Filed 7/2/21 J.M. v. Superior Court CA1/1

NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS

California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for 

publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication or 

ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115. 

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION ONE

J.M., et al.,

Petitioner,

v.

THE SUPERIOR COURT OF 

MARIN COUNTY,

Respondent;

MARIN COUNTY HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES,

Real Party in Interest.

 A162235

 (Marin County

 Super. Ct. No. JV26977A)

 

In these juvenile writ proceedings, J.M. (father) and H.P. (mother) seek 

extraordinary relief from the juvenile court order setting a permanency 

planning hearing for their son, E.M., pursuant to section 366.26 of the 

Welfare and Institutions Code.1 The parents contend there was insufficient 

evidence to support the juvenile court’s findings that the Marin County 

Department of Children and Family Services (Department) provided 

reasonable services and made active efforts to prevent the breakup of their 

Indian family as required by the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (25 U.S.C.

§ 1901 et seq.; ICWA). Seeing no error, we deny the petitions.

1 All statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code 

unless otherwise specified. 
2

I. BACKGROUND

A. Investigation and Detention

E.M. first came to the attention of the Department at the age of two,

after a report alleging the minor was seen by hotel staff on June 8, 

2020wandering alone in a parking lot and near high traffic areas of Corte 

Madera. Father later admitted the minor left the hotel room while he was 

sleeping. On June 12, E.M. was again found wandering around the hotel 

parking lot in Corte Madera, this time late at night, alone, naked, and in 

distress. Mother was discovered passed out in a hotel room containing

heroin, cocaine, needles, and other drug paraphernalia within reach of the 

minor. Father was at work but returned to take custody of E.M. after mother 

was arrested on child endangerment and possession charges. 

Father, an electrician at a local automobile manufacturer, told the 

social worker he was unaware mother was using drugs and had not seen any 

drug paraphernalia around the hotel room. Father explained he had met 

mother about four years ago while working in Alaska. After he relocated to 

Hawaii for a job, mother joined him. Several months later, father discovered 

that mother was using methamphetamine. Mother participated in both 

inpatient and outpatient drug treatment for six months and graduated from 

the program about three years ago. Father believed she had remained sober 

since then. E.M. was born approximately a year after mother completed 

treatment. 

The family moved to Oakland in early 2020 after father obtained 

employment with a nonprofit organization. Father lost his job when the 

nonprofit closed in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and he was 

unemployed until May 2020 when he was hired into his current position 

working the night shift from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. The family’s finances 
3

deteriorated during this stressful period, and they found housing through 

Project Roomkey, a state program that supports people with housing 

instability caused by the pandemic. Father denied any history or current use 

of drugs and stated he would do anything to keep E.M. safe.2 

Mother spoke with the social worker by telephone and stated that 

father had asked her to leave the family home and that she understood she 

should not care for E.M. alone. Mother reported she had been sober for the 

“ ‘past couple of years.’ ” The social worker offered to help her get into a 

substance abuse treatment program. On June 15, 2020, the social worker 

spoke with father and a family friend who had agreed to watch E.M. while 

father was working. On June 19, father confirmed that mother was living 

outside the home and his friend was watching E.M. at night.

Both parents indicated they would sign a written safety plan prepared 

by the social worker to ensure that E.M. was always supervised by a safe and 

sober caregiver. Although the social worker e-mailed the plan to the parents 

on June 12 as agreed, they did not respond to the e-mail or return a signed 

agreement. Mother subsequently failed to respond to the social worker’s 

numerous phone calls. Father agreed to participate in a second in-person 

safety planning meeting scheduled for June 23, but never returned the social 

worker’s calls or voicemails when she called to confirm.

The Department received another report on June 25, 2020 that E.M. 

was found on multiple occasions wandering unsupervised in a different hotel 

parking lot in Newark. A hotel guest had observed E.M. locked alone in a 

parked car for approximately 30 minutes, and hotel staff had stopped the 

minor from running into a busy intersection. After law enforcement was 

2 As described below, portions of father’s account are contradicted by 

other reports later obtained by the Department.
4

called, father stated he was sleeping during these incidents and thought E.M. 

was sleeping with him. Father checked out of the hotel soon after speaking 

with the police. From June 25 to June 29, father refused to meet with the 

social worker or produce the minor, both parents failed to respond to the 

social worker’s repeated phone calls and texts, and the whereabouts of the 

family were unknown. The social worker attempted to contact the family 

friend who had been helping care for E.M., but the number had been 

disconnected. 

