25 C.F.R. PART 23—INDIAN CHILD WELFARE ACT
Title 25 - Indians
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 25 U.S.C. 2, 9, 1901–1952.
Source: 59 FR 2256, Jan. 13, 1994, unless otherwise noted.
The purpose of the regulations in this part is to govern the provision of funding for, and the administration of Indian child and family service programs as authorized by the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (Pub. L. 95–608, 92 Stat. 3069, 25 U.S.C. 2, 9, 1901–1952). Act means the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), Pub. L. 95–608, 92 Stat. 3069, 25 U.S.C. 1901 et seq. Assistant Secretary means the Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs, the Department of the Interior. Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) means the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Department of the Interior. Child custody proceeding includes: (1) Foster care placement, which shall mean any action removing an Indian child from his or her parent or Indian custodian for temporary placement in a foster home or institution or the home of a guardian or conservator where the parent or Indian custodian cannot have the child returned upon demand, but where parental rights have not been terminated; (2) Termination of parental rights, which shall mean any action resulting in the termination of the parent-child relationship; (3) Preadoptive placement, which shall mean the temporary placement of an Indian child in a foster home or institution after the termination of parental rights, but prior to or in lieu of adoptive placement; (4) Adoptive placement, which shall mean the permanent placement of an Indian child for adoption, including any action resulting in a final decree of adoption; and (5) Other tribal placements made in accordance with the placement preferences of the Act, including the temporary or permanent placement of an Indian child in accordance with tribal children's codes and local tribal custom or tradition; (6) The above terms shall not include a placement based upon an act which, if committed by an adult, would be deemed a crime in the jurisdiction where the act occurred or upon an award, in a divorce proceeding, of custody to one of the parents. Consortium means an association or partnership of two or more eligible applicants who enter into an agreement to administer a grant program and to provide services under the grant to Indian residents in a specific geographical area when it is administratively feasible to provide an adequate level of services within the area. Extended family member shall be as defined by the law or custom of the Indian child's tribe or, in the absence of such law or custom, shall be a person who has reached the age of 18 and who is the Indian child's grandparent, aunt or uncle, brother or sister, brother-in-law or sister-in-law, niece or nephew, first or second cousin, or stepparent. Grant means a written agreement between the BIA and the governing body of an Indian tribe or Indian organization wherein the BIA provides funds to the grantee to plan, conduct or administer specific programs, services, or activities and where the administrative and programmatic provisions are specifically delineated. Grantee means the tribal governing body of an Indian tribe or Board of Directors of an Indian organization responsible for grant administration. Grants officer means an officially designated officer who administers ICWA grants awarded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Department of the Interior. Indian means any person who is a member of an Indian tribe, or who is an Alaska Native and a member of a Regional Corporation as defined in section 7 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, 43 U.S.C. 1606. Indian child means any unmarried person who is under age 18 and is either a member of an Indian tribe, or is eligible for membership in an Indian tribe and is the biological child of a member of an Indian tribe. Indian child's tribe means the Indian tribe in which an Indian child is a member or is eligible for membership or, in the case of an Indian child who is a member of or is eligible for membership in more than one tribe, the Indian tribe with which the Indian child has the more significant contacts, to be determined in accordance with the BIA's “Guidelines for State Courts—Indian Child Custody Proceedings.” Indian custodian means any Indian person who has legal custody of an Indian child under tribal law or custom or under state law or to whom temporary physical care, custody and control has been transferred by the parent of such child. Indian organization, solely for purposes of eligibility for grants under subpart D of this part, means any legally established group, association, partnership, corporation, or other legal entity which is owned or controlled by Indians, or a majority (51 percent or more) of whose members are Indians. Indian preference means preference and opportunities for employment and training provided to Indians in the administration of grants in accordance with section 7 (b) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450). Indian tribe means any Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community of Indians federally recognized as eligible for the services provided to Indians by the Secretary because of their status as Indians, including any Alaska Native village as defined in section 3 (c) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, 43 U.S.C. 1602 (c). Off-reservation ICWA program means an ICWA program administered in accordance with 25 U.S.C. 1932 by an off-reservation Indian organization. Parent means the biological parent or parents of an Indian child or any Indian person who has lawfully adopted an Indian child, including adoptions under tribal law or custom. The term does not include the unwed father where paternity has not been acknowledged or established. Reservation means Indian country as defined in 18 U.S.C. 1151 and any lands not covered under such section, title to which is either held by the United States in trust for the benefit of any Indian tribe or individual or held by any Indian tribe or individual subject to a restriction by the United States against alienation. Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior. Service areas solely for newly recognized or restored Indian tribes without established reservations means those service areas congressionally established by Federal law to be the equivalent of a reservation for the purpose of determining the eligibility of a newly recognized or restored Indian tribe and its members for all Federal services and benefits. State court means any agent or agency of a state, including the District of Columbia or any territory or possession of the United States, or any political subdivision empowered by law to terminate parental rights or to make foster care placements, preadoptive placements, or adoptive placements. Subgrant means a secondary grant that undertakes part of the obligations of the primary grant, and assumes the legal and financial responsibility for the funds awarded and for the performance of the grant-supported activity. Technical assistance means the provision of oral, written, or other relevant information and assistance to prospective grant applicants in the development of their grant proposals. Technical assistance may include a preliminary review of an application to assist the applicant in identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the proposal, ongoing program planning, design and evaluation, and such other program-specific assistance as is necessary for ongoing grant administration and management. Title II means title II of Public Law 95–608, the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978, which authorizes the Secretary to make grants to Indian tribes and off-reservation Indian organizations for the establishment and operation of Indian child and family service programs. Tribal Court means a court with jurisdiction over child custody proceedings and which is either a Court of Indian Offenses, a court established and operated under the code or custom of an Indian tribe, or any other administrative body of a tribe which is vested with authority over child custody proceedings. Tribal government means the federally recognized governing body of an Indian tribe. Value means face, par, or market value, or cost price, either wholesale or retail, whichever is greater. In enacting the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978, Pub. L. 95–608, the Congress has declared that it is the policy of this Nation to protect the best interests of Indian children and to promote the stability and security of Indian tribes and Indian families by the establishment of minimum Federal standards to prevent the arbitrary removal of Indian children from their families and tribes and to ensure that measures which prevent the breakup of Indian families are followed in child custody proceedings (25 U.S.C. 1902). Indian child and family service programs receiving title II funds and operated by federally recognized Indian tribes and off-reservation Indian organizations shall reflect the unique values of Indian culture and promote the stability and security of Indian children, Indian families and Indian communities. It is the policy of the Bureau of Indian Affairs to emphasize and facilitate the comprehensive design, development and implementation of Indian child and family service programs in coordination with other Federal, state, local, and tribal programs which strengthen and preserve Indian families and Indian tribes. (a) The information collection requirements contained in §23.13 of this part have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq., and assigned clearance number 1076–0111. (1) This information will be used to determine eligibility for payment of legal fees for indigent Indian parents and Indian custodians, involved in involuntary Indian child custody proceedings in state courts, who are not eligible for legal services through other mechanisms. Response to this request is required to obtain a benefit. (2) Public reporting for this information collection is estimated to average 