5 Questions for Megan Dotson
There is a lot that happens when coordinating an MI training in Oregon and beyond. From schedule coordination to travel and hotel reservations, making sure all the correct and appropriate materials are shipped to arrive on time, making sure the MI team follows the appropriate protocols with pre-assessments and follow-up surveys. The list and tasks are endless. Who coordinates and tracks all these components of our training program? Megan Dotson, the Program Coordinator for all things MI at the Native Center for Behavioral Health and University of Iowa, is a wonderful teammate and performs multiple functions.
As we move forward in this important work, we are taking the next few issues of the MI newsletter to introduce our team.
How long have you worked at the Native Center for Behavioral Health/University of Iowa?
In March of this year, I will have been with the University of Iowa for 22 years working on several different projects throughout my career. In 2018 I joined the NCBH and this work, by far, has surpassed any previous projects I have coordinated.
What are the functions of your role on the MI team?
My role is to keep the team organized and moving forward with the many tasks we compile on a weekly basis. Some say, “It’s like wrangling cats”. I love what I do and if it helps our work benefit those in Native Communities, I will rope and ride. From training logistics to connecting with tribal leaders and all the in between can be quite hectic so it is important to take good notes!
What are some things that people need to know about Megan?
I am a fairly, charismatic person who loves socializing with anyone whom I come into contact with. I have decades of stories to share but I also know how to listen. My heart is huge and I would drop everything to help someone out should the need arise. In my limited spare time, I like to drive motorcycles, fish and read good books. I have driven a NASCAR at Newton Speedway in Iowa, jumped out of a perfectly good airplane, and been in a trailer race or two with all male drivers. If you’ve never seen one you should lol! I have been with my husband since I was 16 years old and we just celebrated 32 years together.
What are you most proud of with the MI work in Oregon?
I am most proud of the quality of the work my colleagues are providing. They are consistently asking for feedback from tribal communities so that the work we offer directly identifies what the needs are and reflects the inclusion of Native voices.
Who are some of your biggest inspirations?
Without a doubt my biggest inspirations are my children Jacob 22 and Jenna 19. They were born with Fragile X Syndrome which is a genetic condition that causes intellectual disability, behavioral and learning challenges, and various physical characteristics. Our son Jake is non-verbal with several challenges and it has been a tough road so far with 24/7 care. On the inspirational side however, we have seen him grow and accomplish some milestones we had never thought possible. Jake has had to work through so many obstacles and challenges daily but he continues to do so with resilience and now with limited meltdowns. Our daughter Jenna is an independent young adult who can certainly surprise us with what she is able to achieve. She has learned to drive, although not well yet lol, and went to community college to get her Paraeducator Certificate. It has never been “easy” raising 2 children with disabilities but we certainly can appreciate the opportunity given to us to cherish the little things.
5 Questions for Cicily Moses
Cicily & family: Partner Kenneth Mayfield (Muscogee Creek & Alabama-Quassarte), Nicholi Mayfield (5), Nila Mayfield (7)
It doesn’t take much time with Cicily Moses (Yakama Nation, CTUIR, and Nez Perce) to understand that Motivational Interviewing (MI) is more than a tool for her. Cicily is the Early Childhood Collaborative Coordinator for the Family Engagement program at Confederated Tribes of Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR). Cicily was born and raised on the Umatilla Reservation and started her career journey through CTUIR Summer youth employment in a tribal childcare setting and continued her career and employment focus in tribal early learning settings. Cicily shares that MI is powerful because it provides an opportunity for practitioners to learn and develop their listening skills. Cicily shared that listening and MI provide an opportunity for practitioners, clients, and relatives to develop a better understanding and acceptance of previous generations, which in turn provides a space not only for individual behavior change but also positive change at the community level.
Our MI team is proud to introduce everyone to Cicily Moses.
What benefits have you seen from using MI in your practice?
Enhancing motivation towards myself and my clients. Enhancing respect, empathy, and understanding towards that individual. I consider clients from my career and immediate family members.
What challenges have you encountered in implementing MI?
