Seminole Tribe of Florida Provides Host Sponsorship of NICWA Conference

Published March 30, 2019

PORTLAND, Ore. — The National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA) received a $25,000 host sponsor­ship from the Seminole Tribe of Florida for this year’s 37^th Annual Protecting Our Children National American Indian Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect, to be held at the Albuquerque Convention Center, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This year’s sponsorship from the Tribe will help NICWA bring a wide range of workshops and peer learning opportunities for child welfare workers, tribal leaders, and advocates from all across Indian Country to the premiere national event addressing tribal child welfare and the well-being of Native children and families.

The Seminole Tribe of Florida is a long-standing supporter of NICWA and its mission of strengthening the well-being of American Indian and Alaska Native children, families, and communities. Collaboration and cooperation between tribal leaders and child welfare workers helps to increase access to community-based services that help Native children grow up safe, healthy, and spiritually strong. The Protecting Our Children conference is an important gathering for tribal leaders and frontline workers from across the country.

NICWA Executive Director Sarah Kastelic noted, “I am touched by the generosity of the Seminole Tribe of Florida tribal council and citizens. It’s the support of sponsors that makes NICWA’s annual conference possible. With Seminole Tribe’s partnership, 2019 is already NICWA’s largest conference on record. More than 1,400 people have pre-registered to attend the preeminent Indian child welfare training event. With the theme “Our Families, Our Future,” the conference will celebrate 40 years of the Indian Child Welfare Act, which protects Native children and keeps Native families together.”