Why was the program created?

Social Services / Stepping Stones / Why Was the Program Created?

There are never adequate numbers of foster homes for at-risk and troubled Native American children in Indian country. Families have been willing to open their hearts and homes for infants and lively young children, but finding a place for teens with behavioral health issues has not been easy. Hence, Stepping Stones Tribal Youth Shelter was created in 1994 for 13 to 18 years olds.

The original program was a short term 30 day emergency placement giving Social Workers time to find an appropriate placement.; hence the name “Shelter”. With placements of these troubled youth difficult or impossible, the program grew in sophistication over the course of the last decade to meet the ever-changing needs of out tribal communities. Today the program is a 90-day program that offers a more global behavioral health-based array of services to the teens we serve.

Stepping Stones continues to evolve as a premier culturally-sensitive adolescent program providing the foundational education and guidance that builds long term success with tribal youth. The program has been recognized by Harvard University as a national model in Indian Country.