Presentedby:NancyCurrie,MALMFT

Director of Tribal Family Services Soboba BandDirectorofTribalFamilyServicesSobobaBandofLuiseñoIndians

• OnOctober11,2009,GovernorArnoldSchwarzeneggersignedAB1325intolaw

• ThelawbecameeffectiveJuly1,2010

• SunsetsJanuary1,2014

• Essential provision are found inWelfare and InstitutionsEssentialprovisionarefoundinWelfareandInstitutionsCode§366.24

WelfareandInstitutionsCode§366.24

“Historicallyandtraditionally,adoptionhasbeenpracticedinmosttribalcommunitiesthroughcustomandceremony.I l t ib did t ti t i ti f t lIngeneral,tribesdidnotpracticeterminationofparentalrights.Unfortunately,adoptionbecameanegativethingduetoforcedassimilationpolicies;itwasusedasatooltodestroy Indian families and culture Due to this historicaldestroyIndianfamiliesandculture.Duetothishistoricaltrauma,manytribesactivelyabhoradoptionasunderstoodbythelargerculture’sdefinition.”

FromthewebsiteoftheNationalIndianChildWelfareAssociation(www.nicwa.org).

Federalchildwelfarelawandpolicyexpressclearpreferenceforterminationofparentalrightsandadoptionofchildrenwhocannotreturntotheirfamilies(ASFA).

$35 million allocated in September of 2009$35millionallocatedinSeptemberof2009byHHSforadoptionincentivepayments.

TribesinCaliforniaroutinelycontestadoptionbecauseitrequires TPR and TPR is culturally offensive for manyrequiresTPRandTPRisculturallyoffensiveformanytribes.

Tribalchildrenoften,iftheTribeissuccessfulinopposingTPR,remaininguardianship.

Guardianship=Kin‐GAP

Kin‐GAPisaninferiorfundingstreamcomparedtoAAP

Tribes can avoid costly and difficult legal battles and the Tribescanavoidcostlyanddifficultlegalbattles,andtheriskoflosing.

TCAallowsforAAPfundingbutwithoutTPR.– TheAdministrationforChildrenandFamiliesstated,“Ithasbeenbroughttoourattentionthattherearesituations in which adoptions are legal without asituationsinwhichadoptionsarelegalwithoutaTPR…Specifically,insomeTribesadoptionislegalwithoutTPR…Afterconsideration,webelievethatourearlier policy is an unduly narrow interpretation of theearlierpolicyisanundulynarrowinterpretationofthestatute.Consequently,ifachildcanbeadoptedinaccordancewithStateorTriballawwithoutaTPR…therequirement of section 473(c)(1) of the Act will berequirementofsection473(c)(1)oftheActwillbesatisfied,solongastheStateorTribehasdocumentedthevalidreasonwhythechildcannotorshouldnotbereturned to the home of his or her parents.” ACYF‐CB‐PA‐01‐returnedtothehomeofhisorherparents. ACYF CB PA 0101(1/23/01)

Tribal Customary Adoption is an agencyTribalCustomaryAdoptionisanagencyadoptionbyandthroughthetribalcustoms traditions or law of an Indiancustoms,traditions,orlawofanIndianchild’stribewhichtransfersthe

d f hild h dcustodyofachildtothecareandprotectionofadoptiveparentswithouttheterminationofparentalrights.(W&ICode§366.24)

SpecifictoCAdependentIndianchildrenundertheICWA

Occursunderthecustoms,laws,ortraditionsofanIndianchild’stribe

TPRisnotrequired

SelectedbyIndianchild’stribe

RequiresconsultationwiththeIndianchild’stribe

MainprovisionsinWelfare&InstitutionsCode,notFamilyCode

Al d h b f C SS AlignedwithcoreobjectivesofCDSS

Agencyadoption

Does not apply to: Doesnotapplyto:

• Independentadoption• Inter‐countryadoption• Voluntaryrelinquishments• Probation

TCA ConventionalAdoption

DependentsofCalifornia

ConcurrentpermanencyplantoFR

UsesICWAstandard forplacementpreferences

Uses theStatecourt

O ti l l Optionalplan

Noticingrequired

Applicant does not have to be Native American (However ICWA ApplicantdoesnothavetobeNativeAmerican(However,ICWAplacementpreferencesapply.)