On June 26, 2020, the Department spoke with the maternal 

grandmother and learned that mother had a long history of substance abuse. 

Mother’s two oldest children came to the attention of child welfare and tribal 

authorities in Alaska as toddlers due to mother’s substance abuse and neglect

and were placed in the care of the maternal grandmother. Mother’s third 

child was also not in mother’s care due to substance abuse and neglect and 

resided with his paternal grandparents. 

According to the maternal grandmother, E.M. had been detained at 

birth by Hawaii child welfare services after mother tested positive for a 

controlled substance during delivery. The minor was in foster care for 

several months before mother entered a family residential substance abuse 

treatment center in December 2017. The maternal grandmother stated that 

father also had a history of substance abuse and dealt drugs in both Hawaii 

and Alaska. A women’s shelter in Hawaii eventually flew mother and E.M. to 

Alaska to separate them from father, but he found them and they all 

relocated to California together. Mother reportedly relapsed in August 2019.

The maternal grandmother expressed interest in placement of E.M. and told 

the social worker to contact the Orutsararmiut Native Counsel (ONC) so that 

the tribe could coordinate the minor’s move to Alaska if he was detained. 
5

The Department contacted Marie Dorris, the social services director for 

the ONC, on that same day to report E.M.’s possible detention. Ms. Dorris 

stated that mother was an enrolled citizen of the ONC and that the minor, 

while not registered, was eligible for membership. This information was

confirmed by the maternal grandparents, the maternal grandfather being an 

ONC council member. On June 29, the Department spoke with Ms. Dorris 

and another ONC representative, who agreed with E.M.’s detention and 

participation in the court process. Although the tribe intended to take over 

jurisdiction of the case, they could not immediately travel from Alaska to 

transport the minor due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the meantime, the 

social worker offered to seek assistance from the Federated Indians of Graton 

Rancheria for help in locating an ICWA-compliant home as Marin County is 

in Graton Rancheria’s ancestral territory. On that same day, the social 

worker provided father with a list of Native American services in the area, 

including Tribal TANF of Sonoma and Marin and Sonoma County Indian 

Health Services. A similar letter listing an assortment of Native American 

resources was provided to mother several days later. 

E.M. was finally located on June 29, 2020, after extensive efforts by the 

social worker. Given the parents’ evasive behaviors and lack of 

responsiveness with the Department, as well as the ongoing concern that the 

minor was at imminent risk of serious physical harm while in their care, 

E.M. was placed into protective custody. On July 1, the Department filed a 

dependency petition, alleging that E.M. was a minor described by 

subdivisions (b)(1) and (j) of section 300. The social worker facilitated a 

virtual visit between E.M. and his parents that same day. 

The minor was formally detained by the juvenile court on July 7, 2020.

At the detention hearing, father was elevated to presumed father and the 
6

court ordered services for the parents, including drug testing, substance 

abuse treatment, and parenting education. Ms. Dorris from the ONC 

addressed the court regarding efforts to identify a relative placement, and the 

juvenile court found there was reason to know E.M. was an Indian child.

Based on its review of the record, the juvenile court found that the 

Department had made active efforts to provide remedial services and 

rehabilitative programs designed to prevent the breakup of the Indian family, 

but that those efforts were unsuccessful. 

B. Jurisdiction and Disposition

In advance of the combined jurisdictional and dispositional hearing, the 

Department filed reports informing the court that E.M. was residing in an 

ICWA-compliant foster home. Mother had reportedly called the tribal 

enrollment office to enroll E.M. as a member of the tribe and was awaiting a 

response. The Department was in frequent communication with Ms. Dorris 

from the ONC. It was exploring placement with an aunt in Alaska, which the 

ONC approved. In addition, the Department was attempting to facilitate

phone/video communication between E.M. and his maternal grandmother, 

aunts, and half siblings in Alaska with the help of the foster family and the 

ONC. 

