{"id":22530,"date":"2015-10-16T13:30:56","date_gmt":"2015-10-16T20:30:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/vps39547.inmotionhosting.com\/~advokids\/legal-tools\/sibling-placement-and-visitation-2\/"},"modified":"2021-04-19T19:34:18","modified_gmt":"2021-04-20T02:34:18","slug":"indian-child-welfare-act-icwa","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/adevine.io\/advokids-backup\/legal-tools\/indian-child-welfare-act-icwa\/","title":{"rendered":"Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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<\/a>icwa1<\/span><\/p>\n

INDIAN CHILD WELFARE ACT (ICWA)<\/h3>\n

The Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (ICWA), passed in 1978, \u201crecognize[s] the essential tribal relations of Indian people and the cultural and social standards prevailing in Indian communities and families.\u201d<\/p>\n

There is a government to government relationship between the Federal Government and federally recognized Indian Tribes. ICWA statutes and rules supersede state laws and rules.\u00a0 California, however, has enacted many provisions of the federal law into state law.<\/p>\n

The complete Federal regulations are available here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/a>icwa2<\/span><\/p>\n

Purpose of ICWA<\/h3>\n

Congress enacted ICWA\u00a0to protect the best interests of Indian children and to promote the stability and security of Indian tribes and families by the establishment of minimum Federal standards for the removal of Indian children from their families and the placement of such children in foster or adoptive homes which will reflect the unique values of Indian culture.\u00a0\u00a025 U.S.C. \u00a7 1901(5)<\/a><\/p>\n

ICWA regulates state courts, State Child Protective Service Agencies and adoption agencies regarding the handling of child abuse and neglect and adoption cases involving Native children.<\/p>\n

ICWA affirms the rights and preference of Tribal Courts to adjudicate child abuse and neglect and adoption cases involving children on the reservation. ICWA affirms and supports Tribal jurisdiction in child welfare proceedings.<\/p>\n

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When ICWA Applies<\/h3>\n

ICWA applies to every kind of involuntary custody proceeding that involves an Indian child, including relinquishment for adoption and juvenile dependency proceedings. The regulations suggest ICWA also be applied to voluntary placements unless the child will be returned to the parent upon demand.\u00a0 <\/span>25 U.S.C. \u00a7 1912(a)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

The regulations do not apply to proceedings initiated before December 12, 2016 but they do apply to any subsequent proceedings in those cases and to subsequent proceedings affecting the custody or placement of the same child. ICWA defines the four phases of a child dependency case as separate proceedings and the regulations are to be invoked when the case procedurally moves from one phase to the next.\u00a0 For ICWA purposes, \u201cchild custody proceeding\u201d as defined includes the following four separate phases that may all take place within a single ongoing case:\u00a0 (1) the foster care placement, (2) termination of parental rights, (3) preadoptive placement, and (4) adoptive placement.\u00a0 Each of these proceedings is a new proceeding for ICWA purposes and the regulations require ICWA inquiry at the beginning of each proceeding within a case, not each case.\u00a0 <\/span>25 U.S.C. \u00a7 1903(1)<\/span><\/a>; <\/span>25 C.F.R \u00a7\u00a7 23.143 and 23.2 (1996)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t

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TABLE OF CONTENTS:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Indian Child Welfare Act ICWA<\/a><\/p>\n

Purpose of ICWA<\/a><\/p>\n

When \u00a0ICWA Applies<\/a><\/p>\n

The \u00a0Importance of Following ICWA From the Beginning<\/a><\/p>\n

The Social Worker and the Court Have the Duty to Inquire if a Child Has Indian Heritage and Provide Notice to the Appropriate Tribe(s)<\/a><\/p>\n

Intervention by the Tribal Court<\/a><\/p>\n

Placement Provisions of ICWA<\/a><\/p>\n

Good Cause Exception<\/a><\/p>\n

Other Resources<\/a><\/p>\n

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<\/a>icwa4<\/span><\/p>\n

The Importance of Following ICWA From the Beginning<\/h3>\n

It is imperative that everyone - attorneys, social workers, the court \u2013 ask whether the child may be an Indian child at the very beginning of a dependency case. In some jurisdictions, ICWA placements are presumed to be the best interests of the child. If an Indian foster child is not placed into an ICWA-preferred placement, that child may later be moved to a tribally sanctioned home. That move is likely to be traumatic for the child. If ICWA is not followed the case may be overturned or invalidated at any stage, including post finalization of an adoption.<\/p>\n

<\/a>icwa5<\/span><\/p>\n

The Social Worker and the Court Have the Duty to Inquire if a Child Has Indian Heritage and Provide Notice to the Appropriate Tribe(s)<\/h3>\n

State agencies, social workers and courts have an initial and ongoing duty to:<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. \u00a0Inquire if a child before them is an Indian child, and<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. \u00a0Provide proper notice to the designated tribal representative, as listed in the Federal Register, of any and every tribe the child may belong to.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Federal Register list can be found<\/span> here<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

