FY 2024 CTAS Purpose Area 6 Award-Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana

The Children's Justice Act (CJA) Partnerships for Indian Communities Grant Program (Victims of Crime Act of 1984, Section 1402(g), 34 U.S.C. 20101(g) supports American Indian and Alaska Native communities for the purpose of improving the investigation, prosecution, and handling of child abuse cases, especially cases of child sexual abuse, in a manner that increases support for and lessens trauma to child abuse victims. The funding further supports programs to provide comprehensive and coordinated multidisciplinary responses to child abuse victims and provide trauma-informed, culturally competent, holistic services to child abuse victims and their families.

The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana requested funding to expand the staff of its child welfare program by hiring a Child Welfare Case Manager to investigate suspected child abuse and assist with state-led child abuse investigations.  With this funding, Tunica-Biloxi will: 1) hire a 1.0 FTE Case Manager, 2) coordinate with both Tribal and state courts on court involved child welfare cases, 3) monitor or intervene in child welfare cases, 4) work in identifying alternative Tribal out of home placements for children under both Tribal custody and state custody, 5) receive and assist state referred cases, and 6) provide case management services to Tribal child welfare cases.