Standing Strong for Native Families
A website from the Native American Rights Fund
Submit your presentations for the 43rd Annual Protecting Our Children Conference on March 30–April 2, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. Find submission information here and visit the conference page for more information.
See the NICWA website for additional information and to register: Registration is also open for the 42nd Annual Protecting Our Children Conference to be held in Seattle, Washington, April 7–10, 2024. See the NICWA website for more information.
For more information and to register, see the NICWA website.
NICWA’s June 2023 Training Institute will be held in St. Paul, Minnesota June 6 – 8, 2023. Trainings include Child Protection Teams in Indian Country and Positive Indian Parenting. Early bird registration is available through May 5 at the registration website. Learn about this and other upcoming training institutes at the NICWA website.
The State of American Indian and Alaska Native Children and Families Report is a six-part series of data briefs that presents current data on American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) child and family well-being. Each data brief covers an aspect of well-being data, including economic indicators, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), child welfare system involvement, mortality … Read more
The conference will be in person at the Peppermill Resort Spa Casino in Reno, Nevada. This year’s theme is Healing Our Spirits: Nurturing and Restoring Hope. A call for presentations is also open. Read more and register at the NICWA website.
The National Indian Child Welfare Association is offering the following programs: Positive Indian Parenting – Virtual August 22-25, 2022; September 12-15, 2022 Positive Indian Parenting – Niagara Falls, New York September 20-22, 2022 Understanding ICWA – Niagara Falls, New York September 20-22, 2022 Qualified Expert Witness – Portland, Oregon January 31- February 2, 2023 Cross-Cultural … Read more
The National Indian Child Welfare Association is offering the following programs: Positive Indian Parenting – Virtual July 25-28, 2022; August 22-25, 2022; September 12-15, 2022 Positive Indian Parenting – Niagara Falls, New York September 20-22, 2022 Understanding ICWA – Niagara Falls, New York September 20-22, 2022 Learn more about NICWA conferences and trainings.
Join NICWA for a webinar with state Indian child welfare professionals to hear discussions about impacts to state agency services and implementation of the Indian Child Welfare Act during the pandemic. Panelists:-Yvonne Barrett, Manager of Indian Child Welfare Act Program, Minnesota Department of Human Services-Adam Becenti, Director of Tribal Affairs, Oregon Department of Human Services-Natalie … Read more
March 29–April 1, 2020Denver, Colorado Each year, NICWA hosts the largest national gathering on American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) child advocacy issues. With over 1,400 attendees—and growing every year—this four-day conference has become the premiere national event addressing tribal child welfare and well-being. Keynote speakers range from federal officials at the highest level of … Read more
Research and data from states tell us that American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) children are disproportionately represented (or overrepresented) in the child welfare system nationwide, especially in foster care. This means that higher percentages of AI/AN children are found in the child welfare system than in the general population. The overrepresentation of AI/AN children often starts … Read more
National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA) has released a new online Introduction to ICWA course. It features the basics of ICWA, including the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ guidelines published December 12, 2016. The course uses an interactive platform designed to keep the learner engaged through teachings on the basics provisions of ICWA, case scenarios for … Read more
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 … Read more
This is a critical time for Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), our nation’s keystone federal law protecting Indian children. As you’ve already heard this morning and will hear more about during the conference, there is a lot of exciting activity in this area, at the federal, state and tribal level. Federal engagement is at unprecedented levels. But … Read more
