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National Conference 6
NICWA Grant 5
Technology Update 4
Worker Certification 8
NCSACW Services 9
Watchful Eyes 8
Prevention Month 10
Protecting Children 6
Free Training 3
Coping with a Baby 2
SPRING 2005
CW Middle Managers 1
Policy Articles 2-3
NICWA Fee or Service 4
Customary Adoption 5, 8-9
Annual Conerence 6-7
FALL 2009
National Child Welfare WorkforceLeadership Academy Opens forMiddle Managers and Supervisors
Thedeadlineorapplicationsis
November1orthenextLeadershipAcademyorMiddleManagers(LAMM),partotheNationalChildWelareWorkorceInstitute(NCWWI).LAMMisreeandincludesalltravelandlodgingexpenses.
ThepurposeoNCWWIistobuildthecapacityothenationschildwel-areworkorce.
NCWWIisundedthroughacoop-erativeagreementwiththeChildrens
Bureau,AdministrationorChildren&Families,andtheU.S.DepartmentoHealth&HumanServices.TheLAMMProgramisacomprehensivetrainingprogramthatincludesWeb-basedtraining,coaching,peernetworking,andaive-dayresidentialtraining.Itocusesonleadershipskillsandwork-orcedevelopment.
Eligiblemiddlemanagersoverseeprogramsand/orsupervisemanagersandothersupervisors.Theyinclude
childwelareadministrators,assistantdirectors,programmanagers,pro-gramdirectors,andtrainingmanagersromtheollowingtypesoagencies:state,county,andtribalchildwelareagencies,includingthoseatthecen-tral,regional,anddistrictoicelevels,andprivateagenciesthatarecon-tractedbythestatetoprovidecase
managementservicesthataretradi-
tionallyprovidedbythepublicchildwelaresystem.
The deadlines for applicationare as follows:
Regions1and2(ParticipatinginresidentialtrainingouoNewYorkCity):November1,2009
Regions3and4(ParticipatinginresidentialtrainingouoPhiladelphia):January1,2010Regions5and8:(ParticipatinginresidentialtrainingouoDenver):January1,2010
Regions6and7(ParticipatinginresidentialtrainingouoDallas):January1,2010Regions9and10(Participatinginresidentialtrainingou
oSeattle):January1,2010
LAMMPrograminormationandnominationpacketscanbeoundathttp://ncwwi.org/,orpleasecontactTeresaTurner([email protected]).
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PATHWAYSFALL2009
FALL 2009
Pathways Practice DigestispublishedbytheNational Indian Child Welare Association, Inc.
Terry L. CrossNICWA Executive Director
Kristy AlbertyEditor
NationalIndianChildWelareAssociation,Inc.5100SWMacadamAvenue,Suite300Portland,OR97239;(503)222-4044NonprotratesarepaidatPortland,OR.Publishedquarterly.
Submissions and Back IssuesSubmissionsareacceptedromthereadershipandotherswishingtoadvancethecauseoIndianchildrenandamilies.Aslongasbackissuesareavailable,theymaybeorderedor$4each,plusS/H.Quantitieso10ormoreare$2each,plusS/H.Tomakesubmissionsororderre-prints,contactKristyAlberty,editor,attheaboveaddress,orphone(503)222-4044,ext.133.
Policy
Inormationinthearticlesandopinionsex-presseddonotnecessarilyrefectthepolicyoropinionsoNICWA.
A NICWA Policy Report
Tribal interest in the Title IV-E Program Is Growing
SincelastOctoberwhenCongressenactedtheFosteringConnectionstoSuccessandIncreasingAdoptionsAct(P.L.110-351)thatauthorized
tribalgovernmentstooperatetheTitleIV-Eprogram,therehasbeenameasureableincreaseintribalinterestinthisprogram.Over70tribeshaveindicatedthattheyintendtoapplytooperatetheprogramdirectlywithinthenextcoupleyears,and15havesubmittedproposalstoreceiveatwo-yeardevelopmentgranttohelpthemprepare.
