Overview
Ute Family Services also known as “UFS”, is a tribal organization that functions as the Ute Indian Tribe’s social services agency. Ute Family Services has two divisions, child welfare and vulnerable adults. Ute Family Services is responsible for primarily serving Ute children and families on the Uintah and Ouray Reservation including its exterior boundaries.
Child welfare services focuses on prevention, intervention and child well-being. Ute Family Services strives to provide prevention services such as parenting and other classes, kinship and crisis assistance and educational presentations. Ute Family Services intervenes in circumstances involving maltreatment such as child neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, mental and emotional abuse. In order for intervention services to be deemed necessary, a report of child abuse/neglect must be made and an official CPS investigation occurs. Ute Family Services’ overall purpose is to ensure child safety and well-being by strengthening families.
Ute Family Services Vulnerable Adult division focuses on the protection of Ute elders and adults who are at risk of harm or exploitation by others due to conditions such as age-related decline, cognitive impairment, developmental disabilities, and mental illness. Ute Family Services intervenes in circumstances involving vulnerable adult physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional or psychological abuse, neglect and financial exploitation.
Our Mission (present)
The mission of Ute Family Services is to keep children safe from abuse and neglect through strengthening families. This is accomplished with individualized, trauma-informed, community-based services that are safety driven and promote family well-being and functioning by inspiring a balanced family oriented lifestyle while keeping Ute culture and traditional values in perspective.
Our Vision (future)
Our vision at Ute Family Services is to see all of our people thrive, from youth through adulthood to our elders. Ute Family Services envisions our cultural values be preserved and prosper, where children are brought up in traditional ways with love and compassion, they are able to develop a sense of protection, safety and sense of belonging. Our adults finding themselves, living safe and healthy lives for their children; holding true to Ute family values. Our elders being honored, treated with love and respect, living well balanced lives; passing down Ute values and beliefs for all future generations to flourish.
Resources
- Ute Family Services is able to provide financial assistance to caregivers that have relative children living in their homes; to families that are considered to be “at risk” and families that are in the process of reunification. Please note that funding is limited and each family has a maximum assistance of one time/amount per fiscal year, must be an enrolled tribal member and meet grant requirements. If you’re in need of this assistance, please get an application from Winifred.
- Ute Family Services understands that raising children can be costly, so thanks to generous donations we are able to offer diapers, wipes and other items for free to families that are in need. If you’re in need please come by our office as we will soon have a community room open to tribal members and descendants.
- Ute Family Services is able to provide Low Income Housing Energy Assistance Program “LiHeap” assistance, funding is limited and applicant must meet grant requirements such as be an enrolled tribal member and qualify as low income according to the lower living income standard level. If you’re interested, please contact Lora.
- Ute Family Services offers car seat safety assistance, ensuring that your child’s car seat is properly installed and age appropriate. If you’re new to parenting or curious to know if you’ve installed your child’s car seat properly, come by our office and speak with Valirie.
- Ute Family Services offers a foster care/kinship parenting class, please contact Maxine if you’re interested
Respite and Foster Care
Ute Family Services is in dire need of safe and loving homes! Ute Family Services always tries to place children with family first when possible, however sometimes alternatives are needed. In order to become a respite/foster care provider a homestudy by UFS must be completed and approved, criminal background checks for everyone over 18 years of age and urinary analysis for everyone over 18 years of age in the home must be completed. To begin the process, ask for an application!
We are looking for foster parents who are:
- Supportive of siblings staying together
- Open to care for children with emotional, behavioral and physical needs that may be more complex
- Open to care for children who are medically fragile or medically complex
- Aware that foster care is temporary and are supportive of parent-child reunification
- Willing to encourage and ensure children participate in cultural practices, ceremonies and activities as much as possible
- Open and affirming to LGBTQIA+
Meet the Staff
| Administration | ||
| Director: Anthony Guzman Email: anthonyg@utetribe.com Phone: (435)725-2859 | Admin Assistant: Vacant | Receptionist: Renita Murray Email: renitam@utetribe.com Phone: (435)725-4054 |
| Child Protective Servies | ||
| Intake: Maxine “Dixie” Redfoot Email: maxiner@utetribe.com Phone: (435)725-2847 | CPS Worker – Vacant | CPS Supervisor – Vacant |
| Caseworkers | ||
| Caseworker: Bo Astrom Email: boa@utetribe.com Phone: (435)725-2845 | Angeline Jacobs Email: angelinej@utetribe.com Phone: (435)725-2862 | |
| Assistant Caseworkers | ||
| Kameko Blackbird Email: kamekob@utetribe.com Phone: (435)725-2849 | Tonja “Dolli” Willie Email: tonjaw@utetribe.com Phone: (435)725-2857 **ICWA CONTACT** | Valirie Serawop Email: valiries@utetribe.com Phone: (435)725-2852 |
| Services | ||
| Eligibility Specialist: Kaye Black Email: kayeb@utetribe.com Phone: (435)725-2848 | LiHeap: Lora Garcia Email: lorag@utetribe.com Phone: (435)725-4878 | Financial Officer: Winifred Serawop Email: winifreds@utetribe.com Phone: (435)725-2843 |
| Vulnerable Adult Advocates / Nurse | ||
| Eva Myore Email: evam@utetribe.com Phone: (435)725-2855 | Vulnerable Adult Advocate – Vacant | Nurse – Vacant |
Helpful Links
Connect with us!
Hours of Operation: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 8am-4:30pm. On-Call services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Phone: (435) 725-4054
On-Call: (435) 823-0147
Physical Address: 7157 East 1300 South Fort Duchesne, Utah 84026 East of the Ute Tribe Administration Building.
Mailing: P.O. Box 925 Fort Duchesne, Utah 84026
Fax: (435) 722-5030
Stay up to date with Ute Family Services on Facebook!
Designated ICWA Notification Contact
Tonja Willie, Assistant Caseworker
Phone: (435) 725-2857 Email: tonjaw@utetribe.com
Mailing: P.O. Box 925 Fort Duchesne, UT. 84026
Location
We are located just East of the Tribal Administration Building.