From the National Indian Child Welfare Association: On February 12, 2016, the Children’s Bureau of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced two tribal consultation calls regarding a new round of Title IV-E Foster Care program development grants. Title IV-E funds placement activities related to foster care, relative guardianship, adoption, and independent living services. … Read more
This annual conference will include the following tracks: Data and Research: Learn about current research in the fields of Indian child welfare, children’s mental health, and youth development. Learn how to use and share data. Child Welfare, Foster Care, and Adoption Services: From grant writing for child welfare programs to implementing differential response and identifying … Read more
The Native Nations Institute at the University of Arizona and the National Indian Child Welfare Association have released a report detailing the second part of a study on tribal welfare codes designed to protect children and youth…. Based on the study’s findings, the team affirms that: · To help protect children from abuse and neglect, … Read more
“The first week of hearings and consultations demonstrated a tremendous groundswell of support in Indian Country,” said Dr. Sarah Kastelic. “It’s exciting to see the momentum created by such a diverse cross section of our communities. Foster and adoptive parents, Native adoptees, foster youth, attorneys and law professors, child psychologists, families still searching for displaced … Read more
Each year, the National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA) hosts the largest national gathering on American Indian and Alaska Native child advocacy issues. With over 800 attendees, this three-day conference attracts attention across North America, creating a space where participants can learn about the latest information across Indian Country in child welfare. Learn more and … Read more
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 … Read more
(Portland, Ore., June 10, 2014)—National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA) Deputy Director Sarah Kastelic, Ph.D., was named the 2014 recipient of the Independent Sector American Express NGen Leadership Award today. In announcing the award, Independent Sector cited Kastelic’s role as “a transformational leader working to further policy research that empowers American Indian and Alaska Native … Read more
NICWA just announced a new webinar to be held in July, Enhancing Basic Skills for Tribal Child Welfare Workers: New to tribal child welfare? Want to brush up on your tribal child welfare skills? Want to know if your program is following best practices in tribal child welfare? This webinar series is geared toward tribal … Read more
Notwithstanding setbacks like the Baby Girl decision, we will continue to stand up for ICWA because, as we said in the Supreme Court, it’s “a classic implementation of Congress’s plenary [trust] responsibility . . . for Indians.” You see, for us, standing up for ICWA means standing strong for tribal sovereignty. “Nothing could be more … Read more
2014-2015 Training Institute Dates ! September 8-10, 2014 – Portland, Oregon -ICWA Basics -Advanced ICWA -Positive Indian Parenting December 1-3, 2014 – San Diego, California -ICWA Basics -Advanced ICWA -Positive Indian Parenting April 23-24, 2015 – Portland, Oregon -ICWA Basics -Positive Indian Parenting ICWA Basics will be taught as a two-day course covering the basics of the … Read more
In response to a March 9, 2014 article in the Washington Post, “The hard lives — and high suicide rate — of Native American children on reservations,” the National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA) provided background information to reporter Sari Horwitz about child mistreatment statistics related to American Indian and Alaska Native children. The statement … Read more
Several prominent Native American groups on Monday called for the Justice Department to investigate the treatment of Indian children in public child-welfare systems and private adoptions. In a letter presented to government officials in… Read more at the New York Times website and see the National Indian Child Welfare Association press release.
