About the TTCP
Training Minnesota’s child welfare workforce to uphold ICWA, MIFPA, and tribal sovereignty in practice.
For generations, Native children and families have faced systemic efforts to erase culture and disrupt tribal connections. ICWA and Minnesota’s strengthened MIFPA exist to protect Native children, uphold tribal sovereignty, and keep families connected to their communities. Since 2020, the Tribal Training and Certification Partnership (TTCP) has worked alongside Minnesota’s Tribal Nations and County and State organizations to build these protections into everyday child welfare practice.
Mission & Vision
Mission
Our mission is to train, develop, and support the skills, expertise, and well-being of Minnesota’s child welfare workforce within tribal nations while nurturing a commitment to equitable child welfare practice.
Vission
To provide education, training, and practice application to improve outcomes for American Indian families in the child welfare system.
Our Goals
.png)
Tribal Partnership & Capacity Building
- Build relationships with tribal child welfare agencies
- Centralize training for tribal child welfare agencies
- Support tribal training needs
- Retain tribal social workers through training and support
Workforce Training & Development
- Training for incoming county child protection workers
- Training for incoming county child protection workers
- Training for tribal child welfare agencies
Systems, Collaboration & Accountability
- Create onboarding technology for tribal child welfare agencies
- Partner with MNCWTA and DHS/DCYF
- Develop curriculum with partner agencies
- Support compliance with ICWA and MIFPA
Why ICWA — and Why This Work Matters
Minnesota has long led the nation in disproportionality for American Indian children in the child welfare system. Native children are removed from their families at dramatically higher rates than non-Native children—causing lasting harm to families, communities, and Tribal Nations.
ICWA (Indian Child Welfare Act) was enacted in response to the widespread removal of Native children from their families, communities, and tribes prior to the 1970's. Today, out-of-home placement rates in Minnesota are approaching pre-ICWA levels—underscoring the need for accountability, training, and Tribal partnership.
Our Story
Time Immemorial
Indigenous systems of care
Indigenous communities maintained systems of care rooted in family, culture, and collective responsibility.
1879–1970s
Systemic Removal of Native Children
Native children were widely removed through boarding schools, adoption, and foster care.
1978
Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) Enacted
ICWA was passed to protect Native children, families, and Tribal sovereignty.
2014
Studies Confirm Minnesota Disproportionality
Beginning in 2014, various task forces and studies were established at the Minnesota state government level to examine child welfare and address any perceived shortcomings. Findings concluded, Minnesota leads the nation disproportionately for American Indian children in the child welfare system and has for some time. This disparity causes families to be disproportionately negatively impacted both by out of home placement rates, and by the child welfare system in Minnesota.
2019
Tribal Recommendation and Funding
In 2019, tribes made a final recommendation, identifying the University of Minnesota Duluth’s Center for Regional and Tribal Child Welfare Studies as possessing the competency knowledge in ICWA, MIFPA and Tribal issues, as well as relationships with tribes required to provide training. Funding was provided in May 2019 and led to the creation of the Tribal Training and Certification Partnerships (TTCP) on January 1, 2020.
.svg)
2020
TTCP launches
The Tribal Training and Certification Partnership officially began its work with 3 full-time staff and the request for space in the Tech Village in Downtown Duluth, MN.
.svg)
2020 - To Present
Training Across Minnesota
TTCP supports child welfare professionals statewide through culturally grounded training and partnership.
Purpose of TTCP
- We at the TTCP operate as an independent program to provide education, training, and practice application that improve outcomes for American Indian families in the child welfare system.
- We were founded at UMD to respond to these unique training needs.
- We collaborate with Minnesota Tribes, the Child Welfare Training Academy, and the Child Safety and Permanency Division at the Department of Human Services (DHS) to address training needs related to compliance issues.
- Our education and training programs include a 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.
- Our offerings also include advanced training for child welfare workers, supervisors, and counties to develop a deeper understanding of working with American Indian families and tribal nations.
- Independent from the ICWA/MIFPA training collaboration, we provide child welfare training specifically designed for tribal child welfare agencies.
Meet Our Team
Leadership
.jpg)
Liaisons
.jpg)
.jpg)
Program & Operations
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Join Our Work
Current Job Openings
Want to Chat, Lets Connect!
.svg)
.svg)