NICWA Champion for Native Children Award

Do you know of an incredible leader, social worker, case manager or foster parent in your community who is doing awesome work for our children in the foster care system?

If so, nominate them for NICWA’s highest honor, the Champion for Native Children Award. This annual award honors an individual or organization that has made outstanding contributions to the well-being of Indigenous children, families, and communities in the United States or Canada. Two awards are to be given out: Champion for Native Children-Individual awarded to an individual person and Champion for Native Children-Organization awarded to a tribe or organization.

Awardees will be honored at NICWA’s 43rd Annual Protecting Our Children Conference in Orlando, Florida on April 1, 2025. See below to submit a nomination; please specify whether you are submitting for an individual or organization. Nominations can be mailed or emailed to NICWA using the information on the form. Please direct any questions regarding the form or essay to training@nicwa.org. Click below to nominate a Champion for Native Children today! Applications are due January 8, 2025.

Nomination Guidelines

Nominees should be an individual or organization that has been an exceptional or emerging leader, social worker, case manager, or foster parent who has made significant contributions to the well-being of Indigenous children, families, and communities in the United States or Canada. Such contributions may consist of:

• Demonstrated excellence, creativity, and leadership affecting positive change in tribal child welfare, children’s mental health, or juvenile justice in tribal communities;
• Advocacy for tribal children, families, and communities;
• Development and/or promotion of programs and policies that support tribes, children, and families;
• Work for development of policy designed to protect Native children, enhance the well-being of Native children, or to strengthen the Indian Child Welfare Act;
• Work to obtain funding necessary to implement programs and policies supporting Indigenous children and families; or
• A significant body of work that spans several years up to lifelong service to promoting the well-being of Indigenous children and families and strengthening tribal sovereignty.