The United States Supreme Court recently issued its opinion in the case of Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl. This document is designed to: Summarize the decision — what the case held about the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), what it did not hold, and what it implied. Provide advocates for tribes, birth parents (particularly unwed … Read more
Become a trainer of Positive Indian Parenting (PIP). This course will provide workers with information on how to organize and conduct parenting training. Preparing lesson plans, setting up meetings, and helping parents through this training will be covered. Exercises and handouts are designed for use in small groups or with a family. A facilitator’s manual … Read more
Register now for the 32nd Annual Protecting Our Children National American Indian Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect. The conference will be held April 13-16, 2014, in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. See more info and register at the National Indian Child Welfare Association website. Child welfare and legal professionals, advocates for children, tribal leaders, families, youth, … Read more
View the latest NICWA News at the NICWA website. Contents NICWA Executive Transition Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl Update NICWA’s New Strategic Plan /Martin and Connor Join NICWA Board In Memoriam: Bill Byler
Native American Rights Fund, National Congress of American Indians, and National Indian Child Welfare Association announce pursuit of civil rights lawsuit for Baby Veronica. Three of the nation’s leading tribal organizations announced today they are in the early stages of pursuing litigation to protect the civil rights of Veronica Brown, acitizen of the Cherokee Nation … Read more
If you were unable to join this webinar on the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl, you can access the recorded version here. On June 25, 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court announced its decision in Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl, the South Carolina adoption case involving the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) that has garnered significant … Read more
Learn more and register at the NICWA website. June 5–6, 2013 | Portland, Oregon Participants may choose one of the two workshops listed below. Introduction to Tribal Child Welfare This two-day workshop is designed for tribal staff, tribal council members, or child welfare committee or commission members who are new to the field of child … Read more
John Echohawk, Executive Director of the Native American Rights Fund; Jacqueline Pata, Executive Director of the National Congress of American Indians; and Terry Cross, Executive Director of the National Indian Child Welfare Association, have published an op-ed in Politico on Adoptive Parents v. Baby Girl, which was heard by the U.S. Supreme Court today. To … Read more
The Tribal Supreme Court Project – the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) and the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) – along with the National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA), will host a national teleconference and briefing to review the arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court in Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl. During the call, participants … Read more
Q&A With Cherokee Counsel for Baby Veronica Case: Read the article published on 4/11/13 in Indian Country Today.
CATOOSA – Members of the National Indian Child Welfare Association on Monday asked for a federal law to be left intact as the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to take up a Nowata family’s case next week. Read the entire article published in Tulsa World on 4/09/13.
An op-ed from Terry Cross, the executive director of the National Indian Child Welfare Association discussing the media and public attention on Dusten Brown, the father in Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl (12-399): At the heart of the case Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl is the story of a father who desperately wants to raise … Read more
Background: Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl is a case in which the South Carolina Supreme Court held that a Native American (Indian) child could not be adopted by non-Indian parents without complying with the requirements of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). The court ordered the child returned to her biological father after she had … Read more
The Indian Child Welfare Glossary and Flowchart from the National Indian Child Welfare Association provides a 1-page flowchart of ICWA/Child Protective Services accompanied with an 8-page glossary of words that are commonly used in Indian child welfare situations. Find them both at http://www.nicwa.org/Indian_Child_Welfare_Act/glossary.pdf.
The 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: NICWA and ICWA Compliance – A description of the way in which NICWA supports tribes in their efforts to effectively address ICWA compliance. Frequently Asked Questions History of … Read more
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 … Read more
A collaboration between the National Indian Child Welfare Assocation the Western and Pacific Implementation Center (WPIC), and the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska and other tribes, this project addresses the systemic issues that exist in tribal child welfare between the State of Alaska and Alaska Native Tribes. The four year … Read more
Organized by the National Indian Child Welfare Association, this is a professional development workshop series designed specifically for American Indian child welfare workers in reservation, urban, and rural settings. It will be held in Minneapolis, MN on March 18-19, 2013. Learn more and register at http://www.nicwa.org/training/institutes/MinneapolisWorkshops.asp. This session will include the following three units: Positive … Read more
See current job opening at the National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA) at http://www.nicwa.org/careers/ In addition to current open positions, you can find information about the internship opportunities that NICWA has available. NICWA accepts applications for volunteers or interns to work throughout the organization including membership relations, library science, media/communications, and event planning. Find more … Read more
Date: Wednesday, February 13, 2013 Time: 11 a.m. Pacific / 2 p.m. Eastern Presenter: Adrian Smith, JD, MSW, NICWA government affairs associate The U.S. Supreme Court will soon hear the case Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl, a South Carolina adoption case involving the Indian Child Welfare Act. This high profile and emotionally charged case has garnered significant … Read more
April 7-10, 2013 Tulsa, Oklahoma Conference Goals To highlight successful strategies for developing effective services To reveal the latest and most innovative child and family service delivery practices To highlight tactics and strategies for financing and sustaining services that impact children To showcase strategies for involving youth and families in developing services and policies that … Read more