MSU law school discusses Indian Child Welfare Act

Friday, March 16, 2007  

The Michigan State University College of Law is hosting a conference today on the Indian Child Welfare Act.

ICWA, passed in 1978, turns 30 years old next year. It gives tribes a greater say in child custody cases of Indian children.

Before the act, Indian children were being placed in non-Indian homes at alarmingly high rates. But even today, states aren't complying with the law, said Suzanne Cross, a Saginaw Chippewa foster mother who will speak at the conference [More Info].

Cross said state agencies need more training to understand tribal culture and address the needs of Indian children. Matthew Fletcher, the director of the law school's Indigenous Law and Policy Center, said each state handles the law differently so there is no easy way to enforce it.

Get the Story:
Child welfare act often neglected (The MSU State News 3/16)

Relevant Links:
National Indian Child Welfare Association - http://www.nicwa.org

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