The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) sent a Dear Tribal Leader Letter (DTLL) requesting input on the draft Framework on Missing and Murdered Native Americans (MMNA). The ACF heard from Tribal leaders on ACF’s Tribal Advisory Committee, participants from Tribal consultation sessions, urban Indian organization leaders, and Native American advocates on issues that impact the ongoing crisis of MMNA in Tribal communities. The phrase MMNA recognizes that all Native Americans — women, men, girls, and boys — may go missing or murdered.
In November 2019, President Trump signed Executive Order 13898, on the severity of the MMNA problem and established the first Presidential Task Force, called the Operation Lady Justice (OLJ) Task Force, to ensure high-level and visible leadership. In carrying out its directive, the OLJ Task Force is coordinating across federal departments and engaging Tribal leaders.
While the justice system is a critical component in responding to violence and victimization, a public health and human services response is also needed to prevent MMNA tragedies from occurring and to address the consequences – to individuals, families, and communities – when tragedy does happen. The draft Framework on Missing and Murdered Native Americans is an essential component of the comprehensive response to the victimization of Native Americans.
Please submit input to ANACommissioner@acf.hhs.gov by October 9, 2020. For questions, call (877) 922-9262.
For more information, please contact Carolyn Hornbuckle at chornbuckle@nihb.org.
