ACF is moving to develop guidance on the implementation of the Supporting America’s Children and Families Act (see description of the law in Legislative Policy section). The legislation was enacted into law in early January 2025 and contains several helpful provisions for Tribal Nations, including increased funding, streamlining of administrative reporting requirements, collecting and reporting data on state implementation of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), and development of technical assistance for Tribes and states to improve ICWA implementation.
To collect comments on implementation of the law, ACF is seeking written comments on elements of the law regarding technical assistance, streamlining of reporting requirements, Tribal engagement in state court child welfare proceedings, and improving development of Tribal evidence-based prevention services. The ACF announcement seeking written comments can be found here. In addition, ACF is holding Tribal consultations on the law, in-person and virtual, through December of 2025. Tribal comments can be shared at these consultations or via written comments that are due by January 9, 2025. You can find information about the Tribal consultations and submission of written comments in the Dear Tribal Leader Letter disseminated by ACF.
NICWA is urging Tribal Nations to attend these consultations and provide written comments. The Tribal provisions in the new law have the potential to improve Tribal child welfare capacity and improve data and reporting on ICWA compliance. NICWA has provided sample talking points that you can adapt for the Tribal consultations.