The Txin Kaangux̂ Initiative (TKI) is a holistic healing and wellness program for families on St. Paul Island, Alaska, and members of the St. Paul Island Tribe who live off the island, with the goal of better addressing the root causes of child maltreatment. The program was established, in part, to integrate Tribal Government programs, services, divisions, departments, and their employees that provide for the health, welfare and safety of the Tribe’s membership and community.
The Aleut Community of St. Paul Island Tribal Government (ACSPI) established TKI, which translates roughly to “your health and wellness” to provide a holistic approach to healing that relies on collaboration and creativity in service provision. Seeing that ACSPI’s child welfare cases center around domestic violence, child sexual abuse, neglect, or parental substance abuse, the designers of the Initiative believe that breaking down the barriers between the departments within the Tribal government will encourage collaboration and enable families to access the services they need from any entry point within the service array. Services offered include cultural and educational activities, behavioral health services, youth and family programs, support for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, substance abuse programs, financial and housing assistance programs, and a food bank. The program supports community engagement to bring awareness to services and destigmatize the need for engaging with services. TKI is one of five programs that partnered with the Children’s Bureau-sponsored Center for Native Child and Family Resilience to design or refine, implement, and evaluate their child maltreatment prevention or intervention program.
