https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/ en https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/santa-clara-court-helps-reunify-children-parents-who-now-provide-safe-and-supporting-homes Santa Clara Court Helps Reunify Children With Parents Who Now Provide Safe and Supporting HomesSoltysik, Penne Tue, 06/20/2023 - 13:42 Feature 54,789 youth lived in California's foster care system in January 2022—and according to the California Child Welfare Indicators Project, less than 10% of those kids could be reunified with their families. As the supervising judge of Santa Clara County's Dependency Court since 2010, Judge Shana Schwarz has seen hundreds of cases involving children in long-term foster care with little hope of ever returning home. But there's always a chance reunification can and will happen if families are supported and given the opportunity to succeed. On June 5, Judge Schwarz welcomed agencies, advocates, judges, and families in Santa Clara County to the Social Services Agency's Auditorium in San Jose to commemorate Family Reunification Day.  Reunification Day holds immense significance as it acknowledges the successful reunification of families who have faced various challenges and adversities.” -- Judge Shawna Schwarz Judge Schwarz addressed the audience and thanked parents for "putting in the hard work" to be together. "This event serves as a reminder that when our system performs as intended, children are returned to their parents in safe, stable, and supported homes."  The Santa Clara celebration honored five families who recently reunified. In addition, David Shuster, Dependency Advocate Center Mentor Parent Program Manager, was honored for his role in assisting families reunify.   Resources on Juvenile Dependency ProcessThe Judicial Council of California is involved in many projects aimed at assisting courts hearing dependency cases. Council staff provide technical assistance, legal information, training, and education to judges, attorneys, and justice system partners. Staff also produce publications and other resources for court users, including an orientation video about the court process for parents whose children were taken from their care to ensure their health and safety. https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/adoption-proceedings-increase-during-pandemic Adoption Proceedings Increase During PandemicCorren, Blaine Tue, 11/23/2021 - 13:04 Feature In 2020, California courts processed 20 percent more adoptions thanks to a mix of remote proceedings, stipulated orders, and in-person hearings. The data was included in a report presented at the Judicial Council's meeting on Nov. 19. Following the presentation, the council proclaimed November "Court Adoption and Permanency Month," as it has every year since 1999.    “Children are the most vulnerable yet resilient among us,” said Los Angeles Judge Amy Pellman, co-chair of the council’s Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee. Judge Pellman was instrumental in creating National Adoption Day.   Numbers of Adoptions Increased Data from the California Child Welfare Indicators Project shows 6,512 children were adopted from July 2020 to June 2021, compared to 5,400 children the year prior (July 2019–June 2020). Several factors attribute to the rise, including emergency rules approved by the Judicial Council enabling courts to hold remote proceedings in family law and other court proceedings. More Children Need Permanent Homes Each year in California, nearly 500,000 reports are made of child abuse and neglect, leading to about 20,000 youth going into the foster care system for the first time. Currently, more than 60,000 children in the state are living apart from their families in child welfare-supervised, out-of-home care. Forty percent of these children have been in foster care for more than two years.  Of the approximate 23,000 children who were able to leave foster care in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020:  More than 50% (11,500) were reunited with their families, almost 23% (5,400) were adopted, and 11% (2,500+) achieved permanence through legal guardianships (slightly more than half were with relatives). Improving the Lives of Foster Children For children who remain in foster care, a collaboration of the Judicial Council, California Department of Social Services, and other state organizations provides training to help family members or significant others maintain a permanent and responsible role in a youth’s life. Experience shows that without permanent connections, youth aging out of foster care face even more overwhelming odds against a successful adulthood. Meet the Reyes Family The council received an account of the Reyes family's adoption story. For more information about adoption and child welfare, visit https://www.courts.ca.gov/selfhelp-adoption.htm