National Indian Child Welfare Association Champion for Native Children Award
The National Indian Child Welfare Association offers awards to an individual and an organization that have demonstrated exceptional or emerging skills or contributions to the field as a leader, social worker, case manager, foster parent, or other leader in the foster care system to improve the well-being of Indigenous children, families, and communities in the United States or Canada.
Eligible nominees include an individual or organization that has demonstrated exceptional contributions, including but not limited to:
- Demonstrated excellence, creativity, and leadership affecting positive change in tribal child welfare, children's mental health, or juvenile justice in tribal communities
- Advocacy for tribal children, families, and communities
- Development and/or promotion of programs and policies that support tribes, children, and families
- Work for development of policy designed to protect Native children, enhance the well-being of Native children, or to strengthen the Indian Child Welfare Act
- Work to obtain funding necessary to implement programs and policies supporting Indigenous children and families
- A significant body of work that spans several years up to lifelong service to promoting the well-being of Indigenous children and families and strengthening tribal sovereignty
Awards are honorary.
Two awards are to be given out: Champion for Native Children-Individual will be awarded to an individual person and Champion for Native Children-Organization will be awarded to a tribe or organization.
The awards will be presented at NICWA's Annual Protecting Our Children Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on April 4–7, 2027. Awardees must agree to accept the award in person.
A link to the nomination form is available on the program website.
Submit completed applications and required essay by:
Mail:
Attn: Champion for Native Children
NICWA
6720 S Macadam Avenue, Ste. 150
Portland, Oregon 97219
Email:
training@nicwa.org
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