The Department had also confirmed with child welfare services in 

Hawaii that E.M. was taken into protective custody due to concerns 

regarding mother’s long history of addiction and her positive test for 

methamphetamine when the minor was born. Family reunification services 

had been provided for both parents, including parenting education, drug 

testing, and substance abuse assessment and treatment. Mother entered and 

completed treatment, E.M. was returned in January 2018, and the case was 

closed in October 2018 after a period of family maintenance services. As for 
7

mother’s three older children, there were seven referrals to child welfare 

services in Alaska dating back to 2010, all related to alleged neglect due to 

substance abuse. Allegations included neglect, mother’s abuse of OxyContin 

and heroin, repeated public intoxication, and domestic violence. 

Father reportedly had a criminal history in California dating back to 

1986, including approximately 12 convictions from 9 separate counties. 

Father’s most recent conviction was in 2012 for felony possession of a 

controlled substance. Criminal histories were not obtained from other states 

for either parent.

After numerous failed attempts to contact the parents by phone, text

message, and e-mail, the social worker spoke with them on July 27, 2020 via 

video chat. Mother indicated she had been sober since the day of her arrest 

and was using methadone to help with withdrawal. She was open to entering 

residential treatment if recommended by the Department. Father 

emphasized that they would do anything they needed to do to get the minor 

back. The social worker noted that the parents’ lack of consistent 

communication with the Department made it difficult to fully assess the 

family’s needs but that it would continue to make active efforts to refer 

mother to “services that are culturally relevant, taking into account her 

Native American heritage.” Indeed, although mother could have been

bypassed for services given her long history of drug use and resistance to 

prior treatment, the Department recommended that services be provided to 

both parents in an attempt to preserve the Indian family. This was also the 

ONC’s preference. 

The Department, after input from both parents and the tribe, 

recommended a case plan for mother establishing goals of building a support 

network, staying free of illegal drugs, and showing her ability to live free of 
8

drug dependency. The case plan called for Mother to submit to weekly drug 

testing, participate in weekly visitation with E.M., and complete a residential 

drug treatment program and any recommended follow-up care. The 

Department, in turn, was charged with assisting mother in accessing a drug 

treatment program that was culturally relevant to her Native American 

heritage and otherwise supporting her in her service objectives. As for 

father, the Department recommended a case plan with goals of consistently 

and appropriately parenting E.M. and building a support system to help 

ensure the minor’s safety at all times. Father was required to participate in 

virtual parenting classes, visit weekly with the minor, and drug test weekly. 

The Department additionally filed an expert declaration from Percy 

Tejada, which was provided by stipulation of the parties in lieu of oral 

testimony. Mr. Tejada was unable to reach the parents but did speak with 

Ms. Dorris at the ONC and several maternal relatives. Having reviewed the 

case, he opined that nothing in the removal, which was for E.M.’s protection, 

transgressed “traditional and cultural community standards.” He further 

opined that no other services could have been provided to prevent removal 

and that the Department was providing continued active efforts as required 

by the ICWA. Finally, he concluded that return of the minor to his parents 

would cause the child to suffer serious emotional and/or physical damage.

The jurisdictional and dispositional hearing commenced on August 4, 

2020. The juvenile court granted the ONC’s formal request to intervene. The 

matter was then continued to August 18 to give the Department more time to 

receive relevant documents from Alaska. A first amended petition was filed 

on August 18, 2020, which clarified the allegation under subdivision (j) of 

section 300 to state that mother’s two older children had been voluntarily 

placed with the maternal grandmother in 2012 after child welfare services in 
9

Alaska had substantiated allegations of substance abuse and domestic 

violence against mother in 2010 and 2012. 

