NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

Contact: Angelique F. Karnes, 505-226-3133, [email protected]

HB209 NM State Indian Child Welfare Act Introduced and PASSED in the 2021 Legislative Session in First Committee

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – February 8, 2021 – Today House Bill 209, The NM State Indian Child Welfare Act (SICWA), passed its first committee – State Government, Elections & Indian Affairs. SICWA looks to codify and expand upon the federal Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) into New Mexico state law. Federal ICWA was passed in 1978 in response to the overwhelming national crisis affecting tribes, resulting in high numbers of Indian children being removed from their families and communities at alarming rates. ICWA has provided some critical protections for American Indian and Alaskan Native children and families. The New Mexico Tribal Indian Child Welfare Consortium (NMTIC), New Mexico Children Youth and Families Department (NM CYFD), the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women (CSVANW), and Bold Futures of New Mexico (BF NM) have formed a work group to facilitate the drafting and passage of this critical legislation.

​”The New Mexico Tribal Indian Child Welfare Consortium (NMTIC) was founded to coordinate efforts between tribal ICWA workers to collaboratively support the needs of Indian children, families, and communities. NMTIC members are dedicated and committed practitioners in the state and within our respective tribal nations and communities. Tribal ICWA workers are experts on the barriers and obstacles that exist for Indian families. We are proud to lead efforts to establish a New Mexico state ICWA that draws from our collective knowledge to keep and protect our children and families together,” said Jaqueline Yalch, President of NMTIC.

“Indian children and families are disproportionately represented in child welfare systems in New Mexico and nationwide. The drafting and passage of a ICWA legislation in New Mexico is critical to changing those disparities. It is incredibly important for New Mexico Children Youth and Families to partner with tribes, Indigenous stakeholders and other child welfare experts to make sure this work is accomplished in the right way – keeping the most impacted people at the center. With a state ICWA in place, we can begin to better support our Indian children, families and communities in our state,” said Donalyn Sarracino, Director of Tribal Affairs NM CYFD.

“As an organization that is building creative and innovative ways to address and prevent cycles of violence in tribal communities, we know childhood trauma can lead to cycles of violence later in life,” says Angel Charley, Executive Director of the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women (CSVANW). “We are honored to be part of establishing ICWA into New Mexico state law ensuring that Indigenous children can remain connected to their cultures and communities.”

Bold Futures NM is a non-profit reproductive justice organization, led by and for women and people of color. “The role of Bold Futures NM in this important process is to help center and facilitate meaningful and honest conversations on what tribal families and communities need as we continue work to pass this legislation.” Bold Futures leads policy change, research, place-based organizing, and culture shift in the state of New Mexico.

HB 209 is headed to its next committee – House Health & Human Services.

To arrange an interview or for more information, please contact Angelique Karnes at 505-226-3133.

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For more information, please visit http://NMstateICWA.org