Tribal Council supports the purpose and goals of the Indian Child Welfare Act in eliminating child abuse and neglect by strengthening our families, Tribe, and the laws that protect them. Tribal Council wishes to delegate the ultimate decision-making authority on the subject of Tribal participation in ICW cases involving Cowlitz Tribal Members and potential Cowlitz Tribal Members, to a standing committee of the Tribal Council pursuant to Title 03.02.020 and Title 03.04.020(14).
ICW Committee shall have the following duties and powers:
1) The power to promptly receive and review all notices of potential involvement of a Cowlitz Tribal Member, or potential Cowlitz Tribal Member, as defined by Cowlitz law, in a case involving the ICWA (hereafter “ICWA cases”)’
2) The power to promptly receive reports regarding Indian Child Welfare Cases not currently under state court jurisdiction or state agency review;
3) The exclusive power to determine, by a majority vote of the members of the ICW Committee, whether or not the Tribe will intervene in ICWA cases;
4) The exclusive power to determine, by a majority vote of the members of the ICW Committee, the Tribe’s official position regarding a state child welfare agency’s or a state court’s compliance with the requirements of the ICWA;
5) The power to advise the ICW Department, by a majority vote of the members of the ICW Committee, on policy and the implementation such policy.
6) The power to advise the ICW Department, by a majority vote of the members of the ICW Committee, on the provision of direct services to Tribal Members.
7) The power to seek and receive staff assistance and technical support from Cowlitz Tribal Staff members in support of their duties;
8) The power to require coordination between staff members in the execution of the charge of the ICW Committee, specifically between the Legal Department and the Indian Child Welfare program and any other staff deemed necessary to coordination;
9) The power to create internal bylaws or processes to perform their delegated duties;
10) The power to meet in-person, virtually, or telephonically, as determined by the needs of the ICW Committee members; and,
11) The power to access all ICW case files, so long as the files are held in confidence and not distributed beyond the members of the ICW Committee and their assigned support staff; and
12) The power to create a process to facilitate the customary adoption of a Tribal child involved in a state-based child welfare proceeding; and
13) The power to authorize/order customary adoption, consistent with the laws and regulations of the Tribe and the state whose court has jurisdiction of the child welfare case
Time Commitment: 2 hours a month (Third Friday 3-5) for case staffing’s and the ability to meet as needed for urgent case or legal needs.
Stipend Amount: $100
Meetings are held virtually. In the event an in-person meeting is needed the committee covers all travel costs.
Submission Dues Date: November 27, 2024
The contact info Line: openseats@cowlitz.org