Tribe: Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin
2. Purpose and Construction. It is the purpose of this Children and Family Act to
secure for each child coming before the Court such care, guidance, and control,
preferably in his or her own home, as will serve the child’s welfare and advance the
interests of the Hoocak Nation; to preserve and strengthen family ties whenever possible;
and to preserve and strengthen the child’s cultural and Tribal identity wherever possible.
To this end, this Act shall be liberally construed to fulfill the following purposes:
a. To provide for the welfare, care, and protection of the children of the Hoocak
Nation, with priority being given to those children in need of protection.
b. To preserve unity of the family, preferably by separating the child from his/her
parent(s) only when necessary.
c. To take such actions as may be necessary and feasible to prevent the abuse,
neglect, or abandonment of children.
d. To provide a continuum of services for children and their families from
prevention to residential treatment, with emphasis whenever possible on prevention, early
intervention, and community based alternatives.
e. To ensure that foreign courts are able to return Tribal children to the Hoocak
Nation.
f. To recognize and acknowledge the customs and traditions of the Hoocak
Nation with regard to raising a child.