The Tribal Training and Certification Partnership (TTCP) provides education and training to new and ongoing child welfare professionals across the state on foundational issues relating to the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), the Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act (MIFPA), worldview and engagement with American Indian families and tribes. The TTCP offers advanced training for child welfare workers, supervisors, and counties to develop a deeper understanding of working with American Indian Families and tribal nations.
Our Training
Training for tribes
We are fully committed to supporting all Tribal Nations through training in child welfare related content. We are responsive to the training needs identified by Tribal Nations' agencies and collaborates with them to develop curriculum that represents community values.
Training for icwa guardians ad litem (GAL)
In partnership with the ICWA Division of the Minnesota Guardian ad Litem Program we provide content that promotes the best interest of Native American Children and families focusing on teh ICWA and MIFPA
Training for Counties
Through over 40 hours of curriculum, we train child welfare workers from all 87 Minnesota counties. Our goal is to improve practical skills when working with Indigenous families and cultivate effective application of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) and the Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act (MIFPA)
Specialty Training
We provide a variety of specialty training initiatives for public and private institutions and organizations interested in topics such as historical trauma, American Indian child welfare, and workign with indigenous families in a good way.
Our Impact
From the era of boarding schools that sought to erase Native cultures and identities, to the coercive adoption practices that fractured Indigenous families, our communities have endured systemic efforts to displace and assimilate our children. The Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) of 1978 was a pivotal response aiming to protect Native children from such disruptions and honor their rights to remain within their families and tribes. In 2016, Minnesota took a crucial step forward with a more stringent version of ICWA, addressing the alarmingly high 25% rate of out-of-home placement for Native children at the time and reaffirming the commitment to uphold tribal sovereignty and cultural integrity.
In response to these ongoing challenges, the Tribal Training and Certification Partnership was established on January 1st, 2020, through the Center for Regional and Tribal Child Welfare Studies at the University of Minnesota Duluth. The TTCP provides essential training and education to child welfare professionals, focusing on ICWA, the Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act (MIFPA), and culturally relevant practives. By collaborating with Minnesota Tribes, state agencies, and tribal child welfare workers , the TTCP has empowered over 3,000 individuals, enhancing their ability to support and uplift American Indian Families and ensuring a more inclusive and informed future for indigenous children and communities.