Resources and Support

Resources and support for individuals, families, and organizations working within the Indian child welfare system.

Applications Open for Office of Child Care Non-Profit Organization Grants


On April 23, 2019, ACF’s  Office of Child Care (OCC) announced the availability of funds and requested applications for:
* American Indian and Native Hawaiian Nonprofit Organization Child Care Grant
* Native Hawaiian Nonprofit Organization Child Care Grant

Each of these competitive funding opportunity announcements (FOA) provides grant funding for a private, nonprofit organization to provide child care services through funding from Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) formula grants. Eligible applicants may apply for funding under both FOAs, but they would only receive one award.
If an American Indian organization is already receiving funding under a CCDF formula grant directly with OCC, the grantee will not be eligible to receive such funding for the same service area under this funding opportunity. Projects will be funded for up to $1 million per year overthree years. Optional letters of intent are due by May 8, 2019, and applications are due by June 24, 2019.

See the Administration for Native Americans website for more information.

Funding Opportunity: $3.8 Million for National Child Welfare Capacity Building Center for Tribes

The US Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, announced a funding opportunity for the establishment of a national child welfare capacity building center for tribes. The estimated funding available was $3,770,700. Funding opportunity number HHS-2019-ACF-ACYF-CZ-1557 (CFDA 93.648, 93.652, 93.658). Posted on April 19 with an application closing date of June 18.

Read the full grant announcement at
https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=309874

Revised Indian Child Welfare Act; Designated Tribal Agents for Service of Notice

A Federal Register Notice by the Indian Affairs Bureau made on 3/08/17.

Seal of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)

The regulations implementing the Indian Child Welfare Act provide that Indian tribes may designate an agent other than the tribal chairman for service of notice of proceedings under the Act. This notice includes the current list of designated tribal agents for service of notice. (PDF copy of notice.)

Applications Now Accepted for 2017 Funding

From the National Indian Child Welfare Association:

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is accepting applications for Systems of Care grants to support mental health services and systems for children, youth, and families in tribal communities.

The purpose of this infrastructure program is to provide tribal communities with the tools and resources to implement or expand a community-based, coordinated system of care model for children’s mental health.

Applications filed now are for funding beginning in October 2017.

NICWA facilitated a recorded webinar on November 10, 2016, to:

  • Explain the purpose and goals of the funding opportunity;
  • Walk through each element of the FOA and provide tips for successful applications;
  • Encourage tribal applications; and
  • Answer questions

Learn more about the grant at the SAMHSA website.

Tribal applications are encouraged! The deadline is January 3, 2017.  

New Free ICWA Guide for Children and Youth Agencies

FAMILY DESIGN RESOURCES INC. INTRODUCES FREE ICWA SEARCH GUIDE TO HELP KEEP INDIAN FAMILIES TOGETHER Complements new federal regulations that go into effect in December

HARRISBURG, Pa. (Aug. 4, 2016) – Family Design Resources Inc. has introduced the first edition of its Indian Child Welfare Act Search Guide.

The free search guide anticipates new regulations issued by the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs that will go into effect on Dec. 8.

The 24-page search guide is designed to help children and youth agencies across the United States to comply with federal laws, regulations and guidelines when working with an Indian child or family…..

Read the full press release on the Family Design Resources website.
Download your free copy of the 24 page guide.

UND Receives Funding to Develop ICWA Training and Implementation Support

The University of North Dakota Department of Social Work has received a $2.4-million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to support implementation and evaluation of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) in North Dakota over the next five years.

UND is partnering in this grant with the Children and Family Services Training Center, the North Dakota Supreme Court, the North Dakota Bureau of Indian Affairs, the North Dakota Division of Children and Family Services, the Native American Training Institute, the Spirit Lake Nation and the Standing Rock Nation. The CFSTC is housed in the UND Department of Social Work; the Center provides training for all child welfare workers across the state and will develop new training on best practices in ICWA implementation.

Read the full article at the University of North Dakota website.

Tribal Title IV-E Plan Development Grants from The Administration for Children and Families

Grant Posted April 29, 2016
Funding Opportunity Title: Standing Announcement for Tribal Title IV-E Plan Development Grants

Full Grant Information at Grants.Gov.