10 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining data, and completing and reviewing the information collection. Direct comments regarding the burden estimate or any aspect of this information collection should be mailed or hand-delivered to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Information Collection Clearance Officer, Room 336–SIB, 1849 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20240; and the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs Paperwork Reduction Project—1076–0111, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC 20503. (b) The information collection requirements contained in §§23.21; 23.31; 23.46; 23.47, and 23.71 have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget under 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. and assigned clearance number 1076–0131. The information collection requirements under §§23.21 and 23.31 are collected in the form of ICWA grant applications from Indian tribes and off-reservation Indian organizations. A response to this request is required to obtain grant funds. The information collection requirements under §23.46 are collected in compliance with applicable OMB circulars on financial management, internal and external controls and other fiscal assurances in accordance with existing Federal grant administration and reporting requirements. The grantee information collection requirements under §23.47 are collected in the form of quarterly and annual program performance narrative reports and statistical data as required by the grant award document. Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 1951, the information collection requirement under §23.71 is collected from state courts entering final adoption decrees for any Indian child and is provided to and maintained by the Secretary. (1) Public reporting for the information collection at §§23.21 and 23.31 is estimated to average 32 hours per response, including the time for reviewing the grant application instructions, gathering the necessary information and data, and completing the grant application. Public reporting for the information collection at §§23.46 and 23.47 is estimated to average a combined total of 16 annual hours per grantee, including the time for gathering the necessary information and data, and completing the required forms and reports. Public reporting for the information collection at §23.71 is estimated to average 4 hours per response, including the time for obtaining and preparing the final adoption decree for transmittal to the Secretary. (2) Direct comments regarding any of these burden estimates or any aspect of these information collection requirements should be mailed or hand-delivered to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Information Collection Clearance Officer, room 336–SIB, 1849 C Street, NW., Washington, DC, 20240; and the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs Paperwork Reduction Project—1076–0131, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC 20503. (a) In any involuntary proceeding in a state court where the court knows or has reason to know that an Indian child is involved, and where the identity and location of the child's Indian parents or custodians or tribe is known, the party seeking the foster care placement of, or termination of parental rights to, an Indian child shall directly notify the Indian parents, Indian custodians, and the child's tribe by certified mail with return receipt requested, of the pending proceedings and of their right of intervention. Notice shall include requisite information identified at paragraphs (d)(1) through (4) and (e)(1) through (6) of this section, consistent with the confidentiality requirement in paragraph (e)(7) of this section. Copies of these notices shall be sent to the Secretary and the appropriate Area Director listed in paragraphs (c)(1) through (12) of this section. (b) If the identity or location of the Indian parents, Indian custodians or the child's tribe cannot be determined, notice of the pendency of any involuntary child custody proceeding involving an Indian child in a state court shall be sent by certified mail with return receipt requested to the appropriate Area Director listed in paragraphs (c)(1) through (12) of this section. In order to establish tribal identity, it is necessary to provide as much information as is known on the Indian child's direct lineal ancestors including, but not limited to, the information delineated at paragraph (d)(1) through (4) of this section. (c)(1) For proceedings in Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia or any territory or possession of the United States, notices shall be sent to the following address: Eastern Area Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 3701 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 260, Arlington, Virginia 22201. (2) For proceedings in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, or Wisconsin, notices shall be sent to the following address: Minneapolis Area Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 331 Second Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401–2241. (3) For proceedings in Nebraska, North Dakota, or South Dakota, notices shall be sent to the following address: Aberdeen Area Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 115 Fourth Avenue, SE, Aberdeen, South Dakota 57401. (4) For proceedings in Kansas, Texas (except for notices to the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo of El Paso County, Texas), and the western Oklahoma counties of Alfalfa, Beaver, Beckman, Blaine, Caddo, Canadian, Cimarron, Cleveland, Comanche, Cotton, Custer, Dewey, Ellis, Garfield, Grant, Greer, Harmon, Harper, Jackson, Kay, Kingfisher, Kiowa, Lincoln, Logan, Major, Noble, Oklahoma, Pawnee, Payne, Pottawatomie, Roger Mills, Texas, Tillman, Washita, Woods and Woodward, notices shall be sent to the following address: Anadarko Area Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, P.O. Box 368, Anadarko, Oklahoma 73005. Notices to the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo of El Paso County, Texas shall be sent to the Albuquerque Area Director at the address listed in paragraph (c)(6) of this section. (5) For proceedings in Wyoming or Montana (except for notices to the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation, Montana), notices shall be sent to the following address: Billings Area Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 316 N. 26th Street, Billings, Montana 59101. Notices to the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation, Montana, shall be sent to the Portland Area Director at the address listed in paragraph (c)(11) of this section. (6) For proceedings in the Texas counties of El Paso and Hudspeth and proceedings in Colorado or New Mexico (exclusive of notices to the Navajo Tribe from the New Mexico counties listed in paragraph (c)(9) of this section), notices shall be sent to the following address: Albuquerque Area Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 615 First Street, P.O. Box 26567, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87125. Notices to the Navajo Tribe shall be sent to the Navajo Area Director at the address listed in paragraph (c)(9) of this section. (7) For proceedings in Alaska (except for notices to the Metlakatla Indian Community, Alaska), notices shall be sent to the following address: Juneau Area Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 709 West 9th Street, Juneau, Alaska 99802–1219. Notices to the Metlakatla Indian Community of the Annette Islands Reserve, Alaska, shall be sent to the Portland Area Director at the address listed in paragraph (c)(11) of this section. (8) For proceedings in Arkansas, Missouri, and the eastern Oklahoma counties of Adair, Atoka, Bryan, Carter, Cherokee, Craig, Creek, Choctaw, Coal, Delaware, Garvin, Grady, Haskell, Hughes, Jefferson, Johnson, Latimer, LeFlore, Love, Mayes, McCurtain, McClain, McIntosh, Murray, Muskogee, Nowata, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, Osage, Ottawa, Pittsburg, Pontotoc, Pushmataha, Marshall, Rogers, Seminole, Sequoyah, Wagoner, Washington, Stephens, and Tulsa, notices shall be sent to the following address: Muskogee Area Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 101 North Fifth Street, Muskogee, Oklahoma 74401. (9) For proceedings in the Arizona counties of Apache, Coconino (except for notices to the Hopi and San Juan Paiute Tribes) and Navajo (except for notices to the Hopi Tribe); the New Mexico counties of McKinley (except for notices to the Zuni Tribe), San Juan, and Socorro; and the Utah county of San Juan, notices shall be sent to the following address: Navajo Area Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, P.O. Box 1060, Gallup, New Mexico 87301. Notices to the Hopi and San Juan Paiute Tribes shall be sent to the Phoenix Area Director at the address listed in paragraph (c)(10) of this section. Notices to the Zuni Tribe shall be sent to the Albuquerque Area Director at the address listed in paragraph (c)(6) of this section. (10) For proceedings in Arizona (exclusive of notices to the Navajo Tribe from those counties listed in paragraph (c)(9) of this section), Nevada or Utah (exclusive of San Juan county), notices shall be sent to the following address: Phoenix Area Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 1 North First Street, P.O. Box 10, Phoenix, Arizona 85001. (11) For proceedings in Idaho, Oregon or Washington, notices shall be sent to the following address: Portland Area Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 911 NE 11th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97232. All notices to the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation, located in the Montana counties of Flathead, Lake, Missoula, and Sanders, shall also be sent to the Portland Area Director. (12) For proceedings in California or Hawaii, notices shall be sent to the following address: Sacramento Area Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Federal Office Building, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, California 95825. (d) Notice to the appropriate Area Director pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section may be sent by certified mail with return receipt requested or by personal service and shall include the following information, if known: (1) Name of the Indian child, the child's birthdate and birthplace. (2) Name of Indian tribe(s) in which the child is enrolled or may be eligible for enrollment. (3) All names known, and current and former addresses of the Indian child's biological mother, biological father, maternal and paternal grandparents and great grandparents or Indian custodians, including maiden, married and former names or aliases; birthdates; places of birth and death; tribal enrollment numbers, and/or other identifying information. (4) A copy of the petition, complaint or other document by which the proceeding was initiated. (e) In addition, notice provided to the appropriate Area Director pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section shall include the following: (1) A statement of the absolute right of the biological Indian parents, the child's Indian custodians and the child's tribe to intervene in the proceedings. (2) A statement that if the Indian parent(s) or Indian custodian(s) is (are) unable to afford counsel, and where a state court determines indigency, counsel will be appointed to represent the Indian parent or Indian custodian where authorized by state law. (3) A statement of the right of the Indian parents, Indian custodians and child's tribe to be granted, upon request, up to 20 additional days to prepare for the proceedings. (4) The location, mailing address, and telephone number of the court and all parties notified pursuant to this section. (5) A statement of the right of the Indian parents, Indian custodians and the child's tribe to petition the court for transfer of the proceeding to the child's tribal court pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 1911, absent objection by either parent: Provided, that such transfer shall be subject to declination by the tribal court of said tribe. (6) A statement of the potential legal consequences of the proceedings on the future custodial and parental rights of the Indian parents or Indian custodians. (7) A statement that, since child custody proceedings are conducted on a confidential basis, all parties notified shall keep confidential the information contained in the notice concerning the particular proceeding. The notices shall not be handled by anyone not needing the information contained in the notices in order to exercise the tribe's rights under the Act. (f) Upon receipt of the notice, the Secretary or his/her designee shall make reasonable documented efforts to locate and notify the child's tribe and the child's Indian parents or Indian custodians. The Secretary or his/her designee shall have 15 days, after receipt of the notice from the persons initiating the proceedings, to notify the child's tribe and Indian parents or Indian custodians and send a copy of the notice to the court. If within the 15-day time period the Secretary or his/her designee is unable to verify that the child meets the criteria of an Indian child as defined in 25 U.S.C. 1903, or is unable to locate the Indian parents or Indian custodians, the Secretary or his/her designee shall so inform the court prior to initiation of the proceedings and state how much more time, if any, will be needed to complete the search. The Secretary or his/her designee shall complete all research efforts, even if those efforts cannot be completed before the child custody proceeding begins. (g) Upon request from a party to an Indian child custody proceeding, the Secretary or his/her designee shall make a reasonable attempt to identify and locate the child's tribe, Indian parents or Indian custodians to assist the party seeking the information. Any Indian tribe entitled to notice pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 1912 may designate by resolution, or by such other form as the tribe's constitution or current practice requires, an agent for service of notice other than the tribal chairman and send a copy of the designation to the Secretary or his/her designee. The Secretary or his/her designee shall update and publish as necessary the names and addresses of the designated agents in the (a) When a state court appoints counsel for an indigent Indian party in an involuntary Indian child custody proceeding for which the appointment of counsel is not authorized under state law, the court shall send written notice of the appointment to the BIA Area Director designated for that state in §23.11. The notice shall include the following: (1) Name, address, and telephone number of attorney who has been appointed. (2) Name and address of client for whom counsel is appointed. (3) Relationship of client to child. (4) Name of Indian child's tribe. (5) Copy of the petition or complaint. (6) Certification by the court that state law makes no provision for appointment of counsel in such proceedings. (7) Certification by the court that the Indian client is indigent. (b) The Area Director shall certify that the client is eligible to have his or her appointed counsel compensated by the BIA unless: (1) The litigation does not involve a child custody proceeding as defined in 25 U.S.C. 1903 (1); (2) The child who is the subject of the litigation is not an Indian child as defined in 25 U.S.C. 1903 (4); (3) The client is neither the Indian child who is the subject of the litigation, the Indian child's parent as defined in 25 U.S.C. 1903 (9), nor the child's Indian custodian as defined in 25 U.S.C. 1903 (6); (4) State law provides for appointment of counsel in such proceedings; (5) The notice to the Area Director of appointment of counsel is incomplete; or (6) Funds are not available for the particular fiscal year. (c) No later than 10 days after receipt of the notice of appointment of counsel, the Area Director shall notify the court, the client, and the attorney in writing whether the client has been certified as eligible to have his or her attorney fees and expenses paid by the BIA. If certification is denied, the notice shall include written reasons for that decision, together with a statement that complies with 25 CFR 2.7 and that informs the applicant that the decision may be appealed to the Assistant Secretary. The Assistant Secretary shall consider appeals under this subsection in accordance with 25 CFR 2.20 (c) through (e). Appeal procedures shall be as set out in part 2 of this chapter. (d) When determining attorney fees and expenses, the court shall: (1) Determine the amount of payment due appointed counsel by the same procedures and criteria it uses in determining the fees and expenses to be paid appointed counsel in state juvenile delinquency proceedings; and (2) Submit approved vouchers to the Area Director who certified eligibility for BIA payment, together with the court's certification that the amount requested is reasonable under the state standards considering the work actually performed in light of criteria that apply in determining fees and expenses for appointed counsel in state juvenile delinquency proceedings. (e) The Area Director shall authorize the payment of attorney fees and expenses in the amount requested in the voucher approved by the court unless: (1) The amount of payment due the state-appointed counsel is inconsistent with the fees and expenses specified in §23.13 (d)(1); or (2) The client has not been certified previously as eligible under paragraph (c) of this section; or (3) The voucher is submitted later than 90 days after completion of the legal action involving a client certified as eligible for payment of legal fees under paragraph (b) of this section. (f) No later than 15 days after receipt of a payment voucher, the Area Director shall send written notice to the court, the client, and the attorney stating the amount of payment, if any, that has been authorized. If the payment has been denied, or the amount authorized is less than the amount requested in the voucher approved by the court, the notice shall include a written statement of the reasons for the decision together with a statement that complies with 25 CFR 2.7 and that informs the client that the decision may be appealed to the Interior Board of Indian Appeals in accordance with 25 CFR 2.4 (e); 43 CFR 4.310 through 4.318 and 43 CFR 4.330 through 4.340. (g) Failure of the Area Director to meet the deadline specified in paragraphs (c) and (f) of this section may be treated as a denial for purposes of appeal under paragraph (f) of this section. (h) Payment for appointed counsel does not extend to Indian tribes involved in state court child custody proceedings or to Indian families involved in Indian child custody proceedings in tribal courts. (a) Grant application information and technical assistance. Information on grant application procedures and related information may be obtained from the appropriate Agency Superintendent or Area Director. Pre-award and ongoing technical assistance to tribal governments shall be provided in accordance with §23.42 of this part. (b) Eligibility requirements for tribal governments. The tribal government(s) of any Indian tribe or consortium of tribes may submit a properly documented application for a grant to the appropriate Agency Superintendent or Area Director. A tribe may neither submit more than one application for a grant nor be the beneficiary of more than one grant under this subpart. (1) Through the publication of a (2) A grant to be awarded under this subpart shall be limited to the tribal governing body(ies) of the tribe(s) to be served by the grant. (3) For purposes of eligibility for newly recognized or restored Indian tribes without established reservations, such tribes shall be deemed eligible to apply for grants under this subpart to provide ICWA services within those service areas legislatively identified for such tribes. (4) A grantee under this subpart may make a subgrant to another Indian tribe or an Indian organization subject to the provisions of §23.45. (c) Revision or amendment of grants. A grantee under this subpart may submit a written request and justification for a post-award grant modification