Prevention Programs

Prevention in Tribal child welfare means strengthening families and communities before a crisis occurs—creating the conditions that support safety, connection, and cultural continuity. For American Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Villages, prevention often includes honoring and revitalizing cultural practices, strengthening community connections, and addressing root causes such as poverty and trauma. Each Tribe and Village is unique in how it defines, leads, and implements prevention work, grounded in sovereignty, self-determination, and community wisdom.

In Tribal child welfare, culture is prevention. Cultural identity, language, ceremonies, and relational worldviews are protective factors that support family preservation and reduce the likelihood of future system involvement. Prevention strategies may include building kinship networks; engaging fathers, grandparents, and extended family members; establishing family resource centers; and embracing traditional ways of resolving conflict and restoring harmony. These efforts center Indigenous values and proactively address risk by building on community strengths.

Prevention in Tribal child welfare is proactive, strength-based, and community-driven. It includes programs that reduce the need for child removals due to poverty, support family wellness before crisis occurs, and foster healing in culturally meaningful ways. Tribal programs often design prevention strategies that align with their values while also navigating federal requirements such as those under the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA), which provides opportunities to fund evidence-based supports like mental health services, parenting programs, and kinship navigation.