Tribal Courts in the Tribal Child Welfare System

Resources:

• Future Trends in State Courts - Meaningful and Ongoing Engagement of Tribes and State Courts in Chilld Protection
  This 2012 National Center for State Courts document was written by Alicia K. Davis and Gina Jackson.
   
• Court Reform and American Indian and Alaskan Native Children: Increasing Protections and Improving Outcomes
  Tribal Children have a unique political status in the United States. They are U.S. citizens as well as citizens of the sovereign tribal nation of which they are a member. The federal government has a special trust relationship with tribal people that requires it to establish policy and programs to protect the well-being of all American Indian and Alaskan Native (AI/AN) people. In the are of child welfare, this unique status and patterns of inappropriate practice historically by many state and private child welfare agencies and state courts have resulted in the federal government establishing federal policies to further protect AI.AN children and families and ensure that tribal governments were actively involved in state child welfare matters involving their members (Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978).
   
• Working with the Courts in Child Protection
  The courts play a central role in making decisions regarding the protection of children who have been maltreated. Understanding the process is crucial for any professional involved in child protection. By having a thorough knowledge of this legal process and by working in partenership with the courts, child protective services caseworkers and other professionals can work toward the safety, permanency and well-being of children more effectively.
   
• Role of Indian Tribal Courts in the Justice System
  This March 2000 document was authored by B.J. Jones to assist individuals in better understanding issues affecting Native communities and provide information to individuals working in Indian Country.