Second District Children’s Court (Albuquerque, NM), (Bernalillo Co. ICWA Court) presented at the New Mexico Children’s Legal Institute on January 13, 2022. The presentation “Rhythm (Sovereign) Nation: ICWA in 2022” featuring Judge Catherine Begaye (only American Indian currently presiding over an ICWA Court) and highlighted the innovations towards building collaboration between partners for better outcomes for Indian children and families. Significant data points for Bernalillo Co. ICWA Court are:
– Trauma Informed – “no termination of parental rights motions has ever been filed” in the ICWA Court;
– High placement preferences– 69% of ICWA Court cases that are placed within a preferential ICWA placement (relative/kin), compared to only 38.6% of all children in out of home placement; and
– Tribal ICWA Engagement – Building relationships with Tribes beyond just legal ICWA notice.
Congratulations Bernalillo Co. ICWA Court.
Co-presenters also included:
Jenessa Garay, ICWA Children’s Court Attorney, CYFD, Bernalillo Co.; Leah Lopez, Social Services Coordinator, Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo; Stacie Oso, ICWA Specialist, CYFD, Bernalillo Co.; Adrea Korthase, Senior Program Manager, NCJFCJ