Native American Child Protection Act

Native American Child Protection Act

This bill revises certain programs related to the prevention, investigation, treatment, and prosecution of family violence, child abuse, and child neglect involving Indian children and families.

Specifically, the bill revises the Indian Child Abuse Treatment Grant Program to encourage the use of grants for culturally appropriate treatment services and programs.

The bill renames the Indian Child Resource and Family Services Centers as the National Indian Child Resource and Family Services Center. It also requires the center to (1) provide advice, technical assistance, and training to urban Indian organizations; (2) develop certain technical assistance materials for Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations; and (3) develop model intergovernmental agreements between tribes and states to prevent, investigate, treat, and prosecute incidents of family violence, child abuse, and child neglect involving Indian children and families.

Additionally, the bill revises the Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Program to allow Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and intertribal consortia to use program funds for additional activities, such as operational costs for child protective services.

Bill 118 hr 663, also known as the Native American Child Protection Act, is a piece of legislation introduced in the US Congress with the aim of addressing the issue of child protection within Native American communities. The bill seeks to strengthen the ability of tribal governments to respond to cases of child abuse and neglect by providing them with additional resources and support.

One of the key provisions of the bill is the establishment of a grant program that would provide funding to tribal governments for the implementation of child protection services. This would include training for social workers, law enforcement officers, and other professionals involved in child welfare, as well as the development of protocols for responding to cases of abuse and neglect.

Additionally, the bill aims to improve coordination between tribal governments and state child welfare agencies, in order to ensure that Native American children receive the support and services they need regardless of where they reside. This would involve the sharing of information and resources, as well as the establishment of joint protocols for handling cases that involve both tribal and state jurisdictions. Overall, the Native American Child Protection Act is designed to empower tribal governments to better protect their children and ensure that they receive the care and support they deserve. By providing additional resources and support, the bill aims to address the unique challenges faced by Native American communities in the realm of child welfare, and to promote the well-being of Native American children across the country.