https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/ en 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/numbers-show-benefits-when-children-adopted-extended-family-members Numbers Show the Benefits When Children Adopted by Extended Family MembersCorren, Blaine Fri, 10/24/2025 - 12:17 News Release VIDEOCONFERENCE—The Judicial Council at its October 24 business meeting heard a report that a “kin-first culture”—a system that prioritizes placing children with their extended family network—results in fewer behavioral health problems, less placement disruption, and requires fewer mental health services than a nonrelative placement. “Foster homes are ready, willing, and able to take in children who need care,” said Justice Tari Cody, cochair of the council’s Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee. “But that often involves placing them with strangers. We’ve realized we need to focus on reducing trauma, and based on data and research, we can do that by placing children with family.” For example, the report showed: Children who are first placed with relatives or extended family members are three times as likely to remain there after 12 months   70% of youth placed with relatives are also with their entire sibling set, compared to 44% of youth placed with nonrelatives   Youth who are with a relative at the time they exit from foster care are also less likely to reenter care within 12 months The council also heard from two former foster youth who, informed by their own experiences in care, made the decision to adopt a family member’s child. Council members heard about their journey through the adoptive process and the importance of having a forever family. “Our daughter will grow up knowing where she belongs,” said Claudia, one of the adoptive parents who shared their stories at the council meeting. “She will never have to question if she’s wanted, if she’s loved, or if she has a home. And that’s what permanency is really about—giving children what every single one of us deserves, a family that’s not temporary.” In addition, the council proclaimed November to be Court Adoption and Permanency Month. The acknowledgement highlights the importance of permanency and the council’s efforts to improve the court adoption process, which include: 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   Expansion of resources for court-appointed counsel for children in foster care and their parents Watch New and Revised Court Rules and FormsThe council approved 281 new and revised court rules and forms in the areas of civil, criminal, juvenile, family law, conservatorships, unlawful detainer, protective orders, appellate procedures, and access and fairness. The revisions help conform to recent changes in the law and increase the efficiency of the court process. “The proposals represent the work of 10 separate advisory committees,” said Judge Tamara Wood, vice-chair of the council’s Rules Committee. “The proposals received approximately 300 comments from internal and external stakeholders. All comments are carefully considered by the advisory committees as they refine the proposals to prepare the materials for the council.” For example, new forms will make it easier for courts to collect information about whether a person subject to a restraining order has firearms, firearm parts, and ammunition. For each item listed, the forms allow the court to record whether the restrained person submitted proof that they complied with a relinquishment order, and if not, the form facilitates notification of law enforcement and the prosecutor. In addition, a new rule of court implements legislation that requires superior courts to allow anyone participating in court proceedings a reasonable amount of break time to express breast milk for an infant, and another rule authorizes remote participation by judges and litigants in appellate division oral argument. Watch Other Items on Council Meeting Agenda: Funding for CARE Act Legal Representation: The council approved CARE Act funding for the Legal Services Trust Fund Commission of the State Bar of California so it can distribute it to qualified legal services projects and public defender offices to provide legal counsel for representation in CARE Act proceedings, as well as training and technical assistance to these legal providers. Increased Funding for Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Program: The council approved additional funding to current Shriver projects to expand and sustain legal representation and court services for low-income litigants involved in housing and other civil cases. New and Revised Criminal Jury Instructions: The council approved for publication new and revised criminal jury instructions to keep the instructions current with statutory and case authority. The complete meeting agenda and council reports are posted to the California Courts Meeting Information Center—an archived webcast of today’s meeting will be posted to the center as soon as it is available. https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/2024-year-review-judicial-council-california 2024 Year in Review: Judicial Council of CaliforniaCorren, Blaine Tue, 12/17/2024 - 15:52 Feature In 2024, California’s Chief Justice, the Judicial Council, and the courts continued their efforts to improve court operations, enhance services, and expand access to the justice system for the public. The following are highlights of those efforts: Chief Justice Delivers 2024 State of the Judiciary AddressChief Justice Patricia Guerrero delivered her annual State of the Judiciary address to the California Legislature. In her remarks, she emphasized her goals for the judicial branch, which include accountability in the use of public resources, efficient caseflow management, and safeguarding the integrity of the court and judicial decision-making. She also affirmed the judicial branch’s commitment to enhancing access to justice for the people of California. Using technology as an example, she explained how the courts are helping to increase access through remote services and tools—including 24/7 e-filing, access to online records and research, self-help resources, and remote appearances. A recent Judicial Council report showed that approximately 150,000 remote civil proceedings are conducted statewide each month; and more than 90% of court users and 98% of court staff reported positive experiences.   