The purpose of this funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is to solicit proposals for one-time grants to tribes, tribal organizations, or tribal consortia that are seeking to develop and, within 24 months of grant receipt, submit to the Department of Health and Human Services a plan to implement a title IV-E foster care, adoption assistance, and, at tribal option, guardianship assistance program. Grant funds under this FOA may be used for the cost of developing a title IV-E plan under section 471 of the Social Security Act (the Act) to carry out a program under section 479B of the Act. The grant may be used for costs relating to the development of case planning and case review systems, foster care licensing and standards for tribal foster homes and child care facilities, quality assurance systems, court structure and procedures, data collection systems, cost allocation methodology development, financial controls and financial management processes, or any other costs attributable to meeting any other requirement necessary for approval of a title IV-E plan.

Tribes Awarded $1.8M for Child Welfare and TANF Coordination

HHS’ Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance awarded $1.8 million to eight tribes and tribal organizations in Alaska, Montana, California and Washington to help strengthen vulnerable families through the tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) child welfare coordination grants.  The grants fund tribes to demonstrate models of effective coordination between tribal TANF programs and child welfare services for low-income tribal families at risk of child abuse or neglect.

Read the full press release at the Dept. of Health and Human Services website.

Study of Coordination of Tribal TANF and Child Welfare Services: Interim Findings Report

From the website of the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation; Office of the Administration for Children and Families; U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services:

Fourteen tribes and tribal organizations received demonstration grants from the Office of Family Assistance for Coordination of Tribal TANF and Child Welfare Services to Tribal Families in 2011. The purposes of these grants were to provide innovative and contextually relevant approaches to coordinating services between welfare and child welfare systems. The grantees were expected to provide one or more of the following services: (1) improved case management; (2) supportive services and assistance to tribal children in out-of-home placements; and (3) prevention services and assistance to tribal families at risk of child abuse and neglect. This report summarizes grantees’ midterm experiences with direct services and inter-agency coordination gleaned from interviews, observations, and document reviews.

Download:

Assistant Secretary Washburn Announces a New Program to Assist Tribal Social Services Agencies in Placing Children in Homes (updated)

Aug. 19, 2015 – Assistant Secretary, Indian Affairs Kevin K. Washburn today announced a new Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Office of Justice Services (BIA-OJS) program to assist federally recognized tribal social services agencies seeking to place children in safe homes.

Read the full press release at the U.S. Department of the Interior website.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs will help tribes conduct background investigations to ensure children are being placed in safe homes. The agency’s Office of Justice Services will be on-call 24 hours a day for tribal social services agencies. They will be able to check the names of adults before placing children in a foster or temporary home.

Read the full article at the Indianz.com website.

Read related coverage at the Spokesman-Review website  and on the Lexology blog.

 

New State and Tribal ICWA Implementation Partnership Grants

Exciting opportunity for ICWA Implementation from HHS now posted to HHS grants forecast website. State and Tribal ICWA Implementation Partnership Grants have been forecast. The forecast gives notice that this is an upcoming opportunity which will be announced. There is a notification feature to add yourself to get updates such as when the grant will open for the application process.

Excerpt from grant forecast description for ACF-2016-FCAST-0098 – State and Tribal Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) Implementation Partnership Grants

The purpose of this funding opportunity announcement is to support the creation of effective practice model partnerships between state courts and/or Court Improvement Program, state public child welfare agency and a tribe, group of tribes, or tribal consortia, including both the tribal child welfare agency and tribal court for effective implementation of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) of 1978 (Pub.L. 95-608).

Demonstration sites will be required to jointly develop protocols and practices to promote effective and timely:
– Identification of Indian children;
– Notice to tribes;
– Tribal participation as parties in hearings involving Indian children;
– Tribal intervention in dependency cases;
– Transfer of ICWA cases to tribal courts; and
– Placement of Indian children according to tribal preferences.

