ICWA: Overview

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• It should be noted, the process described above contains significant changes when the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) Applies.
• When does ICWA apply?
• When an Indian child, or a child eligible for membership in an Indian tribe, is the subject of a juvenile abuse, neglect, or dependency proceeding.
• This is in an inquiry that must be made immediately, since failing to inquire can delay and disrupt the entire court process when inquiry is not made in a timely fashion (and can even change the outcome of a case entirely if a child is not identified from the start).