Oklahoma is home to 38 Federally Recognized Indian Tribes.

State courts are required to demonstrate “meaningful and ongoing collaboration” among the courts in the state, the title IV-B/IV-E agency, and where applicable, federally recognized Indian Tribes in their CIP applications in order to receive funding. (42 U.S.C. § 629h(b)(3); Social Security Act § 438(b)(3))

Ongoing Collaboration with tribes

  • Training Committee
    • Walking in the Spirit of ICWA Training – Oklahoma County OKDHS and Tribal Child Welfare Workers
    • Pilot- Qualified Expert Witness Testimony Toolkit
  • Special Projects Committee
    • Tulsa County ICWA Court Council

The primary purpose of the TSWG is to enhance collaboration and partnership between Oklahoma Human Services (OKDHS), Oklahoma Tribes, and the Courts to advise on policy and procedures, training, and services to American Indian and Alaska Native children and families in compliance with federal and state regulations.

  • Research and Evaluation Subcommittee
  • Active Efforts Subcommittee
  • FFPSA Subcomittee
    • Active Efforts Guide
    • Culturally appropriate services and resources

Oklahoma CIP attends the NICWAC to learn more about other activities and collaborations that would provide more opportunities for meaningful collaboration between CIP and Oklahoma Tribes.

2016 ICWA Implementation Grant

In September 2016, a partnership between the Child Welfare Services Division of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (CWS), the Oklahoma Indian Child Welfare Association (OICWA), and the Court Improvement Program (CIP) was awarded a 5 year, 2.5 million dollar ICWA implementation grant from the Administration on Children and Families.

The purpose of the partnership is to encourage effective, replicable ways to meet or exceed requirements of ICWA, working together to create solutions for longstanding ICWA practice challenges, including improvements in relationships, communication, training and cultural humility, measurement of current child welfare and court practice related to ICWA, and system improvements through state, regional, and local collaboration and demonstration projects.

Projects within the ICWA Partnership Grant included:

  • Pottawatomie County Collaborative
  • Tulsa County ICWA Court
  • Pawnee Area Collaborative
  • Case File Review
  • Quality Data Project (Tulsa, Oklahoma, Kay and Noble Counties)

With 38 Federally recognized tribes, Oklahoma is an ideal location to benefit from the ICWA Partnership Grant, to improve outcomes for Native American Children.

The ICWA partnership grant ended in 2023 but the joint work continues between the Tribes, OK Human Services, and the Court Improvement Program.