covering material changes to the terms and conditions of the grant, subject to the approval of the grants officer. The request shall include a narrative description of any significant additions, deletions, or changes to the approved program activities or budget in the form of a grant amendment proposal. (d) Continued annual funding of an ICWA grant under this subpart shall be contingent upon the fulfillment of the requirements delineated at §23.23(c). (e) Monitoring and program reporting requirements for grantees under this subpart are delineated at §§23.44 and 23.47. (a) Grants awarded under this subpart are for the establishment and operation of tribally designed Indian child and family service programs. The objective of every Indian child and family service program shall be to prevent the breakup of Indian families and to ensure that the permanent removal of an Indian child from the custody of his or her Indian parent or Indian custodian shall be a last resort. Such child and family service programs may include, but need not be limited to: (1) A system for licensing or otherwise regulating Indian foster and adoptive homes, such as establishing tribal standards for approval of on-reservation foster or adoptive homes; (2) The operation and maintenance of facilities for counseling and treatment of Indian families and for the temporary custody of Indian children with the goal of strengthening Indian families and preventing parent-child separations; (3) Family assistance, including homemaker and home counselors, protective day care and afterschool care, recreational activities, respite care, and employment support services with the goal of strengthening Indian families and contributing to family stability; (4) Home improvement programs with the primary emphasis on preventing the removal of children due to unsafe home environments by making homes safer, but not to make extensive structural home improvements; (5) The employment of professional and other trained personnel to assist the tribal court in the disposition of domestic relations and child welfare matters, but not to establish tribal court systems; (6) Education and training of Indians, including tribal court judges and staff, in skills relating to child and family assistance and service programs; (7) A subsidy program under which Indian adoptive children not eligible for state or BIA subsidy programs may be provided support comparable to that for which they could be eligible as foster children, taking into account the appropriate state standards of support for maintenance and medical needs; (8) Guidance, legal representation and advice to Indian families involved in tribal, state, or Federal child custody proceedings; and (9) Other programs designed to meet the intent and purposes of the Act. (b) Grants may be provided to tribes in the preparation and implementation of child welfare codes within their jurisdiction or pursuant to a tribal-state agreement. (c) Grantees under this subpart may enhance their capabilities by utilizing ICWA funds as non-Federal matching shares in connection with funds provided under titles IV-B, IV-E and XX of the Social Security Act or other Federal programs which contribute to and promote the intent and purposes of the Act through the provision of comprehensive child and family services in coordination with other tribal, Federal, state, and local resources available for the same purpose. (d) Program income resulting from the operation of programs under this subpart, such as day care operations, may be retained and used for purposes similar to those for which the grant was awarded. (a) The appropriate Area Director shall, subject to the tribe's fulfillment of the mandatory application requirements and the availability of appropriated funds, make a grant to the tribal governing body of a tribe or consortium of tribes eligible to apply for a grant under this subpart. (b) The following mandatory tribal application requirements must be submitted to the appropriate Agency Superintendent or Area Director in accordance with the timeframe established in §23.21 (b) of this subpart: (1) A current tribal resolution requesting a grant by the Indian tribe(s) to be served by the grant. If an applicant is applying for a grant benefiting more than one tribe (consortium), an authorizing resolution from each tribal government to be served must be included. The request must be in the form of a current tribal resolution by the tribal governing body and shall include the following information: (i) The official name of tribe(s) applying for the grant and who will directly benefit from or receive services from the grant; (ii) The proposed beginning and ending dates of the grant; (iii) A provision stating that the resolution will remain in effect for the duration of the program or until the resolution expires or is rescinded; and (iv) The signature of the authorized representative of the tribal government and the date thereof. (2) A completed Application for Federal Assistance form, SF–424. (3) A narrative needs assessment of the social problems or issues affecting the resident Indian population to be served; the geographic area(s) to be served; and estimated number of resident Indian families and/or persons to receive benefits or services from the program. (4) A comprehensive developmental multi-year plan in narrative form describing what specific services and/or activities will be provided each program year and addressing the above-identified social problems or issues. At a minimum, the plan must include: (i) The program goals and objectives, stated in measurable terms, to be achieved through the grant; (ii) A narrative description of how Indian families and communities will benefit from the program; and (iii) The methodology, including culturally defined approaches, and procedures by which the tribe(s) will accomplish the identified goals and objectives. (5) An internal monitoring system to measure progress and accomplishments, and to assure that the quality and quantity of actual performance conforms to the requirements of the grant. (6) A staffing plan that is consistent with the implementation of the above-described program plan of operation and the procedures necessary for the successful delivery of services. (i) The plan must include proposed key personnel; their qualifications, training or experience relevant to the services to be provided; responsibilities; Indian preference criteria for employment; and position descriptions. (ii) In accordance with 25 U.S.C. 3201 et seq. (Pub. L. 101–630), title IV, the Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act, grantees shall conduct character and background investigations of those personnel identified in that statute. Grantees must initiate character and background investigations of said personnel prior to their actual employment, and complete the investigations in a timely manner. (7) A program budget and budget narrative justification submitted on an annual basis for the amount of the award and supported by the proposed plan, appropriate program services and activities for the applicable grant year. (8) Identification of any consultants and/or subgrantees the applicant proposes to employ; a description of the consultant and/or subgrantee services to be rendered; the qualifications and experience in performing the identified services; and the basis for the cost and amount to be paid for such services. (9) A certification by a licensed accountant that the bookkeeping and accounting procedures which the tribe(s) uses or intends to use meet existing Federal standards for grant management and administration specified at §23.46. (10) A system for managing property and recordkeeping which complies with subpart D of 43 CFR part 2 implementing the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a) and with existing Federal requirements for grants at 25 CFR 276.5 and 276.11, including the maintenance and safeguarding of direct service case records on families and/or individuals served by the grant. (11) A listing of equipment, facilities, and buildings necessary to carry out the grant program. Liability insurance coverage for buildings and their contents is recommended for grantees under this subpart. (12) Pursuant to the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988, tribal programs shall comply with the mandatory Drug-Free Workplace Certification, a regulatory requirement for Federal grant recipients. (c) Continued annual funding of an ICWA program under this subpart shall be contingent upon the existing grant program receiving a satisfactory program evaluation from the area social services office for the previous year of operation. A copy of this evaluation must be submitted together with an annual budget and budget narrative justification in accordance with paragraph (b)(7) of this section. Minimum standards for receiving a satisfactory evaluation shall include: (1) The timely submission of all fiscal and programmatic reports; (2) A narrative program report indicating work accomplished in accordance with the applicant's approved multi-year plan and, if applicable, a description of any modification in programs or activities to be funded in the next fiscal year; and (3) The implementation of mutually determined corrective action measures, if applicable. (a) Grant application procedures and related information may be obtained from the Area Director designated at §23.11 for processing ICWA notices for the state in which the applicant is located. Pre-award and ongoing technical assistance of off-reservation Indian organization grantees shall be provided in accordance with §23.42. (b) Prior to the beginning of or during the applicable year(s) in which grants for off-reservation programs will be awarded competitively, the Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs shall publish in the (c) Based on the announcement described in paragraph (b) of this section, an off-reservation applicant shall prepare a multi-year developmental application in accordance with §23.33 of this subpart. To be considered in the area competitive review and scoring process, a complete application must be received by the deadline announced