Cherokee Nation Changes Placement Preferences Under ICWA

Veronica Brown

Posted on January 15, 2014 by Kate Fort at TURTLE TALK

Article here.

The Cherokee tribal resolution, which passed unanimously, states: “In any adoptive placement of a Cherokee child under state law, a preference shall be given, in the absence of good cause to the contrary, to a placement with a biological parent or parents; a member of the child’s extended family; other members of the Cherokee Nation; or other Indian families.”

Speaker of the Council Tina Glory-Jordan, an attorney, praised the council’s work on the legislation.

“Because of recent cases, there is a need to include a fit parent or biological parent when it comes to placement of Cherokee children,” said Glory-Jordan.

“We’ve come to a day where so many courts don’t want to recognize ICWA. This law will make it easier, the next time our social workers go to court.”

It seems more tribes are going to be tightening and reinforcing the ICWA federal law in their own statutes. It's about time!   Trace