Tribal Court Improvement Program

The Tribal Court Improvement Program (TCIP) funding opportunity is aimed at supporting tribal courts in evaluating and enhancing their handling of child welfare cases involving American Indian and Alaska Native families. This includes a broad range of case types such as family preservation, reunification, guardianship, and adoption. The program seeks to strengthen tribal court systems to ensure that child welfare proceedings are conducted in a manner that prioritizes child safety, supports families, and upholds timeliness, fairness, and legal integrity. Administered by the Administration for Children and Families under the Department of Health and Human Services, this program aligns with the agency’s mission to promote health and well-being by improving the delivery of human services. It fosters direct partnerships with tribes to improve tribal court effectiveness in child welfare matters. The funding facilitates assessments and reforms that help create a more robust legal framework for tribal child welfare, reinforcing the overall goal of ensuring safe and stable homes for children within tribal communities.