Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA)
Indian Child Welfare Act
The Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) (25 U.S.C. §§ 1901 et seq.) is federal legislation which establishes minimum federal standards for state court child welfare proceedings and many other “child custody” proceedings involving Indian children. This legislation affects California dependency, delinquency, guardianship and some family proceedings involving Indian children.
Learn about the new federal regulations governing ICWA.
The Tribal/State Programs Unit of the Center for Families Children and the Courts has developed the resources on this webpage to assist those involved in these kinds of proceedings understand their legal obligations under ICWA and comply with those requirements.
Find the list of Indian Child Welfare Act; Designated Tribal Agents for Service of Notice Published in the Federal Register on March 22, 2023 here.
ICWA laws, Rules & Regulations
Find a centralized section for ICWA related state and federal documents, ICWA-related California Rules of Court, and ICWA-related Judicial Council forms.
MORE »ICWA Education
Learn about the curriculum developed for Indian Child Welfare Act and other distance learning tools available.
MORE »Statewide Directory of Services for Native American Families
Search the directory on services to assist Indian children and families in California.
MORE »Tribal Customary Adoption
Tribal Customary Adoption is a permanency option for Indian children who are dependents of the California Courts.
MORE »Related LInks
- Bureau of Indian Affairs: Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood Instructions
- Bureau of Indian Affairs: Guide to Tracing American Indian Ancestry
- California Governor's Tribal Advisor Office
- CDSS Tribal Consultation Process
- National Center for State Courts
- National American Indian Court Judges Association
- Public Law 280 resources