Andrea French (Nakoda/Dakota/Chippewa/Cree), recently joined NNCTC as a Training and Technical Assistance Specialist. She lives near the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation Reservation where she was previously a Systems of Care grant project director and coordinated initiatives in trauma-informed care. Additionally, she has worked as a State and Tribal Child Welfare Social Worker, emphasizing culturally sensitive practices and fostering collaboration with tribal communities. We interviewed Andrea to discuss her experiences and approaches to trauma-informed care.
Personal and Professional Journey
I was raised in Polson, Montana on the Flathead Indian Reservation. I am a first descendent Assiniboine from the Fort Belknap Indian Community and also Santee Sioux, Turtle Mountain Chippewa, and Plains Cree. When I was 16, my family relocated to the Prairie Band Potawatomi Indian Reservation in Kansas. During my senior year of high school, my stepfather passed away in a car accident, which deeply impacted me.
In my freshman year at the University of Kansas, I struggled with grief and found myself needing more support. I transferred to Haskell Indian Nations University, where I found a strong community and support system that became my family away from home. I initially took social work classes without intending to pursue the field, but my advisor encouraged me to complete my Associate of Arts degree in Social Work. I later transferred back to the University of Kansas for a year in their BSW program but ultimately returned to Haskell to earn a Bachelor of Arts in American Indian Studies.
After graduating, I took two years off and moved to Albuquerque, NM with family where I worked temporary jobs, sewed and beaded powwow regalia and traveled to powwows. When I was ready for school again, I applied for the Master of Social Work at University of Washington, where I was initially drawn to their community social work concentration. However, due to funding opportunities, I shifted into the child welfare concentration and graduated in June 2015.
Building a Career in Trauma-Informed Care
I started my career as a CPS worker in an office which had the highest number of intakes in Washington State. Within four months, I was assigned 50 cases, far exceeding the legal caseload limit. The workload quickly led to burnout, so I transferred to another office, hoping for a better fit. Unfortunately, I still struggled with burnout and needed to take time to recover. After some time, I later joined the Bureau of Indian Affairs Social Services program at Yakama Nation Agency in Toppenish, Washington as an assistant.
Wanting to make a broader impact, I transitioned to Yakama Nation Nak Nu We Sha child welfare program. However, burnout crept in again, and I knew I needed a change. I then joined Yakama Nation Behavioral Health’s Circles of Care grant, funded by SAMHSA, where I was first introduced to trauma-informed care and the systems of care models. I helped develop and organize the Yakama Nation Behavioral Health Trauma-Informed Care Conference, which has grown significantly. Through this work, I realized that addressing trauma requires more than just awareness and education, it must also include healing and resiliency efforts.
In the beginning of 2020, I returned to direct service work with the Cowlitz Indian Tribes Indian Child Welfare Program, working remotely throughout Washington and Oregon. A year later, my mother was diagnosed with cancer, and without hesitation I left my role and relocated to California to care for her. A few months later, I received a call from my former project director at YNBHS, asking me to return to support their System of Care grant. I accepted and served as the Lead Family Coordinator for three years before becoming the project director in the final year. In this role, I gained valuable leadership experience, built strong collaborations, and expanded the Trauma-Informed Care Conference.
My Commitment to Healing and Community
My personal experiences with trauma have shaped my commitment to breaking cycles of adversity. I grew up with limited knowledge of my tribal languages and cultural practices due to the forced assimilation and federal policies my grandparents experienced. Cultural trauma runs deep in our communities—the centuries of policies designed to erase our identities have left lasting impacts. I remember overhearing my uncle say that he wanted his kids to have a better life than he had growing up. That idea has always stayed with me: doing better for our children. Now, as a mother of three young children, I am dedicated to ensuring they remain connected to their language and culture, actively learning and embracing their heritage.
At NNCTC, I’m excited to share my knowledge and experiences in trauma-informed care. I truly believe that practicing our languages and traditions connects us to our families & history, fostering healing and resilience. I look forward to inspiring change, planting seeds of knowledge and helping build healthier communities, one seed at a time.