Court Advocacy and Permanency Services (CAPS) provides court advocacy in the tribal and state systems for children and families. This advocacy is to help ensure that Cherokee children and families get the protections offered under the Federal Indian Child Welfare Act as well as any protections offered by the various state Indian Child Welfare Acts. Court and Permanency workers attend court hearings in person or by teleconference to be a voice for Cherokee Nation in the protection of Cherokee children. This unit also provides the planning and linkage to services necessary for families who are working to correct the problems that caused the initial removal of their child. This service is offered for Cherokee children nation-wide, regardless whether or not they reside in Cherokee Nation jurisdiction.
Court and Permanency Services are divided into the following units.
Tribal CAPS
Tribal CAPS provides reunification services on deprived cases within the Cherokee Nation District Court protecting the best interests of children and families. The Tribal CAPS unit works with families to correct the conditions that led to children being removed from the family home.
The Tribal CAPS unit makes frequent home visits to families and to foster homes to make sure the needs of the children are being met. The Tribal CAPS unit frequently provides transportation to families to help them complete their services. It is the first goal of the Tribal CAPS unit to ensure the safety of the children while keeping Cherokee families together.
State CAPS
State CAPS provides services to families involved in the state court system within the Cherokee Nation reservation. The unit works with families to correct the conditions that led to children being removed from the family home.
Out of Reservation CAPS
The OOR unit works with families to correct the conditions that led to children being removed from the family home. These cases involve court cases outside of the Cherokee Nation Reservation.