At the continued hearing on August 18, 2020, Ms. Dorris appeared and 

stated that the ONC agreed with the Department’s recommendations and 

court findings. Both parents submitted on the amended petition and the 

juvenile court sustained the allegations, finding E.M. to be a minor described 

by sections (b) and (j) of section 300. The juvenile court found that the 

Department had provided affirmative, active, thorough, and timely efforts to 

prevent the breakup of the Indian family, but that the efforts were 

unsuccessful. It also found by clear and convincing evidence that continued 

custody of E.M. by the parents was likely to cause serious emotional or 

physical damage to the child.

E.M. was adjudged a juvenile court dependent and formally removed 

from the custody of both parents.3 Although the juvenile court found by clear 

and convincing evidence that mother was a person described by 

subdivision (b)(13) of section 361.5, it ordered reunification services for both 

parents as recommended by the Department, concluding that reunification 

would be in the best interests of the child. A court appointed special advocate 

(CASA) was appointed for E.M. The parents were advised that, given E.M.’s 

young age, if they failed to participate regularly and make substantive 

progress in court-ordered treatment, services might be terminated at the six3 Both parents ultimately submitted to disposition. Although father 

had objected to the drug testing order at the August 4 hearing, the juvenile 

court expressed its tentative view that there was sufficient information in the 

reports to justify drug testing for father. The social worker reported she had 

offered to refer father to testing closer to his work, but he had stated he 

would come to San Rafael. She stated she would be happy to revisit the issue 

with him. At the continued hearing, father indicated he would submit and 

try to find drug testing closer to work.
10

month mark. The court admonished both parents that if they wanted to 

make progress they needed to respond to calls, make appointments, and “not 

make everybody feel you are hiding something.” No appeal was taken by 

either parent. 

C. Contested Six-month Review

The Department filed a six-month review report in February 2021, 

recommending that reunification services be terminated for both parents.

Although the parents visited consistently with E.M. and the visits generally 

went well, neither parent had made progress on their reunification plan. The 

Department had been in ongoing contact with Ms. Dorris, the tribal 

representative, throughout the reporting period. The tribe had approved 

placement with a maternal aunt in Alaska and a permanent plan of tribal 

customary adoption or legal guardianship should reunification efforts fail. 

Of great concern was the parents’ lack of progress with their case plans

and failure to respond to the Department’s outreach. The social worker only 

met with mother and father two times over the six-month period, on 

August 26, and September 29, 2020. The parents also attended the first

virtual child and family team (CFT) meeting on October 12, but missed the 

remaining four CFT meetings. The social worker spoke with father about his 

case plan progress on October 30. Despite numerous other attempts by the 

social worker to reach the parents by phone or text message, the parents 

were noncommunicative. When the social worker managed to reach father on 

two occasions in January 2021, he put her off and then did not follow through 

with the planned contact. The maternal grandmother and aunts also 

reported having difficulty reaching the parents, and Ms. Dorris, the tribal 

representative, made several attempts to contact mother without success. 

While father did not return the social worker’s calls and messages, he kept
11

consistent contact with Department visitation staff regarding his visitation 

with E.M.

The Department provided mother with a hard copy of her case plan on 

August 26, 2020. On September 16, the social worker hand delivered a letter 

to mother which described the case plan requirements and provided referrals 

to three treatment programs appropriate for clients with Native American 

Heritage. Copies of the letter were sent to the tribe and to mother’s attorney. 

When mother expressed interest in an Oakland recovery program, the social 

worker obtained a release to speak with them. The social worker learned 

that mother’s assessment was old, and she would have to complete a new 

assessment with the program in order to be admitted and conveyed this 

information to mother. At the September 29, 2020 meeting, the social worker 

explained to mother the steps she would need to take to enter the program, 

including transferring her Medi-Cal to Alameda County, and mother said she 

would do so. When mother subsequently reported difficulty transferring her 

Medi-Cal, the social worker contacted a Marin County eligibility worker, 

provided mother’s Oakland address, requested the Medi-Cal transfer, and 

told mother to follow up, which she agreed to do. At the October 12, 2020

CFT meeting, mother stated she was not yet signed up for treatment. The 

social worker encouraged mother to contact the Alameda County Medi-Cal 

office and agreed to follow up with treatment programs on mother’s behalf. 

After their meeting, mother did not respond to the social worker’s phone 

calls, voicemails, or text messages.

