Despite having a low proportion of american indian or alaskan native (AI an) people in its population, nebraska has one of the highest AI an child welfare disproportionality ratios in the country

In 2008, when the nebraska indian child welfare coalition (nicwc) started as a grassroots organization, nebraska was ranked second state in the country. Nicwc is a voluntary association of child welfare system stakeholders dedicated to addressing the disproportionality of AI an children in the foster care system and to improving relationships between the state child welfare agency and all tribes to ensure successful implementation of the indian child welfare act (icwa). In july 2019, we incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and now have full-time, dedicated staff members to further our mission. Our coalition members and board of directors have worked together to develop a strategic plan for 2022 - 2024 that includes three key areas: expanding capacity by maximizing productivity and increasing our financial capacity engaging partners through innovation, connection, and transparency and, elevating awareness by increasing visibility and empowering native families. A major part of our strategic plan is to empower native families through listening sessions we have hosted and participated in hosted by other entities, as well as hearing directly from individual families. Through these community forums we have identified a need for a tribal liaison and legal advocacy program to further our mission of advocacy for native children, families, and tribes in our area. Our long-term goal is to work toward the development and implementation of an icwa law center for nebraska. BIA icwa off-reservation grant funds will help ignite this tribal liaison and legal advocacy program and establish the foundation for a stronger state-wide program.overall objectives of our project include: 1) establishing a well-functioning tribal liaison and legal advocacy program 2) empowering families by knowing and understanding their rights, how icwa affects their case, and what they should do to help protect their family and, 3) protecting families through better legal representation as attorneys and judges better understand the nebraska and federal icwas.