Training on American Indian Issues

Resources include training curricula and materials for child welfare caseworkers on working with American Indian children, youth, and families, including information on the Indian Child Welfare Act and effective strategies for working with Tribes. Resources include State and local examples.

Collaboration With Native American Tribes: ICWA and ASFA: Trainer's Guide (PDF - 90 KB)
Institute for Child and Family Policy, Edmund S. Muskie School of Public Service (2003)
Outline for a workshop that informs workers about the service delivery systems of local tribes and offers tips for collaboration between the State agency and tribal leaders.

The Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978: A Child Welfare Professional Training Curriculum: Trainer Guide
Barbour, Kwong, Lammers, Liss, & Van Straaten (2002)
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Designed to assist trainers in teaching child welfare practices to practitioners working with American Indian children and families. Includes a discussion of cultural values and practices.

Indian Child Welfare Act: Train the Trainers
Paulson, Gillette, Long Feather, Hall-Hammeren (2001)
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Prepares non-Indian trainers to conduct workshops about the purpose of the Indian Child Welfare Act and the cultural implications of child welfare practice.

The Indian Child Welfare Act: You Must Understand Why
Graves (2005)
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Tutorials that examine the rationale for the Indian Child Welfare Act and recommend specific social work practices to support its implementation.

Indian Tribal CPS Safety Intervention: Safety Assessment, Analysis and Planning Workshop (PDF - 2210 KB)
Holder (2004)
Provides information on safety assessment and safety planning to child protective services staff who are responsible for working with Native American children and families on a reservation.

Inter-disciplinary Training for Tribal and Non-Tribal Directors, Managers, and Supervisors: Participant Workbook (PDF - 2458 KB)
Tribal STAR, San Diego State University School of Social Work (2009)
Provides an overview of the issues facing child welfare and Indian child welfare workers and includes recommendations, tips for protocol, and other resources designed to increase positive outcomes for Tribal foster youth. Also see the Trainer Manual. (PDF - 1884 KB)

National Resource Center for Tribes
Provides States and Tribes training and technical assistance to improve Tribal child welfare practice and promote the delivery of culturally appropriate services to American Indian and Alaska Native children, youth, and families.

A Native Pathway to Adulthood: Training for Tribal and Non-Tribal Child Welfare Workers: Participant Manual (PDF - 1730 KB)
National Resource Center for Youth Services (2004)
Training to enhance the skills of tribal and State workers in facilitating the transition of older American Indian youth from out-of-home care to adulthood. Also see the Trainer Manual (PDF - 4240 KB).

Understanding the Cultural Context: Working With American Indian Children and Families
Gonzalez-Santin & Perry (2003)
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Training to assist child welfare workers in providing services to American Indian children and families.

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State and local examples

Denver Indian Family Resource Center: Research Report (PDF - 1080 KB)
Leake (2007)
Discusses the activities and outcomes of the Denver Indian Family Resource Center's Rocky Mountain Quality Improvement Center, which was designed to prevent removal and out-of-home placement, or to promote timely return home of Indian children who have become involved with the child welfare system due to parental substance abuse and child neglect or maltreatment.

ICWA Training Videos
Eveleth (2009)
Equips child welfare and related professionals with the knowledge and skills to implement ICWA effectively and discusses how each Tribe in Nebraska handles cases in an effort to improve communication and collaboration.

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