About HARMONY

HARMONY, one of the many key values in Indigenous communities, centers the assets of the youth and communities, as well as those of our scholars. The project facilitates interdisciplinary professional preparation for school counselors and school psychologists who want to specialize in work with Indigenous youth and communities. We become a bonded community of practice, supporting one another as we develop specific competencies not only in the issue of Indigenous youth and communities, but also in group and individual work with youth, and consultative work with their parents and teachers. Our community members make contributions through consultation and advisory board input.

Overview of the Project

Project students begin each year with a three-day Summer Institute, interweaving their own storytelling with beginning to build a knowledge base about the community with whom we work. Here we build a base of personal and cultural values and connect deeply as a cohort. Thereafter, HARMONY Scholars meet weekly throughout each academic year to read and discuss issues relevant to Native American education, and travel to the partner field site to work with Indigenous youth. They attend 2 professional conferences each year, and most go on summer immersion experiences. This augments their graduate programs in school counseling and school psychology.

Key Project Components

  • Nationally accredited graduate programs
  • Weekly seminars – mentored support to develop competencies
  • Weekly practicum – work with Indigenous youth with Indigenous supervisors
  • Cohort model
  • District Level support
  • Mentored state and national professional presentations
  • Opportunity for Summer Immersions to home communities
  • Financial Support: tuition plus cost of living stipend, support to offset conferences
    and school expenses

HARMONY

HARMONY scholars are fully committed to serving Native American children, youth, and communities upon graduation. They will be supported throughout their graduate training and the specialization with mentoring, professional development, individual work toward decolonization, and building community. Financially we support our scholars with tuition (out of state is additional for one year), living and professional development stipends, project books and materials, support for accommodations and childcare if needed.

The HARMONY Seminars will emphasize the development of competencies in Indigenous education issues as they intersect with and differ across western and traditional knowledge bases, with an emphasis on decolonizing methodologies and their use in schools and communities. Seminars will contribute to the development of productive and culturally affirmative scholarship. FIELD-BASED PRACTICA augment the seminars, and provide a place to implement strength- and asset-based work with youth, and to consult with their teachers and parenting community.