The National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA) is a national American Indian/Alaska Native (Native) nonprofit organization. NICWA has been a leader in the development of public policy that supports Tribal sovereignty and self-determination in child welfare and social services for over 40 years. This testimony will provide funding recommendations for the following programs under the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) in the Department of the Interior: (1) Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention grant programs for the treatment of victims and prevention services ($50 million combined), (2) Indian Child Welfare Act On-Reservation grant program (Tribal Priority Allocation—$35 million), (3) Indian Child Welfare Act Off-Reservation grant program ($5 million), (4) Social Services Assistance ($80 million), and (5) Welfare Assistance ($100 million). We also support the expansion of the Tiwahe Initiative, which supports more well-integrated Tribal human service systems, reduces unnecessary administrative burdens, and emphasizes holistic approaches that better meet Tribal family needs. We also want to thank the Committee for previous appropriations for these critical programs.
Funding for Tribal child welfare and social services is especially critical given the disproportionate number of Native children in state foster care and levels of unemployment and poverty in many Tribal communities. There are 2.8 times the number of Native youth in state foster care than the general population. By the age of 18, one out of 14 Native children will be the subject of a maltreatment investigation. Tribal Nations operate many aspects of child welfare and social service programming, including investigating cases of child abuse and neglect, building and managing case plans, securing out-of-home placements, providing training and support to secure employment, and implementing prevention and treatment programs. They are also important partners with states to help them manage and provide support to Native families under state jurisdiction. Investing in Tribal nations is beneficial for Native children and families, Tribal communities, and state agencies and court systems. When Tribal Nations have adequate resources, they can provide tailored, responsive care that reduces trauma to children and families and can help them stay connected to their community and the support of their extended families. Tribal community-based care opens the door to greater well-being for Native children in many ways, including neurological benefits. Native nations are developing helping systems that provide tangible results that, in many cases, outperform state efforts in the same systems and reduce long term dependence or reentry into care.
When Tribes have adequate resources, they can design and operate systems that keep more children safely at home whenever possible, reduce the lengths of stay in foster care, and speed them to alternative permanent placements when they can’t be returned home…