Specialized consulting, grant writing, and professional resources for tribal child welfare programs, tribal courts, and tribal governments — grounded in sovereignty, ICWA, and Charlene Naulty's deep federal program expertise.
CHARLENE NAULTY · BLUE HERON CONSULTING
Blue Heron Consulting, founded by Charlene Naulty, is built on a straightforward premise: tribal governments deserve access to specialized expertise in federal child welfare programs — not generalist consultants who happen to know a little about ICWA.
She works exclusively in the space where federal child welfare law meets tribal sovereignty. That means Title IV-B and IV-E, ICWA compliance, tribal court capacity, the Family First Prevention Services Act, tribal code development, and the complex federal-tribal funding relationships that determine whether tribal programs can actually serve their communities.
Her clients include tribal social services programs, tribal courts, tribal councils, and tribal child advocacy centers across the country. She writes grants, develops programs, drafts codes, builds court capacity, and provides the kind of ongoing technical guidance that keeps programs compliant and funded.
Charlene Naulty is a proud U.S. military veteran. That experience — discipline, mission focus, and a commitment to service — is foundational to how she approaches this work and how she shows up for the tribal communities she serves.
Work with Charlene Naulty →Federal child welfare programs were written for states. Tribes navigate a system built around state courts, state agencies, and state data infrastructure — none of which reflect the reality of tribal sovereignty. Getting it right requires someone who knows both worlds.
Charlene Naulty is a tribal child welfare specialist with experience spanning grant writing, tribal court development, ICWA compliance, code drafting, and CAC program development for federally recognized tribes nationwide.
★ U.S. Military Veteran · Veteran-Owned Business
Project-based and retainer engagements for tribal governments, social services programs, courts, and councils.
Full-service grant writing for tribal IV-B, IV-E, CAPTA, VAWA, FVPSA, BIA Social Services, and other tribal-specific funding streams. Narrative development, budget construction, compliance review, and submission support.
Building tribal court capacity for child welfare proceedings — judicial training, court procedures, ICWA compliance systems, case tracking, permanency hearing processes, and court-court coordination.
Drafting and revising tribal codes governing child welfare, family relations, foster care, adoption, customary adoption, and court procedures. Grounded in tribal law, sovereignty, and ICWA requirements.
CAC program development from the ground up — NCA accreditation guidance, MDT development, protocol drafting, community partnerships, staff training, and ongoing program support.
Strategic program planning, departmental organization, policy development, federal compliance frameworks, and capacity building for tribal councils and administration.
Evaluating existing child welfare programs against federal requirements, identifying gaps, developing corrective action plans, and building program infrastructure for compliance and sustainability.
Flat fees wherever possible. Ethical grant pricing — never commission- or contingency-based. Rates reflect the work, not the ask.
All hourly work billed in 30-minute increments, with time logged and shared monthly. Travel & off-site meetings billed after first 90 minutes of drive time.
Rush work (<72-hour turnaround) and weekend/holiday work, by prior agreement only.
Retainers lock in predictable monthly cost and priority scheduling. Unused hours do not roll over. Month-to-month after 3-month minimum commitment.
All grant fees are flat, scope-based — never a percentage of funds raised, per AFP and GPA codes of ethics. Fees include drafting, one round of client edits, and submission coordination.
Fixed fees for most-requested formation deliverables. If a project falls outside the typical hour range, Blue Heron Consulting quotes in writing before starting.
Practical, field-tested resources developed from real tribal child welfare consulting work — ready to download and put to use immediately.
Fill-in-the-blank Word document
8-chapter practitioner handbook
Monthly expert access & resources
No state agency or non-tribal provider can deliver culturally grounded services with the authenticity, trust, and sovereign authority that a tribal government brings. This work is not merely service delivery — it is an exercise of tribal governmental responsibility to protect the next generation.
Designed for social services directors, tribal court staff, tribal administrators, and grant writers who need reliable, specialized guidance without the cost of a full consulting engagement.
Every tribal-relevant NOFA and RFP, curated monthly
Plain-language translation of ACF guidance & regulatory changes
Practical tools added to your library every single month
60-minute live Q&A plus written responses for those who can't attend
Every resource ever produced — accessible from day one
The first 10 members who join before the charter window closes pay $99/month for as long as they remain members. After that, the rate goes to $149/month. This is a one-time offer for founding members of the program.
Annual membership (save 15%) and 3-seat tribal team plans also available. Contact Charlene Naulty to discuss.
Contact Charlene Naulty to sign up or ask questions
CHARLENE NAULTY · BLUE HERON CONSULTING
Whether you're interested in consulting services, a digital resource, or the membership — reach out and I'll respond within one business day.
Not sure where to start?
Send a message describing your tribe's situation and what you're trying to accomplish. I'll let you know what makes most sense — consulting, a resource, the membership, or some combination.