Massachusetts Resources

Tools

• National Resource Center for Tribes
  This National Child Welfare Resource Center is funded by the Children's Bureau and is part of the Training and Technical Assistance Network administered by the Children's Bureau.
• The Child Welfare Policy Manual Section 9: Tribes/Indian Tribal Organizations
  The Child Welfare Policy Manual conveys mandatory policies that have their basis in Federal law and/or program regulations. It also provides interpretations of Federal statutes and program regulations initiated by inquiries from Child Welfare agencies or ACF Regional Offices.
• Federal and State Recognized Tribes
  A state-by-state listing of Indian tribes or groups that are federally or state recognized.

Research & Reports

• Connecting Children to their Native American Roots. Tribal Contact Lookup:
  Private Company Created Resource: Ayazuta. Provides up to date information on Tribal Contacts and additional resources for states to strengthen their notice of tribes in child welfare cases.
• Massachusetts Fostering Connections Act Implementation Report
  Provides an overview of the state's child welfare population, budget, native tribes, and the progress (as of 2009) the state has made in implementing the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act.

Analysis

• ACYF-CB-PI-08-05
  A description of the provisions of Public Law 110-351 by the Children's Bureau.
• Resources from CDF on policies and programs related to Fostering Connections Act
  An array of resources by the Children's Defense Fund on policies and programs related to the Fostering Connections Act.

Training

No resources are available for Massachusetts.

National Resources

Tools

• Comprehensive overview of ACF-PI-10-11
  This powerpoint presentation is a comprehensive overview of PI-10-11. ACF-PI-10-11 provides title IV-E agencies comprehensive information on the provisions of titles IV-B and IV-E as a result of the amendments made by the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008, P.L. 110-351. In addition to providing new guidance on the option for a title IV-E agency to extend assistance for the foster care maintenance, adoption assistance, and/or kinship guardianship programs to an eligible youth age 18 and older up to age 21, this instruction provides additional guidance on the other provisions of P.L. 110-351 and the flexibilities afforded to a title IV-E agency in complying with the law. This instruction also provides instruction on changes to the titles IV-B/IV-E plan requirements as a result of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148).
• WEBINAR: Supporting Tribal Child Welfare through a Better Understanding of the Opportunities under Fostering Connections
  The power-point presentation from the August 12th, 2010 Webinar, hosted by Fostering Connections Resource Center in conjunction with the National Indian Child Welfare Agency.
• WEBINAR - New Title IV-E Tools for Tribes to Take Advantage of Opportunities Under Fostering Connections
  The slide show presentation from the August 10th Webinar on New Title IV-E Tools for Tribes to Take Advantage of Opportunities Under Fostering Connections, hosted by the Fostering Connections Resource Center in conjunction with the National Indian Child Welfare Association.
• National Resource Center for Tribes
  This National Child Welfare Resource Center is funded by the Children's Bureau and is part of the Training and Technical Assistance Network administered by the Children's Bureau.
• Overview of Tribal Provisions in P.L. 110-351
  Detailed description of the tribal provisions of Fostering Connection.
• Technical Assistance on American Indian Child Welfare Systems
  National Indian Child Welfare (NICWA) staff and consultants provide technical assistance (TA) in the area of the Indian child welfare service systems development and improvement. The emphasis is on empowering tribal programs and increasing their capacity. TA services are adapted to meet the needs of both Indian and non-Indian organizations who request assistance in developing child welfare systems that impact American Indian children and their families.
• National Indian Child Welfare Association on Mental Health
  The website for the National Indian Child Welfare Association on Mental Health
• Systems of Care Tribal Communities
• Native American Child Health
  Information on Native American Child Health from the AAP.
• Title IV-E: Helping Tribes Meet the Legal Requirements
  Many tribes have tribal codes, regulations and policies but many of these were developed outside the requirements of Title IV-E as tribes did not directly operate Title IV-E programs. When seeking to operate Title IV-E programs, tribes will need to assess their current codes, regulations and policies and make changes as needed. This report by Jack F. Trope provides tribes with detailed information about the Title IV-E issues that tribes must address through codes, regulations or policies and offers strategies that tribes can use to make needed revisions.
• Circles of Care
• Native American Children and Youth Well Being Indicators: A Strengths Perspective
  This paper is the result of an exploratory research project that investigated Native American well being indicators for children and youth from a strengths perspective. The research presented builds on previously conducted research on Native American well-being indicators for children and youth.
• Native American Kids, 2001. Indian Children's Well Being Indicators: Databook
  This report presents a literature review of 10 well-being indicators for American Indian and Alaska Native children.
• Title IV-E Plan Pre-print
  The attached pre-print from the Children's Bureau incorporates the statutory provisions of P.L. 110-351 that are effective through FY 2010