OtherevidenceothatinteresthascomeinthenumberosessionsontheTitleIV-EFosterCareandAdoptionProgramandthenumberotribesparticipatinginthesesessions.TherehavebeenmultiplesessionsinmanyothetribalregionsaroundtheUnitedStatesandanumberonation-almeetings,aswell,involvingtribal,
ederal,andstaterepresentatives.Sometribeshavebegunreachingouttotheirstatestoinquireaboutwhattheycanexpectintermsoassis-tanceandsharingoresources,suchashelpwithmeetingthenon-ederalmatchratesandtechnicalassistanceonprogramissues.
Manytribeshaveormedteamsopeopletoassesstheirreadinesstooperatetheprogramandwhatthebestoptionisorthem.Theseteamsinvolvetribalchildwelareagencysta,andmanytimestheyalsoincludecourtpersonnel,staattorneys,triballeadership,andiscalsta.Theassessmentprocessbeingusedbymanytribesaimstoexploreeachdierentareaoinrastructuredevelopment,aswellasassessingcommunitysustainability,itwithcom-
munityvalues,andlong-termtribalgovernmentgoals.Tools,suchastherelationalworldview,havebeenaninvaluableassetintheseassess-ments,andNICWAhasbeenakeyplayerinteachingmanytribalgovern-mentshowtousethesetypesotoolsandplantheirassessments.
Twootheleadingchallengesthattribesacearehowtomeetthe
non-ederalmatchrequirementsanddevelopmentoanautomatedinor-mationsystemtocollectandreportrequireddataunderTitleIV-E.ThereimbursementorservicesprovidedbyTitleIV-Etotribesandstatesdoesnotcovertheullcostoservicespro-vided.Insomecases,asundertheadministrationportionotheprogram,
tribesmayhavetomatchasmuchas50%to70%othetotalcostotheeli-gibleservicesprovided.
Fortribesthatdonothavesignii-cantamountsotribalrevenue,thismayrequirethehelpoastatetohelpmeetthesematchrequirements.Thiscomesatatimewhenmanystatesaretryingtoaddressshortallsintheirownbudgets.However,thereareatleastacouplestatesthataregivingseriousconsiderationtoassistingtribesinthis
area.
Developingadatasystemcanalsobeachallenge.TheChildrensBureauisplanningonclariyingwhatanautomateddatasystemortribesunderTitleIV-Ewouldinclude.Itribesareabletousecommonsotwarepro-gramslikeMicrosotExcelorAccess,thiswillmakethedevelopmentmuchsimplerandmoreaordable.Ithisis
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DavidSimmonsathisIV-EworkshopattheNICWASeptembertraininginstituteinPortland,Oregon
notpossible,thentribesthatareinter-estedinTitleIV-Ewillhavetocare-ullyexaminewhethertheyhavetheresourcestodevelopsuchasystem.
ThetribalIV-Edevelopmentgrantsallowatribetohaveuptotwoyearsand$300,000tohelpdeveloptheircapacitytooperatetheIV-Eprogram,
butatribemustbeabletosubmitanapprovableIV-Eplanattheendotwoyearsorriskhavingtoreturntheullamountotheirgrantunderthelaw.
Anumberothetribeswantingtoreceiveadevelopmentgrantarecon-cernedthatitheycannotsecurehelpwithmatchromtheirstateordevelopaullyoperationaldatasystemwithintwoyears,theywillbeorcedtoreturntheirdevelopmentgrantunds.
NICWAprovidedathree-daytrain-inginstitutetoseveraltribesattheendoAugusttohelpthemreachtherightdecisionregardingTitleIV-E.ThetraininginstituteprovidedparticipantswithaninteractiveorumtoexaminethevariousinrastructureandprogramrequirementsnecessarytooperateTitleIV-Eandaprocessohelpingsetaplanintoplaceormovingthedecision-makingprocessalongonce
participantsreturnedhomeaterthetraining.
