Drawing on Cultural Tradition in Indian Child Welfare Practice

Abstract

The development of Indian child welfare programs since the passage of the 1978 Indian Child Welfare Act has been increasingly influenced by Indian tradition, role models, and natural helping systems. An important dual role—providing services and maintaining cultural integrity—is postulated for these programs.

Child Placement Issues of Women With Addictions

“…In 1978 the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) was passed by Congress to help keep Native American children who require out-of-home placement within Native American communities and to prevent such placement when possible. Before 1978, large numbers of Native American children were removed from their homes for various reasons and placed in boarding schools or adopted by families who were not Native Americans and who lived far from the children's families of origin (Cross, 1986;Horejsi, Craig, & Pablo, 1992). Experiences by Native Canadian families have been similar (Timpson, 1995).…”

Field Research with Underserved Minorities: The Ideal and the Real

“…20 For example, in American Indian communities the family is a complex web of relationships with little distinction between immediate and extended family. 21 …”

Living in Two Worlds: Native American Women and Prenatal Care

“…These policies included Removal, which in 1953 called for the termination of federal responsibility of Am erican Indians and directly impacted tribal reservations during the 1950s. The Indian boarding schools played a significant role in the disruption of traditional practices as native language and custom s were forbidden in m ost instances (Cross, 1986;Flem ing, 1992). Indeed, the evidence suggests that these policies, along with racism and discrim ination, are in large part responsible for the high incidence of alcoholism am ong N ative Am ericans (Choney, Berryhill-Paapke, & Robbins, 1995).…”