Stakeholders Checklist and Engagement Strategies
AIE Toolkit
Potential Stakeholders Checklist
In planning your outreach efforts, consider what local and state/regional supports will strengthen and effect positive reinforcement
for your training and ICWA compliance efforts. The chart below provides a list of recommended statewide, regional, and local
stakeholders that can assist with planning, implementation, and relationship building that will support successful ICWA compliance
and training in your area. Local stakeholders, especially tribal community resources, should be engaged early (see Tips for Following
Protocol http://theacademy.sdsu.edu/TribalSTAR). Encouraging tribal participation in local training for social workers increases
awareness and tribal community collaboration. ICWA compliance and proper inquiry are achieved through genuine collaboration
and relationship building with stakeholders and tribal communities. Court support for ICWA compliance is an essential factor, and is
clearly articulated in SB 678. Engagement Strategies are provided on page 3.
Statewide & Regional
Local Potential Resources
Leadership
County
Tribal Community
Training
Service Partners
Courts
Administrative
Office of the
Courts
Child Welfare
Directors
Tribe
Administrative
Office of the Courts
(AOC)
AI Youth
Programs
AOC
Tribal Projects
Unit
Urban Tribal Community
ICWA Liaisons
Bureau of Indian
Affairs
Tribal leaders
Indian Units
CalSWEC –
California Social
Work Education
Center
Cultural brokers
RDD – Racial
Disproportionality
& Disparity
ICWA Designated agent
CDSS – California
Department of
Social Services
ICWA Liaison
Social Services
County training
coordinator/County Workforce
staff development
Development
Regional Training
Academy
Casey Family
Programs
Tribal Education
Centers
BIA
Cultural broker
F&E
Tribal training partners
Linkages
Tribal educators
Regional Training
Academies
Regional Training
Academies
Other
CILS
Judicial Council
NARF
Superior
Courts of the
County
Tribal Courts
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Stakeholders Checklist and Engagement Strategies
CWDA – Child
Welfare Directors
Association
Family Finding
Tribal health services
Coalitions
Tribal youth services
CFPIC – Child &
Family Policy
Institute of
California
Training
Coordinators
Tribal social services
Casey Family
Programs
Regional Training
Academies
AIE Toolkit
Tribal TANF
Regional Training
Academies
Children & Families
Coalitions
Consortia
Cultural Centers
Tribes
Urban vs Rural considerations: Counties with large urban areas and counties with no existing tribal reservation should identify
those American Indian/Alaska Native service agencies (health centers, Tribal TANF, Title VII Indian Education) as potential
stakeholders. In the absence of tribes, these agencies serve an important role in maintaining community and family connection to
cultural resources. There may or may not be a forum or collaborative group that addresses the needs of Indian foster youth. If there
is, your plans should include partnering with this group. In other areas where tribes are present, it is recommended to contact the
tribal ICWA designated agent and seek support and identify the best way to engage the tribe and other tribal resources. These
workers have experience and history with families, tribal leadership, and tribal resources and should be actively involved in planning
and training of county social workers.
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Stakeholders Checklist and Engagement Strategies
AIE Toolkit
Stakeholder Forum
Sample Approaches, Agenda Items and Suggested Focus Discussion
Statewide & Regional Stakeholder
Leadership
Provide fact sheets
Data
Recent applicable
ACL’s
County
Provide fact sheets
Data
Recent applicable
ACL’s
Agenda Items:
SIP & PQCR and
Stakeholder
engagement
American Indian
Enhancement Toolkit
Agenda Items:
SIP & PQCR and
Stakeholder
engagement
American Indian
Enhancement Toolkit
How are monitoring
and documenting our
ICWA efforts?
How are monitoring
and documenting our
ICWA efforts?
What do we need to
improve effective
identification of
Indian children?
What do we need to
improve effective
identification of
Indian children?
Local Potential Stakeholders
Tribal Community
Phone
Personal Visit
Work through staff
with known positive
relationships with
Tribe(s) and AI/AN
service providers.
Agenda Items:
Understanding AI/AN
services for children
in CWS.
Understanding
eligibility for
enrollment to
tribe(s).
Understanding needs
of Indian children in
care.
How can we support
families and children
at risk?
Training
Contact regional
Training Academy
Contact local Tribal
providers and ask
who can train county
staff about needs of
Indian children.
Convene planning
meeting.
Agenda Items:
Overview of ICWA
training
requirements.
Identify potential
tribal co-trainers.
Identify tribal youth
and parent
participants.
How can we utilize
training to improve
county-tribal
collaboration?
Service Partners
Contact local service
partners and ask who
can provide an
overview of services
at ICWA or related
training?
Courts
Contact AOC Tribal
Project Unit and
identify local
resources to support
toolkit
implementation.
Agenda Items:
Review current
providers and
develop resource list
of resources for
Indian children.
Ask ICWA workers
what are current
challenges in courts?
How can we improve
collaboration?
Seek support of
presiding judge,
county counsel, and
district attorney (if
appropriate).
How can we better
identify Indian
children in our care?
Have a plan to
mediate courageous
conversations.
How can we reduce
gaps in services?
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