ICWA

Indian Child Welfare Act

The Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) program is a law passed by congress to protect Indian Children.  The goal is give preference to placement in a native relative home, a native in the community and a non-native in the community with close ties to the family.

The Tribe, through the ICWA worker, represents the children with the Department of Office of Children Services (OCS) who generally remove children from homes during crisis. OCS presents their case to the court and at that point the ICWA worker will step in, or intervene on the child’s behalf to ensure that out of home placement meets the preference.

The Native Village of Kluti-Kaah has an active Child Protection Team that is made up of professionals in various fields that will help make a recommendation based on the best interest of the children.

In some cases the tribe may intervene and ask for the case to be moved to tribal court.

Arleen Lenard
ICWA Advocate
alenard@crnative.org
Copper River Native Association
PO Box H
Copper Center, Alaska 99573
(907) 822-8847 Direct Phone
(907) 822-8800 Fax 
(907) 259-3127 Cell

Child Protection Team - Katherine McConkey, Faye Ewan, and Nelly Ewan.