Indian & Child Welfare Act Services

Services & Programs

The NTC Tribal Services Department provides social services to tribal members and Native individuals living in the Ninilchik tribal boundaries. Staff members provide a safe and confidential environment for those experiencing domestic crises or in need of social outreach. Tribal Services offers two assistance programs for transitional periods of life as well as resources or home child care and parenting. Department representatives also advocate for and intervene in cases where the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) laws apply to the Ninilchik Tribe.

Use the tabs below to navigate between the programs and services our Social Services department provides.

General Assistance

Indian & Child Welfare Act Services

Burial Assistance

Child Care Assistance

It Takes A Village

Tribal Values in the Home

The Ninilchik Tribe strives to support the well being and community health of its people in the Dena’ina tradition of caring for children and elders. Part of this support is the preservation of a safety network that ensures at-risk children and their families have access to options that offer them the best support while respecting strong cultural ties. With the provisions of the Indian Child Welfare Act NTC’s Tribal Services department can be the advocate for tribal children who often do not have a voice in their own well being.

What is ICWA?

The Indian Child Welfare Act was passed by US congress in 1978 to allow tribal governments jurisdiction in cases regarding child removal and foster care for Native children in their tribe. The act was created in a response to the cultural degradation of tribal people that resulted from the 1800’s to early 1900’s policies which promoted various governmental, educational, and religious institutions to remove Native children from their families and homelands and place them into non-Native foster families. This practice was done to assimilate Native children into a non-Native culture, which was viewed as a healthier way of living during that time period.

ICWA Jurisdiction

ICWA grants tribal governments either exclusive jurisdiction or concurrent jurisdiction shared with state governments over Native children’s social welfare cases. Exactly how ICWA affairs are presided over vary from tribe to tribe because each tribe has different traditional practices and different types of administrative and judicial bodies. Due to Alaskan tribes’ unique non-reservation based system of governance and other determining factors the Ninilchik Tribe elects to hold concurrent jurisdiction with the State of Alaska in ICWA cases.

ICWA in Ninilchik

The Ninilchik Traditional Council assigns ICWA affairs to the Tribal Services department and its primary contact for clients is ICWA Specialist Elise Weber. Tribal ICWA representatives are experts on children’s welfare and act as an intermediary voice on behalf of clients to state officials, agents, and social work representatives from other tribes.

ICWA Committee & Contact

The NTC ICWA committee is made up of tribal member volunteers to review ICWA related social service policy and cases to make recommendations. Clients, agents, and anyone who wants to know more about ICWA’s guidelines and learn about how to recognize and report suspected child endangerment or welfare needs is welcome to contact Elise Weber at the Administration Office.

ICWA is not a legal program or law service and does not initiate proceedings.

Crisis Contact

If a child is in immediate danger please call 911 first

To report suspected abuse and neglect please contact the Southcentral Region Office of Children’s Services (OCS) toll-free at 1-855-352-8934 to file a report. Your identity and personal information are not revealed to anybody other than OCS professionals and are kept confidential from all clients and members of the public.

Foster Homes & Adoption

Reporting and mediating child welfare cases is only the first step to ensure children who have experienced abuse and neglect have an opportunity to achieve a healthy lifestyle in the future. It takes the dedication, support, and love from positive role models who choose to become adoptive or foster parents. The need for foster and adoptive parents is always high, especially for those who are able to share modern tribal values with children who otherwise would not be able to live their inherited Native cultural values by example.

Elise Weber

(907) 206-2740
eweber@ninilchiktribe-nsn.gov

Click below for NTC office and business locations, hours, and contact information.

Contact
General Assistance Program Online Fillable Application Request

Online Fillable Application Request:

General Assistance Program

Primary Applicant Contact Information & Pre-Qualification

Let us know where to send the application and how to get back to you.

Applicant Name
Applicant Name
First
Last
Address
Address
City
State/Province
Zip/Postal

Sorry, only NTC Tribal Members are eligible for this program.

If you have questions please reach out using the contact form here.

Co-Applicant Name
Co-Applicant Name
First
Last
Burial Assistance Program Online Fillable Application Request

Online Fillable Application Request:

Burial Assistance Program

Deceased Name
Deceased Name
First
Last

Sorry, only NTC Tribal Members are eligible for this program.

If you have questions please reach out using the contact form here.

Sorry, only NTC Tribal Members that resided within the NTC service area for at least 6 months of his or her life are eligible for this program.

If you have questions please reach out using the contact form here.

Relative Applicant Name
Relative Applicant Name
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Last