Partnership models must be co-created by states and tribes, jointly implemented, and designed to generate and capture clear, measurable outcomes such as:
– Compliance with identification methods;
– The number of Indian children identified;
– Length of time from removal or petition filed until identification is made;
– Number of notices sent;
– Length of time from identification until notice sent (state measure)
– Number of notices received (tribal measure)
– Length of time for tribal intervention or participation; (tribal measure)
– Number of cases in which a tribe intervenes; (joint measure)
– Number of transfers; (joint measure); and
– Number of Indian children placed according to tribal placement preferences (joint measure).

This funding opportunity is for a 36-month project period with three 12-month budget periods.

Federal Agency Contact Information:
David P. Kelly
Children’s Bureau
Administration for Children and Families U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
(202) 205-8709
david.kelly@acf.hhs.gov

$2 million in Grants to Build Tribal Education Departments

[G]rants ranging from $25,000 to $150,000 per fiscal year are available for federally recognized tribes and their education departments. The grants are designed to help tribes assume control of Bureau of Indian Education (BIE)-funded schools in their communities, promote tribal education capacity, and provide academically rigorous and culturally appropriate education to Indian students on their reservations and trust lands.

Read the full article at the Lake County Leader website.

Washington Tribes Urge Restart of Background Checks in Child Placement

Washington tribes and the country’s largest group representing Native Americans are asking for state and federal help in getting background checks when a tribe needs to place a child with a foster parent in an emergency situation.

The state’s Children’s Administration, a division of the Department of Social and Health Services, had conducted the criminal background checks for the tribes for years. But Jennifer Strus, the agency’s assistant secretary, sent a letter to the tribes in June saying that service would no longer be provided effective July 1, 2014.

Read the full article at the Bellingham Herald website.

Nearly $2.9 Million in Head Start Funds Awarded to Tribe

The federal funding [to the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation in North Dakota] will support Early Head Start and Head Start programs as the tribe works to improve its governance, children’s health and safety and provide comprehensive early education services to improve school readiness for American Indian children, according to a news release. The funds will support the programs over the course of five years.

Learn more at the Grand Forks Herald website.

USDA Launches Initiative to Develop New Solutions to End Child Hunger

In a speech at the 2015 National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference today about the extent of childhood hunger in America and the impact of USDA programs on reducing food insecurity, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced more than $27 million in grants to fund innovative projects designed help end childhood hunger. The announcement was part of USDA efforts during National Nutrition Month to focus on poverty and food insecurity among children, especially in rural areas. These projects will be tested in Kentucky, Nevada, and Virginia, as well as the Chickasaw and Navajo tribal nations.

Read the full news release at the USDA website.

CMS Awards $3.9 Million to Improve Access to Health Care

Nov. 12, 2014 – The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today awarded $3.9 million for outreach and enrollment efforts aimed at American Indian and Alaska Native children eligible for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The grant awards will fund activities to engage schools and tribal agencies in Medicaid and CHIP outreach and enrollment activities.

See the full press release at the CMS website.

Electronic Notice for ICWA – webinar and resources

The National for State Courts is providing access to an October 31, 2014 webinar and related materials on the topic of electronic notice to tribes in lieu of certified, registered mail under the Indian Child Welfare Act.

ICWA eNotice
Electronic Noticing in Indian Child Welfare Cases-Making It Happen. (October 2014). This pre-recorded webinar provides information for courts on electronic notification in cases that fall under the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA).

High Level Model Notice. (2014).

ICWA eMessaging Architecture. (2014).

ICWA eNotice Detailed Model. (2014).

ICWA eNotice Application User Guide. (October 2014).

Tribal Resolution in Support of Electronic Noticing. (2014).

Children’s Bureau Express Spotlight on Tribal Child Welfare

Native American children are disproportionally represented in child welfare. Efforts to effect change must be culturally competent and protect the best interests of Indian children and strengthen Native families. This month, we look at cultural adaptations of trauma treatments, research on the use of social services by urban American Indian families, and a guide to help CASAs [court appointed special advocates] advocate for Native children.

cbxSee the October 2014 issue  at the Children’s Bureau Express website.

