ICWA Advocate Guide for California Courts

149 Pages·2016·0.74 MB·English

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
[phone] [phone] [phone] [phone]

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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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