Tulsa County ICWA Court Celebrates Successful Reunification
Tulsa, Oklahoma – In early July 2024, the Tulsa County ICWA Court marked an important milestone by celebrating a successful family reunification, showcasing the dedication of all involved in upholding the principles of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA).
Enacted in 1978, the Indian Child Welfare Act set the “gold standard of child welfare” for practices involving Native children. Its key provisions include active efforts to prevent removal from the natural family and provide for reunification with the natural family, placement preferences to prioritize foster care and adoption placements with relatives or with the tribal community in a least restrictive setting, and qualified expert testimony to ensure that “white middle class values” are not imposed upon Indian families. Oklahoma has the distinction of being one of the first states to establish its own ICWA, the Oklahoma Indian Child Welfare Association (OICWA), and with the support of the OICWA the goal to match the “gold standard of child welfare” continues to ensure that Native children remain connected to their families, kin, community, culture, and heritage.
In a recent email to the ICWA Court stakeholders Judge Kevin Gray writes of the ongoing effort to “ensure that reunifications are celebrated in the same way as adoptions.” He continued by sharing a recent story of an ICWA Court Reunification Day stating, “Yesterday, we successfully closed a case for a Choctaw [Nation] family. This family’s trajectory didn’t look promising at the start of the case. There were issues between the parents, there were worries about controlling behaviors exhibited by dad, and in court I think the parties weren’t terribly optimistic about the prospects for a successful reunification. The court team, DHS, Choctaw Nation, and the parents all did some hard work over the last year or so, and yesterday, after trial reunification, we closed the case successfully.”
Judge Gray writes how a particularly moving moment occurred when, “Choctaw Nation worker Kaylie Schoggins was there to present a Choctaw tribal blanket to the parents, along with a few other goodies for the kids. This was the first presentation like that at a successful case closure in our ICWA court, and it was really special to see the looks on the parents’ faces.”
Judge Gray emphasized the significance of recognizing these successes and the collective efforts that made them possible. “I know that I can certainly let the negative overwhelm my focus if I’m not diligent. This was an incredible positive for one Tulsa County Indian family, and it recognized their hard work and a whole team of supports who helped them successfully reunify with their children. Thank you to the ICWA team for all of your hard work, your guidance, and your encouragement as we travel these difficult roads together. I’m excited that this is just the first of many such celebrations to come.”
The Tulsa ICWA Court’s cultural shift to celebrate reunifications alongside adoptions highlights the importance of building positive, supportive environments for Native families and ensuring that their successes are honored. They also serve as a reminder of all the hard work and commitment of tribal partners, social workers, and families dedicated to keeping Native children connected to their heritage and loved ones.
