Southern Ute Indian Tribe

Counseling Service


Great Seal of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe

Education Counselor

970-563-2792


Education Counseling

Education Counseling: Provides school counseling/advocacy for Southern Ute students/families K-12 at any school as requested by parent/guardian, counselors or other agency referrals to ensure students are receiving the support and resources needed to be successful in their k-12 education. Provide k-12 education counseling services to Native American students in Bayfield or Ignacio schools, as requested.  Services include meeting with students and/or parents, providing social/emotional strategies for several areas including: trauma, grief/loss, anxiety, bullying, transition (school to school), reviewing transcripts and credits, educational motivation, effective communication strategies, trauma informed approach, behavior intervention skill building strategies, classroom observation, suicidal ideation screening, and referrals. Attending IEP’s/504’s, re-entry meetings and other school meetings as requested by the parent/guardian. Dropout prevention/school relevancy/truancy is a part of the counselor’s position as the Tribal Truancy Resource Team Coordinator. The counselor also approves home-school, on-line or non-traditional high school’s/curriculum and will provide guidelines for and assist in the verification of a “quality high school diploma” (per Resolution 2003-177).

Contact the Lead Education Counselor for more information/referral at 970-563-2792

Special Education Advocate

The Special Education Advocate is available to guide and support parent/guardians in navigating through the special education process.

Regardless of where the student attends school, and upon request, the Special Education Advocate can support families at school meetings such as IEP (Individualized Education Plan), 504 Plan, Behavior Intervention and Discipline, Manifestation Determination Reviews, attendance/truancy, expulsions, and re-entry meetings.

Resource information and referrals, classroom observations and consultations are also available services.

Contact the Special Education Advocate for more information. 970-563-2790

Tribal Truancy Resource Team

The Tribal Truancy Resource Team is a multi-disciplinary Tribal Department resource team that works with student and family to create an individualized action plan to improve the student’s attendance, address barriers with realistic solutions, and expectations.

For more information contact the Tribal Truancy Resource Team at 970-563-2792 or through the Community Resource Officers at 970-563-2899

Pinunuuchi Family Group Decision Making (FGDM)

Housed in the Education Department, FGDM is a voluntary family lead process that acknowledges the Family as the primary decision maker rather than the “systems” approach of professionals making the decisions for the family.

In this process, the family and their invited support people join together in a Family Meeting to discuss identified concerns, find solutions and create a family action plan to address the specific concerns.

Family Group Decision Making is not Mediation. The family group is guided by the Coordinator and Family Meeting Facilitator who are neutral and independent. Their role is to guide the family group through the process, provide a safe environment, and to respectfully acknowledge and integrate the family’s culture and traditions.

For more information, contact the FGDM Coordinator at 970-563-2790

Pinunuuchi Family Group Decision Making is supported and endorsed by Tribal Council.