• Foster Care Agreement Spirit Lake

    The Foster Care Agreement between the North Dakota Department of Human Services and the Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe establishes the Tribe’s authority over foster care placements and access to federal Title IV-E funds, contingent on compliance with all relevant laws and regulations. The agreement outlines shared responsibilities, with the Department reimbursing allowable administrative and training costs, while the Tribe provides eligibility information, ensures proper court order language, and licenses foster homes on the reservation. Maintenance payments and Medicaid coverage are guaranteed for eligible children. The agreement details cost allocation, quarterly reimbursement procedures, and corrective actions in cases of non-compliance, including a 30-day correction period and the development of a Program Improvement Plan, with the possibility of funding termination if deficiencies persist. The overall aim is to support the best interests of children in foster care and maximize federal support for tribal child welfare services.

  • Intergovernmental Agreement Between Houlton Band of Maliseet and State of Maine

    The Intergovernmental Agreement between the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians and the State of Maine, signed in 2002, establishes a cooperative framework for handling child welfare cases involving Maliseet children in accordance with the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). The agreement affirms the Tribe’s jurisdiction over child custody proceedings both on and off the reservation, provides for the transfer of cases from state to tribal courts, and sets procedures for notification, confidentiality, training, and funding. It emphasizes preserving Indian families and culture through placement preferences for extended family and tribal members, and commits the State to support the Tribe with resources, training, and assistance in recruiting and licensing Indian foster and adoptive homes. The agreement also outlines processes for dispute resolution, amendment, and termination.

  • MOU for Reporting and Investigation of Child Abuse Criminal Offenses in Indian Country

    This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishes procedures for reporting and investigating child abuse and neglect cases involving Indian children or Indian perpetrators in Indian Country within Oklahoma. Developed collaboratively by federal, state, and tribal agencies, the MOU mandates coordinated responses by multi-disciplinary teams, including law enforcement, child protection services, mental health professionals, prosecutors, and medical personnel. It requires initial phone reports within 12 hours and detailed written reports within 36 hours to relevant agencies. The document outlines jurisdictional responsibilities, emergency removal protocols, medical examinations, forensic interviews, and emphasizes interagency cooperation and confidentiality. It also clarifies investigative responsibilities based on the status of the child, perpetrator, and location, and notes that failure to report suspected abuse is a federal criminal offense. Comprehensive contact information for all involved agencies is provided.

  • Alaska Strategic Plan Vision Statement and Strategic Priorities

    The “Alaska Strategic Plan Vision Statement and Strategic Priorities” presents a five-year strategy to address the disproportionate representation of Alaska Native children in the state foster care system, where they constitute over half of the more than 3,000 children in care. The plan’s vision centers on the belief that Alaska Native culture is key to keeping these children safe, emphasizing collaborative partnerships, self-governance, effective implementation of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), alignment of state government efforts, community engagement, and culturally specific services. Developed through extensive collaboration among Tribal, state, and community partners, the plan aims to reduce barriers, address historical trauma and systemic bias, and ensure children remain connected to their culture and communities. It sets goals for truth and racial healing, tribal compacting of child welfare services, and meaningful tribal consultation, highlighting the positive impact of placing children within their extended families and communities.

  • Child Abuse and Neglect Referral Kalispel Tribe of Indians 

    The “Child Abuse and Neglect Referral” form used by the Kalispel Tribe of Indians’ Indian Child Welfare program is designed to collect comprehensive information regarding suspected child abuse or neglect. It gathers details about the alleged child victim, including personal and tribal affiliation information, as well as parent identification. The form also requests specifics about the alleged perpetrator, such as their relationship to the child, contact information, and any potential danger or weapon possession. Additional sections cover the referent’s details, confidentiality preferences, and the type of suspected abuse or neglect (physical, neglect, sexual, emotional, or exploitation). The form underscores the obligation of all tribal members, residents, employees, and contractors to report suspected abuse or neglect promptly in accordance with tribal law, and provides instructions for submitting the completed form to the Indian Child Welfare Program.

  • Tribal Newsletter (Tlingit and Haida)

    The August 2016 Tribal Update from the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska highlights key governmental and program activities, including meetings with U.S. and Canadian officials on transboundary mining impacts, support for responsible mining under strong regulations, and collaboration with Canadian First Nations. The newsletter discusses negotiations for the 2017 Annual Funding Agreement, which allows Southeast tribes to authorize the Central Council to manage federal programs. It also covers the Council’s support for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe against the Dakota Access Pipeline, a significant legal victory enabling Alaska tribes to petition for land-into-trust, the effects of federal budget cuts on tribal assistance, the receipt of a $185,000 climate adaptation grant, successful community events, ongoing foster care recruitment, and upcoming programs and conferences. The Council’s mission centers on sovereignty, cultural and economic resource enhancement, and self-governance through advocacy and collaboration.

  • Choctaw Nation Proclamation and Newsletter

    The May 2021 Choctaw Nation Adoption & Foster Care Newsletter announces Chief Gary Batton’s proclamation of May as Foster Care Awareness Month, expressing appreciation for foster families and highlighting the ongoing need for more foster parents to provide culturally supportive homes. The newsletter presents statistics on Native children in foster care, underscores the importance of annual training for foster parents, and calls for community recognition and support of foster caregivers. It features personal messages about the experiences of fostering, advice for honest communication during placements, and a child’s perspective on family needs. The publication also includes contact information for the foster care and adoption team, celebrates staff achievements, promotes outreach events like the Cardboard Kids campaign, and offers resources for learning Choctaw language and culture to support cultural continuity for children in care.

  • Recruitment Newspaper #2

    The article discusses the critical shortage of Native foster families in Utah, where approximately 130 Native children are in state custody but fewer than 20 Native foster and kinship homes are available. It emphasizes the importance of placing Native children with Native families for better outcomes, referencing the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978, which was enacted due to the disproportionate placement of Native children in foster care. Despite some progress, Native children remain overrepresented in Utah’s foster system, making up 6 percent of foster children while only 1 percent of the population. The article highlights efforts by Utah Foster Care, including outreach, resources, and partnerships with tribes, to recruit more Native foster families, and underscores the negative cultural impacts and increased risks faced by Native children placed outside their communities.

  • Recruitment Newspaper #1

    The document outlines services and opportunities offered by the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, emphasizing Anishnaabek Community and Family Services (ACFS). It promotes National Foster Care Month by encouraging community members to become foster parents, highlights the Shkode: Fit 4 Life youth program to encourage physical activity, and details the Child Care Development Fund, which provides child care assistance to eligible families and outlines provider requirements. Additional information is provided on tribal services in culture, education, housing, recreation, and enrollment, as well as job openings such as a part-time elder’s clerk and programs like Head Start and Early Head Start for young children, with contact and application details included.

  • Flyer

    The flyer calls for more culturally appropriate foster homes for tribal children in Southeast Alaska, emphasizing that many are currently placed in non-Native homes. The Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska is seeking Alaska Natives and American Indians to become foster parents, offering support and compensation. It clarifies that foster parents do not need to be married, wealthy, or highly experienced, but should be patient, understanding, and committed to providing a safe, culturally aware environment. The application process includes contacting Tribal Family & Youth Services, completing forms, a home study, training, background checks, references, and ensuring a safe home. The flyer encourages community involvement to help tribal children stay connected to their culture and traditions.