2026 Tribal Child Abuse and Neglect Institute | July 29 – 31, 2026 | Rancho Mirage, CA
The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) is pleased to present the upcoming Tribal Child Abuse and Neglect Institute. The Child Abuse and Neglect Institute (CANI), established in 1996, provides specialized training in best practices for dependency court proceedings for judicial officers working with tribal communities. This program brings together national and local experts to address essential topics in tribal child welfare. Tribal CANI supports judges who are newly assigned to child abuse and neglect/dependency cases, as well as those seeking the most current information on best practices.
This program will feature local and national faculty who will cover the following essential topics:
- Implementing the Enhanced Resource Guidelines within tribal courts
- Key federal laws and regulations impacting American Indian and Alaska Native children and families
- The Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) and state – tribal collaboration
- Balancing substance use recovery and timely permanency
- Attachment, bonding, and culturally grounded child development
Cost: There is no registration fee for this training, but you will be responsible for your airfare, lodging, meals, and other costs. No food or beverages will be provided at this training due to DOJ grant restrictions.
NCJFCJ is excited to announce that they have a limited number of scholarships to attend the Tribal Child Abuse and Neglect Institute (CANI). The scholarship will cover travel expenses to include airfare, ground transportation, per diem, and lodging. If you are interested, please email hruiz@ncjfcj.org. They will reach out quickly to answer any questions and provide more details and information. Please do not register or book any travel until you receive confirmation and instructions. Our team will provide assistance with getting you registered and with the travel process.
Who Should Attend?
The Tribal CANI is exclusively for judicial officers, providing a forum to exchange court experiences, strengthen professional skills, and build lasting relationships that promote information sharing and support best practices. Space is limited to 25 participants.
Please note: This program is most effective when participants attend every day. If you cannot participate in the entire program, please get in touch with NCJFCJ to discuss future CANI opportunities.