American Indian and Alaska Native children and their families who experience child maltreatment or family violence often have few opportunities to find accessible, culturally-appropriate services to help them address the trauma from these events. Furthermore, prevention funding is almost non-existent for this population, removing opportunities to prevent trauma before it happens and avoid families and children slipping into crisis.

We commend Congressman Gallego and Congressman Young for introducing the Native American Child Protection Act to reauthorize three important grant programs that have been in place since 1991 to provide funding for critical services in American Indian and Alaska Native communities. Our children and families deserve the same opportunities to grow up healthy and strong as other populations, and this legislation will help close the gap in access to funding and services for this vulnerable population.

Read Congressman Gallego’s press release here.