https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/ en https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/kin-first-approach-improves-experiences-children-adoptive-families Kin-First Approach Improves Experiences of Children in Adoptive FamiliesMartin.Novitski Wed, 11/12/2025 - 12:37 Feature During the remote Judicial Council meeting on October 24, an adoptive family shared their experiences promoting kin-first care, a system that prioritizes placing children with their extended family network. Claudia, Michael, and Cece's Story Claudia and Michael, both former foster children, were able to share how they adopted their daughter Cece through the kin-first system. They stressed the importance of family-based adoptions on the stability and development of children in foster care. "We both grew up knowing what it felt like to grew up not having a forever family,” Claudia told the council of her past and how both she and Michael view the importance of adopting their niece Cece. “That moment, standing in court hearing the judge declare us her forever parents wasn’t just about her finding permanency. It was about breaking a cycle,” she continued, speaking of the moment they were declared Cece’s new family. “It was about two former foster kids creating the stability we once dreamed of and doing it for a child who was not only our daughter but also part of our family by blood.” Permanency Supported by Data “If the child is placed first with a relative or extended family, they are three times as likely to remain in that placement after 12 months," said Justice Tari L. Cody of the Second Appellate District at the meeting. "70% of youth placed with relatives are also with their entire sibling set so they get to be placed with their brothers and sisters.” Justice Cody also mentioned that “Youth who are with a relative at the time, they exit foster care, also benefit from a relative placement because they are less likely to reenter care after 12 months.” How Kinship Care Affects Child Development Michael shared how being adopted by his aunt and uncle positively affected his development as a child. “Living with them kept me connected to cousins, grandparents, aunts, uncles—all bonds I still treasure," Michael said. "Those years gave me a moral compass that has guided me every step since.” He noted that once he chose to reunite with his birth mother and soon returned to the foster care system, he was put in a turbulent position. He eventually ended up emancipating without permanency, noting that "instability follows you and too many children today are carrying that same burden." However, he also said that kinship care was a significant part of how he found stability and guidance moving forward in life. Now, he hopes to bring that same stability to Cece's life as well. “I've seen encouraging changes in the child welfare system,” he said. “There's more support for kinship care and support for relatives willing to step forward. Those changes helped Cece achieve permanency quickly. Kinship care interrupts cycles of trauma. It keeps families together when parents can't provide care. It gives children the chance to grow up with people who know their history and love them unconditionally.” Judicial Council Proclaims Court Adoption and Permanency Month The Judicial Council proclaimed November to be Court Adoption and Permanency Month highlighting their role in providing education and technical assistance, support and oversight of the 11,000 active Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) volunteers providing services to 13,000 children and youth statewide, and expansion of resources for court-appointed counsel for children in foster care and their parents. https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/celebrating-forever-families-across-state Celebrating Forever Families Across the Stateelaine.chan Mon, 11/03/2025 - 16:17 Feature Courtrooms across the state will take on a new role throughout November—as places of joy, connection, and new beginnings. To celebrate Court Adoption and Permanency Month, they’ll welcome children and families with food, face painting, action figures, family-centered activities, and other festive touches. Court Adoption and Permanency Month The Judicial Council has declared November to be Court Adoption and Permanency Month. As chair of the council, Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero signed a resolution to officially launch the celebration. Many individual California courts have dedicated specific adoption days in November, including Adoption Fridays and Adoption Saturdays, as well as other events to ensure that adoptions are completed and finalized in a timely manner. This year, the Judicial Council is highlighting the importance of kinship care, as children with a first placement with relatives or extended family members are three times as likely to remain in that first placement after 12 months. “As a judicial officer, Court Adoption and Permanency Month is an opportunity to celebrate caregivers who have committed to loving and caring for children who were unable to return to their parents,” said Justice Tari Cody, co-chair of the council’s Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee. “It takes a village to find a child a