in the (d) Eligibility requirements for off-reservation Indian organizations. The Secretary or his/her designee shall, contingent upon the availability of funds, make a multi-year grant under this subpart for an off-reservation program when officially requested by a resolution of the board of directors of the Indian organization applicant, upon the applicant's fulfillment of the mandatory application requirements and upon the applicant's successful competition pursuant to §23.33 of this subpart. (e) A grant under this subpart for an off-reservation Indian organization shall be limited to the board of directors of the Indian organization which will administer the grant. (f) Continued annual funding of a multi-year grant award to an off-reservation ICWA program under this subpart shall be contingent upon the grantee's fulfillment of the requirements delineated at §23.33 (e). (g) Monitoring and program reporting requirements for grants awarded to off-reservation Indian organizations under this subpart are delineated at §§23.44 and 23.47. The Secretary or his/her designee is authorized to make grants to off-reservation Indian organizations to establish and operate off-reservation Indian child and family service programs for the purpose of stabilizing Indian families and tribes, preventing the breakup of Indian families and, in particular, to ensure that the permanent removal of an Indian child from the custody of his/her Indian parent or Indian custodian shall be a last resort. Child and family service programs may include, but are not limited to: (a) A system for regulating, maintaining, and supporting Indian foster and adoptive homes, including a subsidy program under which Indian adoptive children may be provided support comparable to that for which they would be eligible as Indian foster children, taking into account the appropriate state standards of support for maintenance and medical needs; (b) The operation and maintenance of facilities and services for counseling and treatment of Indian families and Indian foster and adoptive children with the goal of strengthening and stabilizing Indian families; (c) Family assistance (including homemaker and home counselors), protective day care and afterschool care, employment support services, recreational activities, and respite care with the goal of strengthening Indian families and contributing toward family stability; and (d) Guidance, legal representation and advice to Indian families involved in state child custody proceedings. (a) An application for a competitive multi-year grant under this subpart shall be submitted to the appropriate Area Director prior to or on the announced deadline date published in the (b) Mandatory application requirements for Indian organization applicants shall include: (1) An official request for an ICWA grant program from the organization's board of directors covering the duration of the proposed program; (2) A completed Application for Federal Assistance form, SF 424; (3) Written assurances that the organization meets the definition of Indian organization at §23.2; (4) A copy of the organization's current Articles of Incorporation for the applicable grant years; (5) Proof of the organization's nonprofit status; (6) A copy of the organization's IRS tax exemption certificate and IRS employer identification number; (7) Proof of liability insurance for the applicable grant years; and (8) Current written assurances that the requirements of Circular A–128 for fiscal management, accounting, and recordkeeping are met. (9) Pursuant to the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988, all grantees under this subpart shall comply with the mandatory Drug-Free Workplace Certification, a regulatory requirement for Federal grant recipients. (c) Competitive application selection criteria. The Area Director or his/her designated representative shall select those proposals which will in his/her judgment best promote the proposes of the Act. Selection shall be made through the area review committee process in which each application will be scored individually and ranked according to score, taking into consideration the mandatory requirements as specified above and the following selection criteria: (1) The degree to which the application reflects an understanding of the social problems or issues affecting the resident Indian client population which the applicant proposes to serve; (2) Whether the applicant presents a narrative needs assessment, quantitative data and demographics of the client Indian population to be served; (3) Estimates of the number of Indian people to receive benefits or services from the program based on available data; (4) Program goals and objectives to be achieved through the grant; (5) A comprehensive developmental multi-year narrative plan describing what specific services and/or activities will be provided each program year and addressing the above-identified social problems or issues. At a minimum, the plan must include a narrative description of the program; the program goals and objectives, stated in measurable terms, to be achieved through the grant; and the methodology, including culturally defined approaches, and procedures by which the grantee will accomplish the identified goals and objectives; (6) An internal monitoring system the grantee will use to measure progress and accomplishments, and to ensure that the quality and quantity of actual performance conforms to the requirements of the grant; (7) Documentation of the relative accessibility which the Indian population to be served under a specific proposal already has to existing child and family service programs emphasizing the prevention of Indian family breakups, such as mandatory state services. Factors to be considered in determining accessibility include: (i) Cultural barriers; (ii) Discrimination against Indians; (iii) Inability of potential Indian clientele to pay for services; (iv) Technical barriers created by existing public or private programs; (v) Availability of transportation to existing programs; (vi) Distance between the Indian community to be served under the proposal and the nearest existing programs; (vii) Quality of services provided to Indian clientele; and (viii) Relevance of services provided to specific needs of the Indian clientele. (8) If the proposed program duplicates existing Federal, state, or local child and family service programs emphasizing the prevention of Indian family breakups, proper and current documented evidence that repeated attempts to obtain services have been unsuccessful; (9) Evidence of substantial support from the Indian community or communities to be served, including but not limited to: (i) Tribal support evidenced by a tribal resolution or cooperative service agreements between the administrative bodies of the affected tribe(s) and the applicant for the duration of the grant period, or (ii) Letters of support from social services organizations familiar with the applicant's past work experience; (10) A staffing plan that is consistent with the implementation of the above-described program plan of operation and the procedures necessary for the successful delivery of services. The plan must include proposed key personnel, their qualifications, training or experience relevant to the services to be provided, responsibilities, Indian preference criteria for employment and position descriptions. In accordance with 25 U.S.C. 3201 et seq. (Pub. L. 101–630), title IV, the Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act, grantees shall conduct character and background investigations of those personnel identified in that statute prior to their actual employment; (11) The reasonableness and relevance of the estimated overall costs of the proposed program or services and their overall relation to the organization's funding base, activities, and mission; (12) The degree to which the detailed annual budget and justification for the requested funds are consistent with, and clearly supported by, the proposed plan and by appropriate program services and activities for the applicable grant year; (13) The applicant's identification of any consultants and/or subgrantees it proposes to employ; description of the services to be rendered; the qualifications and experience of said personnel, reflecting the requirements for performing the identified services; and the basis for the cost and the amount to be paid for such services; (14) Certification by a licensed accountant that the bookkeeping and accounting procedures that the applicant uses or intends to use meet existing Federal standards for grant administration and management specified at §23.46; (15) The compliance of property management and recordkeeping systems with subpart D of 43 CFR part 2 (the Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. 