New Mexico Pueblos Children's Code Project

Child abuse and neglect is a major concern among New Mexico's pueblos and tribes, and many tribes lack adequate, culturally relevant tribal codes for addressing this problem. OVC's Training and Technical Assistance Center is supporting a group of consultants who are helping the pueblos of Acoma, Zuni, San Felipe, Santa Ana, and Taos develop or strengthen tribal codes to properly address the policies and procedures for handling child abuse and neglect cases. These policies and procedures provide much-needed guidance for social workers, law enforcement officials, and treatment providers about how to protect child victims. Under the auspices of the New Mexico Indian Affairs Department, the initiative will review existing children's codes, conduct site visits, and manage input from tribal leaders and judges. The project goals are to develop, implement, and enforce more comprehensive children's codes in Indian Country; guide child welfare and protection processes; and ensure that children's needs are adequately and efficiently met by their pueblo or tribe.

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