Theparticipantsenjoyedtheinteractivesessionandocusonthespeciicissuestheyweredealingwith.Oneparticipantsaidthatwhilehewasontheenceregardingwhattorec-ommendtohistribebeorethetrain-
ing,aterwardheeltheunderstoodtheprogramissuesmuchbetterandwasabletogivearecommendationtopursuemakinganapplicationtoruntheprogram.
CaseyFamilyProgramsandtheChildWelareLeagueoAmericaaresponsoringroundtablemeet-ingstohelpstatesandtribes,too.AtribalpanelwasoeredattheDenverregionalroundtableconsist-ingorepresentativesromleading
nationalIndianorganizationsthathaveworkedontheFosteringConnectionstoSuccessandIncreasingAdoptionsAct,suchasNICWA,theNationalCongressoAmericanIndians,andtheAssociationonAmericanIndianAairs.
TribalrepresentativeswerealsoonthepanelromtheNavajoNation,
Shoshone-BannockTribes,andOglalaSiouxTribe.Theroundtableprovidedattendees,mostowhichrepresented
stateandprivateagencies,anoppor-tunitytohearaboutthepromisingpracticesandchallengesortribesgettingreadytoimplementtheTitleIV-Eprogram.
Theinormationprovidedbythepanelistsalsohelpedstatesandpri-vateagenciesidentiyareaswherepartnershipsandcollaborationoppor-tunitieswithtribesexistwithsomestrategiesonhowtopursuethese.Fourmoreroundtablesarebeing
planned,andtherearediscussionsonhowtoincorporatemoretribalpartici-pation.
AstheirsttribesbeginpreparingtheirapplicationsortheIV-Eprogramweareremindedthatthisprogram,likeothersinthepastsuchasTANForChildSupportEnorcement,haveshownthattribalgovernmentsareverycareultounderstandthechal-lengesandmaketherightdecisionbeorecommittingtheirstasandresources.NICWAalsounderstandsthisandisworkingtodevelopsomeimprovedassessmenttoolsandtech-nicalassistancetomakesurethateverytribethathasaninterestinthisprogramcaneelconidentinitsdeci-sion.
Formoreinormation,pleasecontactDavidSimmons,directorogovernmentaairsandadvocacyorNICWA,[email protected]
(503)222-4044,extension119.
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Continued on page 10
InSeptember2004,NICWAwasawardedanAdoptionOpportunitygrantoritsapplicationentitledReclaimingCustomaryAdoption.
Thisprojectwasdesignedtoexpandandimprovetheadoptionser-vicesoruralAmericanIndian/AlaskaNative(AI/AN)communitiesbyhelpingthemreclaimadoptionasaculturallyrelevantpractice.Theprojectwasalsodesignedtoexpandknowledgeotheamilial,cultural,andlegalaspectsosuccessulcustomaryadoptions,deinedasollows:
A customary adoption is a prac-tice, ceremony, or process conductedin a manner that is long established,continued, reasonable, and certain,
considered by the people of a tribe tobe binding or found by the tribal court
to be authentic, which gives a child alegally recognized permanent parent-
child relationship with a person otherthan the childs biological parentswithout termination of parental rights
(TPR).
NICWAiscurrentlydigestinganddisseminatingtheinormationthatwaslearned.Theseincludeivepersonalnarrativesregardingadoptionandtribalcommunities.
RECLAIMINGCUSTOMARY ADOPTION:
AnIntroductiontoCaseNarratives
SeriesundermanagementoKathleenFox,PhD,
NICWADirectoroResearch
IN THEIR OWN WORDSPART VI
How to Set up CustomaryAdoption
White Earth Tribeof Minnesota
This is the last in a seriesof stories of customary
adoption in tribalcommunities.
ManycommunitiesinIndianCountryhaveusedcustomaryadoptionorcenturies.Asdescribedbyothersinthisseries,tribalculturehastraditionallyplacedchildrenwithrelativesandextendedamilymemberswithoutseveringthebondsokinshipandlovebetweenparentandchild.Inorderortheseadoptivehomestoberecognizedbystateandederalundingandchildwelareauthorities,however,terminationo
parentalrights(TPR)wasrequired.
