Red Path Child and Family Agency wants to recruit you

            The Red Path Child and Family Agency is hosting an interest meeting and cardiopulmonary resuscitation training session on Saturday, January 23, 2010 at the old Tribal Office conference room on 707 Union Chapel Road in Pembroke at 8 a.m. for the purpose of recruiting American Indian foster parents.
By law foster parents have to be CPR and First Aid certified and Red Path Child and Family Agency offers this training free of charge. The session will be taught by Counselor Steve Sampson, Chairman of the Health Committee and Tribal District 9 Representative.
            “Over half of the children in the Robeson County program are American Indians and we are very limited on foster care parents,” said CEO Ronda Jones. Jones has obtained her master’s in social work from Rutger University and is both a Provisional Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Qualified Professional in Mental Health. “It’s very crucial for our people to understand the impact they could make by stepping forth and saying they want to take part in a child’s life because we are our own resources.”
            According to Jones all tribal members are encourage to contact the agency immediately if their child or family becomes involved with DSS because the agency will be able to assist the family during this process. “Red Path Child and Family Agency also works as a support system, families sometimes experience a loss of hope and want to give up however, we want them to understand we are here to get them through by offering supplemental options to their situation,” continued Jones.
            Red Path Child and Family Agency was established in April 2009 as a non-profit agency.  The Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina is currently collaborating with the agency to handle child welfare issues and continue to work successfully with all Health Service agencies. Aside from child placement the agency also provides counseling on independent living skills, parenting, anger management, individual, group and family therapy as well as linking families to other professional and free resources. For more information on Saturday’s meeting or the program please contact Ronda Jones at (910) 536-0909.

CONTACT:
Kendra Danielle Chavis, Public Affairs Specialist
Office:  910.521.7861 ext.282
Email:  kdchavis@lumbeetribe.com