Tribal Court Improvement Program (TCIP) and state Court Improvement Programs (CIP)

Tribes, tribal organizations and tribal consortia have often expressed interest in operating their own Court Improvement Program (CIP) rather than only being able to access Court Improvement Program (CIP) funding through the states. In fiscal year 2012 (FY 2012), the Children’s Bureau for the first time provided funding for a Tribal Court Specific CIP. The first 7 TCIP grantees are: (1) Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (MT); (2) Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians (MI); (3) Navajo Nation Judicial Branch (AZ); (4) White Earth Band of Chippewa (MN); (5) Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California; (6) Pascua Yaqui Tribe (AZ); and (7) Nooksack Indian Tribe (WA). The purpose of this Tribal Court Improvement Program (TCIP) is to provide grants to tribal governments on behalf of tribal courts or courts for tribal consortia to improve the handling of child welfare cases by tribal courts, and increase and enhance the engagement of the entire family in court proceedings related to child welfare, family preservation, family reunification, and adoption. The funding will provide tribal courts with the opportunity to (1) Conduct assessments of how they handle child welfare proceedings and to make improvements based on those assessments, including, providing for children's safety, permanence, and well-being as set forth in the Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA); (2) Ensure children's safety, permanence, and well-being needs are met in a timely and complete manner (through better collection and analysis of data) and (3) Provide for training of judges, attorneys, and other legal personnel in child welfare cases.

Resources:

Tribal Court Improvement Program FY 2012 RFP

Tribal Court Improvement Overview

State Court Improvement Program Tribal Work Overview

Building a Better Collaboration: Facilitating Change in the Court and Child Welfare System (NCJFCJ Flier)

Disproportionality Rates for Children of Color in Foster Care

Meaningful and Ongoing Engagement of Tribes and State Courts in Child Protection

The Model Court Effect: Proven Strategies in Systems' Change (Brochure)

Model Courts: Improving Outcomes for Abused and Neglected Children and Their Familes (Brochure)

Resolution 5 Conference of Chief Justices

Recommendations for Developing and Maintaining Tribal Relationships

Tribal STAR Tips for Following Protocol When Working With Tribal Communities

Tribal Judicial Leadership Gathering: Working Together for Native Children and Families

This site contains links to other web sites that may be of interest to you. The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) / Children's Bureau (CB) does not endorse the views expressed or the facts presented on these sites. Their contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not represent the official views or policies of the Children's Bureau. Access to this information does not in any way constitute an endorsement by the Department of Health and Human Services. Furthermore, ACF/CB does not endorse any commercial products.