Indian Children & Families

In foster care and adoption cases involving Indian children today, Michigan's tribal and state courts cooperate to preserve family and tribal connections. In the past, this was not so.

Historically, federal and state policies encouraged removal of Indian children from their families. Many non-Indians believed it was best to take these children from their culture, but it devastated the children and
their communities.

Source: Indian Child Welfare Act, Michigan Indian (June 1979)
Learn more about
treaties, boarding
schools & adoption

The federal Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (ICWA) and the Michigan Indian Family Preservation Act of 2012 (MIFPA) were enacted to correct
these historical policies. Learn more about ICWA/MIFPA