Online Tool to Request Reductions to Traffic Tickets Goes StatewideThe MyCitations online tool allows low-income individuals with infraction violations to request a reduction in their fines and fees without going to the courthouse. Users can also request a payment plan, more time to pay, or community service. Launched in the first court in April 2019, the MyCitations tool was successfully implemented in all 58 counties before July 1, 2024. Since its launch, more than 183,000 litigants have submitted requests to reduce their fines, resulting in more than $65 million in reductions. Adding to the MyCitations tool’s functionality, a new Online Trial by Declaration module allows a defendant to contest eligible traffic citations by submitting a written statement and uploading evidence online.   Filling the Justice Gap: Expanding Services for People Without AttorneysThe statewide Pathways to Justice conference brought together members of the legal community to highlight services and tools to help court users in civil cases who can’t afford attorneys. Cosponsored by the Judicial Council of California, the State Bar of California, and the Legal Aid Association of California, conference attendees included nonprofit legal services providers, private bar pro bono volunteers, and staff from court departments and self-help centers. The conference highlighted a broad range of strategies used to expand access to the legal system, including technology, AI, childcare, pro bono work, lawyer referral services, and language access. It also offered training in areas like housing, family law, and domestic violence, in which parties are often without attorneys.   California Courts Launch CARE Act StatewideThis year all 58 trial courts in California began accepting petitions under the CARE Act, which authorizes specified people to petition a civil court to create a voluntary CARE agreement or a court-ordered CARE plan that can include treatment, housing support, and other services for persons with schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. Per the CARE Act statute, implementation started in October 2023, with seven counties (Glenn, Orange, Riverside, San Diego, San Francisco, Stanislaus, Tuolumne), and Los Angeles County followed two months later. The remaining 50 counties met the legislative deadline for accepting petitions by Dec. 2, 2024. Since the CARE Act took effect, the council has supported the rollout by: Creating new court rules and forms, as well as fact sheets, webinars, and videos to educate courts and the public about the CARE Act process   Meeting with courts and county stakeholders—including monthly office hours—to gauge progress, identify challenges, and provide technical assistance   Helping translate court documents and videos into other languages, including Spanish, Khmer, Tagalog, and Farsi   Collecting data on the program’s implementation, which it reports quarterly to the California Department of Health Care Services Statewide CARE Act data has shown the number of petitions filed each month has been relatively steady since its launch in the early implementing counties—with a total of 869 petitions filed from Oct. 1, 2023, through Oct. 31, 2024. During that same time, courts ordered more than 175 care agreements and plans, and 516 petitions were still being actively engaged.   Pilot Program to Address Court Interpreters ShortageA retiring workforce, geographic constraints, and testing capacity are making it difficult for courts to meet the demand for interpreting. To address the shortage of interpreters, the state’s judicial branch launched a five-year pilot program to hire more court interpreter employees, dedicating $6.8 million in funding made available from the 2023 Budget Act. The Court Interpreter Workforce Pilot Program reimburses participants for costs associated with their training, coursework, and up to three examination fees. Program graduates must also agree to work for the courts for at least three years after passing all the required exams and enroll with the Judicial Council as a court interpreter. Twenty superior courts are participating in the first cohort of the program and collectively received more than 1,000 applications. Each court may have up to 10 candidates per year. Applications for cohort 2 will open in spring 2025.   Courts Continue to Improve the Juror ExperienceRecognizing the integral role jurors play in our justice system, following are some recent judicial branch initiatives to improve jury service in California: Pilot program in seven trial courts to improve juror diversity and participation by increasing juror pay from $15 a day to $100 per day and the mileage reimbursement from $0.34 to $0.67 per mile roundtrip—the pilot will end by early 2026 or when the funding is exhausted, whichever comes first   Pilot project in Stanislaus County to test the feasibility of paying jurors electronically via Zelle to shorten the time for jurors to get paid at the conclusion of their service and reduce administrative costs for the court—the council’s Court Executives Advisory Committee will review the pilot findings and consider a statewide rollout   Continuing to increase the use of telephone standby and on-call options for jury service, where individuals can check the night, and sometimes the week before, whether they will be asked to come to court in person   Providing jurors brochures with mental health information and strategies to cope with any service-related stress they may experience In addition, the council recently approved simplifying the language used for the oaths administered to jurors and prospective jurors to ensure they fully understand the oaths before voir dire and prior to being seated for a jury trial.   Thousands of Volunteers Advocate for Children in CourtThe council approved $2.713 million in grants to help fund 45 CASA programs that help support children when they must move to new homes for their own protection. During this time of transition, judicial officers can appoint them a CASA (court appointed special advocate), a trained volunteer that advocates for children in juvenile court. CASA volunteers spend time with the child, monitor their needs, and provide child-focused recommendations on services and education based on the best interests of the child. Unlike other mentoring programs, CASAs serve as an officer of the court, trained on topics such as the impact of trauma on children, cultural competency, and dependency laws. More than 7,000 CASA volunteers serve approximately 11,000 children, donating 400,000 hours per year to help children, judges, and other professionals in the state’s juvenile courts. Despite this enormous impact, more CASAs are needed for the roughly 70,000 children in foster care.   25th Anniversary of Court Adoption and Permanency MonthMore than two decades of collaborative efforts among the Judicial Council, the superior courts, and partners in child welfare has achieved positive progress in improving adoption and permanency in California. Comparing data from 1999 and 2023, the number of children entering foster care for the first time decreased by 51%, and the number of children living apart from their families decreased by 58%. In addition, the council approved new court forms to simplify, clarify, and provide additional guidance for parents during the adoption process. The revised “How to Adopt a Child in California” form now clarifies the necessary steps to finalize distinct types of adoptions, including adoptions of children of Native American ancestry. The council also approved a new form specifically designed for stepparent adoptions. Court self-help center staff identified stepparent adoptions as the most common types for which they provide assistance and the ones having the most confusing processes for self-represented litigants.   New Courthouses Improve Safety, Service for Court UsersThe judicial branch completed new courthouses in Menifee (Riverside County) and Redding (Shasta County). The new buildings address overcrowding, security, and accessibility issues, and help consolidate and improve court services for their communities. Since assuming responsibility for court construction in 2002, the council has completed 35 new courthouses, and another 16 are underway in various stages. These include new court facilities in both large and small counties, as well as urban and rural areas across the state. California Improving Courthouse SustainabilitySustainability efforts employed at courthouses across the state continue to use green energy, reduce emissions, and improve waste management. The judicial branch has already achieved either gold or silver LEED certification by the U.S. Green Building Council for 21 courthouses across the state and has seven more certifications in progress. LEED certification is a third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high-performance “green” buildings. Those “green” strategies include water conservation, solar panels, EV (electric vehicle) charger stations, and setting sustainability standards for courthouse construction. The latest California Trial Court Facilities Standards approved in September of this year target a 12% increase in water conservation and a 15% increase in energy efficiency—or more if budgets allow—for future new courthouse projects. Additional long-term goals include electrifying heating systems and increasing the use of renewable energy.   Chief Justice Creates Task Force on Use of Generative AI in the California CourtsThe judicial branch launched a new judicial branch task force to evaluate generative artificial intelligence (AI) for its potential benefits to courts and court users while mitigating risks to safeguard the public. Earlier this year, Chief Justice Guerrero asked Justice Mary Greenwood and Judge Arturo Castro to help identify the foundational questions the California court system must consider regarding the appropriate uses of AI. In response to their report, Chief Justice Guerrero announced the following next steps for the judicial branch: Create an AI task force to oversee the consideration and development of branch actions that address generative AI, such as rules of court, technology policies, educational programs, and legislative proposals   Work with Supreme Court ethics committees to develop guidance on how judicial officers should navigate ethical issues associated with generative AI   Provide education for judicial officers, court professionals, and council staff that focuses on the uses, benefits, and risks of generative AI   Cybersecurity for the Courts The judicial branch made strides in safeguarding the courts and their personnel against cyber threats. A key focus was education, highlighted by a series of interactive cybersecurity webinars that equipped judicial officers and judicial branch staff with critical knowledge to protect both institutional and personal digital assets. Topics included recognizing phishing attempts, securing devices, and mitigating risks. To reinforce these efforts, the branch conducted phishing exercises throughout the year, enabling staff to practice identifying and responding to simulated threats in real time. These exercises not only improved awareness but also strengthened the branch's overall defense mechanisms against cyberattacks. Additionally, the courts bolstered cybersecurity by expanding endpoint protection, ensuring devices are better equipped to detect, prevent, and respond to threats. Reduction to Court Budgets Impacts Service to the Public In addition to a $97 million reduction to the trial courts, the fiscal year 2024-25 state budget also called for a commensurate reduction of 7.95% to the state-level judiciary, which includes the Supreme Court, Courts of Appeal, Habeas Corpus Resource Center, and the Judicial Council. To help manage the reductions, many of the state's trial courts froze hiring, adopted furloughs, and reduced hours at their clerks’ offices and public counters. Despite the cutbacks, the courts are making every effort to minimize delays and preserve public access to justice. The Judicial Council also implemented proactive cost-saving measures, such as hiring freezes, reduced travel, and shifting meetings online. Court leaders continued outreach to their local legislators to educate them on the work of the courts, and to communicate the operational impacts the budget cuts are having on court services to the public.   California Continues Work to Diversify the BenchThe council surveys California justices and judges at the end of each year to get a snapshot of the demographics of the California bench—including gender, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. For the 18th straight year since tracking this data, the number of women and people of color on the bench has increased. Female judicial officers now constitute 41% of our judges. The number of Asian, Black, and Hispanic judges has doubled during that same time. Supporting the goal of “Access, Fairness, Diversity, and Inclusion,” the council’s diversity initiatives also include the Judicial Mentor Program, a statewide undertaking between the executive and judicial branches to develop and recruit qualified and diverse judicial applicants for the state’s appellate and superior courts. The appellate and superior courts have also started their own local mentor programs. The council also created an online toolkit called Pathways to Judicial Diversity. The toolkit has resources designed to help judges and courts reach out to diverse law students and attorneys and encourage them to pursue judicial careers.   Judicial Branch Continues to Expand Civic LearningThe Chief Justice's Power of Democracy Civic Learning Initiative continued to expand its reach into more California’s schools. The initiative’s Civic Learning Awards program encourages K-12 public schools to share how they promote opportunities for students inside the classroom and in their communities. The program has presented the Civic Learning Award 540 times to 343 schools in the last decade—21 elementary, middle, and high schools across California were recognized in 2024. Schools at the highest level, Award of Excellence, traditionally receive a visit from California Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero, while judges from other courts present the awards of Distinction, Merit, and Honorable Mention.  The initiative’s Judges in the Classroom program enables teachers to invite judges to visit their classrooms (either in-person or virtual) and engage their classes in lessons on the U.S. Constitution, Rule of Law, Voting Rights, or Historical Milestones in the making of our democracy. In 2024, the Judges in the Classroom program engaged 30% more courts and schools than it did last year. Currently, 353 volunteer judges representing 32 counties around the state support the initiative. Last school year alone, the program reached more than 13,000 students.   Judicial Branch Honors Individuals for Outstanding Service The Judicial Council honored three recipients with its 2024 Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes people and organizations for their extraordinary leadership and contributions to the administration of justice in California. This year’s recipients—Justice William W. Bedsworth, Judge Terry B. Friedman (Ret.), and Court Executive Officer Melissa Fowler-Bradley—were honored for their work related to advocating for civility within the legal profession, improving the court system for families and children, and leading court-based innovations to better serve the public. Watch these videos to learn about all of this year's award recipients. Chief Justice Guerrero and the Judicial Council also honored the thousands of additional public servants of California's judicial branch the first week of May during Public Service Recognition Week. This video below, produced by the council, highlights six of California's dedicated public servants, who speak about why they choose to serve in the judicial branch. Overview of Judicial Council Programs and Services Under the leadership of the Chief Justice and in accordance with the California Constitution, the Judicial Council is responsible for ensuring the consistent, independent, impartial, and accessible administration of justice. The council carries out this mission through the work of its advisory bodies and staff that help develop and implement the policies and solutions to the issues confronting the California court system. The council also provides direct programs and services in multiple areas to ensure the courts can maintain meaningful access to the justice system for the public. Examples of just some of those service areas include: Budget, accounting, procurement, and audits—including management, distribution, and reporting on billions of dollars in court funding each year   Human resources—including HR and payroll administration for the nearly 3,000 state justices, judges, and appellate court and judicial branch employees   Information technology—including oversight for the California Courts public website, which averages 75,000 visitors per month   Education and training for judges and court staff—including more than 150 courses, webinars, videos, and podcasts per year   Courthouse construction, management, and emergency planning and security—including management of approximately 450 court facilities encompassing more than 19.8 million square feet, and annually completing more than 1,700 facility modification projects and addressing roughly 115,000 building service work orders   Legal services—including the annual development of hundreds of new and amended court rules and forms, and providing counsel on thousands of legal matters and agreements for the courts each year   Legislative advocacy—including the annual tracking of nearly 1,000 bills and the submission of approximately 50 position letters   Public affairs—including answering more than 2,000 inquiries for information from media and the public each year More information on the Judicial Council ____________________________________________________________________ Stay connected in 2025 by subscribing to the California Courts Newsroom and Twitter/X feed. (See bottom of this page for links) 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