MoneyorostercareandadoptionwasprovidedtothestatesthroughTitleIV-EotheSocialSecurityAct,andstatesweredirectedtoprovideadoptionandostercaremoneytotribeswhohadenteredintoaTitleIV-Eagreementwiththestate.Until2001,however,TitleIV-EagreementsrequiredTPR.
OneothepeoplewhooughtthispolicyromtherontlineswasJeriJasken,directoroIndianchildwelareorandtribalenrolleeotheWhiteEarthTribeoMinnesota.Jeriwasone
otheirsthumanservicesadminis-tratorsinatribalcommunitytoightandwinthebattletomakecustomaryadoptionanacceptableplacementoption.
First,somehistory.ThepassageotheIndianChildWelareAct(ICWA)in1978wastheirstrecognitionandreversalocenturiesopolicythatpro-motedtheremovaland/orassimilationoAmericanIndian/AlaskaNativechil-dren.TheintentoICWAwastokeepchildrenwithintheirownamiliesandtribes,withplacementoutsideotheircultureonlyasalastresort.Despitethelatteroption,manytribesbegantoobjecttoadoptionsotribalchildrenbyanyonenotpartotheircommu-nity.Thisledtotensionandmistrustbetweenstatechildwelaresystemsandtribes.
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Continued on next page
NICWAsannualconerenceteamhasbegunplanningornext
yearsevent,heldinPortland,Oregon,April1114,2009.Follow-inganartworkcompetitionromsubmissionsaroundthecountry,theocialconerenceimagehasbeenselected.
GeraldDawavendewa(Hope/Cherokee)istheartistbehindGatheringAroundHer.Market-ingmaterialswilleaturetheannualconerencesimage.GeraldgrewupintheHopivillageoMunqapiinnorthernArizonaandisamemberotheHopiTribe.
SomeohispreviousworkisintheArizonaStateMuseum,wherehewascommissionedtocreateamuraldepictingtheHopiworldthatisapermanentpartotheMuseumscollection.Otherexperiencein-cludesasinternwiththeNationalMuseumotheAmericanIndian(NMAI),SmithsonianInstitutein
WashingtonDC;consultanttovari-ousmuseumsacrossthecountry;andguestlectureratschools,uni-versities,andcommunitycolleges.
GeraldsartworkincludesEarthBundle,whichwassentaboardtheSpaceShuttleEndeavor,launchedin1994.Geraldslatestworkisaserieso48metalpanelscontain-ingNativeimageryandormingthemainstaircaseortheUAMemorialStudentUnionBookstore.
Throughhisartwork,Geraldhopestosharehisculture,educatethepublicabouttherichheritageohisNativetribes,andpromotea
Annual Conference Image Selected
While Event Planning Begins
The cover o the call or presentations mailer using Geralds artwork as a central ar tistic theme.
The deadline or the call or presentations was November 2, 2009.
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PATHWAYSFALL2009
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greaterunderstandingotheNativeworld.
Theoriginalimage,Gathering
AroundHer,isarchivalinkonmatte-board.Itshowsayounggirlstandinginrontohermotherandholdingabutterfybasketrepresentingtheabilitytogivelie,bothwearheaddresseswithcloudandraindesigns,symbolsonourishmentandlie.Oneachsidestandsthegrandather,representingwisdom,tradition,andthecontinua-tionoNativeculture.Totheothersidestandstheather,whosymbolizespro-tectionandstrength.Allgatheraroundhertoensureherwell-being,growth,andthecontinuationoNativelie.
TheannualconerencereturnstoPortland,Oregon,aterseveralyears.LocalandnationalAmericanIndianbusinessesandorganizationswillbecomeapartotheevent,includingthroughsponsorshipandadvertising(seeinsertatlet).
