Indian Child Welfare (ICW)

To protect and preserve Comanche tribal customs, preserve and strengthen the family unit, by acting in the best intrest of our tribal children. Children are the most essential asset to the tribe because they are the future of the Comanche Nation. The Comanche Nation Indian Child Welfare Department ensures that the children in their custody are safe and protected. In addition, the opportunity for a flourshing family life founded upon tribal customs.

The Indian Child Welfare (ICW) Program is part of a system designed to deter disintegration of Comanche families and to reunite Comanche families through crisis intervention and prevention/education efforts.

Program Criteria

The Comanche Nation Child Welfare Program works through the Comanche Tribal Children's Court to transfer cases from the Department of Human Services custody to the custody of the Comanche Nation. The children who are separated from their families will still be provided services that will work to ensure the return of this child to his/her family or ensure that the child is not lost to the Tribe. The Program provides crisis intervention, prevention in some cases, information and referral to other services that could be helpful.

Additionally, the program develops and recruits for Foster Homes to keep children in Indian homes upon removal. the Indian Child Welfare Act has indicated placement priority and it is this placement priority that the Program follows as closely as possible.

Following are the objectives that the Program must meet

Objective 1: To protect and maintain the integrity of Indian families, and the Indian cultural heritage of Indian children. ICW will provide crisis intervention services, court interventions, and on-going child welfare services by December 31, 2007.

Objective 2: To recruit and/or re-certify 40 families in the designated service area, as new Foster Parents or re-certification of foster families by December 21, 2007.

Objective 3: To develop and implement a core of training for all tribally approved and certified foster homes by December 31, 2007.

Objective 4: To participate and coordinate with other programs within the Comanche Nation Tribal structure in the provision of community education and prevention activities on topics relative to the promotion of family stability and wellness. Total effort will impact at least 500 families by December 31, 2007.

Objective 5: To prevent Child Abuse and Neglect the Program will support and develop strong and healthy Comanche families through the support of our tribal heritage. The program will develop and design a program that will utilize culturally relevant strategies to institute the use of the Comanche language, customs, and traditions in our families with children. Total effort will impact 100 Comanche families by Devember 31, 2007.