Staff from the Navajo Division for Children and Family Services (NDCFS) attended the 46th National Indian and Native American Employment and Training Conference (NINAETC) June 1-4, 2026 to gain valuable training in topics related to the Public Law 102-477. The theme for the conference was, “Exceeding the Vision, Expanding the Possibilities.”
NINAETC is a national organization whose members are grantees of either the federal P.L. 102-477 or the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. It provides annual national training and regional trainings for individuals and organizations involved with Native American employment and training programs, recognizes excellence in Native workforce development, and provides a forum to deliberate on issues and develop strategies to meet the goals of its membership.
Division staff presented on topics during breakout sessions at the conference, sharing their growing experiences with fellow grantees. The Office of Executive Director presented on, “Impact on Navajo Nation Economy,” which highlighted how the Division is contributing to the economy through direct services, financial assistance, training, and other avenues.
In addition to increasing community well-being that contributes to a strong economy and employing professional and administrative staff at locations across the Navajo Nation, NDCFS department and program managers explained how they are impacting the economy via an educational video.
- Department of Family Services brings in federal and state funding that is used to provide services for children, adults, and elders, such as for emergency care, domestic violence shelters, and foster care.
- Financial Assistance Unit (FAU) provided one-time assistance totaling $8.6 million in 2025 through Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Navajo School Clothing and Supplies Program, Community Service Block Grant, and Burial Assistance. Through the LIHEAP in particular, FAU supports self-employed vendors such as wood haulers.
- Department of Child Care and Development (DCCD) provides access to child care to enable families to work or attend job training or educational programs. One of the options for child care that the DCCD provides is a monthly subsidy for relative providers, which allows a family relative to provide the service. In 2025, DCCD paid $4.1 million to providers on and off the Navajo Nation.
- Navajo Indian Child Welfare Act Program supports children who are in foster care with financial and cultural resources when necessary.
- Navajo Treatment Center for Children and Their Families is building the Navajo Nation workforce by offering college students internships in social work and counseling.
- Department for Self Reliance (DSR) provides monthly assistance for basic needs. In 2025, DSR provided $2.5 million in assistance for families. In addition, DSR helps families develop personal responsibility plans and training and education opportunities to promote self sufficiency.
- The Developmental Disabilities Program and Arizona Long Term Care Services Program contract with vendors to deliver various services to members (clients) totaling approximately $300 million per calendar year.
Thomas Cody, NDCFS Executive Director, said that the P.L. 102-477 plan is important for the future of NDCFS’s contribution to the Navajo Nation economy. “As we continue to transform and rebrand the Division, the 477 program is emerging as a powerful vehicle for strengthening service delivery, fostering innovation, and expanding opportunities for our people. Through education, workforce development and youth training initiatives, 477 is helping us build a stronger future for the Navajo Nation,” Cody said.
In other workshops, Deputy Director Sonlatsa Jim presented on the Diné Action Plan, where she emphasized innovative planning by the Navajo Nation in addressing the modern-day monsters of suicide, substance abuse, violence and missing and murdered Diné relatives.
DCCD Senior Programs and Projects Specialist Shandiin Etsitty presented on Protecting Their Futures: Fraud Prevention to Honor Our Children and Preserve Our Nations, underscoring the importance of accountability and internal controls to safeguard resources meant for children and families.
DCCD Department Manager Deannah Neswood-Gishey and Senior Programs and Projects Specialist Delilah Goodluck presented on Tribal Flexibility in Child Care and Early Education: Strengthening Native Communities Through Partnership and System Building. The presentation encouraged grantees to utilize the flexibility made possible through the federal 477 law to strengthen culturally grounded, community driven systems for Native children.
Neswood-Gishey served as the NINAETC Executive Committee’s P.L. 102-477 Secretary, putting the Navajo Nation at the forefront in planning the national conference to meet the needs of grantees.
Sessions throughout the conference offered technical assistance and guidance on the three parts of the required P.L. 102-477 annual report, including financial, statistical, and narrative sections. Attendees also had the opportunity to meet with fellow grantees and receive updates from federal partners at sessions throughout the conference.
The Indian Employment, Training and Related Services Demonstration Act, also known as P.L. 102-477, allows federally recognized tribes to integrate funding streams to address unemployment, economic development, training and education. The Act streamlines and consolidates federal grant programs into a single plan, budget and reporting system, reducing administrative burdens and enhancing efficiency and effectiveness.
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