Press Releases

President Buu Nygren and First Lady Jasmine Blackwater Nygren signed a proclamation declaring August 2026 Navajo Nation Breastfeeding Awareness Month. WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – The Navajo Division for Children and Family Services (NDCFS) supported the Indigenous Milk Medicine Run and Stroller Walk on August 19, 2026. More than 100 supporters joined the 5K run, 2 mile walk, or stroller walk…

Lashaina Hoskie, Senior Social Worker, speaking at the Foster Care Mini Conference. GALLUP, N.M. – The Foster Care Mini Conference held by the Department for Child Well-Being (DCWB) on August 18, 2026, brought professionals, foster, kinship and adoptive families, and potential foster care parents together to discuss and share how to improve services and support for foster children and families.…

CHINLE, Ariz. – The Navajo Division for Children and Family Services took part in the 40th Annual Central Agency Fair in Chinle, Ariz. The Division hosted the Elder Day and Health Fair along with the Division of Aging and Long Term Care Support on August 13, 2026. The same day, the Division also participated in the Kids’ Day at the…

GANADO, Ariz. – The Navajo Division for Children and Family Services celebrated the reopening of the office in Ganado, Ariz., on August 12, 2026. The office will employ the innovative concept of hoteling, which allows any NDCFS employee to reserve office space in advance through a central booking system for temporary use as needed. The hoteling workstations are shared workspaces…

FORT DEFIANCE, Ariz. – The Department for Child Well-Being (DCWB), formerly the Department of Family Services, held its first public hearing on the Vulnerable Adult Protection Act (VAPA) on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at the Fort Defiance Chapter House. The hearing, which is being held to obtain public input on amending the VAPA, was available virtually for participants to allow…

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – Amendments to the plan of operation for the Navajo Division for Children and Family Services (NDCFS) that clarify the organizational structure and update its official name change were approved by the Health, Education, and Human Services Committee (HEHSC) on July 27, 2026. “In our move to expand and enhance services for our members and staff, our…

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – The Navajo Division for Children and Family Services (NDCFS) joined the Good Health and Wellness in Indian Country program to prepare students on the Navajo Nation to return to school with a Back to School Blessings event. The event included a gourd dance and health fair at the Navajo Nation Veterans Memorial Powwow Arena on July…

CROWNPOINT, N.M. – Culture and tradition flourished at the 48th Annual Eastern Navajo Fair Parade on July 25, 2026. The Department for Self Reliance (DSR) Crownpoint office joined in the festivities with a float focused on the Diné way of life, highlighting livestock and farming. The float featured representations of stalks of corn, sheep, horses, and hummingbirds. Staff gave out fruits…

CROWNPOINT, N.M. – Elders participated in a special day designated just for them at the Eastern Navajo Fair Elderfest. With the theme, “Show and Shine from the East,” the Eastern Navajo Fair kicked off the Navajo fair season with activities that included the Elderfest and Just Move It walk and run on July 23, 2026. The Navajo Division for Children…

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – The Navajo Division for Children and Family Services (NDCFS) joined the Every Child Matters Awareness Walk on July 20, 2026, from the Navajo Nation Museum to the Navajo Nation Council Chamber. The walk was organized by the Missing and Murdered Diné Relatives (MMDR) Task Force to bring awareness to missing and murdered relatives and to honor…

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The Navajo Treatment Center for Children and Their Families (NTCCF) shared knowledge and experience on preventing suicide using cultural methodology during the inaugural Native American Suicide Prevention and Awareness Conference. The conference was hosted by the Fort Defiance Indian Hospital Board – Health Promotion Disease Prevention July 9-10, 2026, with the theme, “Stronger Together: Honoring Life and…

WINDOW ROCK – The Navajo Division for Children and Family Services (NDCFS) celebrated the Fourth of July by honoring Navajo resilience, sharing cultural teachings, and building skills with the next generation at the Youth Resilience Camp. The Camp featured Cody Jesus and other professional bull riders presenting to youth as part of the Preserving Navajo Families Initiative. They showed the…