    The notice must be sent, at a minimum, by registered mail, return receipt requested. Personal service or other types of service may be in addition to but not in lieu of such mail. The duty to inquire and to give notice as required by the law is affirmative and continues throughout the lifetime of the child and the case.\u00a0 Welfare and Institutions Code \u00a7\u00a7 224.2<\/a>, 224.3<\/a><\/p>\n

    Only the tribe may decide who is an Indian child.\u00a0\u00a0Welfare and Institutions Code \u00a7 224.3(h)\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

    If there is reason to know that the child may be an Indian child, the court must treat the child as an Indian child unless and until the court makes a determination, on the record--after reviewing the social worker\u2019s report of the due diligence employed to identify the appropriate tribe(s), the notices sent to the tribe(s), the return receipts showing service of notice on the tribe(s), and the tribe(s)\u2019 responses to the notice\u2014that\u00a0 the child is not an Indian child as defined by ICWA.<\/span><\/p>\n

    <\/a>icwa6<\/span><\/p>\n

    Intervention by the Tribal Court<\/h3>\n

    Once the child has been recognized by an Indian tribe, the tribe may choose to intervene in the state proceedings or may request transfer of the case to their tribal court. A petition to transfer the case to a Tribal court may be made by the Indian parent, Indian custodian or the tribe.<\/p>\n

    The right to transfer a case to Tribal court is available at any time and at any stage of proceedings, including during an emergency removal and up to and including a termination of parental rights determination and adoption finalization.\u00a0\u00a025 U.S.C. \u00a7 1911<\/a><\/p>\n

    <\/a>icwa7<\/span><\/p>\n

    Placement Provisions of ICWA<\/h3>\n

    ICWA sets forward removal standards and placement preferences that must be followed in foster care, preadoptive and adoptive placements of Indian children.<\/p>\n

    The issue of placement must be reassessed each time a change in placement is required and at each separate phase of the proceedings: foster care placement, termination of parental rights, preadoptive placement, and adoptive placement.\u00a0\u00a025 C.F.R. \u00a7\u00a7 23.129 and 23.132<\/a><\/p>\n

    No removal of an Indian Child (away from the biological parents, adoptive parents, or Indian custodian) can be made without:<\/p>\n

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    1. Active efforts to preserve the family through remedial and rehabilitative services designed to prevent the breakup of the Indian family.\u00a0Active efforts are \u201caffirmative, active, thorough and timely efforts intended primarily to maintain or reunite an Indian child with his or her family.\u201d 25 C.F.R. \u00a7 23.2<\/a>.\u00a0 For a detailed list of active efforts see also: All County Information Notice 1-29-16 pp. 2 and 3<\/a>, and;<\/li>\n
    2. Clear and convincing evidence that continued custody by the parent or Indian custodian is likely to result in serious emotional or physical damage to the child. A qualified expert witness is required to establish the clear and convincing standard. The social and cultural standards of the Indian community in which the parent or extended family resides must be applied to removal from a parent or an Indian custodian.
      \n      25 U.S.C. \u00a7 1915(d)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Once the removal standard is met, the following foster or foster-adopt placement preferences, in priority order, are to be applied:<\/p>\n

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      1. A member of the child\u2019s extended family;<\/li>\n
      2. A foster home licensed, approved or specified by the child\u2019s Tribe;<\/li>\n
      3. An Indian foster home licensed or approved by an authorized non-Indian licensing authority (such as the state or a private licensing agency); or<\/li>\n
      4. An institution for children <\/b>approved by an Indian tribe or operated by an Indian organization that has a program suitable to meet the child\u2019s needs.
        \n        25 U.S.C. Section 1915(b)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        When parental rights have been terminated or relinquished the following adoptive placement preferences are to be applied:<\/p>\n

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        1. A member of the child\u2019s extended family;<\/li>\n
        2. A member of the child\u2019s Tribe; or<\/li>\n
        3. Another Indian family, including families of unwed individuals.<\/li>\n
        4. The agency and the court should, where appropriate, also consider the preference of the Indian child or parent.\u00a0\u00a025 U.S.C. Section 1915(a)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          A Tribe may, by resolution, change the order of preference for foster care or adoptive placements as to their Indian child.\u00a0\u00a025 U.S.C. Section 1915(c)<\/a><\/p>\n

          When there is an emergency removal of an Indian child under state law, in order to protect the child from imminent physical damage or harm to the child, the child must be returned to the parent or Indian custodian once the removal is no longer necessary to prevent imminent hard to the child.\u00a0\u00a025 U.S.C. Section 1922<\/a><\/p>\n

          <\/a>icwa8<\/span><\/p>\n

          Good Cause Exception<\/h3>\n

          ICWA placement preferences must be followed.\u00a0 To deviate the agency must demonstrate a diligent search for options that comply and obtain a court determination of \u201cgood cause\u201d to deviate, which is based on one or more of the following:<\/p>\n