By Kendra Lowden, FireLodge Children & Family Services Foster Care/Adoption Manager
The Indian Child Welfare Act was passed in 1978 in response to the alarmingly high number of Indian children being removed from their homes by both public and private agencies. The passage of ICWA granted Citizen Potawatomi Nation the legal right to intervene on child welfare cases involving Potawatomi children.
Today, FireLodge Children & Family Services takes action to ensure Potawatomi children maintain connections with their families, tribe and communities while reducing the trauma they face in the child welfare system. Our program recently created packets geared toward helping foster parents and Potawatomi children learn more about CPN. The packet provides foster parents the opportunity to take an active role in teaching their foster child about his or her culture. Included in the packet is information about laws, Tribal history, services, cultural programs, language resources and more.
For more information about FireLodge Children & Family Services, call 405-878-4831 or visit cpn.news/firelodge.