The Alice Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children submitted its official report to the United States Congress on Feb. 20, 2024. Established by Congress in 2016, the Commission was tasked to conduct a comprehensive study of the programs, grants, and supports available to American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians from birth through age 24.
Many Tribal leaders, academic scholars, and tribal members from across Washington State contributed to this report, including Tleena Ives, DCYF Tribal Relations Director.
The report highlights the Commission’s recommendations about how the overall system could be strengthened, improved, and/or transformed to better ensure that Native children and youth can thrive. The report proposes changes to federal policies and practices that would improve the education, child welfare, health, and justice outcomes for Native children and youth.
The report shares several recommendations that impact DCYF’s work specifically, including:
- Recommendation 1: Enhance the capacity of Tribal social services and Tribal courts.
- Recommendation 2: Ensure compliance with the Indian Child Welfare Act.
- Recommendation 3: Strengthen advocacy for Native children and youth in child welfare cases.
- Recommendation 4: Follow local community standards for Native foster and kinship placements.
- Recommendation 7: Keep track of Native youth in Federal, state, and local juvenile justice systems.
- Recommendation 8: Expand access to the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program.
- Recommendation 9: Support Native culture/language learners in early childhood programs & K-12 schools.
To access the report: https://commissiononnativechildren.org/reports/TheWayForward.pdf.