birth and are struggling with addiction. Native Americans in active addiction face racism and lateral oppression among a long list of other barriers. We hope to help mothers reconnect with their culture, become stable with housing, reunite with family, become financially independent, and help them identify a future for themselves they may not have thought was possible for themselves. Several different models will be offered for recovery.
Department Services
The Anokiiwin Initiative is a fluid program of mixed services that supports transformation through:
Childhood Development
We provide resources and education to provide families with proper nutrition and mental/spiritual well being.
Resiliency Planning
Receive the support to prepare yourself and your family for financial independence.
Cultural Programming
Learn the cultural skills of beading, sewing, crafting and drumming.
Peer Support
We foster community referrals and partner with agencies across the region.
Family Planning
We help you meet the expectations of being a mother and the techniques of child care.
Recovery Services
Learn to beat addiction with proper resources.
It is important to note that these programs are based on members’ needs, not an automatic enrollment.
There is also no age limit to the participants.
Our Activities
The Waaziswan Initiative is dedicated towards providing education and resources for young Anishinaabe families in our service area. We offer activities such as sewing regalia, beading and talking circles, crafts, Youth Drum and other fun family activities. View our list of upcoming community events.
There are NO current events at this time.
Our Partners
This year, Beltrami County was able to secure a grant to become a part of the MN Diaper Bank. Our existing partnership with Beltrami County made us an obvious choice to receive a portion of the diapers that the Beltrami County Diaper Bank is allotted. This means we receive approximately 3800 diapers each quarter. Other Waaziswan partners include: Department of Health & Human Services, Family Spirit, MN Department of Health, Bemidji Area Breastfeeding Coalition, Diaper Bank of MN, Baby Cafe, Blue Cross Blue Shield of MN, BECC, and Families First.
Stories From People Like You
Program Assistance
Whether you are growing your family, supporting your loved ones' nutrition, or looking to make steps to reunite your family, you don’t have to do it alone. Let our team provide the support and resources you need to strengthen your family.
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