On July 15, the Uniform Law Commission, which drafts and promotes the enactment of consistent state laws, released a nonbinding model law for states that updates and clarifies child welfare protections for tribal children and families, according to reporting from The Imprint. It is a template for states without their own Indian Child Welfare Act laws.
Seventeen states have enacted stronger ICWA laws, but compliance is inconsistent nationwide. Domingo DeGrazia, ICWA supervising attorney for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, said inconsistent interpretation has created a patchwork that can hinder advocacy.
Read the full story at Buffalo’s Fire.