Former NICWC board member Grace Johnson, an enrolled member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, is the new director of training and education for the Nebraska Indian Child Welfare Coalition (NICWC).
Johnson joined NICWC on Sept. 25 and hit the ground running by supporting an advanced Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) training, developed and led by NICWC Tribal Liaison Kitty Washburn.
Johnson offered valuable insights throughout the training sessions that included site visits to the Oglala Sioux Tribe, Red Cloud Indian School, and the Indian Health Service Hospital in Pine Ridge, S.D., as well as a session for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.
Johnson comes to NICWC after serving for nearly two years with the Nebraska Attorney General’s office as the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Tribal Liaison.
“We are thrilled to have Grace join our team,” said Deborah Dancer, executive director of NICWC.
“Grace brings healing to every part of her work and delivers it with care and intention. We are looking forward to how she collectively leads training and education at NICWC.”
Dancer added, “Everyone who knows Grace speaks highly of her and as someone who has worked with her previously, I too can attest! We thank her for her board service and warmly welcome her to this new role.” Johnson grew up on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and has dedicated her life to working for the betterment of Native Americans.
"I am looking forward to working with the Nebraska Indian Child Welfare Coalition,” Johnson said. “I feel the work NICWC does is incredibly important to helping Native children and families in the foster care system by maintaining ties to their culture and advocating for their rights.”
She is a Qualified Expert Witness for ICWA law and has worked as an outreach and family support worker in the foster care system.
Johnson is a dual-licensed mental health therapist and drug and alcohol counselor and previously served as the director of behavioral health and the Umon’hon Nation Alcohol and Drug Program at the Carl T. Curtis Health Education Center for the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska.
Johnson sits on the Omaha Mayor’s Native American Advisory Council. She owns her own business Red Nation Healing and is an adjunct professor at Nebraska Indian Community College.
“We are delighted to welcome Grace to our team,” said Liz Lovejoy Brown, NICWC Board President. “We are confident that her expertise will contribute significantly to the continued success of this organization.”
The vision of the Nebraska Indian Child Welfare Coalition is to ensure that all Native American children are raised by loving Indian families, surrounded by the people, culture and heritage that they know best.