Social Services
AICRC provides a variety of culturally congruent counseling services, case management, and other specialized services to our children and their families. Our mental health staff includes both Native and non-Native licensed social workers who all have extensive experience working in Urban Native communities and are familiar with issues that face Indian country, both historically and currently.
Counseling The counseling program at AICRC specializes in providing culturally focused mental health services for children. We provide an integrative, holistic approach to support the unique needs of our children and families by taking into consideration their whole environment, both inside and out. This includes use of strengths based, trauma informed, expressive arts, and play therapies. Counseling services are offered in our Oakland office, in-home, or alternative sites, such as school or in nature.
Our services can be accessed throughout our programs or individually through contacting social services. We currently offer individual and group therapy to children/youth up to the age of 18. Dyadic parent-child therapy is also offered to teach positive Native parenting skills and strengthen the parent-child bond. Family therapy is also available, however we do not offer couples/marriage therapy at this time.
Case Management In addition to mental health, we are also here to support families and children in need of case management services so they can overcome barriers to wellness. This includes basic information and referrals as well as coordination of other services including home and/or supervised visitation, housing, employment, medical care, tribal enrollment and more.
Cultural Therapy Groups :
Daughter’s and Son’s of Tradition Youth enrolled in the Indian Education Center’s after school program are invited to attend our weekly Daughter’s and Son’s of Tradition groups. Each group is led by a Native staff member and held in traditional talking circle format. The groups follow a curriculum passed onto AICRC from White Bison (whitebison.org). The groups are divided by gender as well as grades between middle school and high school to support our youth in discussion of developmentally appropriate topics. The group meets once per week. Youth participate in talking circle, activities, occasional field trips, and snacks are provided.
Seasonal Camps For our younger children in grades 3-5, we offer seasonal camps based. The camps are offered one Saturday during each season in the school year (Fall, Winter, and Spring) with a week long Summer camp to bridge between school years. Activities offered are designed to promote self exploration, social-emotional learning, and culturally aligned with the teachings of the Medicine Wheel.
Specialized Services AICRC offers specialized services to children who are victims of abuse and neglect, have been witnesses to domestic violence, and/or have been victims of community violence, including bullying. These services are provided through the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (VOCA).
Referrals Individuals can be referred to us from other social services agencies, schools, hospitals, or other institutions working with our Native community. Cultural therapy is offered as part of our Indian Education Center programming. Youth can also access services through our Preparing Oakland Native Youth program.
Contact
Questions? For more information about any of these services contact Andrew DeMers.
(510) 208-1870 x 303 or andrew@aicrc.org