Tribal : Leaders Urge Congress to Strengthen Safety Programs for Native Youth

Tribal : American Indian tribal leaders and child welfare advocates are calling on Congress to expand law enforcement staffing and invest more heavily in prevention services, warning that limited police coverage and uneven access to social programs continue to place Native children and families at risk. Their concerns were presented during testimony on Capitol Hill as lawmakers reviewed proposed legislation aimed at closing long-standing public safety gaps in Indian Country.

Lawmakers Review Justice and Safety Provisions

During a hearing before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, witnesses voiced support for a draft Native Children’s Commission Implementation Act. The proposal seeks to strengthen justice and safety programs for Native youth, provide greater flexibility in prevention funding, and make several victim support services permanent.

Committee Chair Lisa Murkowski said senators are focusing closely on Title II of the draft bill, which centers on justice and safety for Native children, youth, and families. She noted that years of committee work have consistently highlighted shortages in law enforcement personnel and weak coordination among service providers across tribal communities.

Focus on Prevention and Coordination

Murkowski emphasized that families lacking access to coordinated, community-based services are more likely to become entangled in the justice system. According to her, the proposed legislation is designed to improve collaboration among agencies, increase funding flexibility, and expand prevention efforts. These include initiatives addressing juvenile justice, domestic violence, and cases involving missing children.

A cornerstone of the bill is Tiwahe, a coordinated service framework that allows tribes to design programs tailored to their local needs. The legislation would formally establish Tiwahe in federal law and extend it nationwide. Additional provisions include creating a Tribal Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice, ordering a comprehensive study on missing Native children, and ensuring permanent funding for tribal domestic violence coalitions, resource centers, and the Native Domestic Violence Hotline.

Public Safety Challenges on Reservations

Tribal leaders described the realities facing their communities. Lonna Jackson-Street, chair of the Spirit Lake Tribal Council in North Dakota, told lawmakers that her tribe continues to experience severe public safety challenges. She cited homicide rates far exceeding those of non-Hispanic white populations and reported multiple murders on the reservation in the current year alone.

Jackson-Street explained that the tribe’s Tiwahe program uses a community-driven approach to support children and families both before and after contact with the justice system. She also stressed the urgency of faster coordination in cases involving missing and murdered Indigenous people, arguing that existing law enforcement resources fall well short of what is needed to respond effectively.

Impact of Tiwahe in Remote Communities

Joan Johnson, a member of the Fort Belknap Indian Community Council in Montana, said the Tiwahe model has reshaped how services are delivered on her reservation. Located roughly 35 miles from the Canadian border, the remote community previously struggled with fragmented support systems. Johnson told senators that coordinated services have improved access to help for families who once faced significant barriers.

Gaps in Victim Services Funding

Advocates for survivors of violence also highlighted disparities in access to assistance. Lori Jump, executive director of the StrongHearts Native Helpline, said Native communities experience some of the highest rates of violence nationwide while having the fewest resources to address it. Of the 575 federally recognized tribes, she noted, fewer than half receive funding for domestic violence programs.

Barriers to Child Welfare Funding

Former Native Children’s Commission member Anita Fineday focused on obstacles that prevent tribes from accessing federal child welfare funds. She explained that complex reporting requirements limit tribal participation in IV-E funding, which is available to all states but only a small number of tribes. Fineday urged Congress to allow tribes to use consolidated “477” agreements to simplify administration and reduce compliance burdens.

Commission Findings Shape Legislation

The Native Children’s Commission, established by Congress, documented significant disparities affecting Native children and issued recommendations covering juvenile justice, child welfare, and public safety. Supporters of the draft bill argue that adopting these recommendations would mark a critical step toward addressing systemic gaps and improving outcomes for Native youth and families nationwide.