NICWA News is the quarterly newsletter for members and donors of the National Indian Child Welfare Association. Donate or become a member today to subscribe.

Each year, NICWA identifies policy priorities with input from our board, staff, and tribal constituents that will guide our efforts and focus our resources. Our annual priorities reflect our mission, ongoing commitments, and assessment of opportunities to improve services and resources for American Indian and Alaska Native children and families.

NICWA provided written testimony before the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for their 26th annual tribal budget and policy consultation. Read more about the consultation and view NICWA’s comments.

HHS Announces Notice of Public Rulemaking for New ICWA Data Elements and Tribal Consultation On February 22, 2024, the federal Administration for Children and Families (ACF) announced a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to establish new data elements that track key...

The ICWA Compliance Summary and Review of Existing Literature is an overview of existing tools and research regarding compliance with the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). Within this policy brief are findings compiled into two categories involving systemic reviews of existing studies on ICWA compliance and checklists, methods, and frameworks for measuring ICWA compliance.

NICWA and the Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network are thrilled to roll out a unique opportunity for one tribe to work with the nation’s leading experts on relative caregiver/kinship families, all free of charge.

How Relative Caregivers Can Advocate for Relative Native Children in State Child Welfare Agency Custody Extended family members and close family friends, sometimes in a fictive kin role, are important resources to families encountering the child welfare system due to...