You are cordially invited to attend an upcoming webinar on ICWA and the impact CASA/GALs can have in advocating for Indian children:

• Target Audience: CASA/GAL Staff and Volunteer Advocates
• Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2020 (Register)
• Time: 11:30 am-1:30 pm PT/2:30-4:30 pmET
• Please note: this is the first in a two-part webinar series on ICWA scheduled for 2020.

Description:
As part of our ongoing commitment to equip staff and volunteer advocates with the skills and knowledge to work with children and families from many cultures and experiences, the National CASA/GAL Association for Children is hosting a webinar on ICWA and the role CASA/GAL staff and volunteer advocates can have in advocating for Indian children. According to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the purpose of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) is “…to protect the best interest of Indian Children and to promote the stability and security of Indian tribes and families by the establishment of minimum Federal standards for the removal of Indian children and placement of such children in homes which will reflect the unique values of Indian culture… “(25 U.S. C. 1902). ICWA provides guidance to States regarding the handling of child abuse and neglect and adoption cases involving Native children and sets minimum standards for the handling of these cases.

By being grounded in foundational knowledge on the law, CASA/GALs can be a powerful voice in ICWA cases. Topics to be covered include:
• What makes ICWA so important to CASA/GAL best interest advocacy efforts
• Historical perspective of Indian policy decisions
• A discussion of ICWA and the role CASA/GAL can play in increasing compliance

By participating in this training, attendees will:
• Become more familiar with ICWA through a historical lens: what is it and why does it exist
• Learn about the Indian Child Welfare Act Proceedings; Final Rule (2016) and its impact on Indian children involved in the child welfare system
• Develop knowledge around what is different in advocating for an Indian child
• Gain an understanding of the role CASA/GALs can have in increasing state compliance with ICWA

Presenter’s bio: Angela Fasana
Ms. Fasana is a member of the Tribal Nation of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and currently serves as the Education Department Manager. Prior to her move the Education Department in October of 2019, she served as Court Administrator for the Grand Ronde Tribal Court for 19 years. The Tribal Court operates the only Tribal CASA Program in Oregon. Ms. Fasana also worked as a Legal Assistant in the Tribal Attorney’s Office for approximately three years, working primarily with the Tribe’s child welfare office and representing the Tribe in Tribal Court on dependency cases. Ms. Fasana received her Bachelor Degree from Portland State University in 1994, and a J.D. from Northwestern School of Law at Lewis and Clark in 1997.