The views expressed herein have not been approved by the House of Delegates or the Board of Governors of the American Bar Association, and accordingly, should not be construed as representing the policy of the American Bar Association.
The Capacity Building Center for Courts (CBCC) promotes ICWA compliance through resources, tools, and products that advance the interests of Indian children, tribes, and families.
Video. The CBCC produced a short video calling on dependency court professionals across the country to renew their commitment to promoting ICWA compliance. The video lists a number of additional resources available through the CBCC that support ICWA efforts.
ICWA Quicksheet. This tool promotes continuous quality improvement. Coming soon is a 13 module online course covering the nuts-and-bolts of the Indian Child Welfare Act. The course includes the 2016 regulations and provides best practice tips for litigating ICWA cases in state courts.
ICWA judicial training. This training can be adapted to any state and weaves together the history and black letter law to provide a holistic overview of the statute, and ways to ensure ICWA compliance in court.
Future work. Over the next year the CBCC will develop an ICWA Baseline Measures Toolkit to help states make data-informed decisions about their ICWA efforts. A research agenda will guide the CBCC’s work and focus resources on issues that need the most attention. The CBCC is also working closely with state courts, agencies, and tribes to integrate the 2016 regulations and best practices into every courtroom, in every case.
—Andy Yost, JD, liaison, Children’s Bureau’s Capacity Building Center for Courts