The Indian Child Welfare Act: a Brief Overview to Contextualize Current Controversies.

Authors

Frank E. E. Vandervort, University of Michigan Law SchoolFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-2019

Abstract

Congress passed and the president signed the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) into federal law in 1978. Because the Constitution grants to Congress the authority to make law regarding Indian tribes, ICWA’s provisions are mandatory, unlike other federal child welfare legislation such as the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, which are voluntary. State authorities handling any case involving an “Indian child” must comply with ICWA.

Comments

Copyright 2019 APSAC Advisor. Reproduced with permission.

Recommended Citation

Vandervort, Frank E. "The Indian Child Welfare Act: A Brief Overview to Contextualize Current Controversies." American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children Advisor 31, no. 2 (2019).