Fight ICWA with us in DC July 11, 2012

. We are gathering in DC in July - Come Add Your Voice to the Call to Protect Children from the Indian Child Welfare Act! Why?

• To protect the individual rights of Indian children and their families
• To ensure they maintain the right to a safe, supportive and stable family
• To request support for appropriate amendments to the ICWA

While said to have been established with good intentions, the ICWA has frequently hurt families and their children of Native American heritage. Federal dollars are being used to support adherence to this law; however in many cases, the law is destroying loving, stable families.

Though proponents of ICWA argue that the act has safeguards to prevent misuse, numerous multi-racial children have been affected by it. Children who have never been near a reservation nor involved in tribal customs have been removed from homes they love and placed with strangers chosen by Social Services. Other children have been denied the security of stable home life in preference for a series of foster homes.  

Issues of Concern:
-- 1) Equal opportunities for adoption, safety and stability are not always available to children of all heritages. -- 2) Some families, Indian and non-Indian, have felt threatened by tribal government. Some have had to mortgage homes and endure lengthy legal processes to protect their children.
-- 3) Some Children have been removed from safe, loving homes and placed into dangerous situations.
-- 4) The Constitutional right of parents to make life choices for their children, for children of Indian heritage to associate freely, and for children of Indian heritage to enjoy Equal Protection has in some cases been denied

July 10 – Arrive in DC

7 p.m. Welcome and Kick-Off Reception at the Capitol Hill Suites Remind everyone of purpose of visit ~ Lobbying Skills 101 ~ Our message to Congress ~ Q&A time

July 11 – Advocacy and Education Day

9-11 a.m. Raise Awareness on Capitol Hill ~ Visit Legislative Offices ~ Pass out invitations to the afternoon teach-in/luncheon

12 p.m. Luncheon ~ Invite legislators and staffers ~ Speakers: Johnston Moore and Mark Fiddler

1-4 p.m. Impact of the ICWA 'Teach-in'

~ Speakers: 

Dr. William B. Allen, former Chair, US Comm On Civil Rights (1989), Emeritus Professor, Political Science MSU  

Johnston Moore, national speaker, adoptive and foster care father, and advocate about adoption and foster care. He has personally battled ICWA and can speak from personal experience regarding his two sons. 

~ Families share their stories

July 12 – Lobby Day for Amendments

Participants meet one-on-one with members of Congress.

July 13 – Lobby Day for Amendments

Participants meet one-on-one with Congressional offices.

For more information - please contact us at CAICW.org!

PLEASE SHARE THIS WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY! . PLEASE HELP ICWA families with expenses for the DC trip - DONATE NOW :)

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