4

4 At the contested six-month hearing on March 9, 2021, mother testified 

that she was prepared to enter drug treatment in a program with an 

available bed but needed to undergo a COVID-19 test and a TB (tuberculosis)

test prior to her admission. 
12

As for drug testing, mother reported she was testing at her methadone 

clinic and did not want to drug test at two separate locations. Mother agreed 

to sign a release of information from her clinic but could not recall the clinic’s 

name. The social worker attempted multiple times to obtain the name of the 

methadone clinic from mother, to no avail. By the September 29, 2020

meeting, mother still could not provide the name and admitted she had 

ceased treatment there the previous week. The social worker then explained 

to mother how to drug test through Quest Diagnostics and ensured that 

mother had the appropriate paperwork. Although the Department requested 

that mother drug test on multiple days from October 2020 through January 

2021, it did not receive the results of any drug test. 

Father was also provided with a copy of his case plan. A letter hand

delivered on September 16, 2020 provided him with information on parenting 

classes and explained the process for drug testing. The Department also 

discussed the case plan with father at meetings on September 29 and 

October 12. The Department sent text messages to father requesting that he 

drug test on 16 different occasions during the reporting period. He tested 

only seven times, and only twice on the actual day requested by the 

Department. Three of father’s drug tests were negative for all substances, 

and four were negative for alcohol but did not provide results for other 

substances. At the contested review hearing, the social worker testified that 

when father stated it was difficult for him to test on days he had visits with 

E.M., she no longer requested testing on visit days. She also set up the 

testing through Quest Diagnostics to give father more flexibility to test at 

different locations. 

The Department referred father to virtual parenting classes on 

multiple occasions. Despite several calls, voicemails, and text messages, the 
13

Department received no word that father ever attended the classes. At the 

contested hearing, the social worker testified that father never expressed 

concern about the timing of the parenting class or indicated he could not 

attend, although she explained that she could refer him to something else. 

Father identified his brother and sister-in-law as members of his support 

network. At father’s request, the Department invited them and a Korean 

translator to CFT meetings in November, December, and January, but 

neither father nor his family members attended.

At the conclusion of the contested hearing, mother’s attorney argued 

that the Department had undertaken only passive efforts to help the parents

and requested that reunification services be continued. Father’s counsel 

made similar arguments and also claimed that father had substantially 

complied with services. Minor’s counsel argued in favor of the Department’s 

recommendation. A newly appointed tribal representative, Ms. Peters, made 

a statement. After mentioning some additional services mother could 

participate in, she suggested that the parents be given additional 

reunification time. The juvenile court found that the Department had 

provided reasonable services and active efforts, but that the parents had 

failed to address the issues that led to E.M.’s removal. The court also found 

that it was unlikely the minor would be returned home in the next six 

months. The court therefore adopted the proposed orders terminating 

reunification services and setting the matter for a hearing pursuant to 

section 366.26 so that a permanent out-of-home plan could be developed for 

the minor. These timely petitions followed.
14

II. DISCUSSION

A. Dependency Framework

When a dependent child is removed from parental custody, “the

juvenile court ordinarily must order child welfare services for the minor and

the parent for the purpose of facilitating reunification of the family. (§ 361.5,

subd. (a).) For a child under three years of age at the time of removal, as

[E.M.] was, reunification services are presumptively limited to six months.” 

(Tonya M. v. Superior Court (2007) 42 Cal.4th 836, 843 (Tonya M.).) This is

because the “ ‘ “unique developmental needs of infants and toddlers” ’

[citation] justifies a greater emphasis on establishing permanency and

stability earlier in the dependency process.” (M.V. v. Superior Court (2008)

