Understanding Urban Indians' Interactions with Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Programs and Services

2011-2014

The purpose of this project is to implement an exploratory research study to better understand the challenges and context for family self-sufficiency of low-income Alaska Natives and American Indians living in urban areas and their interactions with services and programs offered by ACF. The project will design and then execute a research study to yield an understanding of how poverty and other socio-economic conditions impact the urban Indian family, and how access to ACF services and programs plays a role. It is anticipated that the research study will employ a range of research activities and methods, including field work. A Technical Working Group will be convened to assist in identifying research priorities for the study.

The study will collect information that will advance the field of knowledge about urban Indians and be useful to ACF in better understanding and meeting the needs of the urban Indian population. The ACF Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) is overseeing the project, in collaboration with the ACF Administration for Native Americans (ANA).

This work is being conducted through a contract to Westat.

Related Resources

What is known about urban American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) children and families’ engagement with government services? This literature review summarizes what is known about the status of urban American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) children and families including their history of engagement with government services and the potential impact historical policies have had on current government service use. It also explores urban AI/AN families’ cultural engagement and ways in...

What are the social service needs of low-income urban American Indians and to what extent to do they access ACF services and supports? This report presents the results of an exploratory study to better understand Urban Indians' interactions with ACF programs and services. Data were obtained via in-depth interviews with directors of Urban Indian Centers (UICs) from around the country and a set of employees from local government social service agencies. Interviewees were asked to identify...