CASA of Imperial County is proud to announce that Executive Director Alex Cardenas has been appointed to the National CASA/GAL Association's Tribal Leadership Council, a national advisory group supporting advocacy for Native American children in Tribal courts.
The Council, comprised of directors from Tribal CASA programs across the country, advises National CASA/GAL on policies, strategies, and culturally relevant tools to support Tribal children and families in the child welfare system.
"It's an honor to serve on a council that values cultural identity as essential to advocacy," said Cardenas. "This appointment reaffirms our commitment to ensuring Native children stay connected to their families, culture, and communities."
Under Cardenas's leadership, CASA of Imperial County became one of only nine programs nationally to serve a Tribal Court. Since 2012, CASA has partnered with the Quechan Tribal Court, advocating for over 300 Native American children and setting a model for culturally sensitive and community-based advocacy in California.
Kimberly Delso, National CASA/GAL's Director of Rural and Tribal Program Development, praised the work:
"Nothing is more important than cultural identity and the natural born right to know where we come from."
Cardenas's appointment comes on the heels of the 2023 Supreme Court ruling in Haaland v. Brackeen, which upheld the constitutionality of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) and reinforced the importance of Tribal sovereignty and culturally rooted placements for Native children.
With Native youth significantly overrepresented in foster care, Cardenas will help lead national efforts to expand Tribal CASA programs and ensure every Native child in care has a culturally informed advocate by their side.