Indian Affairs Awards $2 Million to Strengthen Indian Child Welfare Services

WASHINGTON - The Bureau of Indian Affairs today announced $2 million in Indian Child Welfare Act off-reservation grants to seven Native organizations to strengthen child and family services for American Indian and Alaska Native communities.

The competitive grants will support culturally appropriate services that promote family stability, prevent unnecessary family separation and help ensure the removal of an Indian child from a parent or custodian occurs only as a last resort. The awards also support Tribal sovereignty and self-determination by enabling Native organizations to provide services responsive to the needs of their communities.

"These grants strengthen the ability of Indian organizations to provide culturally appropriate services, keep Native children connected to their families and communities, and help families thrive," said Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Billy Kirkland.

Grant recipients and award amounts:

• ICWA Law Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota - $300,000
• Bristol Bay Native Association, Anchorage, Alaska - $300,000
• Rocky Mountain Tribal Leadership Council, Billings, Montana - $280,000
• Nebraska Indian Child Welfare Coalition, Inc., Bloomfield, Nebraska - $280,000
• The American Indian Community Center, Spokane, Washington - $280,000
• Cook Inlet Tribal Council, Inc., Anchorage, Alaska - $280,000
• Native American Fatherhood & Families Association, Mesa, Arizona - $280,000

The ICWA off-reservation grant program provides funding for Indian child and family service programs, including family preservation and reunification, foster and adoptive home support, counseling, legal representation and assistance in child custody proceedings involving Indian children.

The grants advance the Department of the Interior's commitment to tribal sovereignty, self-determination and the federal trust responsibility by supporting Native organizations in delivering child welfare services that reflect tribal values and community needs. These investments help strengthen families and preserve Native children's connections to their families, communities and cultures.

The Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs advises the Secretary of the Interior on Indian Affairs policy issues; communicates policy to and oversees the programs of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Bureau of Indian Education, and the Bureau of Trust Funds Administration; provides leadership in consultations with tribes; and serves as the DOI official for intra- and inter-departmental coordination and liaison within the Executive Branch on matters concerning American Indians and Alaska Natives and the federally recognized Tribes in the United States.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs directly administers and funds tribally operated infrastructure, law enforcement and justice, social services, tribal governance and trust land and natural and energy resources management programs for the Nation's federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes through four offices: Indian Services, Justice Services, Trust Services and Field Operations. The BIA Office of Indian Services Division of Human Services administers the bureau's Indian Child Welfare Act program.

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