MissionThe AIDA mission is to "plant the seeds" so that communities are equipped to address their public safety, health, wellness, education and community development needs and through thoughtful community-based solutions.
Our overall goal is to provide training, technical assistance, research and evaluation to Indigenous communities by building upon the strengths of their institutions, culture, ways of knowing, and their contemporary knowledge, skills, and abilities. By building on these strengths, we expand our role beyond technical assistance providers, researchers and trainers, to facilitators of a process of development controlled by the Indian Nations and/or Indigenous communities. A secondary goal is to assist governmental and non-governmental agencies in promoting and developing culturally appropriate and effective solutions for local problems through focused training, technical assistance, research and/or evaluation. AIDA believes that in order to effectively serve the needs of staff and volunteers, promote justice and facilitate the health and well being of individuals and communities, a broad-based, comprehensive and multi-disciplinary approach is needed. |
Capabilities
American Indian Development Associates (AIDA) provides professional services to support tribes, federal and state agencies and community groups. AIDA enjoys national recognition in providing:
- Large and small group facilitation.
- Design and implementation of consultation meetings between tribes and state and federal agencies.
- Program design, planning, development and implementation strategies.
- Conference, education and training design, implementation for practitioners, administrators and policy makers.
- Design and implementation of community based strategies for social justice, health, education, and welfare programs;
- Training in a variety of topics related to justice, law enforcement, health, education, and social service programs;
- Tribal and/or community based assessments and program evaluation;
- Indigenizing western processes to fit tribal community needs, i.e., Indigenous planning, logic models, Indigenous evaluation.
- Research on important economic, education, justice, law and order issues affecting Native people, Indian nations and communities; and
- Design of data management, reporting and information systems.
A primary focus of AIDA activities is research guided program development. As the organization has grown over the last 35 years, its ability to provide the adjunct and co-requisite services, which many tribal, state and federal governments and agencies require has expanded. AIDA works locally and nationally with tribes, state and federal agencies and other private and non-profit agencies.
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The AIDA staff make numerous presentations for national, regional, and local conferences on a regular basis, often as a public service and to support knowledge sharing, and Indigenous grassroots efforts, and advocacy. AIDA staff participates on task forces, and working groups at the local, state, and national level on children, youth, and family issues. Advocacy activities include preparation of testimony for local and national hearings on national, state, and local legislation, and organizing public hearings, and drafting legislation.
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Staff & AssociatesAIDA accomplishes its mission and goals through an outstanding core of professional and support staff who are enrolled members of their respective tribes. Many AIDA associates assist us in providing the many services requested of the firm by governmental and non-governmental agencies and Indigenous communities nationwide. AIDA employs a professional staff and consultants with expertise in criminal and juvenile justice, law, research, public health, education, public policy and administration, program development and evaluation, community engagement, and government capacity building skills.
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