In 2023, the Minnesota Judicial Branch received a federal State-Tribal Partnership grant to support implementation of ICWA Best Practices, from the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The work under this grant is directed by the CJI State-Tribal Partnership Committee.
The State-Tribal Partnership grant is intended to:
- promote statewide understanding of and compliance with both the “letter of the law” and the “spirit of the law” of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) and the Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act (MIFPA), and
- improve outcomes for American Indian children, families, and tribes involved in the state child welfare system so children are protected, families and tribes are preserved, and children remain connected to their families, communities, and culture.
To further these goals, the grant will support establishment of at least two new ICWA Courts, as well as documenting best practices for ICWA Courts and building a support structure to empower continuous quality improvement of ICWA Courts in Minnesota. Contact the State-Tribal Partnership Team with questions about the State-Tribal Partnership Committee and projects.
The CJI State-Tribal Partnership Grant for Best Practices in American Indian Child Welfare is a joint project of the Minnesota Judicial Branch, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, Minnesota Department of Human Services, and Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families. This work is being supported by award no. 90CW1153-01-00 from the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents of this webpage are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACF, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit the ACF website, Administrative and National Policy Requirements.
