A review of recent statutory changes that affect adoptions. Topics include allowing a child’s presumed father to waive his right to notice of any adoption and/or to deny his paternity, before or after a child is born; clarifying that adoption agencies accepting a relinquishment from a child’s birth parent(s) are required to inform themthat during any time after the relinquishment is signed and before it is filed with CDSS, he or she may request the relinquishment be withdrawn; allows a child’s birth parent(s) to sign a waiver of the right to revoke consent to adoption. [Download]

This letter transmits an Equivalency Letter that may be used to assist counties in explaining California’s relative non-relative extended family (NREFM) home approval process to other Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) members. This letter was developed to help explain the legality of the relative and NREFM home approval process used in California and its equivalency to a licensing status, to avoid delays in foster care and adoptive placements made pursuant to the ICPC. [Download]