167 Cal.App.4th 166, 175.) 

As our high court has explained, for the parent of a child under three at 

the time of removal, the statutory scheme for providing reunification services 

establishes “three distinct periods and three corresponding distinct escalating 

standards.” (Tonya M., supra, 42 Cal.4th at p. 845.) In the first period—a 

phase from the jurisdictional hearing to the six-month review hearing where 

services are “presumed”—“services are afforded essentially as a matter of 

right.” (Ibid.) In the second period—a phase from the six-month review 

hearing to the 12-month review hearing where services are “possible”—“a 

heightened showing is required to continue services.” (Ibid.) Specifically, a

juvenile court must continue the case to the 12-month hearing only if it finds

that “there is a substantial probability that the child . . . may be returned to 

his or her parent . . . within six months or that reasonable services have not 

been provided.” (§ 366.21, subd. (e)(3).) In the third period—a phase from 

the 12-month review hearing to the 18-month review hearing where services 

are “disfavored”—services can be continued only under limited circumstances 
15

and only if the juvenile court is able to make a number of very specific 

findings presaging reunification or if it finds that reasonable services have 

not been provided. (Tonya M., at p. 845; see § 366.21, subd. (g)(1)(A)–(C).)

Here, we are concerned with the findings made by the juvenile court at 

the March 2021 six-month review. If, at such a hearing, the court finds “by 

clear and convincing evidence that the parent failed to participate regularly 

and make substantive progress in a court-ordered treatment plan,” the court 

has the discretion to schedule a permanency planning hearing for young 

minors such as E.M. (§ 366.21, subd. (e)(3).) As stated above, a juvenile 

court must continue a case to the 12-month review if it finds that “there is a 

substantial probability that the child . . . may be returned to his or her parent 

. . . within six months or that reasonable services have not been provided.” (§ 

366.21, subd. (e)(3).) Moreover, when an Indian child is involved, a party 

seeking possible termination of parental rights must also “provide evidence to 

the court that active efforts have been made to provide remedial services and 

rehabilitative programs designed to prevent the breakup of the Indian family 

and that these efforts have proved unsuccessful.” (§ 361.7, subd. (a).) The 

juvenile court’s reasonable services and active efforts findings must be 

supported by clear and convincing evidence. (Tracy J. v. Superior Court

(2012) 202 Cal.App.4th 1415, 1424; In re Michael G. (1998) 63 Cal.App.4th 

700, 712.) 

At the six-month hearing in this case, the juvenile court found by clear 

and convincing evidence that reasonable services had been provided and 

concluded that active efforts had been made but found that the parents failed 

to participate regularly and make substantive progress in court-ordered 
16

treatment.

5 The court additionally found that there was no substantial 

probability that E.M. might be returned to parental custody within six 

months. The court therefore terminated reunification services and set the 

matter for a permanency planning hearing. Both parents challenge the 

juvenile court’s reasonable services and active efforts findings by these 

petitions for extraordinary writ.

B. Reasonable Reunification Services and Active Efforts

Reunification services, which play a critical role in dependency

proceedings, must be tailored to the particular needs of the family. (§ 361.5;

In re Alanna A. (2005) 135 Cal.App.4th 555, 563; David B. v. Superior Court

(2004) 123 Cal.App.4th 768, 793.) We evaluate the reasonableness of the

Department’s reunification efforts according to the circumstances of each

case. (Robin V. v. Superior Court (1995) 33 Cal.App.4th 1158, 1164.) To

support a finding that reasonable services were offered or provided, “the

record should show that the supervising agency identified the problems

leading to the loss of custody, offered services designed to remedy those

problems, maintained reasonable contact with the parents during the course

of the service plan, and made reasonable efforts to assist the parents in areas

where compliance proved difficult.” (In re Riva M. (1991) 235 Cal.App.3d

403, 414 (Riva M.).) “The standard is not whether the services provided were

the best that might be provided in an ideal world, but whether the services

5 Although the juvenile court did not clearly articulate the clear and 

convincing standard when finding that active efforts had been made, we 

presume the court correctly applied the law absent any evidence to the 

contrary. (See In re A.C. (2017) 13 Cal.App.5th 661, 673 (A.C.) [“All 

intendments and presumptions are made to support a trial court’s judgments, 

orders, rulings, and other actions where the record is silent, and it is the 

appellant’s burden on appeal to show those actions are erroneous.”].) 
17

were reasonable under the circumstances.” (In re Misako R. (1991)

