ICWA Courts

About ICWA Courts

Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) Courts

Families, Relatives, Community

The five principles of ICWA Courts that frame the “gold standard of child welfare” are:

Judicial leadership;
ICWA data collection;
ICWA training (spirit and letter of law);
Tribal stakeholder collaboration; and
Gold Standard lawyering and social work.

ICWA Court judges lead off-the-bench in coordination with the ICWA partners (attorneys, agency social workers, and Tribal ICWA representatives) to achieve the spirit of ICWA.

Data Collection informs practice and can measure the impact of ICWA Courts. For instance, identifying the tribal partners who are parties in any particular jurisdiction allows for deeper collaboration and partnership, ultimately better serving children and families.

Key success to an ICWA Court is authentic Tribal collaboration and partnership. These partnerships foster better outcomes for ICWA families, including decreased time Indian children are in-care.

ICWA Courts are home to “gold standard” attorneys, judges, social workers and tribal representatives. The community of ICWA participants have more focused education and skill-development of the relevant laws. Tribal partner engagement and focused education allows for a culture that is committed to the spirit of ICWA, and increased capacity for the legal side of ICWA practice.

Although ICWA courts are of course child welfare courts, the foremost distinction is that families can expect engagement that is delivered with cultural humility, is solution-oriented, and most-importantly with humanity.

ICWA Court Map

Below is a map of the current ICWA Courts. For more information about these courts or to be added to the map, please see the contact information below.

Webinars

A Webinar Series on Improving Outcomes for American Indian Children and Families in partnership with the University of Minnesota, Duluth.

Topic 1: Parental Engagement

Judge Sally Tarnowski, Sixth Judicial District of Minnesota
Donna Newgren-Issacson, Duluth Urban Representative, ICW Advisory Council
Terri Ann Port Wright, Attorney at Law, Port Wright Law Office
Erika Randall, Guardian ad Litem, Sixth and Ninth Judicial Districts of Minnesota

The panel is facilitated by Lynelle Hartway of NCJFCJ and Mark Erickson of UMD.

Topic 2: Inquiry and Notice

Judge Sally Tarnowski, Sixth Judicial District of Minnesota
Rebecca J. McConkey-Green, Attorney, McConkey-Green Law Office
Nishah Dupuis, Social Worker, St. Louis County/Duluth ICW Ongoing Unit
Larissa Littlewolf, ICWA Social Worker, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa

The panel is facilitated by Lynelle Hartway of NCJFCJ and Mark Erickson of UMD.

Topic 3: Active Efforts

Judge Sally Tarnowski, Sixth Judicial District of Minnesota
Donna Newgren Isaacson, Duluth Urban Representative, ICW Advisory Council
Lynn Brave Heart, State ICWA Division Program Manager, Minnesota State Guardian ad Litem Board
Dale Greene, Anishinaabe’ Elder, ICWA Cultural Specialist

The panel is facilitated by Lynelle Hartway of NCJFCJ and Mark Erickson of UMD.

A Webinar Series on The Importance of Cultural Humility in ICWA Cases when working with tribal families who have been impacted by opioids and other substance use disorders (SUDs). Hosted with funding from the State Justice Institute.

Topic 1: Service Referral

Tara McLain Manthey (Osage Nation), Executive Director, Denver Indian Family Resource Center
Honorable Pax Moultrie, Judge, Denver Juvenile Court
Shannon Meddings, Assistant City Attorney, Denver City
Meredith Halstead, MSW, Child Protection Supervisor, City and County of Denver
Alyssa Willie, MSW, MLS, Family Engagement Specialist, Denver Indian Family Resource Center

This panel is facilitated by Sheldon Spotted Elk and Adrea Korthase of NCJFCJ.

Topic 2: Case Planning

Justice Anne K. McKeig, Minnesota Supreme Court
Justice Raquel Montoya-Lewis, Washington Supreme Court

This panel is facilitated by Sheldon Spotted Elk and Adrea Korthase of NCJFCJ.

Topic 3: Data Collection

This panel includes Pima County ICWA Court stakeholders including representatives from Pascua Yaqui Tribe and offer the opportunity for engagement.

Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) courts were created to better support American Indian/Alaska Native families in child protection cases. More than simply a specialized docket, ICWA courts actively strive to improve collaboration between state and tribal partners and increase compliance with both the letter and spirit of ICWA. This webinar will take a closer look at ICWA Court approaches and the correlation between practices and Indian family outcomes. The webinar will highlight excerpts from the new report “What Lessons Can We Learn from ICWA Courts?”

Faculty: Sheldon Spotted Elk, J.D., Casey Family Programs Alicia Summers, Ph.D., Data Savvy Consulting Honorable Janet C. Bostwick, Pima County Superior Court Shana King, ICWA Law Center

Blog

Reflections on Kinship - 12/11/2025 Reflections on Kinship ICWA and state family court judges benefit from an expansive understanding of kinship, so as not to undervalue legitimate Indigenous family relationships that may lead to inappropriate placements or missed placement opportunities. Kin and family units extend beyond the nuclear family in many Native cultures. Honoring Native perspectives about kinship respects tribal sovereignty…
What Lessons Can We Learn from ICWA Courts? - 10/16/2025 What Lessons Can We Learn from ICWA Courts? NCJFCJ partner, Casey Family Programs based out of Seattle, Washington recently published a Knowledge Management Brief on “What lessons can we learn from ICWA Courts?.” The content was developed with the help from professionals from Yellowstone County, Montana; Hennepin County, Minnesota; and the Sitka Tribe of Alaska.…
Albuquerque ICWA Court is impactful through communication, collaboration, and organization - 02/06/2025 Albuquerque ICWA Court is impactful through communication, collaboration, and organization (see ICWA Court Guide Resource)” Bernalillo County’s ICWA Court: A Model of Collaboration and Commitment Since its inception in 2020, the Bernalillo County ICWA Court in Albuquerque, New Mexico, has been vital in upholding the principles of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). As only…
Tulsa County ICWA Court Celebrates Successful Reunification - 11/14/2024 Tulsa County ICWA Court Celebrates Successful Reunification Tulsa, Oklahoma – In early July 2024, the Tulsa County ICWA Court marked an important milestone by celebrating a successful family reunification, showcasing the dedication of all involved in upholding the principles of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). Enacted in 1978, the Indian Child Welfare Act set…

The Supreme Court upholds Indian Child Welfare Act

My full statement on the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Indian Child Welfare Act pic.twitter.com/V8e97j1sgg

— Secretary Deb Haaland (@SecDebHaaland) June 15, 2023