By Cara Cowan Watts, Cherokee411.com
SHAWNEE, Okla. The Oklahoma Indian Child Welfare Association (OICWA) has announced the election of new board officers who will lead the organization for the next two years. All of the newly elected officers are members of federally recognized tribes in Oklahoma, according to an announcement from OICWA.
The new officers are Blair Christenberry, a Choctaw Nation citizen and Choctaw Nation ICW social worker, elected president; Carmalita Ward, a Seneca-Cayuga citizen and Wyandotte Nation ICW worker, elected vice president; Stephanie Hailey, a Modoc Nation citizen and Shawnee Tribe ICW director, elected secretary; Keri Humphrey, a Chickasaw Nation citizen and the Chickasaw Nation’s senior manager of program operations, elected treasurer; and Tiffany Whorton, a Cherokee Nation citizen and Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma ICW social worker, elected member at large.
“It’s an honor and privilege to serve all Tribal communities through OICWA,” Whorton said. “As a Cherokee Nation citizen, I am proud to help promote the well-being of all tribal children and families, strengthening our Tribal communities, and advancing the work of Indian Child Welfare and the future of our children. I look forward to what we can accomplish together, working to build a stronger future for our children, families, and Tribal Nations.”
OICWA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization that serves as a unified voice for Indian child welfare programs across Oklahoma. Its mission is to advocate for the well-being of American Indian children, their families and tribal communities while strengthening relationships, promoting culturally grounded approaches and upholding tribal sovereignty, according to the organization.
OICWA thanked the incoming officers for stepping forward to serve and for their commitment to strengthening tribal child welfare, protecting sovereignty and supporting Native children, youth and families.
The organization’s 19th annual conference, themed “ICWA, The Gold Standard: Defending Nations, Protecting Families,” is set for Nov. 2-4 at River Spirit Casino Resort in Tulsa and will be hosted by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.
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