NCJ Number
128314
Date Published
1989
Length
56 pages
Annotation
This tribal/family protection code developed by the National Indian Justice Center for consideration by Indian tribes covers civil child abuse and neglect, child custody, foster care licensing, guardianship, termination of parental rights, and adoption proceedings.
Abstract
Its purpose is to protect and promote the safety and welfare of Indian children and families. Commentary is intended to help tribes considering the code to assess the extent to which the code meets the needs of their individual community and then make any necessary changes to the code before enacting it. In addition to the overall goal of providing for the welfare, care, and protection of children and families on the reservation, the code has the goals of preserving the family by making out-of-home placements a last resort, providing a continuum of services for children and their families from prevention to residential treatment, and ensuring that off-reservation courts will be willing to return tribal children to the reservation under the code. Some topics covered under the code are jurisdiction of the children's court, transfer of jurisdiction, procedures and authorizations, children's court personnel, protective services workers, and restriction on placement of children.