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ICWA 2050 Launched by the Protect ICWA Campaign to Honor ICWA’s Anniversary
Protect, Preserve, Progress: Realizing the Spirit of the Indian Child Welfare Act
(Portland, Ore., November 7, 2024)—Today, the Protect ICWA Campaign released ICWA 2050, a 25-year strategy to strengthen the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) and tribal child welfare. Honoring the 46th anniversary of ICWA, ICWA 2050 casts a vision that recognizes and upholds the critical role that tribal nations play in protecting Native children, helping families in tribal child welfare systems and assisting states as they implement ICWA.
ICWA 2050 outlines a uniting vision spanning decades and sectors. It represents a holistic vision and approach to changing the interrelated systems that protect Native kids for generations to come. Achieving that vision will require work across and within many sectors, from the courtroom to the newsroom. Each goal has a powerful impact on the cultural fabric we are weaving back together to create nurturing networks for Native children, including:
- Increase tribal child welfare capacity to ensure the best care for Native children within their communities.
- Improve outcomes in state child welfare systems by strengthening relationships between tribal and state governments and improving tribal advocacy.
- Enhance tribal-federal partnerships to ensure federal policy supports tribal sovereignty and the well-being of Native children.
- Improve communication about ICWA as the gold standard of child welfare policy and emphasize the importance of honoring tribal sovereignty.
“ICWA 2050 is a collective effort guided by Indian Country, including tribal leadership across all regions of the United States and the technical expertise of tribal child welfare directors,” said National Indian Child Welfare Association Executive Director Sarah Kastelic. “We are inspired by the collaboration and shared vision that shaped this effort. ICWA 2050 represents a commitment to one generation of work that can change the trajectory of many generations of Native children.”
“ICWA 2050 not only fortifies protections for Native children today but also builds a path for generations to come, ensuring that our children remain grounded in their cultures and communities,” said National Congress of American Indians Executive Director Larry Wright, Jr. “This forward-looking strategy reflects the strength of tribal sovereignty and collaboration across Indian Country, empowering Tribal Nations to lead in defining the future of child welfare for Native families. The National Congress of American Indians and its members are proud to support and join this vision, rooted in the resilience and self-determination of our communities.”
“ICWA 2050 offers a powerful vision to strengthen and protect ICWA, ensuring that Native children remain deeply connected to their cultures and Nations,” said Association on American Indian Affairs Next Generations Director Kim Mettler. “By supporting ICWA 2050, we help affirm and protect the fundamental human rights of every Native child—to family, cultural identity, freedom from forced assimilation, and the right to self-determination. ICWA 2050 is an investment in our shared future.”
The launch of ICWA 2050 comes at a critical time in the wake of the Supreme Court decision to uphold the constitutionality of ICWA in Haaland v. Brackeen. ICWA 2050 reflects the unwavering commitment to tribal self-determination, and it is an opportunity to move from reactive protection to proactive progress and prevention. Tribal leadership and the strength of our cultures guide our efforts to secure culturally grounded policies, stronger court systems, and greater visibility of Native children and families.
Read the full ICWA 2050 plan: bit.ly/ICWA2050
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The Protect ICWA Campaign (the Campaign) was established by four national Native organizations: the National Indian Child Welfare Association, the National Congress of American Indians, the Association on American Indian Affairs, and the Native American Rights Fund. Together, the Campaign works to serve and support Native children, youth, and families through upholding the Indian Child Welfare Act. The Campaign works to inform policy, legal, and communications strategies with the mission to uphold and protect ICWA.