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When a family claims Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) heritage, it is essential to notify the tribal liaison within a specific timeframe, often set at 24 hours. The ICWA was enacted to protect the best interests of Indian children and to promote the stability and security of Indian tribes and families. It requires that tribal authorities be informed as soon as possible when a child is involved in any child welfare proceeding and there is a possibility of ICWA applicability.

Notifying the tribal liaison ensures that the tribe can be involved in the case and that the appropriate services and interventions can be implemented, which respects the family’s cultural heritage and legal rights under the ICWA. This process is fundamental to maintaining the integrity of tribal sovereignty and ensuring that tribal children are not placed in non-Indian foster care or adoption settings without due process.

Other options have various administrative purposes but do not directly address the immediate requirement of protecting a child's rights under the ICWA. For example, filing a standard case plan or conducting a background check are important steps in the broader context of a case but do not fulfill the requirement of engaging tribal authorities as mandated by the act. Submitting a court order is also a legal process, but it is not as immediate as notifying the tribal liaison when