Proposalsorworkshoppresenta-tionshavebeensolicitedoruture
considerationbyNICWAeventplan-nersandmanagement.TopicsorworkshopsshouldallintocategoriessuchasICWAcompliance,advocacy,dataandresearch,andcollaboration.
TheNICWAwebsitehasinorma-tionabouttheannualconerence,withmoreupdatestocome.Thehosthotelandtheannualconerenceregistrationratesarelisted.
ContactNICWAorspecicques-
tionsaboutsponsorship,exhibitorboothspaces,oradvertising,andvisitourwebsiteintheweekstocomeorupdatesonthe28thAnnualProtect-ingourChildrenNationalAmericanIndianConerenceonChildAbuseandNeglect.
One o the longest-held events in American Indian/Alaska Nativechild welare, the NICWA annual conerence eatures opportunities oroutside organizations to take their messages to the event participants
and supporters.
Varying levels o promotional services are available or annualconerence sponsors, including recognition at the conerence on the
ofcial poster, tote bag, or in NICWA publications. The amount o rec-ognition varies on the sponsorship level; contact NICWA DevelopmentManager Eddie Sherman at [email protected] or more inormation.
More inormation on sponsorship is available at www.nicwa.org.
Other opportunities include purchasing an exhibition space in the
trade show hall. Contact Laurie Evans at [email protected] or an ap-plication, rates, and more inormation.
The annual conerence program book will eature advertising to
bring messages o support and promotional opportunities or busi-nesses and organizations. Contact Melissa Gale at [email protected] an advertising rate sheet and a placement contract.
Promotional Opportunities Available for
Tribes, Organizations, and Businesses
Continued from previous page
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Continued from page 5
WiththepassageotheAdoptionandSaeFamiliesAct(ASFA)in1997,thistensionwasampliied.ASFArequiredthatadecisionaboutwhetherthechildcanbesaelyreturnedhomeorshouldbemovedtowardadoptionmustbemadeithechildhasbeeninostercareor15ormoreothepast22months.Financialincentiveswereprovidedtostatesorincreasingadoptions.
Theast-trackrequiredbyASFAconlictedwiththetime-consumingrequirementsstipulatedbyICWA,andmanystatesgaveASFAprior-ity.TheNationalIndianChildWelareAssociation(NICWA),amongotheragencies,tribes,andchildwelareworkers,arguedwithlimitedsuccess
thattherequirementsoICWAhadtobemetbeoreASFAwasapplied.
GrowingalarmbroughtincreaseddiscussionamongtribalmembersandamongtribesaboutthisconcernandledtoormalandinormaladvocacywiththeChildrensBureauotheed-eralDepartmentoHealthandHumanServices(DHHS),ultimatelybringingmanyheartsandmindstogethertoindalternatives.
Tworesultsemergedromthisconcern:renewedenergyamongtribestoreclaimtraditionalchildwel-arevaluesandpracticesandrecon-siderationbytheChildrensBureauotheirpositionregardingTPR.In2001,apolicyannouncementromtheAdministrationorChildrenandFamilies,DHHS,(ACYF-CB-PA-01-01)wasinallypublishedthatclariiedthatcustomaryortraditionaladoptionisanadoptionprocessthatdoesnotrequiretheseveringorterminationo
parentalrights.
Bythetimethisclariicationwaspublished,JeriJaskenoWhiteEarthhadspenttwoyearstryingtogetcustomaryadoptionapprovedinherstate.
TheACYFclariicationhelped,butJeriwasstillunabletoprovideconsis-tent,undedcustomaryadoptionser-
vicesatWhiteEarthoranothersev-eralyears.JerihadtheassistanceoWhiteEarthChieJudgeAnitaFinedayandCustomaryAdoptionCoordinatorLuAnneSoyringLottinointhecrusadetowinequalrightsortribalcustomaryadoptions.
Jeribeganhereortsin1999byattendingcourthearingsinthecoun-tiesoMinnesotathatmaintainedjuris-dictionovertribalchildrenandtrans-erredpermanencycasesintotheirtribalcourtpriortoTPRbeingissued.