2 Cal.App.4th 538, 547.) 

We are also guided by the requirements of the ICWA. The ICWA

implements a national policy to protect the best interests of Indian children

and promote the stability and security of Indian tribes and families by

establishing minimum federal standards for the removal of Indian children

from their homes and the placement of these children in foster or adoptive

homes which take account of the unique values of Indian culture. (In re

Isaiah W. (2016) 1 Cal.5th 1, 7–8, citing 25 U.S.C. § 1902.) As stated above,

under the ICWA and corresponding California law, “[a]ny party seeking to

effect a . . . termination of parental rights[ ] to an Indian child under State

law shall satisfy the court that active efforts have been made to provide

remedial services and rehabilitative programs designed to prevent the

breakup of the Indian family and that these efforts have proved

unsuccessful.” (25 U.S.C. § 1912(d); § 361.7, subd. (a); see also In re A.L.

(2015) 243 Cal.App.4th 628, 638; § 366.26. subd. (c)(2)(B)(i).) 

Pursuant to state statute, “[w]hat constitutes active efforts shall be 

assessed on a case-by-case basis. The active efforts shall be made in a 

manner that takes into account the prevailing social and cultural values, 

conditions, and way of life of the Indian child’s tribe. Active efforts shall 

utilize the available resources of the Indian child’s extended family, tribe, 

tribal and other Indian social service agencies, and individual Indian 

caregiver service providers.” (§ 361.7, subd. (b).) California courts have

characterized active efforts as “timely and affirmative steps . . . taken to

accomplish the goal which Congress has set: to avoid the breakup of Indian

families whenever possible by providing services designed to remedy

problems which might lead to severance of the parent-child relationship.” 
18

(See Letitia V. v. Superior Court (2008) 81 Cal.App.4th 1009, 1016, citing

cases.)

In addition, section 224.1, as amended effective January 2019,

incorporates a newly adopted federal definition of “active efforts.” (§ 224.1, 

subd. (f), as amended by Stats. 2018, ch. 833, § 3, eff. Jan. 1, 2019; 25 C.F.R. 

§ 23.2.) Pursuant to that statute, active efforts means “affirmative, active, 

thorough, and timely efforts intended primarily to maintain or reunite an 

Indian child with their family. If an agency is involved in an Indian child 

custody proceeding, active efforts shall involve assisting the parent, parents, 

or Indian custodian through the steps of a case plan and with accessing or 

developing the resources necessary to satisfy the case plan. To the maximum 

extent possible, active efforts shall be provided in a manner consistent with 

the prevailing social and cultural conditions and way of life of the Indian 

child’s tribe and shall be conducted in partnership with the Indian child and 

the Indian child’s parents, extended family members, Indian custodians, and 

tribe. Active efforts shall be tailored to the facts and circumstances of the 

case . . . .” (§ 224.1, subd. (f).) 

Mirroring federal law, section 224.1 lists 11 nonexclusive examples of 

active efforts that may be provided in a particular case: (1) conducting a

comprehensive assessment of the circumstances of the Indian child’s family,

with a focus on safe reunification as the most desirable goal; (2) identifying

appropriate services and helping the parents overcome barriers, including

actively assisting the parents in obtaining those services; (3) identifying,

notifying, and inviting representatives of the Indian child’s tribe to

participate in providing support and services to the Indian child’s family and

in family team meetings, permanency planning, and resolution of placement

issues; (4) conducting or causing to be conducted a diligent search for the
19

Indian child’s extended family members, and contacting and consulting with

extended family members to provide family structure and support for the

Indian child and the Indian child’s parents; (5) offering and employing all

available and culturally appropriate family preservation strategies and

facilitating the use of remedial and rehabilitative services provided by the

child’s tribe; (6) taking steps to keep siblings together whenever possible;

(7) supporting regular visits with parents or Indian custodians in the most

natural setting possible as well as trial home visits of the Indian child during

any period of removal, consistent with the need to ensure the health, safety,

and welfare of the child; (8) identifying community resources including

housing, financial assistance, transportation, mental health and substance

abuse services, and peer support services, and actively assisting the Indian

child’s parents or, when appropriate, the child’s family, in utilizing and

accessing those resources; (9) monitoring progress and participation in

services; (10) considering alternative ways to address the needs of the Indian

child’s parents and, where appropriate, the family, if the optimum services do

not exist or are not available; and (11) providing postreunification services

and monitoring. (See § 224.1, subd. (f); 25 C.F.R. 23.2.)