Indian Child Welfare Act Online Training Course (NICWA)

Increase the depth of your understanding of the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978. Take the National Indian Child Welfare Association’s online ICWA training course at your own pace. The provisions of ICWA are explained in non-legal language and presented in the order in which a child welfare worker might encounter them in an ICWA case.

Geared toward those who work in, or study, the out-of-home placement of Indian children, the course will resonate with social workers, tribal social service agency directors and boards, state and county social workers and supervisors, training personnel, professors, and students.

  • Learn what led to ICWA’s enactment and be equipped to explain ICWA to those unfamiliar with its purpose
  • Be confident in knowing principles of good social work, including how handle a case involving an Indian child in compliance with ICWA
  • Acquire the information needed to handle the out-of-home placement of an Indian child
  • Identify cultural factors to consider when handling cases involving Indian children and families
  • Upon successful completion of the course earn a certification of completion

NICWA logoLearn more and register at the National Indian Child Welfare Association website.

Online ICWA Resources for Michigan Judges

Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978: A Court Resource Guide
This court resource guide was written by a special committee formed by the Michigan Supreme Court to help Michigan judges learn about the federal Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978, the need for states to comply with the Act, and discuss its implementation in Michigan.
ICWA Special Committee
State Court Administrative Office
July, 2012

Chapter 11: Adoption Proceedings Involving an Indian Child in Adoption Proceedings Benchbook – Revised Edition
Michigan Judicial Institute, 2014

 

 

Passamaquoddy Tribe awarded $800,000 federal grant to aid at-risk children

The Passamaquoddy Tribe has been awarded the first of what could be several federal grants totaling millions of dollars aimed at coordinating and bolstering services to at-risk children.

The $800,000 grant from the Center for Mental Health Services, part of the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, was announced by Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King in a joint news release last week.

Read more at the Bangor Daily News website.

A Roadmap for Collaborative and Effective Evaluation in Tribal Communities (Children’s Bureau)

From the Children’s Bureau website:

Throughout history, many American Indian and Alaska Native communities have experienced intrusive research and judgmental evaluations that have caused harm. As a result, many fears about evaluation persist. Based on the efforts of a Children’s Bureau-sponsored workgroup of experts, this video introduces a vision for the future of Tribal child welfare evaluation and a guide for developing culturally and scientifically rigorous evaluation.

Learn more and watch an informational video at the Children’s Bureau website and download the publication, A Roadmap for Collaborative and Effective Evaluation in Tribal Communities.

Logo for Children's Bureau

Available Grants Focused on Increasing Health Insurance Enrollment of American Indian/Alaska Native Children

A total of $4 million is available for grants to eligible entities, including the Indian Health Service (IHS), Tribes and Tribal organizations operating health programs under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (ISDEAA) (P.L. 93-638, as amended), and Urban Indian organizations operating health programs under title V of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA) (P.L. 94-437, as amended.) Coalitions headed by eligible entities may also receive grants. These grants will support outreach strategies aimed at increasing enrollment of eligible AI/AN children in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), emphasizing activities tailored to communities where AI/AN children and families reside and enlisting community leaders and programs that serve eligible children and families. These grants also will fund activities designed to help families understand new application procedures and health coverage opportunities, including Medicaid, CHIP and coverage through the health insurance marketplace.

Department of Health and Human Services logoClosing Date for Applications: Jun 30, 2014

Learn more about this funding opportunity at the Grants.gov website.

Resource: National Child Welfare Workforce Institute

National Child Welfare Workforce Institute According to their website, the National Child Welfare Institute’s (NCWWI)…

… purpose is to increase child welfare practice effectiveness through diverse partnerships that focus on workforce systems development, organizational interventions, and change leadership, using data-driven capacity building, education, and professional development. NCWWI’s workforce development activities promote…

  • Learning: Fostering continuous learning that is interactive, reflective and relevant
  • Leading: Cultivating diverse leadership at multiple levels within child welfare systems
  • Changing: Supporting change through workforce development and organizational capacity building

Visit the NCWWI website to find information about upcoming webinars and teleconferences, professional education traineeships,  archives of past webinars, as well as online resources like tribal coaching manuals, reports, articles, training curricula, and more.

