CTFC MONTHLY HIGHLIGHTS
Latest News From California Tribal Families Coalition
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The CTFC team and Chairperson Sherry Treppa of the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake had the opportunity to meet with California Attorney General Rob Bonta and others to discuss pressing issues facing Indian Country and Indian children at the Attorney General Alliance conference in Rancho Mirage, CA. |
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This month CTFC worked with the LA Indian Commission, Professor Lauren VanSchilfgaarde of UCLA, and the Office of Supervisor Hilda Solis of the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors, on a Brackeen amicus effort. Through the advocacy of the Board of Supervisors, on March 15th a Motion was passed instructing the Los Angeles County Counsel's office, currently led by Rodrigo Castro-Silva, to "work in collaboration with a national county counsel and/or state attorneys association or coalition to join and/or file an amicus brief in the Haaland v. Brackeen case in support of the constitutionality of the ICWA."
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2022 Child Welfare Legislation to Watch |
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There are many child welfare-related bills to watch this legislative session. Several bills attempt to increase access to funding for foster youth and their caregivers. SB 1300 (Durazo) requires counties to screen nonminor dependents, including those under tribal organization jurisdiction, for Social Security Income eligibility. SB 854 (Skinner) would establish a trust fund for eligible children, including those in a Tribal Customary Adoption. AB 2306 would authorize reimbursements for property damage arising out of foster child care, including for tribally approved homes. Other bills are aimed at strengthening family finding and improving racial equity within the system. SB 384 (Cortese) would require counties to adopt family finding best practices. Similarly, AB 1091 (Hurtado) would authorize funding for family finding. In an attempt to remove racial biases from home removal decisions, AB 2665 (Carillo) would pilot a blind removals program. Finally, another set of bills would impact placements and adoptions. AB 2309 (Friedman) would require a court to place a child with the parent’s designated guardian if there is no clear and present threat to safety. AB 2306 (Cooley) attempts to expand available placement options for transition-aged youth by authorizing special residential facility licensure. In adoptions, AB 1794 (Gipson) would allow children or nonminor dependents to petition for parental rights to be reinstated and AB 993 (Patterson) would expand postadoption contact agreements to nonrelative extended family members. Read more HERE. |
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2022 Bay Area ICWA Symposium on April 7-8, 2022!
The Symposium is an event for tribal communities, service providers, attorneys, judges, juvenile probation, child welfare social work practitioners, educators, students and stakeholders.
Symposium Goals:
- Build ICWA champions
- Highlight ICWA best practices
- Enhance skills to improve outcomes for Native American families
- Strengthen relationships between tribes, urban American Indian/Alaska Native communities, courts, county child welfare agencies and schools of social work
- Provide legal updates
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2022 California Statewide I.C.W.A. Conference
June 13th & 14th
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Mon, Jun 13, 2022 8:30 AM PST
2022 California Statewide I.C.W.A. Conference
Sycuan Casino Resort,
El Cajon
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Hosted by the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation |
Register now for the California Statewide I.C.W.A. Conference. This year's conference will be offered hybrid!
Come enjoy the beautiful Sycuan Resort and Casino in Southern California or join in the fun remotely; either way, we hope to see everyone there!
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1st Annual California
American Indian Disability Symposium
June 15th
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The California Department of Developmental Services is proud to sponsor the very first California American Indian Symposium in an effort to improve service access and equity to Native American families and Tribal communities.
We hope you can join us in-person or virtually for this truly historic event! Register now
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Wed, Jun 15, 2022 8:00 AM PST
1st Annual California American Indian Disability Symposium
Sycuan Casino Resort,
El Cajon
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California ICWA Case Corner |
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The ICWA Case Corner will look different for the next couple months while the Coalition transitions legal research platforms. We’ll get back to reporting monthly case data soon, but for now, here is an interesting “inquiry” case from L.A. County this month:
In re Antonio R.,(2022) WL 79484
Opinion filed 2022.2.18| Los Angeles County
Why it matters: Mom appeals from order terminating parental rights, contending the court failed to comply with Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) inquiry requirements because the county child welfare department did not ask the maternal grandparents whether the child may be an Indian child. The Court determines the trial court and department did fail to comply with inquiry requirements and, therefore, remands the case for further inquiry. The Court further states that failure to make adequate inquiry is prejudicial in most circumstances because courts cannot know the information extended family members might reveal if properly asked. This opinion is important because it is the third recently reported case from the Second District in which the Court extends the duty of inquiry to “extended family members” as defined in ICWA at 25 U.S.C. § 1903(2) and rejects that failing to properly inquire with these individuals is a harmless error, as some other Districts will determine unless there is evidence that the child actually may be an Indian child. See In re A.C., 65 Cal.App.5th 1060 (2021).
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UPCOMING DATES & DEADLINES |
- April 7-8, 2022: Bay Area I.C.W.A. Symposium
- June 13-14, 2022: California Statewide I.C.W.A. Conference, Sycuan Resort and Casino
- June 15, 2022: 1st Annual American Indian Disability Symposium
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