Written for social service workers involved with Indian child welfare cases in which adoption through a state court is being considered, this manual presents basic information about the requirements of the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (ICWA) in cases of Indian adoption. Background material explains that the ICWA--intended to establish standards to help keep Indian families intact and prevent unnecessary out-of-home placement--is, apparently, misinterpreted by many social service agencies as prohibiting the adoption of any Indian child. A summary is provided of the way adoption is perceived in Indian communities and the circumstances in which adoption of an Indian child is appropriate. Specific information is provided about ICWA requirements for voluntary and involuntary termination of parental rights, preferred adoptive homes, diligent search for a suitable adoptive home, and obligations of the state upon finalization of an Indian adoption. The manual includes a directory of Bureau of Indian Affairs Area offices and seven organizations that maintain national or regional registries of prospective Native American adoptive families and/or children. (JHZ)