A Survey and Analysis of Select Title IV-E Tribal-State Agreements including Template of Promising Practices

The Association on American Indian Affairs, with support from Casey Family Programs, recently released their report,  A Survey and Analysis of Select Title IV-E Tribal-State Agreements including Template of Promising Practices. From the report:

This report provides a detailed analysis of Title IV-E tribal-state agreements, which includes an overall summary of the status of current Title IV-E agreements, as well as a breakdown of the provisions that can be found in those agreements by subject matter. This report was prepared during a 14 month period between October 2012 and December 2013. It took into account 98 agreements representing 267 Indian Nations from 16 states that pass federal Title IV-E allowable costs to the tribes.  During that period, some agreements expired and new agreements were developed. Other agreements were replaced by direct funding programs pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 679B. Thus, this report does not attempt to provide  definitive numbers of  current tribal-state agreements or their exact status.  Rather, its goal is to provide an overview of the substantive landscape of Title IV-E tribal-state agreements during a particular window of time.

Along with this report is a template providing provisions from the various tribal-state agreements that elucidate promising practices in these agreements.

View and download the full report here.

SAMHSA Grants Fund Expansions of Juvenile Treatment Drug Court Services

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, is accepting applications for fiscal year 2014 Grants to Expand Substance Abuse Treatment in Adult Tribal Healing to Wellness Courts and Juvenile Treatment Drug Courts. The purpose of this program is to expand substance abuse treatment services in existing adult Tribal Healing to Wellness Courts and in Juvenile Treatment Drug Courts, which use the treatment drug court model in order to provide alcohol and drug treatment to defendants/offenders.

View the Request for Applications.

View the 2014 Grant announcements to find other funding opportunities.

SAMHSA logoApplications are due by March 17, 2014.

New Publication – Indian Child Welfare Act Facts and Fiction

ICWA Facts and Fiction is a new publication of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ). Visit the NCJFCJ website for a copy of this resource published in December, 2013. See also other related NCJFCJ publications.

The Tribal Judicial Leadership Group, coordinated by the NCJFCJ and Casey Family Programs, and comprised of tribal and state court judges, identified the need to dispel common misconceptions and misunderstandings around the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). Included in this document are common misunderstandings, facts, recommended practices, and statutory references surrounding application, notice, membership, intervention, transfer, active efforts, best interests, qualified expert witnesses, and placement. This structure is meant to allow users to jump to issues of particular concern in their jurisdictions, but can also be reviewed as a whole. The goal of this publication is to improve compliance with ICWA and assist judges in fulfilling its mandates.

 

Alaska Office of Children’s Services: Indian Child Welfare Website

From the website: “The State of Alaska Department of Health & Social Services (DHSS), Office of Children’s Services (OCS) strongly supports the Indian Child Welfare (ICWA) and continues to build federal ICWA mandates into all levels of OCS Child Welfare. We continue to develop postive collaborative and communicative partnerships with all Native organizations and Alaska Native Tribal organizations.”  See the website at: http://dhss.alaska.gov/ocs/Pages/icwa/default.aspx.

 

The U.S. Department of Justice offers grants to fund Native American Children/Youth Programs.

From the press release: The U.S. Department of Justice announced the opening of a comprehensive grant solicitation for funding to support public safety, victim services, and crime prevention by American Indian and Alaska Native governments. The department’s FY 2014 Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS) is available at www.justice.gov/tribal/open-sol.html .
“Over the past four years, more than $437 million in much-needed assistance has been provided to American Indian and Alaska Native communities through the Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation,” said Associate Attorney General Tony West. “These resources are helping to strengthen justice, hope, and healing in tribal communities and are supporting efforts to intervene in the lives of at-risk youth, prevent violence against women, improve community policing, and explore alternatives to incarceration.”

Read the full press release to learn what youth and children programs are available for funding.

Magdalena Schools (NM) Awarded $1.2 million for Indian Students

Magdalena Schools was awarded a $1.2 million Demonstration Grant for Indian Children from the U.S. Department of Education in September. The grant funds programs addressing the needs of Native American pre-school and high school students, according to Keri James, federal and state programs coordinator for the district. But all Magdalena students will benefit from the funding boost.

