Indian Child Welfare Act

Indian Child Welfare Act

The General Accountability Office released its long-awaited study on the implementation of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), calling for greater oversight to ensure states are complying with the landmark law. More than two years in the making, the study was requested by House Majority Leader Tom Delay (R-Texas) and two Republicans, including one with jurisdiction over child welfare programs. The lawmakers wanted to know whether the law works as intended -- to give tribes a greater role in decisions affecting the placement of Indian children.