Minnesota Judicial Branch Logo
Due to scheduled maintenance, mncourts.gov and other court applications may experience brief outages between 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 1, 2023. Please plan ahead.

Understanding and Applying ICWA: Purpose, Strategies, Practice, and Resources

Back to CJI Help Topic

This Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) training is designed to provide the foundational information necessary to comply with both the letter and spirit of the ICWA. The training also provides substantive law and practice skills necessary to improve outcomes for Indian children and their families. The training covers the background leading to the ICWA requirements, the 2016 Federal Regulations, 2016 Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Guidelines, Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act (MIFPA), and Minnesota Tribal/State Agreement (TSA).
Learning Objectives: When attendees have finished this course, they will be able to:
 
  1. Recognize the historical, philosophical, and legal requirements of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) and Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act (MIFPA).
  2. Participate in ensuring positive outcomes for Indian children, their families, and tribes.
  3. Apply the letter of the law and the spirit of ICWA, MIFPA, federal regulations, and Minnesota’s Tribal/State Agreement (TSA).
Recommended Audience: All CJI team members and stakeholders in the child welfare community are encouraged to attend, including judicial officers, court administration staff, law clerks, county attorneys, social workers, attorneys for parents and children, guardians ad litem, and tribal representatives.

Cost: There is no fee for registration, materials, continuing education credits, or meals and refreshments during the training. Attendees are responsible for travel costs, including parking.

June 10, 2022
8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Hennepin County Juvenile Justice Center
590 Park Avenue ​
Minneapolis, MN 55415


Course Description: This Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) training is designed to provide the foundational information necessary to comply with both the letter and spirit of the ICWA. The training also provides substantive law and practice skills necessary to improve outcomes for Indian children and their families. The training covers the background leading to the ICWA, the ICWA requirements, the 2016 Federal Regulations, 2016 Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Guidelines, Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act (MIFPA), and Minnesota Tribal/State Agreement (TSA).

The course will be led by Judge Jamie Cork (1st Judicial District), Jessica Ryan (Hennepin County Adult Representation Services), Justice Anne McKeig (MN Supreme Court), and Shannon Smith (ICWA Law Center).
 
Learning Objectives: When attendees have finished this course, they will be able to:
 
  1. Recognize the historical, philosophical, and legal requirements of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) and Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act (MIFPA).
  2. Participate in ensuring positive outcomes for Indian children, their families, and tribes.
  3. Apply the letter of the law and the spirit of ICWA, MIFPA, federal regulations, and Minnesota’s Tribal State Agreement (TSA).
Recommended Audience: All CJI team members and stakeholders in the child welfare community are encouraged to attend, including judicial officers, court administration staff, law clerks, county attorneys, social workers, attorneys for parents and children, guardians ad litem, and tribal representatives.
 
Registration: Please register using this registration survey by the registration deadline of Thursday, May 26th.
 

October 21, 2022
8:30 am - 4:30 pm / in-person

Ramsey County Courthouse (Main) - Room 40
15 West Kellogg Boulevard
St. Paul, MN 55102


Course Description: This Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) training is designed to provide the foundational information necessary to comply with both the letter and spirit of the ICWA. The training also provides substantive law and practice skills necessary to improve outcomes for Indian children and their families. The training covers the background leading to the ICWA, the ICWA requirements, the 2016 Federal Regulations, 2016 Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Guidelines, Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act (MIFPA), and Minnesota Tribal/State Agreement (TSA).
 
The course will be led by Judge Jamie Cork (1st Judicial District), Shannon Smith (ICWA Law Center), and Judge Korey Wahwassuck (9th Judicial District).  
 
Learning Objectives: When attendees have finished this course, they will be able to:
 
  1. Recognize the historical, philosophical, and legal requirements of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) and Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act (MIFPA).
  2. Participate in ensuring positive outcomes for Indian children, their families, and tribes.
  3. Apply the letter of the law and the spirit of the ICWA, MIFPA, federal regulations, and Minnesota’s Tribal/State Agreement (TSA).
Recommended Audience: All CJI team members and stakeholders in the child welfare community are encouraged to attend, including judicial officers, court administration staff, law clerks, county attorneys, social workers, attorneys for parents and children, guardians ad litem, and tribal representatives.
 
