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Dear USET/USET SPF Family,
In response to requests from Tribal Nations and leaders, the Department of the Interior (DOI), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Department of Justice (DOJ) will hold a joint Tribal consultation to provide updates on their collective efforts and solicit input on how the agencies can better promote federal protections for Native American children and their caregivers.
DOI, DOJ and HHS are seeking input on the following questions regarding ICWA:
- What additional supports would Tribal leaders find helpful to build their Tribal Nation's capacity to exercise their rights and responsibilities under ICWA?
- Are there specific supports you believe the federal government could provide to help state courts and child welfare agencies meet their obligations under ICWA? In your experience, are there specific aspects or requirements of ICWA where state courts and agencies need to build greater understanding or capacity?
- Are there existing state-Tribal Nation collaborative partnerships or processes that you believe have helped support effective implementation of ICWA?
The agencies will hold two consultations, one fully virtual and one hybrid. The first session will be held on August 7, 2023 from 3:00 - 5:00 pm EDT. Interested participants may register for the first session here. The second session will be held on August 11, 2023 from 8:00 - 10:00 pm ET (and in person in Anchorage, Alaska). Interested participants may register for the second session here. More information on the consultation can be found in the Dear Tribal Leader Letter.
The agencies are also accepting written comments until 11:59 pm on September 15, 2023. Written comments should be emailed to consultation@bia.gov.
For more information, please contact Ashton Martin, USET SPF Health Policy Analyst, at amartin@usetinc.org.
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