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SUPPORTIVE CARE, CUSTODY, PLACEMENT AND ADOPTION OF AMERICAN INDIAN CHILDREN - SPECIAL QUESTIONS AND NEW ANSWERS

NCJ Number
44637
Author(s)
J P SWENSON
Date Published
1977
Length
93 pages
Annotation
ISSUES IN THE DELIVERY OF SOCIAL SERVICES TO AMERICAN INDIAN CHILDREN ARE EXPLORED IN THE PROCEEDINGS OF A CONFERENCE ATTENDED BY 150 INDIAN PERSONS AND 40 SPECIALLY INVITED NON-INDIANS.
Abstract
THE CONFERENCE WAS CONVENED IN LIGHT OF TWO TRENDS: THE GROWING NUMBER OF AMERICAN INDIAN CHILDREN BEING PLACED OUTSIDE OF THEIR NATURAL HOMES; AND THE INCREASING TENDENCY FOR AMERICAN INDIAN CHILDREN TO BE PLACED IN THE CARE OF NON-INDIANS. IN THE UNITED STATES, 1 IN EVERY 200 CHILDREN LIVES OUTSIDE OF HIS NATURAL HOME. IN NORTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA, AND NEBRASKA, THAT STATISTIC FOR INDIAN CHILDREN IS ONE IN NINE. IN MINNESOTA DURING 1971-72, ONE IN EVERY SEVEN INDIAN CHILDREN WAS PLACED OUTSIDE THE NATURAL HOME; 90 PERCENT OF ADOPTIONS WERE IN NON-INDIAN HOMES. IN 16 STATES, APPROXIMATELY 85 PERCENT OF ALL INDIAN CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE WERE IN NON-INDIAN HOMES. THERE IS CLINICAL EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST THAT THESE CHILDREN ARE AT RISK IN THEIR LATER DEVELOPMENT. ALTHOUGH THEY ARE OFTEN CARED FOR BY WELL-MEANING, DEVOTED FOSTER OR ADOPTIVE PARENTS, THE CHILDREN MAY EXPERIENCE ETHNIC CONFUSION AND A SENSE OF ABANDONMENT, PARTICULARLY IN ADOLESCENCE. THE CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS REPORT COVERS GENERAL SESSION PRESENTATIONS, GROUP DISCUSSIONS, QUESTION-AND-ANSWER PERIODS, AND PANEL DISCUSSIONS. AMONG THE TOPICS ARE SUPPORTIVE CARE TO THE AT-RISK AMERICAN INDIAN CHILD, PLACEMENT ISSUES, SPECIAL SETTINGS FOR AMERICAN INDIAN CHILDREN, AND THE CUSTODY PROCESS. MANY OF THE PRESENTATIONS DESCRIBE THE OPERATIONS OF CONTINUING SERVICE DELIVERY PROGRAMS DEALING WITH AMERICAN INDIAN CHILDREN. CONCLUSIONS REACHED BY CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS ARE SUMMARIZED, WITH EMPHASIS ON TRIBAL CONTROL OF PROGRAMS, CONTINUITY OF TRIBAL HERITAGE, AND THE BENEFITS OF TRIBAL COUNCIL AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT.

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