552a), and with existing Federal requirements for grants at 25 CFR 276.5 and 276.11, including the maintenance and safeguarding of direct service case records on families and/or individuals served by the grant; (16) A description of the proposed facilities, equipment, and buildings necessary to carry out the grant activities; and (17) Proof of liability insurance coverage for the applicable grant year(s). (d) Two or more applications receiving the same competitive score will be prioritized in accordance with announcements made in the (e) Continued annual funding of a multi-year grant award to an off-reservation ICWA program under this subpart shall be contingent upon the availability of appropriated funds and upon the existing grant program receiving a satisfactory program evaluation from the area social services office for the previous year of operation. A copy of this evaluation shall be submitted together with an annual budget and budget narrative justification in accordance with paragraph (c)(10) of this section. Minimum standards for receiving a satisfactory evaluation shall include the timely submission of all fiscal and programmatic reports; a narrative program report indicating work accomplished in accordance with the initial approved multi-year plan; and the implementation of mutually determined corrective action measures, if applicable. (a) Area office certification. Upon receipt of an application for a grant by an off-reservation Indian organization at the area office, the Area Director shall: (1) Complete and sign the area office certification form. In completing the area certification form, the Area Director shall assess and certify whether applications contain and meet all the application requirements specified at §23.33. Area Directors shall be responsible for the completion of the area office certification forms for all applications submitted by off-reservation Indian organizations. (2) Acknowledge receipt of the application to the applicant and advise the applicant of the disposition of the application within 10 days of receipt; and (3) Transmit all applications within five working days of receipt to the area review committee for competitive review and subsequent approval or disapproval of the applications. (b) Area office competitive review and decision for off-reservation applications. Upon receipt of an application for an off-reservation grant under this part requiring the approval of the Area Director, the Area Director shall: (1) Establish and convene an area review committee, chaired by a person qualified by knowledge, training and experience in the delivery of Indian child and family services. (2) Review the area office certification form required in paragraph (a) of this section. (3) Review the application in accordance with the competitive review procedures prescribed in §23.33. An application shall not receive approval for funding under the area competitive review and scoring process unless a review of the application determines that it: (i) Contains all the information required in §23.33 which must be received by the close of the application period. Modifications of the grant application received after the close of the application period shall not be considered in the competitive review process. (ii) Receives at least the established minimum score in an area competitive review, using the application selection criteria and scoring process set out in §23.33. The minimum score shall be established by the Central Office prior to each application period and announced in the (4) Approve or disapprove the application and promptly notify the applicant in writing of the approval or disapproval of the application. If the application is disapproved, the Area Director shall include in the written notice the specific reasons therefore. (c) The actual funding amounts for the initial grant year shall be subject to appropriations available nationwide and the continued funding of an approved off-reservation grant application under subpart D of this part shall be subject to available funds received by the respective area office for the applicable grant year. Initial funding decisions and subsequent decisions with respect to funding level amounts for all approved grant applications under this part shall be made by the Area Director. Within 30 days of the receipt of grant reporting forms from the Area Directors identifying approved and disapproved applications pursuant to subpart D of this part and recommended funding levels for approved applications, the Secretary or his/her designee shall process the Area Directors' funding requests. The general and uniform grant administration provisions and requirements specified at 25 CFR part 276 and under this subpart are applicable to all grants awarded to tribal governments and off-reservation Indian organizations under this part, except to the extent inconsistent with an applicable Federal statute, regulation or OMB circular. (a) Pre-award and ongoing technical assistance may be requested by an Indian tribe or off-reservation Indian organization from the appropriate agency or area office to which the tribe or organization will be submitting an application for funds under subparts C and D of this part. A request for pre-award technical assistance by an off-reservation Indian organization must be received by the Area Director designated at §23.11 for the state in which the applicant is located no later than 10 days prior to the application deadline to assure sufficient time for area response. (b) Pre-award and ongoing technical assistance may be provided by the appropriate BIA agency or area office for purposes of program planning and design, assistance in establishing internal program monitoring and evaluation criteria for ongoing grant administration and management, and for other appropriate assistance requested. (c) The area social services staff shall provide technical assistance to grantees upon receipt of an authorized request from the grantee or when review of the grantee's quarterly performance reports shows that: (1) An ICWA program is yielding results that are or will be detrimental to the welfare of the intended Indian beneficiaries of the program; (2) A program has substantially failed to implement its goals and objectives; (3) There are serious irregularities in the fiscal management of the grant; or (4) The grantee is otherwise deficient in its program performance. (5) Upon receiving an authorized request from the grantee, the area social services staff and/or grants officer shall provide the necessary technical assistance to arrive at mutually determined corrective action measures and their actual implementation, if necessary, and the timeframes within which said corrective actions will be implemented. (a) Tribal government programs. The appropriate Agency Superintendent or Area Director may approve a grant application and its subsequent execution under subpart C when the intent, purpose and scope of the application pertains solely to reservations located within the service area jurisdiction of the agency or area office. (b) Off-reservation programs. The appropriate Area Director may approve a grant application and its subsequent execution under subpart D when the intent, purpose and scope of the grant proposal pertains to off-reservation Indian service populations or programs. All grantees under this part shall be responsible for managing day-to-day program operations to ensure that program performance goals are being achieved and to ensure compliance with the provisions of the grant award document and other applicable Federal requirements. Unless delegated to the Agency Superintendent, appropriate area office personnel designated by the Area Director shall be responsible for all grant program and fiscal monitoring responsibilities. A tribal government grantee may make a subgrant under subpart C of this part, provided that such subgrants are for the purpose for which the grant was made and that the grantee retains administrative and financial responsibility over the activity and the funds. Grantee financial management systems shall comply with the following standards for accurate, current and complete disclosure of financial activities. (a) OMB Circular A–87 (Cost principles for state and local governments and federally recognized Indian tribal governments). (b) OMB Circular A–102 (Common rule 43 CFR part 12). (c) OMB Circular A–128 (Single Audit Act). (d) OMB Circular A–110 or 122 (Cost principles for non-profit organizations and tribal organizations, where applicable). (e) Internal control. Effective control and accountability must be maintained for all grants. Grantees must adequately safeguard any property and must ensure that it is used solely for authorized purposes. (f) Budget control. Actual expenditures must be compared with budgeted amounts for the grant. Financial information must be related to program performance requirements. (g) Source documentation. Accounting records must be supported by such source documentation as cancelled checks, paid bills, payrolls, time and attendance records, grant documents, or other information required by the grantee's financial management system. The Secretary or his/her designee may review the adequacy of the financial management system of an Indian tribe(s) or off-reservation Indian organization applying for a grant under this part. (h) Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 641, whoever embezzles, steals, purloins, or knowingly converts to his or her use or the use of another, or without authority, sells, conveys or disposes of any record, voucher, money, or thing of value of the United States or of any department or agency thereof, or any property made or being made under contract for the United States or any department or agency thereof; or whoever receives, conceals, or retains the same with intent to convert it to his or her use or gain, knowing it to have been embezzled, stolen, purloined, or converted shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both; but if the value of such property does not exceed the sum of $100, he or she shall be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than one year, or both. (a) Any tribal government or off-reservation Indian organization receiving a grant under this part shall make general programmatic information and reports concerning that grant available to the Indian people it serves or represents. Access to this information may be requested in writing and shall be made available within 10 days of receipt of the request. Except as required by title IV of Pub. L. 101–630, the Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act, grantees shall hold confidential all information obtained from persons receiving services from the program, and shall not release such information without the individual's written consent. Information may be disclosed in a manner which does not identify or lead to the identification of particular individuals. (b) Grantees shall submit Standard Form 269 or 269A on a quarterly and an annual basis to report their status of funds by the dates specified in the grant award document. (c) Grantees shall furnish and submit the following written quarterly and annual program reports by the dates specified in the award document: (1) Quarterly and annual statistical and narrative program performance reports which shall include, but need not be limited to, the following; (i) A summary of actual accomplishments and significant activities as related to program objectives established for the grant period; (ii) The