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Name: Fresno County Department of Social Services v. J.B.
Case #: F084771
Opinion Date: 03/27/2023
Attorney: Janette Freeman Cochran
Summary

In an appeal from the termination of the appellant’s parental rights, the parties agreed that the juvenile court and the Fresno County Department of Social Services failed to comply with the initial inquiry provisions of the Indian Child Welfare Act and related California law. The record indicated that the department failed to ask the children’s father and extended family members about the children’s potential status as Indian children. The Court of Appeal conditionally reversed the juvenile court’s findings that ICWA does not apply and remanded for proceedings to ensure ICWA compliance.