Read more at the El Defensor Chieftan website.

American Indian Enhancement Project Toolkit

The American Indian Enhancement (AIE) Project Toolkit provides the concepts, guidance, and action steps necessary for developing a programmatic infrastructure within the child welfare agency to improve outcomes for American Indian and Alaska Native families and children in the child welfare system. The toolkit is designed to assist your county to advance child welfare practice and achieve compliance with the letter and spirit of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA).

The toolkit includes:

  • Definitional Tools: Describe the purpose, approach, and models.
  • Engagement and Communication Tools: Provide guidance for engaging staff and stakeholders.
  • Assessment Tools
  • Planning Tools: Identify the steps  for implementation.
  • Training, Coaching, and Transfer of Learning Tools: Include curricula and other resources related to child welfare practices.
  • Evaluation Tools

The American Indian Enhancement Team is an effort of the California Disproportionality Project, a Breakthrough Series Collaborative (BSC) resourced through The Annie E. Casey Foundation, the California Department of Social Services, Casey Family Programs, and the Stuart Foundation, in collaboration with the Administrative Office of the Courts, the Child and Family Policy Institute of California, the California Child Welfare Co-Investment Partnership, the California Social Work Education Center, and Tribal STAR. Participating Counties include Fresno, Orange, Riverside, San Diego, and San Bernardino.

Vision from the Bench to Fulfill the ICWA Promise

The author of this January 2012 article, Gina Jackson, is a Model Court Liaison for the Victims Act Model Court Project with the Permanency Planning for Children Department of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges and a member of the Temoke Western Shoshone Tribe.  She looks at how we as a nation are doing in following the Indian Child Welfare Act.  She calls upon judicial educators and leaders to continue to improve ICWA performance and gives specific suggestions and resources to help achieve these goals.

See the full article at the National Association of State Judicial Educators website.

ICWA Resource Page (California Courts)

The Tribal/State Programs Unit of the Center for Families Children and the California Courts have created a webpage to assist those involved in Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) proceedings.  The page can help them understand their legal obligations under ICWA and comply with those requirements.

Subjects covered include ICWA job aids; law, rules & regulations; expert witnesses; education; directory of California services; and tribal customary adoption.

Visit the the California Courts website to learn more.

Screenshot from California Courts website

Invitation to Apply for FY 2013 Support to the Attorney General’s Task Force on AI/AN Children Exposed to Violence

The US Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention invites tribal nonprofit and for-profit organizations (including non-tribal nonprofit and for-profit organizations) and tribal institutions of higher education (including non-tribal institutions of higher education) to submit applications for its Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 Support to the Attorney General’s Task Force on American Indian/Alaska Native Children Exposed to Violence.

The grant will support an organization that will (1) assist the Attorney General’s Task Force on American Indian/Alaska Native Children Exposed to Violence (AI/AN Task Force) to conduct public hearings and listening sessions in American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities to help the AI/AN Task Force gain a fuller understanding of the issues surrounding AI/AN children’s exposure to violence, (2) provide primary technical writing services for the final report from which the AI/AN Task Force may draw specific policy recommendations, and (3) provide all necessary support for the AI/AN Task Force and the public hearings.

Learn more and apply at Grants.gov.

Posted Date: Jun 14, 2013
Closing Date for Applications: Jul 29, 2013
Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement
Category of Funding Activity: Law, Justice and Legal Services
Expected Number of Awards: 5
Estimated Total Program Funding: $750,000

ICWA Educational Video Now Available Online

This ICWA educational resource video is the culmination of the ongoing collaboration between the Mississippi Courts, Child Welfare Agency, and the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians in consultation with the National Resource Center on Legal and Judicial Issues and the National Resource Center for Tribes. The video was produced by Mad Genius, Inc., Ridgeland, Mississippi.

The video will be a companion to the National ICWA Judicial Curriculum currently in development, a resource designed for state court judges, courts, and judicial educators.