Homestudy

d l h b k d h k AdamWalshbackgroundchecks

Adoptiveplacement

TCA ConventionalAdoption

AAPBenefits

Supervisionofplacement

FinalizedinStatecourt

Oncefinalized,adoptionrecognized inU.S.

Legalrightsarevested withadoptiveparentsonceadoptionisfinalized

Setaside

Grievance review hearing for agency’s decision Grievancereviewhearingforagency sdecision

Promotessafety,permanence,andwellbeingfor thechild

TCA ConventionalAdoptionAdoption

RequiresTPRtofinalize NO YES

Parents’legal rightsintact YES,butmodifiedintheTCAO

NO

M d t d lt ti ith hild’ t ib YES NO b t sho ldMandatedconsultationwithchild’stribe YES NO,butshouldconsultwith tribeonanyICWAcase

Mainprovisionsfoundin WIC 366.24 FamilyCodep

Requires testimonyofqualifiedexpertwitnessfor366.26hearing

NO,no TPR YES

Requires consentofchildage12yearsandolder NO, butwishesofchildremainimportant

YES

An Indian child that is subject to a plan of Family AnIndianchildthatissubjecttoaplanofFamilyReunificationinstatecourtisidentified,aspartofconcurrentplanning,aseligibleforcustomaryadoption.AllreportsmustincludeTCAasaconcurrentplanoption.p p pSeeW&I366.24(b)

Atthepointthecourtordersthatreunificationservicesphavenotbeensuccessful,theTribecanelectapermanentplanofCustomaryAdoption.SeeW&I361.5(g)(1)(G)

• However,theTribemayknowthattheplanofTCAmaybenecessarybeforethe.26hearingandcanprepareinadvance,notifyingtheCountythattheTribe wishes to pursue TCATribewishestopursueTCA.

Detentionhearingg

J/Dhearing

366 21 (e) Review hearing366.21(e)Reviewhearing

366.21(f)ReviewHearing

366.26PermanencyPlanHearing(TPR)

366 26 Cont Hearing

ReferredtoTribeforTCAO366.26Cont.Hearing

(FF&C)

Adoptiveplacementpapers TCOAfiledwithsigned

PetitionFiled

theCourt

Finalization/DependencyDismissed

HomeStudy: TheTribemayconductitsownhomestudyordesignateany y g

agencytoconducttheTCAhomestudy.ONLY3typesoftribaldesignee: Public adoption agency (County) Publicadoptionagency(County) Privateadoptionagency CDSSadoptiondistrictoffice‐ DO(State)

ThehomestudymustbecompletedandapprovedbytheTribebeforethecompletionoftheTCAO.Thebackgroundchecksofthe adoptive family (all individuals in the home ages 18 years oftheadoptivefamily(allindividualsinthehomeages18yearsofageandolder)willbecompletedbythestate,countyorthetribe’sdesignee.W&I 366 24(c)(3) (5)W&I366.24(c)(3)‐(5)

TheTCAO,incombinationwiththeStateCourtOrderofAdoption,willrepresentthelegalframeworkofthemodifiedrelationshipsp g poftheIndianchild.

TheTCAOmustaddressthe“mandatory”issues: Modification of the legal relationship of the birth parents/Indian Modificationofthelegalrelationshipofthebirthparents/Indian

Custodianandthechild

Contactbetweenbirthparent/IndianCustodianp /

Responsibilitiesoftheadoptiveparents/birthparents/IndianCustodian

Inheritancerightsofthechild

The child’s legal relationship with the Tribe Thechild slegalrelationshipwiththeTribeW&I366.24(c)(10)

The Tribe develops the TCAO. TheTribedevelopstheTCAO.

TheotherpartiesmayprovideevidencetotheTriberegardingtheTCAOandthechild’sbestinterests.W&I366.24(c)(7)

TheTribe’sTCAOcannotbe“revised”or“negotiated”atthe.26hearing,astheorderisfromtheTribeortheTribal Court When the State Court judge determinesTribalCourt.WhentheStateCourtjudgedeterminesthattheTCOAdoesnotmeettheFF&Cstandards,thejudgecanrefertheTCOAbacktotheTribetoaddressthose concernsthoseconcerns.

