The Indian Child Welfare Act Active Efforts Support Toolkit, a National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare resource, enables child welfare workers, substance use treatment staff, court personnel, attorneys, and healthcare professionals to support American Indian and Alaskan Native (AI/AN) families affected by substance use. It also explains the importance of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) while demonstrating how professionals across multiple systems can improve their implementation of active efforts with these families.

The Toolkit includes three parts:

• Guidance Document: Provides detailed information on how frontline professionals can use the Tool while further describing Tribal sovereignty, the difference between active and reasonable efforts, and other foundational information
• Tool: Features a fillable form frontline child welfare staff can use to monitor whether prevention and reunification services offered to AI/AN families affected by substance use meet the criteria of ICWA-required active efforts
• Learning Modules (4 modules): Highlights educational materials that enhance understanding and application of ICWA, active efforts, and collaboration

The Toolkit also includes opportunities to promote service enhancement and innovation necessary to improve outcomes for AI/AN families affected by substance use in child welfare services.

Want more information on how to utilize the Toolkit? Please contact the National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare by email at ncsacw@cffutures.org or by a toll-free phone call at (866) 493–2758.