If you’ve come into contact with the child welfare system, there are things you can do to be prepared and to advocate for your child and family. The single most important thing is to keep your child safe and to communicate to the child welfare case worker. This resource is designed to help families who encounter the child welfare system. Learn what to do if you are reported for child abuse and neglect, what to do early on if you are involved in a child abuse or neglect investigation, and what to do if your child is removed from your home.

More suggestions and resources are below. 

 

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Download PDF to print and display the above poster in your tribal child welfare office or in your community.

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Download PDF
Download PDF to print and display the above poster in your tribal child welfare office or in your community.

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Download Image to share in your emails, newsletters, and social media.

How does the child welfare system work?
Are there additional requirements for American Indian or Alaska Native children?
How should I prepare for a home visit from a child protective services investigator/worker?
Barriers to Know Ahead of Time
Additional Tips for Families
Resources for Common Questions

The child welfare system is responsible for

  • helping children to be safe and secure
  • helping families solve the problems that cause abuse or neglect
  • preventing separation of children from their families
  • responding to reports from people in the community who think that children are being abused or neglected
  • ensuring that children receive appropriate care while they are away from their families
  • working with the families so their children can return home safely (when children have been separated from their families to be safe)
  • finding another suitable permanent home for children who cannot return home

How does the child welfare system work?

The child welfare system was created to help every child have a safe and secure home life. This responsibility has been given to child welfare agencies, but they can’t do it alone. The courts, private child welfare agencies, and other service systems (such as mental health, substance abuse treatment, healthcare, education, and domestic violence prevention) are all partners in serving children and families who come to the attention of the child welfare system. It’s important to note that most tribes operate child welfare programs under their own laws.

Resource: Family’s Guide to the Child Welfare System

 

 

Are there additional requirements for American Indian or Alaska Native children?

Yes. Under the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), federal requirements apply to state foster care, guardianship, termination of parental rights, and adoption proceedings involving an Indian child who is a member of or eligible for membership in a federally recognized tribe. 

When ICWA applies to a child’s case, the child’s tribe and parents or Indian custodian have a right to be involved in decisions affecting services and placement decisions for the Indian child. A tribe or a parent can also petition a state court to transfer the case to the child’s own tribal court. ICWA sets out federal requirements about removal and placement of Indian children in foster care, guardianship, group homes, or adoptive homes and allows the child’s tribe to intervene in the case (e.g., participate in court proceedings, access court records and documents, share information with the court). ICWA also requires a heighthened level of services and supports for families, called active efforts, to prevent the removal of their children from their home and help return them safely after a removal.  

Resource: The Indian Child Welfare Act: A Family’s Guide 

Resource: Your Rights Under the Indian Child Welfare Act

 

How should I prepare for a home visit from a child protective services investigator/worker?

Resource: 5 Things Social Workers Looks for During a Home Visit 

  1. The environment
  2. Other hazards
  3. Illegal activity
  4. Basic needs
  5. Your relationship to them as a parent

Resource: What CPS Can and Cannot Legally Do During Investigations?

What additional advice and resources are available?

90% of child neglect cases are due to poverty, untreated mental health issues, and substance abuse. If you are accused of child abuse or neglect, first ensure your child’s safety. Demonstrate that you are doing everything you can to keep your child safe.

Have family and friends’ phone numbers ready to call. Know who can help you keep your child safe in your home or who can care for your child in their home temporarily.

Find an attorney. If you think you can’t, there are resources to help you. All parents in child welfare proceedings have a right to be represented by an attorney in court. You may need to advocate for yourself to find an attorney with Indian law expertise.

Ask for help accessing services or supports for income assistance and services related to mental health, substance abuse, or domestic violence issues (see links below).

Know your rights: 

  • You have the right to know what the specific report against you is that you are being investigated for.
  • All states are required to give relatives a preference for the placement of a child being placed out of the home.
  • You have the right to contribute to, review, comment on, and approve your case plan.
  • You have the right to all of your court documents and records and the right to have them explained to you so that you understand them.

