GRAND Magazine - Summer 2023 - 24
grandfamilies
Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA)
protecting our grandchildren's connection to family and cultural Identity
BY ROBYN WIND
N
ine years ago, like millions of other
grandparents in this country, I thought
I had my future planned out. All
that changed with a phone call from the
Department of Human Services. My threemonth-old
grandchild was being taken into
custody and would need a foster home. Did
I want to become a licensed foster parent for
him? Of course, I did. But I had twelve hours
to prepare. I needed a crib, car seat, diapers...
all the things to care for a severely injured and
neglected infant. It's been difficult at times, but
I have never regretted that decision and today I
am privileged to be raising a handsome, loving,
and busy nine-year-old boy. Instead of going
on cruises and day trips with friends my age,
I attend football practice and hang out in the
drive-up line at the elementary school.
I am fortunate that my family and I are citizens
of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, one
of the four largest tribes in the country. As
a result, the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA)
applied to my grandson's case and I, as a
family member, was considered first as a
24 GRAND Summer 2023
caregiver for him when
the child welfare agency
intervened. Had this
not been the case, my
grandson may well
have been taken to
live with strangers.
ICWA is considered
the " gold standard "
when it comes to
child welfare practice
simply because the
law mandates children
be placed with
family members or
within their communities.
We know children
fare better when
they are allowed to
remain with their extended family
members and are connected to their communities.
This should be the norm for every family
involved with the child welfare system, but we
still have work to do to make that happen.
An ancient Muscogee village NPS
Despite the conveniences, technology, and influences of the twentieth
century, the Muscogee people maintain many traditional values. Family
ties are strong as values and beliefs continue to be passed down from
generation to generation.
Continued on next page
https://www.facebook.com/GRANDmagazine
GRAND Magazine - Summer 2023
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of GRAND Magazine - Summer 2023
Contents
GRAND Magazine - Summer 2023 - Cover1
GRAND Magazine - Summer 2023 - 2
GRAND Magazine - Summer 2023 - 3
GRAND Magazine - Summer 2023 - Contents
GRAND Magazine - Summer 2023 - 5
GRAND Magazine - Summer 2023 - 6
GRAND Magazine - Summer 2023 - 7
GRAND Magazine - Summer 2023 - 8
GRAND Magazine - Summer 2023 - 9
GRAND Magazine - Summer 2023 - 10
GRAND Magazine - Summer 2023 - 11
GRAND Magazine - Summer 2023 - 12
GRAND Magazine - Summer 2023 - 13
GRAND Magazine - Summer 2023 - 14
GRAND Magazine - Summer 2023 - 15
GRAND Magazine - Summer 2023 - 16
GRAND Magazine - Summer 2023 - 17
GRAND Magazine - Summer 2023 - 18
GRAND Magazine - Summer 2023 - 19
GRAND Magazine - Summer 2023 - 20
GRAND Magazine - Summer 2023 - 21
GRAND Magazine - Summer 2023 - 22
GRAND Magazine - Summer 2023 - 23
GRAND Magazine - Summer 2023 - 24
GRAND Magazine - Summer 2023 - 25
GRAND Magazine - Summer 2023 - 26
GRAND Magazine - Summer 2023 - 27
GRAND Magazine - Summer 2023 - 28
GRAND Magazine - Summer 2023 - 29
GRAND Magazine - Summer 2023 - 30
GRAND Magazine - Summer 2023 - 31
GRAND Magazine - Summer 2023 - 32
GRAND Magazine - Summer 2023 - 33
GRAND Magazine - Summer 2023 - 34
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2024fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2024summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2024spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2024winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2023fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2023summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2023winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2022fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2022summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2022spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2022winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2021fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2021summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2021spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2021winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2020fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2020fall_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2020summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2020spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2020winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20191112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20190910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20190708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20190506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20190304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20190102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20181112_drm
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20181112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20180910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20180708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20180506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20180304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20180102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20171112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20170910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20170708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20170506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20170304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20170102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20161112_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20160910_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20160708_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20160506_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20160304_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20160102_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20151112_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20150910_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20150708_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20150506_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20150304_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20150102_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/201401112_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20140910_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20140708_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20140506_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20140304_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20140102_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20131112_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20130910_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20130708_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20130506_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20130304_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20130102_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20121112_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20120910_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20120708_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20120506_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20120304_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20120102_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20111112_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20110910_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20110708_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20110506_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20110304_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20110102_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20101112_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20100910_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20100708_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20100506_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20100304_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/201001_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/200912_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/200911_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/200910_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/200909_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/200908_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/200907_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/200906_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/200905_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20080910_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/200904_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/200903_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/200902_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20081112_v6
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com