Placement Patterns for American Indian Children Involved with Child Welfare

American Indian children are disproportionately more likely to be victims of maltreatment and to be in foster care than the general population of children, according to 2012 data. Despite Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) guidelines, only 17 percent of American Indian children not living with a biological parent reside with an American Indian caregiver. This research brief, developed by Casey Family Programs in partnership with co-authors at the Oregon Social Learning Center and Rady Children’s Hospital, examines the extent to which the placement patterns of American Indian children in out-of-home care are aligned with the placement preference provisions outlined in ICWA.