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ICWA Advocate Guide for California Courts PDF

149 Pages·2016·0.74 MB·English
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ICWA Advocate Guide for California Courts by California Indian Legal Services ICWA Advocate Guide for California Courts by 873 N. Main Street, Suite 120 609 South Escondido Blvd. 324 F Street 117 J Street, Suite 300 Bishop, CA 93514 Escondido, CA 92025 Eureka, CA 95501 Sacramento, CA 95814 (760) 873-3581 (760) 746-8941 (707) 443-8397 (916) 978-0960 www.calindian.org (March 2016 Edition) Use and Disclaimers This publicationis designed toassistICWA advocatesand tribalrepresentatives who appearinstate court. NotallCalifornia tribes have the resources tohire attorneysforeverydependency case. Inthe alternative,tribes regularlyrelyontribalsocialworkers,referred tointhis Guide as ICWA advocates.As a generalrule, mostother parties independencycasesare represented by appointed orassigned legalcounsel,includingthe socialservicesagency, the parents orIndian custodian, and the child. The ICWAadvocate represents the interests ofthe tribe, which may ormay notalign withother parties.Advocatesmay have knowledge specific tothe ICWA,butmightfindthat theirknowledgeofthe complex state childwelfare system(knownas juvenile dependency law) may be limited. The advocate mightalsofindthemselveshaving torendertheseservices with little tonolegaltrainingand/orcourtroomadvocacyexperience –whetherformalorinformal. The Guide is intended toserve asareference toolfor tribaladvocates intheir participationindependency proceedings. The Guide is notintendedtobe legal advice,andis not intendedtobe a comprehensive discussioncoveringalllegal issues orauthority.Moreover, any tips provided inthis Guide areonlythat–suggested tips. Whenreferringtothe Guide, itis criticalthatthe reader keepinmindthateachcase, situation,and legalcircumstance is unique. Eachissuecanalso involve anumberofcomplex issueswhich cancrossover toa number ofotherlegal areas. The legalanalysisofauthorities citedinthis publicationis current throughthe dateof publication.As the lawis always subjecttochange, youmustcontinue tomonitordevelopments inthe law andpractice. Fora more detailed andup-to-dateanalysis andapplicationofthese rules,further research and/orconsultingwithan attorney maybe appropriate. Credits The preparationofthis publicationwas financiallyassistedthroughgrantfunds provided bythe LegalServices Corporation(LSC),the State Bar ofCalifornia, andthe California Department ofSocialServices. The opinions, findings, andconclusionsinthis publicationare thoseofthe authorand notnecessarilythose ofLSC, the State BarofCalifornia orthe California Department ofSocialServices. California Indian LegalServicesgratefullyacknowledges the LSC, the State BarofCalifornia andthe California DepartmentofSocialServices. This documentcanbe reproducedwithoutthe express permissionofCalifornia Indian LegalServices. However,itmay notbe altered,changed oramended inany manner. ICWA Advocate Guide for California Courts Table of Contents I. INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................................1 A. Historyofthe ICWA..................................................................................................1 B. Nuts and Bolts............................................................................................................2 1. Findings andOrders.............................................................................................2 2. Whatis a Record?................................................................................................3 3. The MainHearings inDependencyCases...........................................................3 4. Laws,Rules,and Guidance..................................................................................4 5. Form ofCitationsand Abbreviations...................................................................5 II. CHILD WELFARE AND THE ICWA...........................................................................6 A. ChildWelfare Generally............................................................................................6 B. Indian ChildWelfare Act...........................................................................................6 1. WhenDoesthe ICWAApply?............................................................................7 a. “ChildCustodyProceeding”.......................................................................7 b. “IndianChild”.............................................................................................9 III. PRE-REMOVAL............................................................................................................10 A. EmergencyRemoval ofan Indian Child..................................................................10 B. Active Efforts toPreventthe NeedforDetention....................................................10 IV. NOTICE AND INQUIRY..............................................................................................12 A. Backgroundand Purpose.........................................................................................12 B. Inquiry......................................................................................................................12 1. Whatis “ReasontoBelieve”?............................................................................13 2. How is InquiryMade?.......................................................................................14 C. Notice.......................................................................................................................15 1. ContentRequirementsforthe Notice................................................................15 2. Who ShouldReceiveNotice?............................................................................17 3. Service onthe BureauofIndian Affairs............................................................18 4. DocumentationofCompliance..........................................................................19 5. Dutyis Continuingand Ongoing.......................................................................19 ICWAAdvocateGuideforCaliforniaCourts,©2016byCaliforniaIndianLegalServices ~i~ TableofContents V. PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATIONS........................................................................20 A. Intervention..............................................................................................................20 1. How toIntervene................................................................................................20 2. EffectofIntervention.........................................................................................20 3. The Tribe CanParticipate EvenWithoutIntervening.......................................20 4. Methods forParticipating..................................................................................21 B. Tribe and Indian Custodian’s Righttoa Continuance.............................................21 C. TransferofProceedings toTribal Court..................................................................22 1. Ifthe Tribe Has Exclusive Jurisdiction,Transferis Mandatory........................22 2. Ifthe Tribe DoesNotHave Exclusive Jurisdiction,Transferis Presumed............................................................................................................23 3. Purpose/Background..........................................................................................23 