Registration: Please register using this registration survey by the registration deadline of Wednesday, October 12th. Parking information will be provided to those who register for the event.
 

Friday, October 27, 2023
8:30 am to 4:30 pm / in-person
Holiday Inn & Suites - Duluth Downtown
200 West First Street
Duluth, MN 55802

Course Description: This Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) training is designed to provide the foundational information necessary to comply with both the letter and spirit of the ICWA. The training also provides substantive law and practice skills necessary to improve outcomes for Indian children and their families. The training covers the background leading to the ICWA, the ICWA requirements, the 2016 Federal Regulations, 2016 Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Guidelines, Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act (MIFPA), and Minnesota Tribal/State Agreement (TSA).

The course will be led by Jessica Ryan (Attorney, Adult Representation Services & Tribal Attorney in Private Practice), Maya Tester (Assistant Hennepin County Attorney), and the Hon. Korey Wahwassuck (Itasca County Judge, 9th Judicial District).
 
Learning Objectives: When attendees have finished this course, they will be able to:
 
1. Recognize the historical, philosophical, and legal requirements of the Indian Child Welfare Act  (ICWA) and Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act (MIFPA).
2. Participate in ensuring positive outcomes for Indian children, their families, and tribes.
3. Apply the letter of the law and the spirit of ICWA, MIFPA, federal regulations, and Minnesota’s  Tribal/State Agreement (TSA).

Recommended Audience: All CJI team members and partners in the child welfare community are encouraged to attend, including judicial officers, court administration staff, law clerks, county attorneys, social workers, attorneys for parents and children, guardians ad litem, and tribal representatives.

Registration: Registration is now open for this program. Please register using this registration survey by the registration deadline of Friday, October 6th. Parking information will be provided to those who register for the event.




 

 

 

Friday, September 15, 2023
8:30 am to 4:30 pm / in-person

The Sandford Center

1111 Event Center Drive NE
Bemidji, MN, 56601

Course Description: This Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) training is designed to provide the foundational information necessary to comply with both the letter and spirit of the ICWA. The training also provides substantive law and practice skills necessary to improve outcomes for Indian children and their families. The training covers the background leading to the ICWA, the ICWA requirements, the 2016 Federal Regulations, 2016 Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Guidelines, Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act (MIFPA), and Minnesota Tribal/State Agreement (TSA).
 
The course will be led by Anne McKeig (Associate Justice, MN Supreme Court), Jessica Ryan (Attorney, Adult Representation Services & Tribal Attorney in Private Practice), Maya Tester (Assistant Hennepin County Attorney), and Korey Wahwassuck (Itasca County Judge, 9th Judicial District).
 
Learning Objectives: When attendees have finished this course, they will be able to:
 
1.       Recognize the historical, philosophical, and legal requirements of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) and Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act (MIFPA).
2.       Participate in ensuring positive outcomes for Indian children, their families, and tribes.
3.       Apply the letter of the law and the spirit of ICWA, MIFPA, federal regulations, and Minnesota’s Tribal/State Agreement (TSA).
 
Recommended Audience: All CJI team members and partners in the child welfare community are encouraged to attend, including judicial officers, court administration staff, law clerks, county attorneys, social workers, attorneys for parents and children, guardians ad litem, and tribal representatives.
 
Registration: Registration is now open for this program. Please register using this registration survey by the registration deadline of Wednesday, August 30th. Parking information will be provided to those who register for the event.
 

Please select your training below for professional credit information.

Judicial officers, court administration staff, guardians ad litem, social workers, and attorneys can report this course for continuing education credit. 

For judicial officers, please complete this Continuing Judicial Education (CJE) Petition to report your participation in this training. 