grantee's evaluation of program performance using the internal monitoring system submitted in their application; (iii) Reports on all significant ICWA direct service grant activities including but not limited to the following information: (A) Significant title II activities; (B) Data reflecting numbers of individuals referred for out-of-home placements, number of individuals benefiting from title II services and types of services provided, and (C) Information and referral activities. (iv) Child abuse and neglect statistical reports and related information as required by 25 U.S.C. 2434, Pub. L. 99–570, the Indian Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act of 1986; (v) A summary of problems encountered or reasons for not meeting established objectives; (vi) Any deliverable or product required in the grant; and (vii) Additional pertinent information when appropriate. (2) The BIA may negotiate for the provision of other grant-related reports not previously identified. (d) Events may occur between scheduled performance reporting dates which have significant impact on the grant-supported activity. In such cases, the grantee must inform the awarding agency as soon as problems, delays, adverse conditions, or serious incidents giving rise to liability become known and which will materially impair its ability to meet the objectives of the grant. (a) Grant funds provided to Indian tribes under subpart C of this part may be used as non-Federal matching shares in connection with funds provided under titles IV-B, IV-E and XX of the Social Security Act or such other Federal programs which contribute to and promote the purposes of the Act as specified in §§23.3 and 23.22 (25 U.S.C. 1931). (b) Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 1933, in furtherance of the establishment, operation, and funding of programs funded under subparts C and D of this part, the Secretary may enter into agreements with the Secretary of Health and Human Services. The latter Secretary is authorized by the Act to use funds appropriated for the Department of Health and Human Services for programs similar to those funded under subparts C and D of this part (25 U.S.C. 1931 and 1932), provided that authority to make payment pursuant to such agreements shall be effective only to the extent and in such amounts as may be provided in advance by appropriation Acts. (a) Grants awarded under this part shall include provisions assuring compliance with the Indian Civil Rights Act; prohibiting discriminatory distinctions among eligible Indian beneficiaries; and assuring the fair and uniform provision by the grantees of the services and assistance they provide to eligible Indian beneficiaries under such grants. Such procedures must include criteria by which eligible Indian beneficiaries will receive services, recordkeeping mechanisms adequate to verify the fairness and uniformity of services in cases of formal complaints, and an explanation of what rights will be afforded an individual pending the resolution of a complaint. (b) Indian beneficiaries of the services to be rendered under a grant shall be afforded access to administrative or judicial bodies empowered to adjudicate complaints, claims, or grievances brought by such Indian beneficiaries against the grantee arising out of the performance of the grant. (a) Tribal government Indian child and family service programs. Any person meeting the definition of Indian, Indian child, Indian custodian, or Indian parent of any unmarried person under the age of 18 as defined in §23.2 is eligible for services provided under 25 U.S.C. 1931 of the Act. Tribal membership status shall be determined by tribal law, ordinance, or custom. The tribe may, under subpart C, extend services to nontribal family members related by marriage to tribal members, provided such services promote the intent and purposes of the Act. A tribe may also, within available resources, extend services under this part to individuals who are members of, or are eligible for membership in other Indian tribes, and who reside within the tribe's designated service area. (b) Off-reservation Indian child and family service programs and agreements with the Secretary of Health and Human Services pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 1933. For purposes of eligibility for services provided under 25 U.S.C. 1932 and 1933 of the Act, any person meeting the definition of Indian, Indian child, Indian custodian, or Indian parent of any unmarried person under the age of 18 as defined in §23.2, or the definition of Indian as defined in 25 U.S.C. 1603(c), shall be eligible for services. Tribal membership status shall be determined by tribal law, ordinance, or custom. Unless restricted by appropriation, and contingent upon satisfactory program evaluations from the appropriate area or agency office for an existing program, grantees are authorized to carry over unliquidated grant funds which remain at the end of a budget period. Such funds may be carried over for a maximum period of two years beyond the initial grant funding period and must be utilized only for the intent, purpose and scope of the original grant. These carry-over grant funds shall not be reprogrammed into other appropriation activities or subactivities. Funds carried over into another fiscal year will be added to the grantee's new fiscal year funding amount. (a) When a grantee has materially failed to comply and remains out of compliance with the terms and conditions of the grant, the grants officer may, after reasonable notice to the grantee and the provision of requested technical assistance, suspend the grant. The notice preceding the suspension shall include the effective date of the suspension, the corrective measures necessary for reinstatement of the grant and, if there is no immediate threat to safety, a reasonable timeframe for corrective action prior to actual suspension. (b) No obligation incurred by the grantee during the period of suspension shall be allowable under the suspended grant, except that the grants officer may at his/her discretion allow necessary and proper costs which the grantee could not reasonably avoid during the period of suspension if such costs would otherwise be allowable under the applicable cost principles. (c) Appropriate adjustments to the payments under the suspended grant will be made either by withholding the payments or by not allowing the grantee credit for disbursements which the grantee may make in liquidation of unauthorized obligations the grantee incurs during the period of suspension. (d) Suspension shall remain in effect until the grantee has taken corrective action to the satisfaction of the grants officer, or given assurances satisfactory to the grants officer that corrective action will be taken, or until the grants officer cancels the grant. (a) The grants officer may cancel any grant, in whole or in part, at any time before the date of completion whenever it is determined that the grantee has: (1) Materially failed to comply with the terms and conditions of the grant; (2) Violated the rights as specified in §23.49 or endangered the health, safety, or welfare of any person; or (3) Been grossly negligent in, or has mismanaged the handling or use of funds provided under the grant. (b) When it appears that cancellation of the grant will become necessary, the grants officer shall promptly notify the grantee in writing of this possibility. This written notice shall advise the grantee of the reason for the possible cancellation and the corrective action necessary to avoid cancellation. The grants officer shall also offer, and shall provide, if requested by the grantee, any technical assistance which may be required to effect the corrective action. The grantee shall have 60 days in which to effect this corrective action before the grants officer provides notice of intent to cancel the grant as provided for in paragraph (c) of this section. (c) Upon deciding to cancel for cause, the grants officer shall promptly notify the grantee in writing of that decision, the reason for the cancellation, and the effective date. The Area Director or his/her designated official shall also provide a hearing for the grantee before cancellation. However, the grants officer may immediately cancel the grant, upon notice to the grantee, if the grants officer determines that continuance of the grant poses an immediate threat to safety. In this event, the Area Director or his/her designated official shall provide a hearing for the grantee within 10 days of the cancellation. (d) The hearing referred to in paragraph (c) of this section shall be conducted as follows: (1) The grantee affected shall be notified, in writing, at least 10 days before the hearing. The notice should give the date, time, place, and purpose of the hearing. (2) A written record of the hearing shall be made. The record shall include written statements submitted at the hearing or within five days following the hearing. A grantee or prospective applicant may appeal any decision made or action taken by the Agency Superintendent, Area Director, or grants officer under subpart C or E of this part. Such an appeal shall be made to the Assistant Secretary who shall consider the appeal in accordance with 25 CFR 2.20 (c) through (e). Appeal procedures shall be as set out in part 2 of this chapter. A grantee or applicant may appeal any decision made or action taken by the Area Director under subpart D that is alleged to be in violation of the U.S. Constitution, Federal statutes, or the regulations of this part. These appeals shall be filed with the Interior Board of Indian Appeals in accordance with 25 CFR 2.4 (e); 43 CFR 4.310 through 4.318 and 43 CFR 4.330 through 4.340. However, an applicant may not appeal a score assigned to its application or the amount of grant funds awarded. A person or persons whose interests are adversely affected, or whose ability to protect such interests is impeded by the failure of an official to act on a request to the official, may make the official's inaction the subject of an appeal under part 2 of this chapter. (a)(1) Any state court entering a final decree or adoptive order for any Indian