BROOKS, CA – The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, through Doyuti T’uhkama, has awarded a $1 million grant to Acorns to Oak Trees, a Native-led non-profit dedicated to helping Native children with intellectual and developmental disabilities access the services, support, and opportunities they need to thrive. The two-year investment will help expand culturally grounded developmental assessments, therapy services, family navigation, and community outreach programs that serve Native families throughout California, particularly in tribal and rural communities where access to care is often limited.
What began as one mother’s determination to help her daughter access services has grown into a statewide effort to ensure Native children and families do not have to navigate developmental disabilities alone. Founded by Season Goodpasture, a Maidu and Paiute therapist and longtime tribal social services leader, Acorns to Oak Trees was inspired by her family’s journey following her daughter Harley’s autism diagnosis. Today, the organization is the first tribal organization in the U.S. dedicated to providing diagnostic assessments, pediatric therapy, and developmental services specifically for Native children and families.
“Strong communities are built by nurturing our families,” said Anthony Roberts, Tribal Chairman of the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation. “Acorns to Oak Trees has created something truly meaningful – a place where Native families with developmental disabilities can find services, develop their caregiving village, and share a sense of belonging. Through this investment, we are proud to help expand access to care while strengthening the network of support available to Native children across California.”
In 2025, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that at 1 in 31 children in the U.S. are diagnosed with autism, with a 6.5% higher rate among Native children. Many Native families face significant barriers when seeking developmental assessments, therapy services, and ongoing support for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Long travel distances, provider shortages, limited access to culturally responsive care, and a lack of awareness about available resources can leave families feeling isolated and overwhelmed.
Acorns to Oak Trees was created to address those challenges through a model rooted in trust, cultural understanding, and lived experience. Drawing on her own experience navigating complex systems on behalf of her daughter, Goodpasture built the organization to help families access services while creating something many caregivers say they have been missing: a community that understands their journey.
“It takes a village to raise a child, but it also takes a village to restore one,” said Goodpasture. “For so many of our Native families that have a loved one with an intellectual and/or developmental disabilities, that village has been missing until now. Chairman Roberts and the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation understood our vision and felt equally compelled to help bring services to those in need. Their generosity allows us to reach more Native children, open our doors wider, and walk alongside families who once felt they had to navigate this journey alone. This is tribal nations caring for tribal nations, and it reflects the very best of who we are as Native people.”
The grant will support the organization’s continued growth and long-term sustainability, including expanded clinical space in Southern California, establishing a Northern California service hub, expanded outreach to additional tribal communities, and efforts to pursue Tribal Federally Qualified Health Center designation. These investments will help Acorns to Oak Trees reach more families, reduce wait times, and strengthen access to services in communities where few options currently exist.
The award reflects the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation’s ongoing commitment to supporting Native-led solutions that address community needs and create opportunities for future generations.
“Every child deserves the opportunity to thrive, and every family deserves support to understand their children’s unique needs and gifts,” added Chairman Roberts. “When we invest in Native families, we invest in stronger communities, healthier futures, and the well-being of generations to come.”
