Description

Upon completion of this conference, participants will be able to:

1. Identify key structural factors contributing to the overrepresentation of Native American youth in the child welfare system.
2. Describe kinship care as a culturally grounded response aligned with tribal values.
3. Apply insights from the conceptual framework to inform culturally responsive child welfare practice and policy considerations.

Presenter Bio

Nicolas Squirrell, DSW Candidate, is a Doctor of Social Work candidate at the University of Kentucky, with an expected graduation in Spring 2026. He currently serves as a social worker at Cherokee Family Safety in Cherokee, North Carolina, where he has dedicated nine years to providing culturally responsive child welfare services to Native American children and families. His professional practice focuses on kinship caregiving, family preservation, and supporting Tribal communities through trauma-responsive, culturally informed frameworks.

Mr. Squirrell’s doctoral capstone project addresses the systemic overrepresentation of Native American youth in child welfare. His research focuses on evidence-based strategies to strengthen kinship caregiving and enhance support networks for Indigenous families. As a scholar-practitioner, he has translated his research into practice by training social service agencies on culturally responsive engagement and family-centered methodologies.

A recognized voice in the field, Mr. Squirrell has served as an invited speaker and instructor for the National Training and Development Curriculum (NTDC) Tribal Nations Curriculum. He has delivered specialized instruction on culturally relevant foster and kinship caregiving in Red Lake, Minnesota; Pine Ridge, South Dakota; and Chandler, Arizona. His work integrates research, policy, and practice to advance Tribal sovereignty and dismantle the structural inequities affecting Indigenous families, ensuring a future rooted in community-centered care.

Delivery Method: Live Interactive Training via Zoom Video Conferencing

Credit Hours: 1.0 (ACE)

Target Audience: This conference is intended for social workers and students.

Accreditation: University of Kentucky College of Social Work, Provider # 1377, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 9/29/25-9/29/28. Social workers participating in this conference will receive up to 15 general continuing education credits.

Claiming CE Credit: Instructions for claiming CE credit will be disseminated at the beginning of each session.

Questions: If you have any questions regarding CE credit or to report a grievance, please contact Christina Krantz at Christina.Krantz@uky.edu. For technical assistance, please contact lmshelp@uky.edu.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in these presentations are those of the individual presenters and do not necessarily reflect the official policies or positions of the University of Kentucky or the College of Social Work. The inclusion of any topics, perspectives, or discussions is intended for academic engagement and does not constitute endorsement by the institution.