child shall provide the Secretary or his/her designee within 30 days a copy of said decree or order, together with any information necessary to show: (i) The Indian child's name, birthdate and tribal affiliation, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 1951; (ii) Names and addresses of the biological parents and the adoptive parents; and (iii) Identity of any agency having relevant information relating to said adoptive placement. (2) To assure and maintain confidentiality where the biological parent(s) have by affidavit requested that their identity remain confidential, a copy of such affidavit shall be provided to the Secretary or his/her designee. Information provided pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 1951(a) is not subject to the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552), as amended. The Secretary or his/her designee shall ensure that the confidentiality of such information is maintained. The address for transmittal of information required by 25 U.S.C. 1951(a) is: Chief, Division of Social Services, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 1849 C Street, NW., Mail Stop 310–SIB, Washington, DC 20240. The envelope containing all such information should be marked “Confidential.” This address shall be sent to the highest court of appeal, the Attorney General and the Governor of each state. In some states, a state agency has been designated to be repository for all state court adoption information. Where such a system is operative, that agency may assume reporting responsibilities for the purposes of the Act. (b) The Division of Social Services, Bureau of Indian Affairs, is authorized to receive all information and to maintain a central file on all state Indian adoptions. This file shall be confidential and only designated persons shall have access to it. Upon the request of an adopted Indian individual over the age of 18, the adoptive or foster parents of an Indian child, or an Indian tribe, the Division of Social Services shall disclose such information as may be necessary for purposes of tribal enrollment or determining any rights or benefits associated with tribal membership, except the names of the biological parents where an affidavit of confidentiality has been filed, to those persons eligible under the Act to request such information. The chief tribal enrollment officer of the BIA is authorized to disclose enrollment information relating to an adopted Indian child where the biological parents have by affidavit requested anonymity. In such cases, the chief tribal enrollment officer shall certify the child's tribe, and, where the information warrants, that the child's parentage and other circumstances entitle the child to enrollment consideration under the criteria established by the tribe. Upon the request of a party in an involuntary Indian child custody proceeding or of a court, the Secretary or his/her designee shall assist in identifying qualified expert witnesses. Such requests for assistance shall be sent to the Area Director designated in §23.11(c). The BIA is not obligated to pay for the services of such expert witnesses. Upon the request of a party in an Indian child custody proceeding or of a court, the Secretary or his/her designee shall assist in identifying language interpreters. Such requests for assistance should be sent to the Area Director designated in §23.11(c). The BIA is not obligated to pay for the services of such language interpreters. Upon the request of a child placement agency, the court or an Indian tribe, the Secretary or his/her designee shall assist in locating the biological parents or prior Indian custodians of an adopted Indian child whose adoption has been terminated pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 1914. Such requests for assistance should be sent to the Area Director designated in §23.11(c).
Title 25: Indians
PART 23—INDIAN CHILD WELFARE ACT
Section Contents
§ 23.1 Purpose.
§ 23.2 Definitions.
§ 23.3 Policy.
§ 23.4 Information collection.
§ 23.11 Notice.
§ 23.12 Designated tribal agent for service of notice.
§ 23.13 Payment for appointed counsel in involuntary Indian child custody proceedings in state courts.
§ 23.21 Noncompetitive tribal government grants.
§ 23.22 Purpose of tribal government grants.
§ 23.23 Tribal government application contents.
§ 23.31 Competitive off-reservation grant process.
§ 23.32 Purpose of off-reservation grants.
§ 23.33 Competitive off-reservation application contents and application selection criteria.
§ 23.34 Review and decision on off-reservation applications by Area Director.
§ 23.35 Deadline for Central Office action.
§ 23.41 Uniform grant administration provisions, requirements and applicability.
§ 23.42 Technical assistance.
§ 23.43 Authority for grant approval and execution.
§ 23.44 Grant administration and monitoring.
§ 23.45 Subgrants.
§ 23.46 Financial management, internal and external controls and other assurances.
§ 23.47 Reports and availability of information to Indians.
§ 23.48 Matching shares and agreements.
§ 23.49 Fair and uniform provision of services.
§ 23.50 Service eligibility.
§ 23.51 Grant carry-over authority.
§ 23.52 Grant suspension.
§ 23.53 Cancellation.
§ 23.61 Appeals from decision or action by Agency Superintendent, Area Director or Grants Officer.
§ 23.62 Appeals from decision or action by Area Director under subpart D.
§ 23.63 Appeals from inaction of official.
§ 23.71 Recordkeeping and information availability.
§ 23.81 Assistance in identifying witnesses.
§ 23.82 Assistance in identifying language interpreters.
§ 23.83 Assistance in locating biological parents of Indian child after termination of adoption.
Subpart A—Purpose, Definitions, and Policy
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§ 23.1 Purpose.
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§ 23.2 Definitions.
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§ 23.3 Policy.
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§ 23.4 Information collection.
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Subpart B—Notice of Involuntary Child Custody Proceedings and Payment for Appointed Counsel in State Courts
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§ 23.11 Notice.
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§ 23.12 Designated tribal agent for service of notice.
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§ 23.13 Payment for appointed counsel in involuntary Indian child custody proceedings in state courts.
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Subpart C—Grants to Indian Tribes for Title II Indian Child and Family Service Programs
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§ 23.21 Noncompetitive tribal government grants.
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§ 23.22 Purpose of tribal government grants.
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§ 23.23 Tribal government application contents.
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Subpart D—Grants to Off-Reservation Indian Organizations for Title II Indian Child and Family Service Programs
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§ 23.31 Competitive off-reservation grant process.
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§ 23.32 Purpose of off-reservation grants.
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§ 23.33 Competitive off-reservation application contents and application selection criteria.
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§ 23.34 Review and decision on off-reservation applications by Area Director.
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§ 23.35 Deadline for Central Office action.
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Subpart E—General and Uniform Grant Administration Provisions and Requirements
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§ 23.41 Uniform grant administration provisions, requirements and applicability.
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§ 23.42 Technical assistance.
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§ 23.43 Authority for grant approval and execution.
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§ 23.44 Grant administration and monitoring.
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§ 23.45 Subgrants.
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§ 23.46 Financial management, internal and external controls and other assurances.
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§ 23.47 Reports and availability of information to Indians.
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§ 23.48 Matching shares and agreements.
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§ 23.49 Fair and uniform provision of services.
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§ 23.50 Service eligibility.
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§ 23.51 Grant carry-over authority.
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§ 23.52 Grant suspension.
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§ 23.53 Cancellation.
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Subpart F—Appeals
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§ 23.61 Appeals from decision or action by Agency Superintendent, Area Director or Grants Officer.
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§ 23.62 Appeals from decision or action by Area Director under subpart D.
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§ 23.63 Appeals from inaction of official.
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Subpart G—Administrative Provisions
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§ 23.71 Recordkeeping and information availability.
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Subpart H—Assistance to State Courts
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§ 23.81 Assistance in identifying witnesses.
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§ 23.82 Assistance in identifying language interpreters.
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§ 23.83 Assistance in locating biological parents of Indian child after termination of adoption.
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