permanent home and provide a safe supportive environment.” This Year's Local Court Adoption Events Courts will coordinate with county social service agencies, local nonprofit agencies, and other service organizations to organize the following celebratory events:   Judicial Council Supports Adoption and Permanency for California’s Youth The council first declared November to be Court Adoption and Permanency Month in California in 1999. Since that first observance, the council has demonstrated its commitment to support the juvenile courts and their local justice partners by promoting procedures and collaborative practices that lead to timely case resolution and permanency for children and youth in foster care. Permanency is a child’s exit from foster care and safe return to the family home (reunification), adoption, or legal guardianship. https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/25-years-tradition-court-adoption-and-permanency-month 25 Years of Tradition—Court Adoption and Permanency Monthelaine.chan Fri, 11/01/2024 - 13:33 Feature This November, the public will witness happy tears, cheers, and beaming smiles from children and parents of newly formed or reunited families in California courtrooms as the state recognizes Court Adoption and Permanency Month. During this annual event, courts throughout the state will open their doors to finalize and celebrate adoptions from foster care. Kicking off Court Adoption and Permanency MonthThe Judicial Council first declared November to be Court Adoption and Permanency Month in 1999. Per tradition, Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero again signed a resolution, officially kicking off the celebration. “In the child welfare system, permanency is the goal of establishing a stable, permanent living situation for a child,” said Judge Monica Wiley, who supervised the San Francisco Unified Family Court. “The juvenile court process aims to achieve this goal by placing a child in a loving, committed relationship that will last a lifetime. For judicial officers, the ability to be an important part of creating a forever family can be one of the highlights of our careers.” For this 25th anniversary, the Judicial Council is highlighting the importance of permanency for older youth, as only 20% of youth aged 16 to 17 exited to permanency within a year in 2023. Courts statewide will also be coordinating with county social service agencies, local nonprofit agencies, and other service organizations to organize celebratory events throughout November: Collaborative Efforts in Improving Adoption and Permanency The Judicial Council has been teaming up with the superior courts and partners in child welfare to improve permanency for the last 25 years. Collaborative efforts include: A focus by the juvenile court bench on timeliness of case processes leading to permanent homes for children in foster care  Extensive education, technical assistance, and engagement of the Judicial Council Tribal Court–State Court Forum on the implementation of the Indian Child Welfare Act Support and oversight of the 11,000 active court-appointed special advocates (CASAs) providing volunteer services to 13,000 children and youth statewide, including administering the Legislature’s $60 million CASA Expansion Program Expansion of resources for court-appointed counsel for children in foster care and their parents, including accessing $66 million in federal funding to supplement the $187 million provided through the state budget Positive Progress in California According to the data provided by University of California, Berkeley’s California Child Welfare Indicators Project, more than 400,000 children are involved in abuse and neglect reports each year. The below table shows an improvement for the past 25 years in ensuring children live in safe and permanent homes:   Data from 1999 Data from 2023 Percentage Change Number of children entering foster care for the first time 28,500 14,000 -51% Number of children living apart from their families in child welfare-supervised, out-of-home care 105,406 44,000 -58%   Judge Roger Chan, who supervises and presides over the San Francisco Juvenile Court, expressed that California can further improve its adoption and permanency effort by encouraging relatives to get involved early. “California needs more families to open their homes to children who cannot be returned to their parents. These families need to receive sufficient support to meet the needs of children who have experienced trauma.” Judge Chan also believes less people are drawn to social work and behavioral healthcare. “There is an extreme shortage of social workers and clinicians working in the public and nonprofit agencies. The foster care system has long been overburdened, including judicial and legal resources. We must continue to collectively prioritize these young people and give them the best that we have to offer.” About National Adoption DayNational Adoption Day is a collective, grassroots effort to raise awareness of the more than 108,000 children waiting to be adopted from foster care in the United States. A coalition of national partners—the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, Alliance for Children’s Rights and Children’s Action Network—launched National