Nationally, families of color--particularly African American and American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN)--are over-represented in child welfare systems. These families also tend to have worse outcomes--such as children more likely to be removed from their homes, less likely to receive family preservation services, and in the case of African…

Tribal sovereignty is a theory that has gained credibility over the past few decades, but one that the child welfare field has still not fully embraced. A mainstream reluctance to understand or accept customary adoption, unique to tribal culture, illustrates the lack of credibility given to tribal child welfare beliefs and practices. Roger Paul, a…

Because of their unique social, legal, and political status, American Indians and Alaska Natives are subject to legislative oversight unlike any other group in the United States. Census data are used to monitor the size and characteristics of the American Indian and Alaska Native population living on and off reservations. Passed in 1978 to ensure…

Reviews the emergence of the field of contemporary Native American child welfare. Assesses the consequences of the field's devotion to child protection and placement, and examines a number of family preservation-oriented Native American child welfare programs. Considers the implications of family preservation for Native American and Alaskan Native…

An assessment was conducted to determine how well the Alaskan court system and other agencies in the child welfare system meet the needs of abused and neglected children, their families, and society's interests in these cases. Data were collected through analysis of 473 case files in four courts; interviews with 60 attorneys, judges, guardians ad…

This Senate hearing produced testimony on how the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (ICWA) has been administered by government agencies and the courts. Three members of the Select Committee on Indian Affairs presented background information on the act's intent to confirm the tribe as the primary authority in matters involving an Indian child's…

This is a report on the first national examination of the effects of the Indian Child Welfare Act (Public Law 95-608), enacted in 1978. The study examines the prevalence of Native American children in substitute care and the implementation of the act and portions of the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980 as they affect Indian…

Federal awareness that Indians existed as self-governing, political entities gave rise to congressional action during the 1970s that produced significant Indian rights legislation. Article discusses the Congressional Indian legislation enacted during the past decade. (DS)

A training manual, intended to foster cooperative, coordinated approaches to resolving Indian child welfare cases, uses the case study approach to help tribal social service and court workers recognize strengths of American Indian and Alaska Native families. The first chapter covers primary aspects and needs of children of all cultures, from…