TY - JOUR PY - 2023// TI - Examining foster care outcomes for American Indian children in the context of the Indian Child Welfare Act JO - Child maltreatment A1 - Francis, Annie M. A1 - Hall, William J. A1 - Ansong, David A1 - Lanier, Paul A1 - Albritton, Travis J. A1 - McMillan, Ashley SP - ePub EP - ePub VL - ePub IS - ePub N2 - The history of the child welfare system and related institutions with American Indian children and families has been marked by numerous atrocities, including unnecessary separations, assimilation, and trauma. The Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) was enacted in 1978 to promote the stability and security of American Indian tribes and families. For children involved in the child welfare system, ICWA prioritizes the placement of American Indian children with family or tribal members. This paper examines placement outcomes for American Indian children using recent national data over 3 years from the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System. Multivariate regression analyses showed that American Indian children were significantly less likely to be placed with same-race/ethnicity caretakers than their non-American Indian counterparts. In addition, American Indian children were not more likely to be placed with relatives or have trial home placement compared to non-American Indian children. These findings suggest that ICWA is not reaching its intended objectives regarding placement goals specified in the law regarding American Indian children. These policy shortcomings have significant implications for American Indian children, families, and tribes in terms of well-being, family connection, and cultural loss.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 1077-5595 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/10775595231175649 ID - ref1 ER -