South Dakota: Every year, hundreds of the state's American Indian (AI) children are removed from their homes.  Most end up in non-native foster care where children forget their Native cultures and traditions.  Some suffer horrible abuse while in the State foster care system.  Many never see their families again

Far too often, their parents only flaw is being poor -- a condition many blame on the U.S. and society.

The ICWA (Indian Child Welfare Act of  1978) is the federal law that seeks to keep AI children with AI families. Congress passed ICWA because of the alarming numbers of Indian children removed from home by public and private agencies.

Congress intended ICWA  "protect the best interests of Indian children and to promote the stability and security of Indian tribes and families."  This law recognizes Indian children as the center of American Indian culture. It sets regulations for child custody proceedings involving Indian children.  The goal is for these children to remain within their communities. This is a vital link to preserving their traditions and culture.

According to a petition posted on change.org, South Dakota, the Department of Social Services and other agencies may be violating the ICWA law:

State officials claim they don't make profits from foster children. They claim that removing these children from their families is in the child's best interest. But an NPR (National Public Radio) investigation has uncovered the disturbing truth.

Private group home providers earn millions of dollars to care for foster children. In some homes, half the children are American Indian. These private group homes have close ties with government officials and funding.

South Dakota receives about $4,000 in federal funds for each child in an adoption program. Almost all American Indian foster children are labeled "special needs." Special needs children bring an extra $8,000 per child, for a total of $12,000 per year.

Therefore a child labeled with “special needs” earns more income for the state.

Congress's Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 is the legal guideline for placing AI youth in foster care. Change.org's petition calls for an independent investigation of South Dakota's policies in order to protect native youth, families, and culture.