Research & Reports

• Overview of Tribal Provisions in P.L. 110-351
  Detailed description of the tribal provisions of Fostering Connection.
• Tribal/State Title IV-E Intergovernmental Agreements: Facilitating Tribal Access to Federal Resources
• Indian Child Welfare Act; Designated Tribal Agents for Service of Notice
  Federal Resource: This list of Indian Child Welfare Act; Designated Tribal Agents appeared in the Federal Register on Wednesday, May 19, 2010.
• Connecting Children to their Native American Roots. Tribal Contact Lookup:
  Private Company Created Resource: Ayazuta. Provides up to date information on Tribal Contacts and additional resources for states to strengthen their notice of tribes in child welfare cases.
• National Indian Child Welfare Association's Information on Customary Adoption
• The Indian Extended Family and Its Relationship to Parenting
• Traditional Native American Culture and Contemporary U.S. Society: A Comparison
• Key Considerations and Best Practices for Tribal Title IV-E Data Collection and Reporting
  This report by Dr. Priscilla Day and Erin Geary provides an overview of the critical issues related to American Indian child welfare and data collection. It describes the data reporting requirements under Title IV-E. Drawing on the experiences of successful tribal agencies that have collected and reported data in an effective, culturally relevant way, it describes challenges, lessons learned and best practice related to child welfare data collection. It further provides an assessment tool for tribes to use to assess their readiness to implement Title IV-E services.
• Trauma Exposure in American Indian/Alaskan Native Children
• Transition Programs in Indian Country
  Provides an initial understanding of programs available to American Indian youth and services provided within American Indian communities.
• Improving Access to Independent Living Services for Tribes and American Indian Youth.
  Describes how Tribes can access independent living services for Indian youth and be involved in the development of culturally appropriate services to assist Indian youth as they begin the transition from tribal and state foster care systems to adulthood.
• Court Reform and American Indian and Alaskan Native Children: Increasing Protections and Improving Outcomes
  Description of court reforms related to handling of cases involving American Indian and Alaskan Native children.
• "Green Book"- Child Welfare section
  The U.S. House Ways and Means Committee "Green Book" section on child welfare includes information on federal programs dedicated to child welfare purposes, including program requirements, spending and characteristics of children served.

Analysis

• Summary and Section-by-Section Description of the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 (H.R. 6893)
  This memorandum provides a section-by-section overview of major provisions included in the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008.
• Summary by ACF/DHHS of the Title IV-E Child Welfare Waiver Demonstrations
  An overview of the Title IV-E Child Welfare Waiver Demonstrations submitted to the Administration for Children and Families.
• The President Signs Into Law Historic Child Welfare Legislation with New Tribal Funding for Foster Care, Guardianship, Adoption and Independent Living Services
  Provides an overview of Tribal Provisions of the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008.
• Resources from CLASP on policies and programs related to the Fostering Connections Act
  An array of resources by the Center for Law and Social Policy on policies and programs related to the Fostering Connections Act.
• Resources from CDF on policies and programs related to Fostering Connections Act
  An array of resources by the Children's Defense Fund on policies and programs related to the Fostering Connections Act.

Training

• Comprehensive overview of ACF-PI-10-11
  This powerpoint presentation is a comprehensive overview of PI-10-11. ACF-PI-10-11 provides title IV-E agencies comprehensive information on the provisions of titles IV-B and IV-E as a result of the amendments made by the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008, P.L. 110-351. In addition to providing new guidance on the option for a title IV-E agency to extend assistance for the foster care maintenance, adoption assistance, and/or kinship guardianship programs to an eligible youth age 18 and older up to age 21, this instruction provides additional guidance on the other provisions of P.L. 110-351 and the flexibilities afforded to a title IV-E agency in complying with the law. This instruction also provides instruction on changes to the titles IV-B/IV-E plan requirements as a result of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148).
• WEBINAR: Supporting Tribal Child Welfare through a Better Understanding of the Opportunities under Fostering Connections
  The power-point presentation from the August 12th, 2010 Webinar, hosted by Fostering Connections Resource Center in conjunction with the National Indian Child Welfare Agency.
• WEBINAR - New Title IV-E Tools for Tribes to Take Advantage of Opportunities Under Fostering Connections
  The slide show presentation from the August 10th Webinar on New Title IV-E Tools for Tribes to Take Advantage of Opportunities Under Fostering Connections, hosted by the Fostering Connections Resource Center in conjunction with the National Indian Child Welfare Association.
• Q&A from Tribal Webinars--August 10 & 12, 2010