Adoption Day in 1999. National Adoption Day has recognized more than 85,000 children moving from foster care to a permanent family. https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/california-courts-formalize-hundreds-adoptions-over-court-adoption-and-permanency-month California Courts Formalize Hundreds of Adoptions Over Court Adoption and Permanency MonthKaren.Datangel Thu, 12/07/2023 - 10:00 Feature Joyful families filled California courthouses in November as hundreds of adoptions of children in foster care were finalized during Court Adoption and Permanency Month. Events took place throughout the state, with many taking place on and around National Adoption Day on Nov. 18. Chief Justice Guerrero Celebrates Adoptions in the Birthplace of Adoption Saturday At the Los Angeles Superior Court, California Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero joined judges, court staff, pro bono attorneys, and representatives from the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to celebrate the adoption of 232 children. Los Angeles County was the first county to celebrate “Adoption Saturday” in 1998 in response to the growing crisis of children and families waiting for their adoption paperwork to be finalized. “What you started here not only contributes to the well-being of hundreds of children and families taking part in adoption—but events like these also help put a spotlight on the critical need for safe, loving, and permanent homes for the thousands of children in foster care still waiting for their forever homes,” said Chief Justice Guerrero. “What makes it feel nice is that we have two of the best big sisters and two of the best parents,” 11-year-old Samantha told NBC4. Samantha was referring to her new adoptive parents Eddie and Victoria Ogaldez, who have two biological daughters and adopted three other foster children along with Samantha. The Ogaldez family’s adoptions were also featured on CBS Los Angeles and in global media through KameraOne. Los Angeles also holds additional adoption events outside the month of November. More Highlights From Celebrations Throughout the StateThe Santa Clara Superior Court finalized 23 adoptions for children ranging in age from 1 to 13 years old at its Adoption Day event. “Each adoption story is unique, and although children and families come to adoption through diverse paths, they all endure the process with open hearts,” said Presiding Judge Beth McGowen. “It takes patience, flexibility, and a willingness to learn as an adoptive parent and an adoptee. We are grateful for all those who play a role in finding permanency for children in need of a family.” To our adoptive parents and adoptees, your patience, flexibility, and eagerness to learn pave the way for lifelong connections. We extend our gratitude to all involved in providing children in need with a #ForeverFamily.#AdoptionDay Press Release: https://t.co/MFPTiHSAq2 pic.twitter.com/t11yrE9t5x — Santa Clara County Superior Court (@SCSCourt) November 20, 2023 Elsewhere, at the Sacramento Superior Court: Dozens of Sacramento Superior Court staff members were joined by community partners and judicial officers who volunteered their time over the weekend for Adoption Day 2023. This year, 34 adoptions were finalized during Adoption Day proceedings.#NationalAdoptionMonth pic.twitter.com/6OjXpvROu7 — Sacramento Superior Court (@SacramentoCourt) November 8, 2023 At the San Bernardino Superior Court and SB Co. Children & Family Svcs. 23rd annual adoption finalization day, Juvenile Court Supervising Judge Lynn Poncin congratulated families and supporting family members and friends before joining three other judges in special courtrooms to conclude the families' journeys to being forever families.   Judicial Council Acknowledges Court Adoption and Permanency Month At the Nov. 17 Judicial Council business meeting, Judge Amy Pellman talked about the importance of recognizing November as Court Adoption and Permanency Month (Watch)     At its November business meeting, the Judicial Council acknowledged Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero’s signing of a resolution proclaiming November as Court Adoption and Permanency Month. The resolution recognized the ongoing efforts of California’s juvenile courts and their justice partners to provide children and families with access to fair, understandable judicial proceedings leading to timely, well-informed, and just permanency outcomes. The resolution also noted that state laws require courts to ensure that social services exercise due diligence in locating and engaging relatives and extended family members as the preferential placement for children. The council also provides general information on its self-help website about the different ways to adopt someone in California. For some types of adoption, there are step-by-step instructions on how to complete the adoption process. California Foster Care and Adoption Statistics As of June 28, 2022: • 49,176 children are in out-of-home care • 15,386 children are waiting to be adopted • 6,242 foster care adoptions are finalized each year • Over 3,000 youth age out of foster care each year *Source: U.S. Children’s Bureau, Administration for Children, Youth and Families, state-by-state-AFCARS data