The Alaska Tribal Child Welfare Compact was initiated and agreed upon during the administration of Gov. Bill Walker (2014-2018). Signed in 2017, it is a one-of-a-kind landmark government-to-government agreement that recognizes inherent Tribal authority to oversee the placement of Indigenous children in foster care and provide child welfare services. The complete text of the compact can be found here.

The compact’s goal is to reduce the disproportionate number of Alaska Native children in state custody and improve the lives of Alaska Native families statewide by placing more Native children within their home communities, respecting Native culture and traditions, and encouraging families to change the negative behavior that led to the removal of children. More than half of the children placed in foster care are Alaska Native even though they make up only 20 percent of the state’s child population.

By improving and strengthening the state-administered child welfare system in partnership with Tribal co-signers, the compact’s intent is to increase the effectiveness of state, Tribal, and Tribal organization services by encouraging and providing for collaboration and cooperation in child welfare programs and the efforts to protect Alaska’s children.

The compact contains the following elements within its 11 articles:

• Broad definition of the services and support that are to be carried out by the Tribes (co-signers) within their service area and memorialization of how information and resources are to be shared between the state government and the co-signers.
• Authority for the co-signers to oversee the placement of children and delivery of child welfare services within their defined service areas.
• Details on funding and required services and a description of the broader purpose and scope of the compact. The compact itself did not require funding, instead, the Tribes will receive individual funding for staff as they take over services.
• The transfer of the first two scopes of work—Diligent Relative Services and Safety Evaluations—to the co-signers.
• Description of the Alaska Department of Health & Social Services, Office of Children’s Services, and co-signer oversight and coordination responsibilities with individuals designated within each organization to carry out the assigned duties within the service areas.
• Recognition of the factors that contribute to successful implementation, which include frequent and thorough staff training, information sharing, and use of the state computer system.