Links to State and Tribal Child Welfare Law and Policy - California

Date: May 2021

Statutes

Website for Statutes:

http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes.xhtml

Citations:

  • Adoption: Family Code, division 13; Health and Safety Code, division 102, part 1, chapter 5; Welfare and Institutions Code, division 9, part 4, chapters 2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.6
  • Child protection: Penal Code, part 1, title 9, chapters 1, 2; Welfare and Institutions Code, division 2, part 1, chapter 2, articles 6 through 9
  • Child welfare: Family Code, division 12, part 3, chapters 2, 4, 5; parts 5, 6; Welfare and Institutions Code, division 2, part 1, chapter 2, articles 10, 13.5; division 9, parts 4, 4.4, 6
  • Guardianship: Welfare and Institutions Code, division 9, part 3, chapter 2, articles 4.5, 4.7
  • Youth services: Welfare and Institutions Code, division 9, part 3, chapter 2, article 5; chapter 6.2; part 4, chapter 5, article 4
  • Indian child welfare: Welfare and Institutions Code, §§ 224 through 224.6

Regulation/Policy

Website for Administrative Code:

https://govt.westlaw.com/calregs/index?__lrTS=20201217173218052&transitionType=Default&contextData=%28sc.Default%29 

Notes:

Click on title 22, division 12.

Website for Agency Policies:

http://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/Letters-Regulations/Legislation-and-Regulations/ Child-Welfare-Services-Regulations

Notes:

The site includes regulations and online manuals of policies and procedures for residential licensing, foster care, adoptions, and child welfare services.

Other Resources

California Rules of Court

California ICWA Benchguide 

Tribal codes available online: