Judicial Council Proclaims November Court Adoption and Permanency Month

The Judicial Council proclaimed November “Court Adoption and Permanency Month” in California to recognize the ongoing efforts and achievements of juvenile courts and their justice partners to improve the outcomes for families and children in the child welfare system.

This year, the council worked with Assemblymember Monique Limón to continue a tradition in which the Legislature also declares November "Court Adoption and Permanency Month."

Michael Cohen and Kelli Rockafellow, with son Drew, 3, share their adoption experience with the Judicial Council at its September 2017 meeting.

Local Court Adoption Events

Throughout the month, courts will hold events finalizing adoptions. Courts that will participate in Adoption Day Celebrations include the Superior Courts of:

• Butte County
• El Dorado County
• Kern County
• Los Angeles County
• Merced County
• Madera County
• Riverside County
• Santa Clara County
• San Diego County
• San Francisco County
• San Joaquin County
• San Bernardino County
• Solano County
• Tulare County
• Ventura County (Nov 3: See News Release)

Foster Care Statistics

• Each year in California, nearly 500,000 reports are made of child abuse and neglect and approximately 24,100 children enter foster care for the first time
• Currently, about 60,900 children in the state live apart from their families in foster care and 40% of these children have been in foster care for more than 2 years
• About 8,500 children remain in “temporary” care after more than 5 years
• 23% of youth in foster care are between the ages of 16-20
• Of the 28,900+ children who were able to leave foster care in the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016, 50% were reunited with their families, 23% were adopted and 7% were emancipated

Since 1999, the Judicial Council has observed and continues to reaffirm November as “Court Adoption and Permanency Month.”