Indian Child Welfare Act
When Native American children can’t live safely in their homes, Hennepin County works to place them in Native American homes, where they can maintain ties to extended family and tribes, and continue to grow, rooted in their own cultural beliefs, traditions and celebrations.
Currently, there are more Native children in the child protection system than our foster care system can support. Our community desperately needs more caring, capable Native American foster families.
The federal Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) guides child protection work in the Native American communities. The act is enforced by the state of Minnesota and local tribes, and applies to all of the Native children who currently need placement for foster care or permanent family care in Hennepin County.