The Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) and the Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska (Tlingit & Haida) have entered into a historic agreement that will provide support for child protective services, foster care, dependency guardianship, termination of parental rights, and adoption proceedings.
The agreement was signed at a ceremony held on Dec. 4 in Juneau, Alaska.
This is the first formal partnership between DCYF and an out-of-state tribe, marking a groundbreaking step in intergovernmental collaboration. The agreement clarifies roles and responsibilities to enhance coordination and cooperation between the Tribe and DCYF in providing Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) services.
“This agreement sets a precedent, reinforcing the importance of ICWA principles and creating a model for collaboration across state boundaries,” said DCYF Secretary Ross Hunter. “We look to Tlingit & Haida as a model and hope they inspire other tribes to partner with other states.”
Nearly 23% of Tlingit & Haida tribal citizens under the age of 18 reside in Washington state — approximately 1,600 children and youth. Families will receive services from the Tribe’s Family Services Division based out of their recently opened Lynnwood office.
Information about DCYF’s ICWA division can be found on the Office of Tribal Relations webpage.