TheCourtshallcontinuethePermanencyPlanningHearing for 120 days (an additional 60 days may beHearingfor120days(anadditional60daysmaybegrantedifneededandlessthan120dayscanberequested)fortheTribetofiletheTribalCustomaryAdoptionOrder(TCAO)evidencingthataCustomaryAdoptionhasbeencompleted.W&I§366.24(c)(6)

TheTribemustfiletheTCAOnolessthan20dayspriorto the continued .26 hearing. W&I 366.24(c)(6)tothecontinued.26hearing. W&I366.24(c)(6)

TheCountyshallfileanaddendumreportnolessthan7dayspriortothecontinued.26. W&I366.24(c)(6)

ThecourtwilleitheraffordFullFaithandCredittotheTCAO i ill If FF&C i ff d h T ib dTCAOoritwillnot.IfFF&Cisnotoffered,theTribe,andpossiblytheparties,mustaddresstheissue.– Some general standards for FF&C: No fraud, the entitySomegeneralstandardsforFF&C:Nofraud,theentityissuetheorderhadstatutoryauthoritytodoso,dueprocessprovided,theOrderdoesnotoffendastronglyheld public policyheldpublicpolicy.

Congresshasenactedlegislationthatrequiresstateandfederalcourtstogivetribalordersandjudgmentsfullfaith&credit– IndianChildWelfareAct– IndianLandConsolidationAct(American(IndianProbateReformAct)

– ViolenceAgainstWomenAct

OncethecourtaffordsFF&C:

Thechildiseligibleforadoptiveplacement

TheTCAplacementagreementandtheAdoptionAssistanceAgreementshallbesignedwiththeg gfamily

TheTCAparents(orinsomecasestheCounty)maythenfilethepetitionforadoption

W&I 366 24(c)(8)W&I366.24(c)(8)

• AfterFF&Cisafforded,thecourtshallsetahearingtofi li h d i h fili f h d ifinalizetheadoptionuponthefilingoftheadoptionpetition.W&I366.26(e)(2)

• AttheFinalizationHearing,thecourtshallordertheadoptionandterminatedependency.W&I366.26(e)(2)

Bi l i l h ll i h i d b• BiologicalparentshavenoappellaterightstriggeredbyTPRtherefore,finalizationdoesnotneedtowait.W&I 366.26(j)W&I366.26(j)

WhereDoWeGoFromHere?

• 366.24(f)– TheJudicialCouncilshalladoptrulesofcourtandnecessaryformsrequiredtoimplementtribalcustomaryadoptionasa permanent plan for dependent Indian children The Judicial CouncilapermanentplanfordependentIndianchildren.TheJudicialCouncilshallstudyCalifornia’stribalcustomaryadoptionprovisionsandtheiraffectsonchildren,birthparents,adoptiveparents,Indiancustodians,tribes,andthecourt,andshallreportallofitsfindingstoth L i l t b f J 1 2013theLegislatureonorbeforeJanuary1,2013.

• Thereportshallinclude,butnotbelimitedto,thefollowing:(1) Th b f f ili d d th b f l t d t ib l– (1)Thenumberoffamiliesservedandthenumberofcompletedtribalcustomaryadoptions.

– (2)Thelengthoftimeittakestocompleteatribalcustomaryadoption.– (3) The challenges faced by social workers, court, and tribes in(3)Thechallengesfacedbysocialworkers,court,andtribesincompletingtribalcustomaryadoptions.

– (4)ThebenefitsordetrimentstoIndianchildrenfromatribalcustomaryadoption.

Ann Gilmour AttorneyAnnGilmour,AttorneyCenterforFamilies,Children,&theCourtsJudicial Council of CaliforniaJudicialCouncilofCaliforniaAdministrativeOfficeoftheCourts(415)865‐4207ann.gilmour@jud.ca.gov

AOCwebsite:http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/programs/cfcc/programs/description/TribalProjectUnit.htm

20completedTCAs– throughouttheState

12TCAsinprocess

Meetingtheneedsofchildrenandfamilies

Education(trainings)

Understandingfundamentals(Indianlaw,tribalgovernments)

Cooperationandlettinggo

TCA has generally well received by the TribesTCAhasgenerallywellreceivedbytheTribes,StateCourt,andfamilies.

