Tribal Court Improvement Program (TCIP) and state Court Improvement Programs (CIP)
Tribes, tribal organizations and tribal consortia have often expressed interest in operating their own Court Improvement Program (CIP) rather than only being able to access Court Improvement Program (CIP) funding through the states. In fiscal year 2012 (FY 2012), the Children’s Bureau for the first time provided funding for a Tribal Court Specific CIP. The first 7 TCIP grantees are: (1) Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (MT); (2) Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians (MI); (3) Navajo Nation Judicial Branch (AZ); (4) White Earth Band of Chippewa (MN); (5) Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California; (6) Pascua Yaqui Tribe (AZ); and (7) Nooksack Indian Tribe (WA). The purpose of this Tribal Court Improvement Program (TCIP) is to provide grants to tribal governments on behalf of tribal courts or courts for tribal consortia to improve the handling of child welfare cases by tribal courts, and increase and enhance the engagement of the entire family in court proceedings related to child welfare, family preservation, family reunification, and adoption. The funding will provide tribal courts with the opportunity to (1) Conduct assessments of how they handle child welfare proceedings and to make improvements based on those assessments, including, providing for children's safety, permanence, and well-being as set forth in the Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA); (2) Ensure children's safety, permanence, and well-being needs are met in a timely and complete manner (through better collection and analysis of data) and (3) Provide for training of judges, attorneys, and other legal personnel in child welfare cases.
Resources:
Tribal Court Improvement Program FY 2012 RFP
Tribal Court Improvement Overview
State Court Improvement Program Tribal Work Overview
Disproportionality Rates for Children of Color in Foster Care
Meaningful and Ongoing Engagement of Tribes and State Courts in Child Protection
The Model Court Effect: Proven Strategies in Systems' Change (Brochure)
Model Courts: Improving Outcomes for Abused and Neglected Children and Their Familes (Brochure)
Resolution 5 Conference of Chief Justices
Recommendations for Developing and Maintaining Tribal Relationships
Tribal STAR Tips for Following Protocol When Working With Tribal Communities
Tribal Judicial Leadership Gathering: Working Together for Native Children and Families