About Us

About the Project

The Tribal Indian Child Welfare Advocates Training Program is funded by the California Department of Social Services, Office of Tribal Affairs and administered by the National Indian Justice Center. The goal of this project is to educate social workers and other professionals working on Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) cases. Project curricula include Tribal Criminal Background Checks, Tribal Customary Adoption, Active Efforts, Stages of Dependency, Court Advocacy Skills, and Qualified Expert Witness.

NIJC staff and consultants will continue to deliver trainings online using Zoom web conference software until further notice.

Additionally, NIJC will provide office-based technical assistance to help tribes and counties conduct criminal background checks.

Staff

Nicole Lim is a staff attorney at the National Indian Justice Center. She has lectured on various Native American Studies topics at San Francisco State University, California State University, Sacramento, and the University of California, Berkeley. She is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley and the University of San Francisco, School of Law.

Christy Garcia is a program specialist at the National Indian Justice Center. She has an extensive background working to recruit Native students into social work training programs and changing social work curricula. She is a graduate of the University of San Diego and California State University, San Marcos.

Christina Tlatilpa Inong is a program specialist at the National Indian Justice Center. She has several years of experience as a social worker and working with local Native youth. She is a graduate of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and the University of California, Berkeley.

Cassandra Overton is a financial officer at the National Indian Justice Center.