In Native communities, aunties often function in multiple roles, including serving as an additional mother to children, a family and community helper, a healer and a source of strength, a back-stop in times of need, and “an extra person in your corner.” Utilizing this concept of family strength, the innovative California-based My Two Aunties (M2A) program has employed the values of “helping and healing, as if it is your own family,” to drastically reduce the need for foster care, prevent child maltreatment, and enhance overall family wellness in Native communities. Join the founding “auntie” behind this program, Karan D. Kolb, as she discusses how M2A supports strengthening families, instills cultural family values, and addresses trauma and adverse childhood experiences.

For questions, please email danielle.thomsen@utah.edu.