ChieJudgeAnitaFinedaywasabigsupporterotranserringcasesintotribalcourttoapplycustomarypracticesinpermanencysituations.LuAnneSoryingLottinosetupbooths
attribalandcommunityunctions,putupliers,andpublishednewspaperads.JeriandLuAnneattendedstatemeetings,metwithcountyandstateworkersandMinnesotalegislators,andbasicallygottheWhiteEarthnameandtheissueocustomaryadoptioncirculated.Sotheyknewweexistedandwhythiswassuchacriti-calissueorus,accordingtoJeri.
TheirstadoptionthroughWhiteEarthTribalCourtwithadoption
assistanceinplaceoccurredin1999.However,parentalrightswereterminatedinthisegregiousharmcase.Thatsameyear,JerireviewedMinnesotalawtoseeiadoptionscouldbehandleddirectlybythetribe,withundingattachedortheadoptioncontractingandadoptionsubsidies.
Thekeyimplicationwasthatthetribewouldhandleadoptionsinacustomarymanner,withoutTPR.ThismeantthatMinnesotastatuehadtobeamendedtoalloworthisprac-tice,andmanyormsutilizedbytheMinnesotaDepartmentoHumanServices(DHS)hadtobealteredto
alloworcustomaryadoptionsanddirectcontractingoradoptionser-viceswithatribalgovernment.Alototime,energy,andresourceswerepouredintothisendeavorbytheWhiteEarthBandoOjibweoverthenexttwoyears.TheStateoMinnesota,likewise,wasopen-mindedandwillingtoworkwiththeWhiteEarthTribetoinalizethispermanencyalternative.
In2001,theederalpolicydirec-tiveallowingcustomaryadoptiontobecoveredunderTitleIV-EwithnoTPRwaspublished.JeriandLuAnnemetwithMinnesotastateoicialstoinal-izethesequenceopaperworkandormsthatwouldbeneededtoimple-mentcustomaryadoptionthroughaTitleIV-EagreementwiththeStateoMinnesota.Overthenextyear,therewereseveralstopsandstartstothisprocessinvolvingexpandedplace-mentoWhiteEarthchildrenbytheir
The key implication wasthat the tribe would handle
adoptions in a customary
manner, without TPR.
This meant that Minnesota
statue had to be amendedto allow for this practice...
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tribe,reiningolanguageorthestat-utes,andPurchaseoService(POS)agreementswiththestate.
Finally,in2002,theirstContractorServiceAgreementwassignedandapprovedorpaymenttosupportcustomaryadoptionoTitleIV-E-eligiblechildren.JeriandLuAnnecontinuedtomeetwiththestateaboutchildrenwhowerenotTitleIV-Eeli-gible.Theyweretoldthattheonlywaytoreceiveadoptionassistanceorthesechildrenwastoterminateparentalrights,whichtheyoundwasunacceptable.Thecompromisewastopursuestatedollarstoundthesenon-TitleIV-Ecasesandchangelegis-lativelanguageagain.
InOctober2002,theirstcustom-aryadoptionwithadoptionassistancewascompletedintribalcourtorachildwhowasTitleIV-Eeligible.However,inFebruary2003,aletterromDHSwassenttoWhiteEarthwithdrawingtheiroriginalagreementtocontractoradoptionserviceswiththetribe.JeriandLuAnnemetwithDHSandtheAttorneyGeneralsOiceoMinnesotaregardingcontractingandreceivedapprovaltochangethe
statestatute,allowingpaymentorcustomaryadoptions.
TheirstpaymentwasreceivedinJune2003.BecauseMinnesotaisa
county-administeredchildwelaresys-tem,theWhiteEarthBandhadtogothroughthecountyoresidencyorthechildinorderorthePOScontractstobesignedandapprovedbeoretheycouldsendthemintoDHSorpay-
ment.Inanothersetback,laterthatyear,WhiteEarthreceivednoticethatSocialSecuritywouldnotrecognizethecustomaryadoption.
