Children and Family Services

Children and Family Services

Indian Child Welfare Program

The Muscogee Nation Indian Child Welfare program advocates for and protects children who have been removed from their home due to neglect, physical, sexual and/or emotional abuse.  This goal is reached through court advocacy and assistance from reunification or permanency services through guidelines established by the Federal Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (ICWA).

ICWA FAQ

ICWA Website

This act was passed to ensure that Indian tribes remain intact and that families remain connected to their individual family members and communities.  Tribes were given the authority to exercise their status as sovereign nations and provide child welfare services to their tribal citizens.

It is the goal of the MCN ICW programs to follow these guidelines in an effort to help strengthen and preserve the Mvskoke tribe and culture through protecting the Mvskoke children.

Notice regarding possible ICWA related cases should be sent to the following address by registered mail with return receipt requested.  A copy of this notice should be filed in the case file and with the court, along with any returned receipts.

Family Protection Team

Muscogee Nation Family Protection Team is responsible for protecting the best interest and to promote the well-being and stability of Mvskoke children and elders.  The focus of services is protecting children and elders from harm and preserving and strengthening families.

Tribal Reunification and Permanency

Tribal Reunification Services Caseworker’s provide services to families whose children have been placed into custody of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation when children are removed from their home due to abuse or neglect. Services provided are designed to work with parents in the reunification process to correct conditions that led to the removal of their children and to provide for the health, welfare, and safety of the child during the treatment period or, if treatment cannot or does not correct the problems after actual attempts have been made to do so, to provide for the long term health, welfare, and safety of the child.

Certification Placement Recruitment and Training (CPRT)

The mission of the Muscogee Nation Certification, Placement, Recruitment & Training (CPRT) program shall be to find tribal families to nurture and meet the needs of our Muscogee (Creek) Nation children who have been placed into custody by either the state or tribal courts.  We will provide assistance in completing the application and will provide foster care training. provide a stable, caring, and nurturing home for any Muscogee (Creek) child whose safety cannot be assured in his or her own home due to the risk of child abuse or neglect.

ICWA FAQ

Promoting Safe And Stable Families

The mission of the Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program shall be to protect children and to preserve and strengthen families by providing resources, support, and education services to Muscogee (Creek) children and their families. Services shall promote the safety and stability of Muscogee (Creek) children and families and include immediate and appropriate intervention through support, resource, and education activities.

Program Eligibility

Must have a Native American child living in the home or anticipating imminent reunification
Be enrolled or eligible for enrollment with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation
Must live within the jurisdictional boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation
Be able to provide verification of custody or guardianship of child(ren)
Verification of enrollment/eligibility and residence is required.  Clients enrolled or eligible for enrollment with another federally recognized tribe shall be eligible for program services only upon referral from the client’s tribe.

Service Eligibility

PSSF is a voluntary home-based family service program providing case management to families based on the need for services such as but not limited to:
Children at risk of removal
Preparation for imminent reunification of child(ren); or
Following the reunification of child(ren) from foster placement
Must be willing to participate in a case management program

Program Services

Parenting
Limited Financial Assistance for those that qualify (e.g. rent payment, rent deposit, and utilities)
Budgeting
Transportation
Referrals