TCAhasbeenusedtoresolvedhighlydcontestedcases.

TCAhasbeenusedtore‐opendependencyguardianshipstocreateamorepermanentg p pplan.

Changingthebirthcertificateisnotrequiredbyg g q ylaw

Any changes in the child’s name should beAnychangesinthechild snameshouldbeaddressedintheTCOA

Data collection is an issueDatacollectionisanissueGettingaletterregardingfingerprintclearances from the County has been difficultclearancesfromtheCountyhasbeendifficult.

Lengthoftimeittooktocompletetheadoption– training is an issue on both County and Tribal– trainingisanissueonbothCountyandTribalside

NeedmorediscussionsandeducationforTriballeadersandtribalsocialservicesdepartmentabouthowtoimplementTCA

Sometribeswillalwaysobjecttoanytypeofadoption– whichistheirright

TheSpecialProjectscodeisnotbeingconsistentlyp j g yusedtoreportandtrackthesecases!

Workers are not consistently including TCA as aWorkersarenotconsistentlyincludingTCAasapermanencyoptionintheircourtreports

DiscussionsshouldtakeplacefirstbetweenthetribalrepresentativesandthecountyregardingTCA.Should the Tribe decide not to pursue TCA it canShouldtheTribedecidenottopursueTCA,itcancreateunnecessaryfrictionbetweentheTribeandcaregiversifthecountypromotesTCAtocaregiversprior to discussions with TribepriortodiscussionswithTribe.

• TheJV‐320– the.26orders– MUSTbecompletedbyCountyworkerorCountyCounsel.TherearespecificitemstobecheckedoffwithregardstoaTCA.TheTCOAMUSTbeattachedtotheJV‐320.

• TheTCAstatutehasasunsetprovisionwhichmeansthatunlesstheLegislaturepassesabillextendingordeletingthesunset,TCAwillremainineffectonlyuntilJanuary1,2014.

• Legislationisbeingdevelopedtoremovethesunset and address other lingering issues.sunsetandaddressotherlingeringissues.

• AllCountyLetter(ACL)No.10‐17,http://www.dss.cahwnet.gov/lettersnotices/entres/getinfo/acl/2010/10‐17.pdfAll C t L tt (ACL) N 10 47• AllCountyLetter(ACL)No.10‐47,http://www.cdss.ca.gov/lettersnotices/entres/getinfo/acl/2010/10‐47.pdf/ / / p

• AB 1325, Chapter 287, Statutes of 2009, http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/09‐10/bill/ / b 130110/bill/asm/ab_1301‐1350/ab_1325_bill_20091011_chaptered.pdf

• CaliforniaIndianLegalServicesg(CILS),http://www.calindian.org

• CDSSICWAUnitwebsite:http://www.childsworld.ca.gov/PG1322.htm22.htm

Specialthanksto...SobobaTribalCouncilfortheirsupportinmakingthebill lit d f th i ti d t ibillarealityandfortheircontinuedsupportinprovidingtrainingandtechnicalassistance.

Assemblymen Cook and Beall for authoring the billAssemblymenCookandBeallforauthoringthebill.CWDA,specificallyKathySenderlingandKathyWatkins.Kathy Deserly consultant for her help and backgroundKathyDeserly,consultant,forherhelpandbackgroundinformation.

NICWAfortheirbackgroundinformationandresearch.g

We are especially thankful to all ofWeareespeciallythankfultoallofthetribesfortheirsupport.

Nancy L. CurrieNancyL.CurrieDirectorSobobaTribalFamilyServices951‐487‐0283ncurrie@soboba‐nsn.govncurrie@soboba nsn.gov

KimberlyCluffAttorney– FormanandAssociatesy415‐491‐2310kimberly@gformanlaw.com

MaureenGearyAttorney– MaierPfefferKim&Geary,LLP(707)544‐3357ext.303mgeary@jmandmplaw.com