Mission: The National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA) is dedicated to the well-being of American Indian and Alaska Native children and families.

About the organization: The National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA) originated from the Northwest Indian Child Welfare Institute, established in 1983. It was created to address the need for trained American Indian/Alaska Native child welfare workers in reservation and urban-based programs. Initially sponsored by the Parry Center for Children (now part of Trillium Family Services) in Portland, Oregon, the organization transitioned to Native control in 1985. Over time, NICWA's efforts expanded nationally. Today, NICWA is the foremost Native organization dedicated to enhancing tribal capacity for preventing child abuse and neglect. Its work encompasses six key areas: child abuse and neglect, the Indian Child Welfare Act, foster care and adoption, children's mental health, youth engagement, and juvenile justice. NICWA primarily serves tribal governments, urban and reservation-based social service programs, and frontline staff working with Native children and families.

Current programs:  NICWA is dedicated to ensuring the safety, health, well-being, and spiritual strength of American Indian/Alaska Native children across their lifespan. This involves addressing structural risk factors, such as poverty and untreated parental mental health issues, which can lead to child abuse and neglect. Beyond prevention, NICWA also influences and informs policies and practices within tribal and state systems that respond to child abuse and neglect, including child welfare, law enforcement, family support, and physical and behavioral health. NICWA achieves this through technical assistance and consultation, addressing child abuse and neglect, advocacy for the Indian Child Welfare Act, efforts to combat racial disparities in foster care through its Foster Care and Adoption program, a focus on youth engagement, and providing research and technical support to develop innovative tribal and state policies and initiatives through its Juvenile Justice program.

Website: The NICWA website offers visitors information about its board and funders, its “Protecting Our Children” annual conference, where to find information on training, its public policy and advocacy work, and its research. In addition, visitors can learn how to get involved, become a member, find ways to give, learn about the “Touchstones of Hope Dialogue” series, take an online course, and read more about the traumatic events surrounding Indian Boarding Schools. The site also provides resources for families, service providers, and tribal leaders, the latest news from NICWA, and press information about NICWA.

Funding:  NICWA is supported by memberships, individual, tribal, and corporate donations, fundraising events, program contracts, curriculum sales, and foundation and government grants.