For more information contact Dennis Perkins, Mississippi Administrative Office of Courts.

See the video at http://courts.ms.gov/trialcourts/youthcourt/youthcourt_ycvideos.html (scroll down to section on Indian Child Welfare Act)

Child Care Administrative Data Analysis Grants (Application Deadline: 6/24/2013)

These cooperative agreements would fund research and evaluation activities that primarily involve the analysis of child care administrative data….. Results from this research are expected to add to our knowledge about the efficacy of child care subsidy policies and quality improvement initiatives in supporting employment and self-sufficiency outcomes for parents, increasing access by low-income families to high quality programs, and promoting positive learning and school readiness outcomes for children. Projects are also expected to inform the field at large regarding administrative data analysis. As such, grantees will be expected to participate in a network of child care administrative data analysis grantees, meeting annually and communicating regularly to share lessons learned, identify opportunities for collaborative analyses, and develop collective expertise and resources to be shared with the field at large.

Letter of Intent Date: 06/10/2013

Application Due Date: 06/24/2013

Learn more at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website.

Funding Details: Native Hawaiian and American Indian Non-profit Organization Child Care Grants

Native Hawaiian and American Indian Nonprofit Organization Child Care Grants will award funding to nonprofit organizations who offer a high-quality child care program that is child-focused, culturally and linguistically appropriate, family-friendly, fair to providers, and addresses the needs and unique circumstances of Native Hawaiian and/or American Indian/ Alaska Native (AIAN) youth and their families.

Due Date For Letter of Intent: 05/10/2013

Due Date for Applications: 06/24/2013

Learn more at the US Dept of Health and Human Services website.

Program: Tribal STAR (Successful Transitions for Adult Readiness)

Tribal Star logoTribal STAR (Successful Transitions for Adult Readiness) is a program of the San Diego State University School of Social Work, Academy for Professional Excellence. It’s mission is to ensure Tribal foster youth are connected to culture, community and resources. The program does this by providing training and technical assistance to tribes, tribal programs, county social workers, and others working with Tribal foster youth. Resources include:

  • technical assistance to agencies to encourage collaboration and community engagement;
  • technical assistance to tribes to better understand local resources;
  • a bi-monthly newsletter – Tribal Star Drumbeats – that includes events and trainings, funding opportunities, legislation, promising practices and more;
  • community forums in Southern California;
  • materials about customary adoption;
  • trainings and curriculum; and
  • other publications and outreach materials.

Trainings include:

  • Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA)
    The revised ICWA training “ICWA: In The Best Interest of the Child: Where The Spirit Leads” is intended to provide today’s social workers with a foundation of knowledge of the Indian Child Welfare Act.
  • Summit
    The Summit provides an overview of Native American culture, history, and distrust of government systems and services. The training include first-hand accounts of Tribal youth experiences receiving CWS services. Participants engage in collaborative brainstorming to support goals and objectives.The training allows organizations to focus on specific challenges and identify solutions.
  • Other Side of ICWA
    The Other Side of ICWA is intended to address “the spirit of the law” and those concerns missing in traditional training that are essential for successful implementation of ICWA.
  • Gathering
    The Gathering provides an overview of Native American culture, history, and distrust of government systems and services. The training reviews the unique issues that affect adolescent development of Tribal youth. Participants engage in collaborative brainstorming. The Gathering provides first hand accounts of Tribal youth who have experienced receiving CWS services and basic communication techniques that support more trusting relations with Tribal youth and families.The training allows organizations to focus on specific challenges and identify solutions.
  • Collaborative
    The Collaborative is an adapted half-day training designed to introduce Tribal and non- tribal child welfare workers to the challenges of serving Tribal foster youth. It covers a brief historical overview and concludes with recommendations that support increased communication and collaboration among providers that strive to achieve positive outcomes for Tribal youth.
  • Training-for-Trainers
    Training for Trainers focus on skill building to lead cross-cultural discussions that result in positive outcomes. The training also helps participants learn how to conduct Tribal STAR training in their area. Topics covered in the training include cross-cultural communication, cultivating and maintaining trust-based relationships, and understanding how history affects today’s relationships between CWS and Tribal programs.

