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Indian Child Welfare
Phone: 405-547-4234
Serving natives statewide and tribal members nationwide.
To report suspected abuse/neglect in Oklahoma
The Hotline phone number, 1-800-522-3511, is provided to the public for reporting child abuse and neglect. The Hotline does not take messages for OKDHS employees or others.
STATE AGENGIES: Please submit enrollment requests by mail to ICW 335588 E 750 RD Perkins, OK 74059 or by email bgoade@iowatribe.org.
About ICWA according to NICWA
The Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) was enacted in 1978 in response to a crisis affecting American Indian and Alaska Native children, families, and tribes. Studies revealed that large numbers of Native children were being separated from their parents, extended families, and communities by state child welfare and private adoption agencies. In fact, research found that 25%–35% of all Native children were being removed; of these, 85% were placed outside of their families and communities—even when fit and willing relatives were available.
Congressional testimony documented the devastating impact this was having upon Native children, families, and tribes. The intent of Congress under ICWA was to “protect the best interests of Indian children and to promote the stability and security of Indian tribes and families” (25 U.S.C. § 1902).
ICWA sets federal requirements that apply to state child custody proceedings involving an Indian child who is a member of or eligible for membership in a federally recognized tribe.
At the time, not only was ICWA vitally needed, but it was crafted to address some of the most longstanding and egregious removal practices specifically targeting Native children. Among its added protections for Native children, ICWA requires caseworkers to make several considerations when handling an ICWA case, including:
- Providing active efforts to the family.
- Identifying a placement that fits under the ICWA preference provisions.
- Notifying the child’s tribe and the child’s parents of the child custody proceeding; and
- Working actively to involve the child’s tribe and the child’s parents in the proceedings.
Working actively to involve the child’s tribe and the child’s parents in the proceedings.
Promoting Safe and Stable Families (PSSF)
Promoting Safe and Stable Families: Title IV-B, Subpart 2, of the Social Security Act
The primary goals of Promoting Safe and Stable Families (PSSF) are to prevent the unnecessary separation of children from their families, improve the quality of care and services to children and their families, and ensure permanency for children by reuniting them with their parents, by adoption or by another permanent living arrangement. States are to spend most of the funding for services that address family support, family preservation, time-limited family reunification and adoption promotion and support.
PSSF Eligibility
- Families considered at-risk. (Involvement with DHS)
- Live within the Iowa Service area, enrolled tribal members do not have to be in service area.
- Families must be willing to voluntarily participate in creating a plan with ICW, engage in service plan and willing to provide a signed consent of release.
Funding Provided by Title IV-B
Intake
Email or call to schedule an intake in-person to participate in PSSF program. During the intake be prepared to discuss the safety concerns and how to address the safety concerns to create a written service plan. Be sure to bring DHS caseworkers contact information to initial intake. Please review the PSSF assessment prior to intake and bring any documents and information to complete intake in timely manner. Email bgoade@iowanation.org or call 405-547-1091 ext. 3101.
SERVICES AVAILABLE
- Family preservation: Assist families considered at-risk or in crisis.
- Family Support Services: Provide community-based services that are designed to promote the safe and well-being of children.
- Time Limited family reunification services: Provide reunification services and activities provided to a child that is removed from the child’s primary caregiver to facilitate reunification of the child safely and appropriately within 15-months from the time the child entered foster care.
- Adoption promotion and support services: Encourage more adoptions out of the foster care system when adoption promote the child’s best interest.