1. TICA: Promising Practices in Indian Country
Sheri Freemont, Senior Director
Sheldon Spotted Elk,
Director

3. Indian Children in out of home care

4. Geographic Areas of Current Work

5. Child Welfare Initiative Agreement Tribes
Port Gamble (WA)
Osage (OK)
Muskogee Creek (OK)
Yakama (WA)
Gila River (AZ)
Salish & Kootenai (MT)
Northern Cheyenne (MT)
Spirit Lake (ND)
MHA Nation (ND)
Navajo (AZ, NM, UT)
Sisseton Wahpeton (SD)
Salt River Pima-Maricopa (AZ)
Pascua Yaqui (AZ)
Tlingit & Haida (AK)
Kawerak Inc. (AK)
Tanana Chiefs Conf. (AK)

6. Capacity Building- Staffing
Lawyers are NOT going to solve child welfare, yet they are often put in the lead of the system.
What is qualified? Competent? Training curriculum identifying support network and permitting development.
Other Departments (Social Services, judiciary, housing, education, TANF)
Collaboration, spread duties, support decision making, trauma informed
In-house Counsel: Continuing education, advocate for best practices, resist temptation a “savior.”

7. Capacity Building- Leadership
Commitment to Tribe’s vision and values
Expressly and explicitly prioritizing efforts
Open to education and dialogue, asking the tough questions
Root causes, trauma, economic development, justice, ethics, innovation and traditions
In house Counsel Role: know the field, know practices that are working, educate/collaborate (counsel the client)

8. Capacity Building- Funding
SSA, Title IV-E
State-Tribal IV-E Agreements
Tribal Court Improvement Program
Tribal TANF
Tiwahe Initiative

9. National Projects ICWA Defense Project—Kate Fort
Tribal Leaders Convening
Tribal Social Services Directors Convening
Foster Care Recruitment/Retention