US Supreme Court Will Hear Challenge to ICWA
(Portland, Ore., February 28, 2022)—Today, the U.S. Supreme Court announced that it will hear a challenge to the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), a 44-year-old law which has long been considered the gold standard in child welfare policy. The far-reaching consequences of this case will be felt for generations
2022 Policy Priorities
2022 Policy Priorities Each year the National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA) identifies policy priorities that will guide our efforts and focus our resources during the calendar year. These annual priorities are developed through input from our board, staff,...
Indian Country Leading the Way in Redesigning Child Welfare
Over the past year, NICWA provided a forum for tribes and Indian Country advocates through national and regional listening sessions focused on redesigning child welfare services in the United States. These sessions inform our work regarding what policies, tools, and resources are needed, and they steer our advocacy to ensure that broader, national child welfare redesign efforts are inclusive of American Indian and Alaska Native perspectives and solutions.
Amicus Briefs Filed to Uphold the Indian Child Welfare Act and Support Indian Children and Families in Brackeen v. Haaland (formerly Brackeen v. Bernhardt)
Media ContactSarah Kastelicskastelic@nicwa.org(Portland, Ore., October 12, 2021)—On Friday, 180 tribal nations and 35 Native organizations, 25 states and the District of Columbia, and Casey Family Programs and 10 child welfare and adoption organizations filed briefs...
NICWA Applauds Truth and Healing Commission Legislation
Media Contactmedia@nicwa.org(Portland, Ore., September 30, 2021)—The National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA) applauds Senator Elizabeth Warren and Representative Sharice Davids for introducing the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School...
NICWA News Summer Fall 2021
Read the newest edition of our quarterly newsletter, NICWA News.Click here to read the Spring issue alongside past NICWA News issues on Issuu. Click the bottom hand corner icon to read in full screen. For print requests or additional copies, contact us...
Protect ICWA Campaign Stands with Indian Children and Families in Brackeen v. Haaland (formerly Brackeen v. Bernhardt) Cert. Petitions
Today, the United States, tribal defendants, and state and private plaintiffs filed petitions asking the United States Supreme Court to review the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision in Brackeen v. Haaland, a case challenging the constitutionality of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA).
NICWA President Vigil Providing Testimony for the Native American Children’s Protection Act
July 13, 2021
On Wednesday, July 14, 2021, at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time, President Vigil of the National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA) will be providing testimony before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs regarding H.R. 1688, the Native American Children’s Protection Act.
NICWA Applauds U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland in the Announcement of the Federal Government’s Plan to Launch the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative
Today, United States Interior Secretary Deb Haaland announced the steps that the U.S. Department of Interior will take to address the history and current-day impact of boarding school policies and operations targeted at Native children and families through the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative.
MEDIA ADVISORY: National Indian Child Welfare Association Launches New Brackeen v. Haaland Resource
On Friday, June 18, 2021, the National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA) announced the launch of a new resource for state child welfare workers and agencies.
Available electronically, the resource provides best practices for state child welfare agencies when applying the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) to state child welfare proceedings.