The Costanoan Rumsen tribe working with Family Courts:
The Indian Child Welfare Act (I.C.W.A.) is a federal law that seeks to keep Native American Indian children with Native American Indian families. Operating under the aegis of The I.C.W.A. (Indian Child Welfare Act), 25 U.S.C. § 1901, and California Senate Bill 678, the Costanoan Rumsen Carmel Tribe has been working with The State and Child Custody Courts to place Ohlone foster children in homes with Ohlone Tribal members. Since 2012 three Ohlone children in the foster system have been placed back into permanent Ohlone homes, including one successfull landmark interstate case, and with two cases pending currently. The Costanoan Rumsen Carmel Tribe works directly with their own ICWA Tribal Representative child welfare advocate.