Characteristics and competencies of successful resource parents working in Indian Country: A systematic review of the research

Despite the implementation of the Indian Child Welfare Act over the last 40 years, American Indian/Alaska Native (AIAN) children continue to be removed from their homes at an alarming rate and are overrepresented across the United States’ foster care system. To ensure the future of tribal communities, it is imperative that AIAN children grow up connected to their culture and their identity. One method to ensure stability is to increase efforts to recruit and retain competent, committed tribal relatives as caretakers, and when not possible, AIAN resource parents who are ready and able to care for them. This study utilized PRISMA methodology to conduct a systematic review to identify characteristics and competencies of successful resource parents who care for AIAN children and youth. Four major characteristics (strong cultural identity, resilient and adaptive to change, willingness to access tribal resources, and willingness to access kin/family as resources) and five major competencies (history, laws and policy; health and wellness from the AIAN perspective, AIAN family, kinship and community structure, and AIAN learning style, pedagogy and methods) were identified. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.