Challenges that I personally experience are not having enough MI. It's more of myself critiquing my own confidence. As I continue to utilize MI tools, I have grown to become more confident with any challenges throughout my career and life.
In what ways does MI drive improved outcomes for your clients?
I love this question because MI is the car, and the driver (client) has to make their own decisions, build their self confidence. When they recognize that they are in control, it eases the maneuvering of what we call life.
How have your clients responded to MI?
You begin to recognize change of behavior, their emotions, and progress. Before MI, I had no clue how to respond to a client/family member who was in deep pain. Now with MI tools I can navigate with them in their car (emotions and decisions).
What advice do you have for practitioners who are new to MI?
Advice for practitioners... I like to view all humans as clients and practitioners. We are in control of our well-being. At the same time, we are here to assist others to make sure they meet their needs, services, and self-sufficiency. MI is the MVP when navigating emergency emotional services.
4 Questions for Aj Goins
Senior Federal Policy Analyst, Oregon Department of Human Services
Please provide a little background on the Native communities in Oregon and their relationship/involvement with the state child welfare system.
There are nine federally recognized tribes in Oregon. In the Oregon child welfare system, there has been longstanding disparity and inequity in tribal child welfare cases, and the disproportionality rate is still unacceptable, even after years of the federal Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) and state ICWA legislation.
There have been longstanding working relationships with the Tribes as far as the shared work of child welfare, through the Department’s Office of Tribal Affairs as well as an ICWA Advisory Committee. There are also local Regional ICWA Specialists who serve as consultants and liaisons in Indian child welfare cases. The depth and success of these relationships has ebbed and flowed over the years.
Functionally, each of the nine tribes in Oregon has entered into grant agreements with ODHS to receive money for child welfare and prevention services. The state of Oregon also has authorized resources for building systems of care and servicing families in need through other grant awards. These grants are renewed biannually, when the legislature finalizes the Oregon budget.
Five tribes in Oregon -- the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the Klamath Tribe, Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, and Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs -- have also entered into Title IV-E Agreements with the State of Oregon and claim quarterly reimbursements for their child welfare foster care programs.
How did the importance of Indigenized Motivational Interviewing come to your attention?
In 2018, a change in federal legislation under Title IV-E of the Social Security Act (the Family First Prevention Services Act) allows states and tribes to claim reimbursement for child welfare cases before a child enters care. The child needs to meet a state definition of candidacy (at imminent risk of removal from the home) and must receive services that are approved by the Prevention Clearinghouse as an Evidence- Based Practice (EBP).
In Oregon, the approved Prevention Plan included Motivational Interviewing, which was the one EBP that held interest in the tribes in Oregon. That began the pursuit of MI training that was culturally informed and held meaning for Native ways of being and doing. Kevin Simmons began researching Native MI trainers and came upon Dr. Kathyleen Tomlin. The three of us met and thus began our journey together. The first trainings were held in Grand Ronde, but over the past 15 months or so we have offered training to Native staff in all of the confederated Tribes in Oregon, as well as to staff from the Office of Tribal Affairs. We were also invited to the Lummi Nation last fall and are currently in conversation with folks in northern California.
What are you hoping to achieve/accomplish with this training program?
As Native staff and practitioners become proficient in MI, we hope to provide additional skills and tools to serve Native families in tribal communities, keep families together, and improve child/family well-being and promote healing. We hope this training and the follow-up coaching, consultation, and skill development tools that this work can provide Native workers with more effective tools to use in their helping relationships with families.
Is there anything else you want people to know about this initiative?
Because of the change in federal law in 2018, the use of evidence-based practices can offer tribes the opportunity to claim reimbursement for those families served under the Family First Prevention Services Act criteria.
One additional provision of the federal law is that programs must demonstrate that they are using an EBP to fidelity, or faithfulness to the practice. That is why we are currently working as an MI team and will partner with interested tribes in Oregon to develop a fidelity tool or process that can demonstrate that proficiency and can show the positive outcomes for families (families are engaged and involved in their case plan, families stay together, or when reunified, children do not return to foster care).
I think this project is unique in the US right now. I do not know of any other state that has engaged with Tribes in this type of collective partnership.