Engaging Indigenous Families

Child Welfare Information Gateway

This episode shares insight from the National Native Children's Trauma Center for those caseworkers and agencies that are working or will work with indigenous communities to support children and families. Recognizing how Tribal communities approach child-rearing, community and family structures, justice, and law enforcement—and how those approaches may differ from what caseworkers may view as healthy—is important to developing trusting and supportive relationships. Topics discussed include the following: • Why Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) provisions can't be implemented in the same manner for every Tribe or Nation state and local child welfare professionals work with • How historical trauma within Native and Tribal communities is strongly connected to intergenerational trauma • What guidance State and local child welfare caseworkers and agencies can use when engaging with Native families and communities