The ICWA standard is meant to provide guidance to Department staff about the Indian Child Welfare Act. The Department’s goal is full compliance with the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), both the procedural requirements and the underlying intentions of the Act. The purposes of an ICWA Standard for the staff of Children and Family Services staff are:

• To understand and protect the rights of Indian children, their families and their tribes according to provisions of the ICWA.
• To provide active efforts to Indian children and their families to prevent removal of Indian children.
• To involve the tribes and extended families of Indian children in planning and caring for Indian children.
• To develop and maintain connections for Indian children with their families and culture.
• To provide the court with adequate information to make accurate findings and compliance to the ICWA status and so the court can make sound decisions about the future of children.
• To provide proper notice to the Tribe and Indian family.

» STANDARD FOR IMPLEMENTING THE INDIAN CHILD WELFARE ACT (PDF)