The Child Welfare Debate on Abolish or Reform: Lessons Learned From the Indian Child Welfare Act

This article examines the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) of 1978, in the context of the child welfare debate on abolition versus classical reform and argues that the lessons learned over its 47 years of implementation offer an example of structural change in child welfare practice that transcends the abolition–reform binary, and embodies a more transformative approach to reform that prioritizes the sovereignty, well-being, and cultural integrity of Tribal children and families. These lessons learned could provide guidance for best practice on how to conduct child welfare policy and practice reforms that affect all child welfare involved children and families.