Tribal/State Collaborative

The Children’s Commission recognizes and respects the Tribal sovereignty of Texas’ three federally-recognized Tribes, the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas, the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas, and the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo (Tigua Tribe), and pursues efforts that protect the best interests of and promotes stability for Indigenous children and families. The Commission collaborates with Texas’ three federally recognized Tribes and partners with other system stakeholders to promote ongoing knowledge and understanding of Tribal practices, the ICWA, and its importance. Collaborative efforts include maintaining Tribal representation on other Children’s Commission efforts, such as the Statewide Collaborative on Trauma-Informed Care, partnering with DFPS in supporting Tribal/State collaborative meetings and collaborating with the Capacity Building Center for Courts and participants of the CIP ICWA Constituency Group. The Children’s Commission also works with national ICWA and leading organizations on understanding and implementation of the Federal Rule and Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Guidelines.

The Children’s Commission educates judges and lawyers on the importance of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), including the context of historical trauma and tools to assist with practical application of the ICWA. Further, the Commission continually works to include Tribal judges and attorneys in all relevant legal trainings including the Children’s Commission annual Child Welfare Judges Conference and the 2021 Texas Indian Child Welfare Act Summit.

Please visit the Reports & Resources page for recent publications.