For more about your rights, see “General Parental Rights” at Your Rights Under the Indian Child Welfare Act and Your Rights During an Investigation—And How to Use Them

 

Barriers to Know Ahead of Time

Things that a child welfare worker will likely not know or might misjudge about you as an American Indian or Alaska Native parent:

  • A caseworker will assume you understand the language they are speaking, even if it is legal or technical language. If you don’t understand, say so. Ask them to explain it using simpler language.
  • A caseworker will assume you can answer their questions immediately when they ask them. If you were taught to take your time and think carefully before responding, explain your preferred style of communication to the caseworker.
  • A caseworker probably doesn’t know if you come from an extended family that shares parenting responsibilities. If you have close family that can help keep your child safe, tell the caseworker.
  • A caseworker may assume that you or your family has drug and alcohol problems just because you are Native. If you are in recovery or getting treatment, tell the caseworker.
  • A caseworker may mistake Mongolian spots (birth marks common on Native skin) for bruises. If your child has such birthmarks, tell the caseworker.
  • A caseworker will not usually know the negative history of Indian boarding schools, child removal, or the impact of this historical trauma on Native families today. If you feel panic, stress, or fear because of what happened to your family, including your ancestors, tell the caseworker.
  • A caseworker may stereotype the appearance of American Indians or Alaska Natives. If you are American Indian or Alaska Native, say so— whether you look like the stereotype or not. If you are not sure about your tribal heritage and you have relatives that are American Indian or Alaska Native, say so. If you are American Indian or Alaska Native, you may be eligible for protections under the Indian Child Welfare Act.

 

Additional Tips for Families

  • Be prepared for the child welfare agency to disagree with you.
  • Do the best you can to cooperate.
  • Be prepared to be in a child welfare agency office or courtroom and to be asked a lot of questions. Consider whether you want anyone to sit in with you to support you. You can request an advocate that you choose to be with you during questioning. 
  • Have some notes about what you want to say, including family strengths and resources (people, services, etc.) available to you. Be prepared to talk about how you see the problem and what you’ve done in the past to try to address it, including people in your family who help you and services you receive.
  • Bring paper to take notes. Document every conversation you have with caseworkers. Include the date, location, who was there, summary of conversation, anything you are asked or were required to do.
  • If you don’t like your caseworker or if they are not asking the right questions, respectfully ask to talk with their supervisor. If that person is not helpful, then ask for their supervisor or an ombudsman (someone who’s job is to solve disputes with families). Many agencies have an ombudsman to support clients and assess whether they are getting the help they need and/or a state child welfare complaint office. 
  • Don’t be afraid to say when you need a break from the conversation or to say that you don’t understand a question or a statement. 
  • Your tribe may be involved in the investigation and/or court proceeding. You cannot assume the tribal representative is representing your interests. Legally they represent the best interest of the child as defined by the tribe’s laws. They may be helpful in getting services and resources for your family. 

     

    Resources for Common Question

    If you think the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) applies, trace your ancestry, and pursue enrollment with your tribe if needed.

    Resource: Tracing Your Native Ancestry 

    Get familiar with your legal rights under ICWA.

    Resource: Your Rights Under the Indian Child Welfare Act 

    What if ICWA doesn’t apply to my child welfare case? 

    Resource: ICWA Doesn’t Apply to My Child Welfare Case. What Other Help Can I Receive?

    How can I report an unethical child welfare worker?

    Resource: How to Report an Unethical CPS Worker 

    How can I contact the American Indian or Alaska Native tribal government of which I am a member?

    Resource: Indian Child Welfare Act; Designated Tribal Agents for Service of Notice

    How can I share my story and advocate for myself? Read chapter 8 of the grandfamilies toolkit and share this document with your caseworker.

    Resource: American Indian and Alaska Native Grandfamilies: Helping Children Thrive Through Connection to Family and Cultural Identity 

    Where can I go to get help for substance abuse issues in the family, mental health issues related to the child abuse or neglect investigation, or domestic violence in my home?