Motivating the hopeless, disinterested and uninvolved learner poses a challenge as youth rebel to find a place of acceptance and understanding, a conference was told Thursday.

More than 300 educators, social workers and parents gathered at the fourth annual Indian Child Welfare Conference at the Seven Seas Inn in Mandan. The conference is designed to educate those who work with American Indian youth and families to understand the culture and cutural impact.

Rick Curwin, an educator from New York, has traveled the world spreading his message on how to manage youth behavior in a manner that respects the dignity of each individual.

"Some kids feel more safe and cared for in jail than they do at home," Curwin said. "A sense of values and culture has been lost over time, and native children have very little to value."

He also said kids are not the problem, the parents are.

"Everything starts at home," said Sherrice Roness, parent involvement coordinator at Standing Rock Indian Reservation. "When parents get involved, grades go up and attendance increases, but it is a trial-and-error process to find what will work to get parents involved. Every community is different, and it is frustrating because sometimes there will be a workshop and only two people will show up, and the next workshop more than 30 people will come."

Michelle Waslaski, a day treatment social worker at Standing Rock, said she was here to get helpful ideas on how to reach the youth who are struggling academically and behaviorally.

During the seminar, Curwin explained that people have a need to belong to something that is bigger than themselves.

"Kids have to belong to something that matters to them that can't be taken away from them or doesn't have to be earned," Curwin said. "Motivation is wanting to do something, not having to do something."

Paul Ronningen, director of children and family services at the North Dakota Department of Human Services, said Curwin and the other speakers were chosen based on their expertise in dealing with American Indian families and youth.

The conference ends today.