An introduction to for Caregivers

The Alliance for Child Welfare Excellence is Washington’s first comprehensive statewide training partnership dedicated to developing professional expertise for social workers and enhancing the skills of foster parents and caregivers working with vulnerable children and families. 2

 CCW201-01: Knows about the child welfare system, including the Indian Child Welfare Act, and understands tools and resources to navigate the system (contacts, forms, procedures, where to turn, etc.)  CCW201-02: Knows the policies and legal/judicial processes and how they apply to Caregivers: the Indian Child Welfare Act; child welfare agency policies; regulations; legal liability; abuse and neglect reporting procedures; juvenile court processes.  CCW202-02: Understand the value of effective communication and engagement with the child welfare team.  CCW203-01: Understands the benefits and challenges of different permanency options; including the legal status, and financial and service supports associated with each permanency outcome.  CFAM236-01: Knows how to interact with children and their families in a culturally responsive and appropriate way  CFAM236-03: Knows how to: actively participate in community and cultural events; build social supports for the child’s cultural identity; keep Indian children connected with their tribes.

 CFAM236-04: Understands the need to seek deeper knowledge and develop skills for interacting with families from diverse cultures.  CFAM336-01: Able to use a wide array of skills, knowledge, and culturally responsive resources; identify and seek services and supports available and necessary to ensure culturally appropriate responsiveness in home, in school and in the community.  CFAM336-02: Able to identify and seek services and supports available and necessary to assist children with issues related to race, ethnicity, and culture.  CFAM336-03: Utilizes a wide array of skills, knowledge for the care of Native American/ Alaska Native children and strategies for building children’s connections with their tribe and local Native American organizations.  CFAM336-04: Able to utilize a wide array of skills, knowledge, and resources available and necessary to develop a deeper understanding of families from diverse cultures, and cultural competence.

 Legal, Historical, and Social Basis Legal, Historical, and Social Basis  Tribal Involvement in Child Welfare Cases Tribal Involvement in Child Welfare Cases  Placement of Indian Children Placement of Indian Children  Wrap-Up & Quiz Wrap-Up & Quiz

Return to Main Menu

Discussion Guide

If you don’t understand sovereignty, you don’t understand Indians. John Echohawk Director, Native American Rights Fund “ ”

be notified of potential involvement assume jurisdiction OR be otherwise involved …affirms the right of Tribes to: the removal of Indian children …sets minimum standards for: placement into culturally appropriate homes …sets requirements for: Large Group Discussion: ICWA Summary

“ Federal and WA State definition: ” …any unmarried person who is under age eighteen and is either (a) a member of an Indian tribe or (b) is eligible for membership in an Indian tribe and is the biological child of a member of an Indian tribe

Tribal Members Enrolled Tribal Members Which is more inclusive: enrollment or membership? The ICWA applies to all children who are members of a Tribe, or are eligible for membership.

List of the federally recognized tribes of WA by region Map of Washington Tribes   (click “Washington Tribes” and “Map”) Governor's Office of Indian Affairs 

Return to Main Menu

Discussion Guide

Tribes can:  Have exclusive jurisdiction  Become a party to the case  Have ongoing consultation and collaboration  Choose not to intervene

Advisory committees used when :  Tribe is unavailable - OR -  Tribe requests LICWAC

Placement in a non-Indian home requires agreement from the Tribe or LICWAC staffing. The Tribe needs to be notified within 24 hours.

1. Extended family2. Foster home licensed or approved by the child’s Tribe3. Other “Indian foster home” 4. Institution operated by the Tribe or suitable to meet the child’s needs. 5. Non-Indian licensed home WITH consent from the Tribe or LICWAC staffing, and continuing diligent efforts to identify a more appropriate placement. RCW Placement of Indian Children

PLACEMENT PREFENCES FOR NATIVE AMERICAN CHILDREN LARGE GROUP DISCUSSION (15

Legal requirements supporting placement preferences Return to Main Menu

 What do we know?  What don’t we know?  (And how do we know what we don’t know?)  Cultural Competence vs Cultural Humility  What is the child’s Point of View? How can they connect with other kids “like them”?

“ ” …a home in which at least one of the foster parents is:  A member of a federally recognized Indian tribe - OR -  Eligible for membership in a federally recognized tribe.

Not every Tribe believes in terminating parental rights… …because Tribes highly value the family unit and its sanctity. Instead, customary adoptions and guardianships are often used.

Such a home needs to be approved by the child’s Tribe or a LICWAC staffing. Non-Indian families must promote ongoing cultural and familial connections between the child, the Tribe, and kin.

 Attend activities within the Native community, such as Pow-wows.  Find a Native mentor for the child.  Obtain cultural artifacts for the child.  Maintain contact with the child’s extended family members.  Gather information about the child’s Tribe.  Learn how the Native culture varies from yours.  Learn tribal values around food, hair care, etc., and respect them.

 Remember that you are interacting with another government’s representative.  Acknowledge when you aren’t familiar with the Tribe’s policies and procedures.  Be open to growing your cultural fluency and humility.  Stay willing to learn from disagreements or miscommunications.

The main requirements of ICWA are that the state must:  Identify Indian children and notify Tribes  Facilitate Tribal involvement  Respect placement preferences  Require Caregivers to maintain or establish the child’s ties to his or her Indian culture, Tribe, and family

The ICWA is based on a _____________ to ___________ agreement and relationship. In addition to ties with family, Caregivers have the responsibility to maintain or establish a child’s ties to his/her Native ________________ and ________________.

The ICWA is based on a government to government agreement and relationship. In addition to ties with family, Caregivers have the responsibility to maintain or establish a child’s ties to his/her Native Tribe(s) and culture.

Thank you for completing this training on an introduction to the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) for Caregivers. The work you are doing to support tribal youth in our shared community is appreciated and matters. THANK YOU! If you would like more information about trainings related to Indian Child Welfare or trainings for caregivers in general, please visit on the online course catalog at: