California Juvenile Dependency Petition - Version Two

Exact minimum of 1 year or a maximum of 18 months It is a government agency that aims at providing a child's protection against abuse from either one parent or both parents.

Dependency court hearings are initiated when the social worker from the Children & Family Services Department files a petition with the court. The petition identifies the child(ren) and parent(s) involved with the case, and describes the allegations of abuse or neglect against the child(ren).

Family Reunification Ordered The length of Family Reunification Services is typically 6 to 12 months but can be extended to as much as 24 months.

Once reunification services are terminated, the focus shifts to the needs of the child for permanency and stability. At this hearing, the court can terminate parental rights if the child is likely to be adopted.The preference of the law is that a child be freed for adoption.

Once it obtains custody, CPS places children into substitute care (usually a foster home, including with a relative, but also into group homes and residential facilities). Timely court ordersno later than five days after an emergency removalare constitutionally mandated.

21e hearing this is the 12 month hearing. During this period, you are still assigned a social worker, (FR Worker). It is supposed to be his/her job to reunify the parents with the children. During this period Concurrent Planning continues, and seems to take on a more important status.

The WIC Section 366.26 hearing report identifies and implements a permanent plan for a dependent child of the juvenile court and a nonminor dependent. It should incorporate input and recommendations as discussed through the Child and Family Team process.

At the jurisdiction hearing the judge will decide whether the allegations in the petition are true. If the judge decides the allegations are true, the court will take authority over your child. This is called jurisdiction in the law; that is why the hearing is called the jurisdiction hearing.