ThecountythenreusedtosignthePOScontractaswritten.DHSsupportedthetribe,however,andconsentedtodirectpaymentwithoutcountyinvolvement.Sincethattime,theWhiteEarthTribecontractsdirectlywiththestateoneachadoptionPOSagreement.Thisisimportant,because
theundingsecuredthroughthesePOScontractsundsthecustomaryadoptionprogramatWhiteEarth.
AppealswereiledwithSocialSecurityinMayandJune2005,andin2006WhiteEarthwontheappeals.
TheprocessthatWhiteEarthol-lowedwasdiicultanddependedontheinitiative,commitment,andresolveoICWDirectorJeriJasken,CustomaryAdoptionCoordinator
LuanneSoyringLottino,andChieJudgeFineday.AllthreewomenareWhiteEarthtribalenrollees,dedicatedtoservingtheirtribeandprovidingculturallyappropriateprograms.The
tenacityoWhiteEarthmemberswascentraltotheireventualsuccess.
TherehasbeenagoodmodelestablishedbyWhiteEarthandtheStateoMinnesotathatcanberepli-
catedinotherjurisdictions,somethingMs.Jaskeneelsiskey.CustomaryadoptionisaphrasethatWhiteEarthusesinitspractices,butitcanlookdierentorothertribes.Itdoesnothavetobelabeledcustomaryadop-tion.Itcantakeonwhateverormisculturallyrelevantorthattribe.Theimportantactoristhatanadoptionbytribalcustomispracticed,andthattheredoesnothavetobeaTPRirst.Thepracticecan,andwill,varyromtribetotribe.
InOctobero2008,anewlaw,theFosteringConnectionstoSuccessandIncreasingAdoptionsAct,(PL110-351)waspassed,authorizingtribes,tribalorganizations,andtribalconsortiatoapplyorandadministerTitleIV-Eundsdirectly.Tribal-stateagreementsalreadyinplacewillnotbeaected,butortribespursuingdirectunding,PL110-351removesthestateromnegotiations,thussmoothingthewayortribestopro-
videundingorcustomaryadoption.Additionally,PL110-351authorizestribesandstatestouseTitleIV-Eund-ingorguardianshipplacementsorrelativecaregiversoosterchildrenandthewaiveronon-saetyrelatedlicensingstandardsorrelativecare-giversonacase-by-casebasis.Itisclearthisnewlegislationwillincreasethesel-determinationandresponsibil-ityotribesortheirchildren.
AsshownbyJeriJacksonandhersta,therearemanypossiblediicul-tiesaheadintheimplementationoPL110-351.Yet,thereisagrowingawarenessthatIndianpeoplecanandwillighttomakethepracticeocus-tomaryadoptionacentraltenetoper-manencyplanninginIndianCountry.Thestoriesprovidedthroughoutthisserieshaveindicatedtheirresolve.
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Published byNational Indian Child Welfare Association
The National Indian Child Welfare
AssociationTheNationalIndianChildWelareAssociation(NICWA)wasestablishedin1983astheNorthwestIndianChildWelareInstituteinresponsetotheneedortrainedIndianchildwelareworkers.In1994,theorganizationbecamenationalinscopeandwasrenamedtheNationalIndianChildWelareAssociation.
MissionStatement:NICWAisdedicatedtothewell-beingoAmericanIndianchildrenandamilies.
Website: www.nicwa.org
ConnectFind other American Indian/Alaska Nave
child welfare professionals and obtain
up-to-date informaon about NICWA, onlin
TheIndianChildandFamilyWelareSubcommittee(TerryCross,atlectern)convenedonOctober13,2009,attheNationalCongressoAmericanIndians(NCAI)annualconventioninPalmSprings.ThecommitteepassedaewresolutionsandgeneratedalistoprioritiesotheupcomingsummitbetweentriballeadersandPresidentObamainNovember.
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