A legal requirement included in the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), Active Efforts are essential for casework that supports tribal children and families. Designed to keep families together, Active Efforts outline the actions caseworkers must take to avoid removals or prioritize reunification if children have been removed from their homes.
This document from the Center for Tribes offers practical recommendations and many easily-accessed tools on how to effectively implement Active Efforts, shares a brief history behind Active Efforts as a best practice, and emphasizes the importance of ongoing tribal-state-court collaborations to serve the best interests of Indian children and their families.
Resource Link: Active Efforts Resource List
Date: 2021