Referral Programs

DIW and the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office have been partners and have had a contract for 20+ years. The contract states we will have a Native American advocate to provide domestic violence services to the Native American Community. The DIW advocate provides culturally specific domestic violence services to the community, provides assistance with filing Orders for Protection, and provides support in court proceedings.

In 2017, the DIW Native American advocate provided 192 services to Native American victims of domestic violence.

For additional questions please contact the Advocate.

Funded by: Hennepin County Attorney General’s Office

Parent Support Outreach Program (PSOP) is a short term program that serves American Indian Families who are not currently involved in Child Protection by connecting them with resources that can help with housing, therapy, parenting help, employment, or any other needs.

A PSOP worker will meet with the family regularly to develop goals and help remove barriers to achieving those goals.

If interested in participating, please fill out the referral form for yourself or a client by going to the Hennepin County website and sending it in via email to PSOPnewreferrals@hennepin.us.

Funded by: Hennepin County

Parenting Capacity Services is a parenting education & assessment program for Native American parents and caregivers involved in child protection. This program provides culturally responsive services in a one on one setting. Parenting Workers meet with parents and caregivers in-home, in the community, at DIW, or virtually.

To qualify for this program you must be referred by a Hennepin County child protection social worker. For additional questions please see the contact information below for parenting workers:

Cassie Buffalohead
Email: cbuffalohead@diw-mn.org
Phone: 612-279-6302

Emily Gobernatz
Email: egobernatz@diw-mn.org
Phone: 612-279-6374

Funded by: Hennepin County

Educates Native American women about their relationship to domestic violence and abuse, using a cultural lens perspective to learn about the complex dynamic of domestic violence starting with historical significance through current societal influence and oppressive existence.

For additional questions please see the contact information below for counselor/educators:

Stephanie Kolsowski
Email: skoslowski@diw-mn.org
Phone: 612-279-6319

Funded by: Hennepin County & Office of Justice Program

Healing Spirit House provides supportive, safe, positive, drug-free, alcohol-free environment and in-house services for long-term foster care American Indian males aged 16-21. The healing Spirit House is designed like a typical home, not a facility. Youth have a chance to work through their feelings about family difficulties and abuse they may have suffered. Residents learn independent living skills through group meetings and daily experiential learning such as assigned household chores and planning and preparing nightly house dinners.

Staff coordinate educational and vocational services, including enrollment in GED services and setting educational and career goals. Spirituality and culture are important components of the Healing Spirit House. Connection to culture gives American Indian youth a sense of identity and membership that is especially important when facing the challenges of growing up in the foster care system.

When a youth nears his time to age out of the system, the Case Manager assists him to find housing, connects him to resources that provide jobs skills training, additional education, or other employment opportunities depending on which direction the youth wants to go. The Case Manager stays in close contact with youth to smooth the transition into independent living. Residents know that they are always welcome to contact us if they need additional support or just want to stop by to visit.

For additional questions, please contact the House Manager:

Mike Loud
Email: mloud@diw-mn.org
Phone: 612-279-6333

Funded by: Hennepin County, Ramsey County, and Tribal Nations