3-1-6. JUDGES.

1. Rules and Regulations.  All rules and regulations pertaining to Judges in the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Law and Order Code shall be applicable to the Judge of the Juvenile Court.
2. Cooperation with Other Agencies.  The Judge of the Tribal Juvenile Court may cooperate with the Federal Government in any program for training personnel employed or preparing for employment in the Tribal Juvenile Court, and may receive and expend funds from Federal or State sources or from private donations for such purposes.  The Judge of the Tribal Juvenile Court may contract with public or non-profit institutions of higher learning for the training of such personnel; may conduct short-term training courses of its own, and may hire experts on a temporary basis for such purpose; and may cooperate with Federal and State agencies in personnel training programs.
3. Placement of Children.
   1. In making any decisions to place children in homes or institutions other than with one or both of the natural parents of the child; the Court shall, in all cases in which such action would not obviously be contrary to the child’s best interest, determine whether or not there are relatives, friends, or other persons living on the Reservation who would be willing and able to provide a suitable temporary or permanent living environment for the child.  The Court shall give considerations to and due regard for Tribal or family customs relative to the raising of children and shall endeavor to place all children requiring such in homes with cultural backgrounds similar to that which the child would have enjoyed if properly raised by its natural parent(s).
   2. In order to enable the Court to place children in a manner consistent with the foregoing subsection, whenever possible, the Court shall utilize the Indian Child Welfare Act as its principle guideline in the recruitment of Indian families suitable for child placements and willing to accept and care for children placed on either a permanent or temporary basis, or both.  The Court shall, if necessary, determine the fitness of a home into which a child is placed, at or immediately prior to the time such placement is made.
   3. The Judge may contract, on behalf of the Tribe, with agencies or departments of the Federal Government, or with agencies or departments of the State of South Dakota or of other States, for the care and placement of children whose status is adjudicated under this code.