By Christina Good Voice
Reporter

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Kara Whitworth has worked for the Cherokee Nation Indian Child Welfare program for 17 years. As ICW manager, she’s seen many changes within the program, as well as other tribes’ child welfare programs. However, one thing hasn’t changed and that’s the constant need for Native foster homes to house Native children. 

Whitworth, along with Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s ICW Coordinator Steve Wahnee and Manager Dawn Yahola, recently discussed this issue and others pertaining to the state of the Indian Child Welfare Act at Northeastern State University’s 38th annual Symposium on the American Indian. 

Dr. Virginia Whitekiller, NSU associate professor of Social Work, moderated the panel and described the challenges faced and the advancements made toward the protection of children. 

She said prior to 1978, 25 to 35 percent of all Indian kids were removed from their homes in the United States. 

“About 85 percent of those were placed in non-Indian homes and non-Indian residential areas,” Whitekiller said. “The problems with this were the places where the kids were being brought up in had no understanding or (had a) misunderstanding of Indian culture and Indian traditions.”

After testimonies by many tribal citizens, Congress passed the ICWA in 1978. 

“The congressional intent of this was to protect the best interest of Indian children and to promote the stability and security of Indian tribes and their families,” Whitekiller said.
“The numbers really haven’t changed a lot (over the years). But I think we have made a huge difference in the past 25 to 32 years,” she said.

Whitworth said the percentages of Native children removed from their homes now hover between 20 to 25 percent, which still calls for a great need of Native foster homes.
“Contact the Cherokee Nation or Creek Nation,” Whitworth said. “All of us are always actively recruiting new foster homes.”

Whitworth said the job of tribal social workers is to advocate for Native children and make sure they stay connected to tribal families, even if they are unable to remain in their own families.

“We have to constantly educate, but we have made progress,” she said. 

The Cherokee Nation receives about 950 notices monthly of Cherokee children in other states needing placement, Whitworth said. Luckily, the tribe is able to step in even though the children are outside of the tribe’s jurisdictional territory in Oklahoma. 

Whitworth said the tribe has some certified families in California. And if there aren’t families available, social workers work with other agencies so the child doesn’t have to be relocated. 

“One success is now that we are getting notice,” she said.

However, the Muscogee Nation isn’t able to step in if a case is outside the state, Wahnee said. 

The Creeks are unable to work with children outside of Oklahoma because of tribal law, but Yahola said the tribe is working to change that. 

Both tribes are looking for more certified foster parents, and tribal citizens are urged to contact their respective tribes if they’re interested in becoming a foster parent. 

For more information about becoming a foster parent for the Cherokee Nation, call (918) 453-5000, or the Creek Nation at (918) 732-7869. Some parents can be certified by both tribes.

Reach Reporter Christina Good Voice a (918) 207-3825 or christina-goodvoice@cherokee.org