4. When?................................................................................................................23 5. HearingonObjection.........................................................................................23 6. Whatis “GoodCause”toDenythe RequesttoTransfer?.................................23 a. MandatoryDenial.....................................................................................23 b. DiscretionaryDenial.................................................................................24 7. WhatWillYou See ifTransfer is Granted?.......................................................25 VI. GOINGTOCOURT .....................................................................................................27 A. Hearings Generally–Location................................................................................27 1. Where theCase is Held......................................................................................27 2. TransferBetweenCounties................................................................................27 3. Where Do IGo inthe Courthouse?....................................................................28 4. You MustWaitinthe HallwayUntilthe Case is Called...................................28 5. Where Do IGo inthe Courtroom?....................................................................29 a. “Audience”/Public Section.......................................................................29 b. Table Where theParties Sit.......................................................................30 c. Jury Box orSection...................................................................................30 d. Judge’s Bench andStaffArea...................................................................30 B. Whatis Happening inthe Courtroom?....................................................................31 1. Everyone WillTakeTheirSeat..........................................................................31 ~ii~ ICWAAdvocateGuideforCaliforniaCourts,©2016byCaliforniaIndianLegalServices TableofContents 2. The PartiesWillAnnounceTheirAppearance..................................................31 3. The Judge UsuallyThen Proceeds withthe Issue forThat Hearing..................32 C. Who is Allowed toBe inthe Courtroom?...............................................................32 D. Who is Allowed toParticipate inthe Hearing?.......................................................33 1. Referee...............................................................................................................33 2. Parent.................................................................................................................34 a. Rights ofIncarcerated ParentstoNotice..................................................34 b. Rights ofIncarcerated Parents–RighttoAttend.....................................34 3. Child...................................................................................................................35 4. “SocialServiceAgency”....................................................................................36 5. Parents’Attorney...............................................................................................36 6. Child’s Representation.......................................................................................37 a. Attorney....................................................................................................37 i. DualRoleofRepresentingthe Child’s “BestInterest” and “Stated Wishes”...........................................................................37 ii. OneAttorney forMultiple Children inthe Case................................37 b. “CAPTA-GAL” ("ChildAbuse Preventionand Treatment ActGuardianAd Litem”).........................................................................39 7. De Facto Parent..................................................................................................40 8. CASA (“CourtAppointed SpecialAdvocate”)..................................................41 9. “IndianCustodian”.............................................................................................42 10.Caregiver............................................................................................................42 11.Relatives.............................................................................................................43 12.RegardingCourtAppointed Attorneys forAllParties......................................43 a. Experienceand Education.........................................................................43 b. Standards ofRepresentation.....................................................................44 VII. HEARINGS.....................................................................................................................45 A. Initial (“Detention”) Hearing...................................................................................45 1. Commencingthe Proceedings............................................................................45 2. PreliminaryInquiries bythe Court....................................................................46 3. PresentationofEvidence....................................................................................46 ICWAAdvocateGuideforCaliforniaCourts,©2016byCaliforniaIndianLegalServices ~iii~ TableofContents 4. Findings andOrders...........................................................................................47 5. RegardingInterimPlacement............................................................................47 6. Settingthe JurisdictionHearing.........................................................................48 B. JurisdictionHearing.................................................................................................49 1. WhatHappens atthe Hearing?..........................................................................49 2. AdmissibilityofEvidence..................................................................................50 3. DeterminingWhetherthe Petitionis Sustained.................................................51 C. DispositionHearing.................................................................................................52 1. Advice forthe Tribal Advocate.........................................................................52 2. Purpose andBackground...................................................................................53 3. Timing................................................................................................................53 4. Evidence.............................................................................................................54 a. SocialStudyReport..................................................................................54 b. Other Relevant andMaterial Evidence.....................................................57 5. CasePlan............................................................................................................57 6. Options forDisposition......................................................................................58 a. VoluntaryRelinquishment........................................................................58 b. Terminate Jurisdiction..............................................................................58 c. NotDeclarethe Childa “Dependentofthe Court” and Placethe ChildUnderaProgram ofSupervision.....................................58 d. Appointa LegalGuardian forthe Child...................................................59 e. Declare Dependency andPermitthe ChildtoRemainat Home withan Order ofFamilyMaintenance Services tobe Provided...............59 f. Remove andPlace withNon-Custodial Parent.........................................59 g. Declare Dependency andRemove fromthe ParentorGuardian..............61 i. Qualified ExpertWitness....................................................................62 ii. WhatDoesthe ExpertTestifyAbout?................................................63 iii. How ManyExperts?...........................................................................64 iv. MethodofQualified ExpertWitness Testimony................................64 v. Active Efforts......................................................................................64 vi. CasePlan forReunificationServices..................................................66 ~iv~ ICWAAdvocateGuideforCaliforniaCourts,©2016byCaliforniaIndianLegalServices TableofContents vii.Where ReunificationServicestoa Parentare “Bypassed”.................67 viii.Visitation–Parentsand Siblings........................................................67 ix. Visitation-Grandparents....................................................................67 7. Placement...........................................................................................................68 8. Educationaland Developmental ServiceDecisionMaking...............................68 9. Set a Review Hearing.........................................................................................68 D. Review Hearings......................................................................................................69 1. Backgroundand Purpose...................................................................................69 2. General Requirements........................................................................................69 3. Findings RegardingSiblings..............................................................................70 4. Review Report...................................................................................................71 5. Providingforthe Child’s Health,Safety,andWellbeing WhileoutofHome.............................................................................................71 6. CasePlan............................................................................................................72 7. Visitation............................................................................................................73 8. Evidence toSupportthe Court’s Determination................................................73 9. How ICanHelp?...............................................................................................73 10.Specific Review Hearings..................................................................................74 a. 6-MonthReviewHearing.........................................................................74 i. Presumptionis ReturnofChildtoParent(s).......................................74 ii. Continued ReunificationServices.......................................................75 b. 12-MonthPermanencyHearing................................................................76 i. Presumptionis ReturnofChildtoParent(s).......................................76 c. 18-MonthPermanencyReview Hearing...................................................78 i. Presumptionis ReturnofChildtoparent(s).......................................78 d. 24-MonthSubsequent PermanencyReview Hearing...............................80 e. FamilyMaintenance ReviewHearings.....................................................80 i. Terminate Jurisdictionand Issue CustodyOrders..............................80 ii. Continue FamilyMaintenanceServices andCourtSupervision........81 E. Selectionand ImplementationHearing(Welf.&Inst.Code§366.26)..................81 1. Purpose...............................................................................................................81 ICWAAdvocateGuideforCaliforniaCourts,©2016byCaliforniaIndianLegalServices ~v~ TableofContents 2. Whether toTerminate ParentalRights...............................................................81 3. StandardofProof...............................................................................................82 4. Exceptions toTerminationofParentalRights...................................................82 5. Tribal Customary Adoption...............................................................................84 a. Overview...................................................................................................84 b. PotentialHarmful Effects ofTerminatingParentalRights.......................85 c. TCA Ensures That theConnectionBetweenChildand Tribe is Protected......................................................................................85 d. TCA Allows a Tribe toProtecta Child’s Indian InheritanceRights........85 e. TCA Shouldbe Seenasthe DefaultOptionforan Indian Child..............86 f. The TCA Process......................................................................................86 g. Selectingthe PermanentPlan....................................................................89 F. Post PermanencyReview Hearings.........................................................................90 1. Purpose andBackground...................................................................................90 2. Where theChildis 16YearsofAge orOlder....................................................92 3. Review Appropriateness ofSettingofWelfare andInstitutions Code§366.26Hearing......................................................................................93 VIII. PLACEMENTPREFERENCES...................................................................................94 A. Backgroundand Purpose.........................................................................................94 B. WhenDo the PlacementPreferencesApply?..........................................................94 C. FosterCareand Preadoptive PlacementPreferences...............................................95 D. Adoptive PlacementPreferences.............................................................................95 E. Federal/Tribal vs.State Definitions.........................................................................96 1. “ExtendedFamily” and“Non-ExtendedFamilyMembers”.............................96 2. “ExtendedFamily” andDeFactoParents.........................................................96 F. IncorporationofTribal Services, Standards, andPreferences.................................97 G. Good CausetoDeviate fromthe PlacementPreferences........................................97 1. Whatis “GoodCause?”.....................................................................................98 2. Whatis Not“GoodCause?”..............................................................................99 a. Bonding.....................................................................................................99 b. There is No “ExistingIndian FamilyDoctrine” inCalifornia..................99 ~vi~ ICWAAdvocateGuideforCaliforniaCourts,©2016byCaliforniaIndianLegalServices

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Not all California tribes have the resources to hire attorneys for every dependency case. In the alternative, tribes regularly rely on tribal social workers, referred to in this Guide as ICWA advocates. As a general rule, most other parties in dependency cases are represented by appointed or assign
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