Strengthening Tribal Families Act of 2024

The Strengthening Tribal Families Act of 2024 requires the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop, by January 1, 2025, a technical assistance plan to improve states' implementation of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) of 1978. It mandates states to collect specific data on ICWA compliance, including timely tribal notice in child custody cases, active efforts to prevent family separation, and proper placement of Indian children. The bill also requires the Secretary to coordinate with the Department of the Interior and submit biennial reports to Congress on state compliance and technical assistance efforts. This directly affects tribal nations, state child welfare agencies, and courts handling child custody cases involving Native American families. The law focuses on strengthening ICWA's enforcement through data-driven support and accountability, not on changing ICWA's core standards.