 

Resource: ICWA Desk Guide (Casey Family Programs)

Casey Family Programs logoProduced by the Casey Family Programs, this eight-page Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) desk guide is a general reference about the major provisions of the ICWA and the laws and policies regarding the application of the law in different jurisdictions. (Some states provide guidance regarding ICWA in their policy manuals and through training; other states have codified ICWA in state law or have defined terms used in the ICWA in state statute, while others have codified only certain aspects of ICWA.) Additional resources are identified on page five of the guide.  Find the guide at http://narf.org/nill/documents/20111100_ICWA_guide_Casey.pdf.

ICWA Resource Page (NICWA)

NICWA logoThe National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA) offers a page of resources related to the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (ICWA) at
http://www.nicwa.org/Indian_Child_Welfare_Act/.

The page includes:

Training Materials Available for Purchase (NICWA)

The National Indian Child Welfare Association offers a number of training materials for purchase. Visit http://www.nicwa.org/resources/curriculum/ to learn more and order materials.

 

Available curriculum include:

  • Module I: Basic Skills in Indian Child Welfare
  • Module I Trainer’s Guide
  • Module II: Protective Services for Indian Children
  • Module II Trainer’s Guide
  • Module III: Indian Extended Family and Foster Family Care
  • Module III Trainer’s Guide
  • Module IV: Family-Centered Services for Indian Children
  • Module IV Trainer’s Guide
  • Module V: Permanency Planning for Indian Children
  • Module V Trainer’s Guide
  • Training Issues and Methods in Indian Child Welfare: A Model for Trainers
  • Module I Exercise Packet
  • Module II Exercise Packet
  • Module III Exercise Packet
  • Module IV Exercise Packet
  • Module V Exercise Packet
  • Positive Indian Parenting: Honoring our Children by Honoring our Traditions
  • Our Children’s Future: A Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Curriculum for Native American Head Start Programs
  • Cross-Cultural Skills in Indian Child Welfare: A Guide for the Non-Indian
  • Grassroots Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect in Indian Communities: A Guide for the Community Organizer

Forms: Indian Child Welfare Act (MN Dept of Human Services)

NDDHS logoThe North Dakota Department of Human Services offers a variety of forms for social work professionals, tribal workers, attorneys, and others dealing with adoptions or placements involving American Indian children.  You can find the following forms (with descriptions) on their website at http://www.nd.gov/dhs/triballiaison/forms/ :

  • Summary of ICWA Jurisdictional Provisions
  • Notice Pursuant to ICWA
  • Request for Confirmation of Child’s Status as Indian
  • Notice to Secretary of U.S. Dept. of Interior Regarding an Indian Child
  • Letter from Tribal ICWA Worker
  • Letter to Clerk of Court
  • Notice of Intervention
  • Request for Transfer
  • Request for Continuance – Indian Tribe
  • Affidavit of Tribal Membership
  • Certificate of Mailing
  • Tribal Placement Preferences
  • Order for Good Cause/Record of ICWA Placement
  • Transfer Order
  • Consent to Termination of Parental Rights and Certification – Adoption of an Indian Child
  • Notice to the Secretary of the Interior or His/Her Designee of Final Decree or Order of Adoption of an Indian Child Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. § 1951
  • Social Worker Checklist
  • Face Sheet
  • Legal Face Sheet and History
  • Placement Search

Source: Indian Child Welfare Act: A Manual for North Dakota Practitioners (The manual was developed by a task force and produced by the N.D. Department of Human Services.)

Tribal Funding from the Children’s Bureau

Children's Bureau

From the US Department of Health & Human Services, Administration for Children & Families, Children’s Bureau website at
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/programs/state-tribal-funding

The Children’s Bureau provides matching funds to states, tribes, and communities to help them operate every aspect of their child welfare systems—from the prevention of child abuse and neglect to the support of permanent placements through adoption and subsidized guardianship.

This website describes the types of programs which might qualify under Title IV-E and Title IV-B.  It includes a link to the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, which includes all federal program that provide assistance to the American public.