Tribal child welfare work requires both understanding of and respect for American Indian and Alaska Native cultural activities. Successful child welfare practice includes not only cultural competence but also cultural humility that honors American Indian traditions, including spirituality, healing practices, traditional languages, and other cultural practices and activities. Find resources in this section related to culturally relevant and promising practices in working with American Indian/Alaska Native children and families.
Helping Child Welfare Workers Improve Cultural Competence by Utilizing Spiritual Genograms With Native American Families and Children
Limb & Hodge
Children and Youth Services Review, 32(2), 2010
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Provides an assessment tool that can be used to provide culturally and spiritually competent services to Native American families and children.
Promising Practice for Maintaining Identities in First Nation Adoption
Carriere
First Peoples Child & Family Review, 3(1), 2007
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Explores the importance of identity in American Indian adoption.
Social Work Practice Tips for Inquiry and Noticing: Reasons Why People Do Not Claim To Be American Indian
Casey Family Programs & Bay Area Collaborative of American Indian Resources (2010)
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Discusses reasons individuals do not claim their American Indian heritage and the implications for Indian Child Welfare Act compliance, especially in the area of inquiry and providing notice to Tribes. The article includes practice tips to ensure effective inquiry.
Working With American Indian and Alaska Native Individuals, Couples and Families [Webcast]
National Healthy Marriage Resource Center (2015)
Discusses the need for relationship curricula that are culturally relevant to the Native American population, elements of a healthy relationship curriculum specially developed for the Native American population, and strategies for adapting already existing healthy relationships and marriage curricula to resound more strongly with Native American couples.