Establishes the Washington state Indian child welfare act.

Finds that the state is committed to protecting the essential tribal relations and best interests of Indian children by promoting practices designed to prevent voluntary or involuntary out-of-home placement.

Declares that the department of social and health services' policy manual on Indian child welfare, the tribal-state agreement, and relevant local agreements between individual federally recognized tribes and the department should serve as persuasive guides in the interpretation and implementation of the federal Indian child welfare act, this act, and other relevant state laws.