IHS reprimands employee who warned about Spirit Lake children

Monday, July 30, 2012  

The Indian Health Service has reprimanded an employe who raised concerns about the welfare of children on the Spirit Lake Dakotah Nation in North Dakota, The Fargo Forum reports.

Michael Tilus, a clinical psychologist, was removed from his post as behavioral health director on the reservation. He was apparently told that he went outside the chain in command when he expressed “grave concern” about Spirit Lake children.

“My question is, is this retaliation for being a whistle blower?” Joanne Streifel, a clinical social worker who once worked with Tilus on the reservation, told the Forum. “Are they trying to blackball him at IHS?

Tilus raised his concerns in a letter that criticized the tribe for the state of child welfare services on the reservation.

Get the Story:
Protecting Spirit Lake's children, Letter of ‘grave concern’ rebuffed (The Fargo Forum 7/28)

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