For law clerks and attorneys, this course has been approved for 3.5 standard Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits and 3.0 elimination of bias CLE credits that can be reported directly to the Minnesota State Board of Continuing Legal Education using the event code 491891. 

For court administration staff, please record your attendance as an external training event in Cornerstone. Not sure how to do this? Check out this Quick Reference Guide. 

For social workers, guardians ad litem, and others, a Certificate of Attendance can be provided to you upon request, along with a copy of the agenda from this training. You can make that request directly to the Children's Justice Initiative. 
Judicial officers, court administration staff, guardians ad litem, social workers, and attorneys can report this course for continuing education credit. 

For judicial officers, please complete this Continuing Judicial Education (CJE) Petition to report your participation in this training. 

For law clerks and attorneys, this course has been approved for 3.5 standard Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits and 3.0 elimination of bias CLE credits that can be reported directly to the Minnesota State Board of Continuing Legal Education using the event code 458648. 

For court administration staff, please record your attendance as an external training event in Cornerstone. Not sure how to do this? Check out this Quick Reference Guide. 

For social workers, guardians ad litem, and others, a Certificate of Attendance can be provided to you upon request, along with a copy of the agenda from this training. You can make that request directly to the Children's Justice Initiative. 
Judicial officers, court administration staff, guardians ad litem, social workers, and attorneys can report this course for continuing education credit. 

For judicial officers, please complete this Continuing Judicial Education (CJE) Petition to report your participation in this training. 

For law clerks and attorneys, this course has been approved for 3.5 standard Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits and 3.0 elimination of bias CLE credits that can be reported directly to the Minnesota State Board of Continuing Legal Education using the event code 473632. 

For court administration staff, please record your attendance as an external training event in Cornerstone. Not sure how to do this? Check out this Quick Reference Guide. 

For social workers, guardians ad litem, and others, a Certificate of Attendance can be provided to you upon request, along with a copy of the agenda from this training. You can make that request directly to the Children's Justice Initiative. 
Please check back for more information as the event nears.
Continuing education credit has been approved for judges, court administration staff, guardians ad litem, social workers and attorneys.

Judges, to report your credit, please fill out this CJE petition for the January 27th training and this CJE petition for the March 10th training and submit them to Human Resources.

Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit for attorneys is approved for 2.5 standard credits (event code 341576) for January 27, 2021, and 1.25 credits (event code 346755) for March 10, 2021.
Judges, court administration staff, guardians ad litem, social workers, and attorneys can report this couse for continuing education credit.

Judges, please fill out the Continuing Judicial Education (CJE) petition and email it to Human Resources.

Attorneys, the event code is 355884, and it has been approved for 2.5 standard credits.
Judicial officers, court administration staff, guardians ad litem, social workers, and attorneys can report this course for continuing education credit.

For judicial officers, please complete this Continuing Judicial Education (CJE) Petition to report your participation in this training.

For law clerks and attorneys, this course has been approved for 2.25 standard Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits that can be reported directly to the Minnesota State Board of Continuing Legal Education using the event code 429026.

For court administration staff, please record your attendance as an external training event in Cornerstone. Not sure how to do this? Check out this Quick Reference Guide.

For social workers, guardians ad litem, and others, a Certificate of Attendance can be provided to you upon request, along with a copy of the agenda from this training. You can make that request directly to the Children's Justice Initiative.  
 
Judicial officers, court administration staff, guardians ad litem, social workers, and attorneys can report this course for continuing education credit. 

For judicial officers, please complete this Continuing Judicial Education (CJE) Petition to report your participation in this training. 

For law clerks and attorneys, this course has been approved for 2.25 standard Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits that can be reported directly to the Minnesota State Board of Continuing Legal Education using the event code 433024.

For court administration staff, please record your attendance as an external training event in Cornerstone. Not sure how to do this? Check out this Quick Reference Guide. 

For social workers, guardians ad litem, and others, a Certificate of Attendance can be provided to you upon request, along with a copy of the agenda from this training. You can make that request directly to the Children's Justice Initiative.