Moccasin Run raises foster care awareness

by David Boyle
News Director
Residents of San Juan County gathered for the sixth annual Moccasin Run for foster care awareness on May 3. The event, held in White Mesa, was put on by Utah Foster Care, the Utah Division of Indian Affairs, and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe.
The annual event is aimed at raising awareness for the need of more Native American foster homes in the state of Utah.
In an interview with Red Rock Radio, Utah Foster Care Native American Specialist Stephanie Benally explained across the nation there is a shortage of foster families for children in care.
However, specifically in San Juan County Benally shared there are just three licensed Native foster homes to care for 30 children identified as Native American in foster care.
“When our children don't have those native homes, they're placed outside our community. ...We need more Native American foster homes for our children and care so they can stay connected to the culture, to the language, and to their traditions.
“Making sure that the kids are being celebrated. Their milestones, for example if there was an infant who laughed for the first time in Navajo culture, the family whoever or the person who ever made the child laugh would provide the first laugh ceremony. So we want to make sure that our children celebrate those milestones and have access to the culture and language.”
In addition the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) makes it federal law to have Indigenous children stay with Native American families where possible. ICWA outlines placement preference for children in foster care to be placed with their biological family as a first priority, with the second priority that children be placed in their same tribe, a third preference being placed with a family of a different tribe. If none of those opportunities are available children are placed with non-Indigenous families.
Benally also says those who are interested in becoming licensed will have to answer questions as well such as how long they’ve lived in their home, as well as additional steps.
“Once they've become licensed, we just don't say, you know, good luck. We continue to support them through the process. Once the child is placed with them, we provide ongoing support and services, and then my program provides an extra layer of support for our native children in foster care.”
Some common questions Benally says she hears include about living spaces. Benally clarified that foster families can either rent or own their home and can be a multi-generational household.
Additionally she shared there are no income restrictions, just a requirement to prove you can take care of your current household as well as the kids coming into care.
Benally also shared that foster parents can be single.
“If you're a couple, you need to be legally married. However, if you're looking to be a kinship placement, you can be a couple and you're not married but cohabitating, you can still be a kinship placement, but to be a licensed foster parent, you would need to be legally married; and that includes same-sex couples that are legally married.”
Reach Utah Foster Care through their website UtahFosterCare.org.