Child Welfare Liaison

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Department Contact:

Sandra Cooper

Indian Child Welfare Liaison

Phone Number:

(253)405-7544

Mailing Address:

3009 E. Portland Ave.
Tacoma, WA 98404

Purpose

The Indian Child Welfare Liaison acts as a liaison between the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, the State Department of Social and Health Services, Department of Children and Family Services, Tribal Social Services located on other reservations, Superior Courts and other Tribal Courts where Puyallup Tribal members and their children are involved in Dependency or minor-in-need-of-care or youths-in-need-of-care proceedings, where there are allegations or findings of child abuse and/or neglect.

The Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 was introduced as a response to the disproportionate number of children who were being removed from their families and the frequency with which they were placed in non-Indian homes, including adoptive homes; failure of the public child welfare system to work in a culturally appropriate manner with Indian families; and paucity of services to Indian Communities.

The Indian Child Welfare Act intended to reaffirm tribal jurisdiction over child welfare matters involving Indian families, establish standards for the placement of Indian children in substitute care, support tribal and off reservation Indian child and family services and require state courts to follow specific guidelines when considering out-of-home placement or termination of parental rights for Indian children. Overall, the Act is intended to promote the stability and security of Indian families and reduce the number of Indian children removed from their families and placed in non-Indian substitute care.

The ICW Liaison Department contrib-utes to the Puyallup Tribe of Indians and its members by assisting in the prevention and intervention of child abuse and neglect. In doing so I offer assistance to Tribal members and their families referrals and services to drug and alcohol evaluations, parenting classes, referrals for financial assistance for rent, utility bills, medical and dental, etc.

If Puyallup Tribal members’ children are removed from their care and placed in foster homes by the State Department of Health Services-Children and Family Services and/or other Tribal Services, these agencies have to notify this office within three business days of removal so that I can attempt to find relative placements and or Puyallup Tribal foster homes depending on where the families are living.

If Puyallup Tribal members and their children are subjects of dependency actions in either the State or Tribal Courts, the ICW Liaison and the Puyallup Tribal ICW Attorney will file a Notice of Intervention with the Superior Courts and/or Motions to Intervene in other Tribal Courts where they have asserted jurisdiction over Puyallup Tribal members and their children.

I will be involved with every court proceeding, staffing and reviews where Puyallup Tribal children and their families are subjects of dependency proceedings in other jurisdictions.

We will transfer cases from the State or other Tribal Courts at the request of Tribal Members and their families to the Puyallup Tribal Court with supervision and services to be provided by the Puyallup Tribes Children’s Services.

I serve, facilitate and collaborate with State and other Tribal Social Service agencies, attorneys, court personnel, professional therapists and practitioners and guardian ad litems in an effort to assure that Puyallup Tribal members and their children are receiving the services necessary to allow children to be safe and the families to be reunited in an expedient manner.

Accomplishments

This year I served, by intervention and prevention, a total of 56 children that were either enrolled or eligible for enrollment with the Puyallup Tribe of Indians. I served 32 parents that were enrolled with the Puyallup Tribe, 12 Native parents/spouses or significant others from other tribes and 15 non-Native parents/spouses or significant others.

During the past year out of the 56 children’s cases that I was involved with providing direct services and referrals, 8 cases were dismissed and the children were either returned to their parent’s care and custody or placed in long-term care with family or extended relatives, 13 cases were transferred to the Puyallup Tribal Court with supervision and services provided by Puyallup Tribe’s Children’s Services.

I have attended staffings and hearings involving Puyallup Tribal members and their children at the following Tribal Courts and or Superior Courts over the past year. Los Angeles, California, Grants Pass and Portland Oregon, West Palm Beach Florida, Pierce, King, Snohomish, Whatcom, Skagit, Mason, Thurston, Counties in Washington State. Muckleshoot, Squaxin Island, Nisqually, S’Klallam, Tulalip and Swinomish Tribal Courts.

The Indian Child Welfare Liaison continues to work cooperatively with all parties involved and continues to maintain a cooperative working relationship with the state Department of Children and Family Services and other tribal social services agencies.

It continues to be an honor and pleasure to work with the Puyallup Tribe of Indians and its members as the Indian Child Welfare Liaison for the past 15 years in this position.

Thank you, for this opportunity to provide you with a brief summary of what the Indian Child Welfare Liaison has done this year. If you have any questions or you or someone you know need assistance regarding child abuse and or neglect matters please do not hesitate to contact me at (253) 405-7544.

Respectfully submitted
Sandra Cooper, ICW Liaison for
The Puyallup Tribe of Indians