We review the juvenile court’s active efforts and reasonable services

factual findings for substantial evidence. (C.F. v. Superior Court (2014)

230 Cal.App.4th 227, 239 (C.F.).) “The issue of sufficiency of the evidence in

dependency cases is governed by the same rules that apply to all appeals. If,

on the entire record, there is substantial evidence to support the findings of

the juvenile court, we uphold those findings. [Citation.] We do not pass on

the credibility of witnesses, attempt to resolve conflicts in the evidence or

evaluate the weight of the evidence. Rather, we draw all reasonable

inferences in support of the findings, view the record most favorably to the
20

juvenile court’s order, and affirm the order even if other evidence supports a

contrary conclusion.” (In re Megan S. (2002) 104 Cal.App.4th 247, 250–251;

see Kevin R. v. Superior Court (2010) 191 Cal.App.4th 676, 688–689.) 

“[W]hen presented with a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence

associated with a finding requiring clear and convincing evidence, [we] must

determine whether the record, viewed as a whole, contains substantial

evidence from which a reasonable trier of fact could have made the finding of

high probability demanded by this standard of proof.” (Conservatorship of

O.B. (2020) 9 Cal.5th 989, 1005.) A petitioner in this court bears the burden

of establishing that the juvenile court’s findings were not adequately

supported. (Megan S., at p. 251.) 

California precedent has long held that “the standards for determining

whether active efforts were made are ‘essentially undifferentiable’ from those

for assessing whether reasonable services under state law were provided.”

(C.F., supra, 230 Cal.App.4th at p. 239, citing In re Michael G., supra,

63 Cal.App.4th at p. 714.) Here, however, both parents assert that newly

enacted section 224.1, subdivision (f), and the underlying federal regulation

on which it is based, imposes an “active efforts” obligation that exceeds the

existing reasonable services standard. We need not resolve the parents’ 

contention as we have no difficulty concluding on this record that substantial

evidence supports both the juvenile court’s reasonable services finding and its

finding that active efforts were made to prevent the breakup of this Indian

family. 

C. Substantial Evidence Supports the Court’s Findings

We conclude that ample evidence supports the juvenile court’s finding 

that reasonable services were offered or provided to both mother and father 

in this case. As stated above, to support a reasonable services finding “the
21

record should show that the supervising agency identified the problems

leading to the loss of custody, offered services designed to remedy those

problems, maintained reasonable contact with the parents during the course

of the service plan, and made reasonable efforts to assist the parents in areas

where compliance proved difficult.” (Riva M., supra, 235 Cal.App.3d at

p. 414.) As our recitation of the facts makes clear, the Department conducted

a thorough investigation in this case, responding to and investigating the two

referrals and obtaining family information from the maternal relatives,

Alaska and Hawaii child welfare departments, and mother’s tribe. The

information collected revealed mother’s long-term substance abuse problem

and father’s repeated failure to keep his very young child safe. It also

disclosed the possibility that father was not always truthful and might,

himself, be involved in drug use or sales. Under these circumstances, the

services offered to the parents were clearly designed to remedy the problems

presented. Furthermore, the social worker’s dogged efforts to keep in contact

with the parents and assist them with plan compliance were more than

reasonable and were hampered only by the parents’ failure to communicate

with the Department.

Although father complains that the social worker failed to refer him to 

a parenting class that worked with his schedule, the social worker testified 

that she told father she could refer him to a different class if necessary, but 

he never indicated there was a problem. Father also complains that the 

social worker should have lessened the drug testing requirement given his 

demanding work schedule, should have observed more than one visit with the 

minor, and should have referred him to conjoint counseling, therapy, and/or a 

support group for those living with an addict. Further observation of the 

parents’ visits with E.M. was unnecessary, however, because the visits were 
22

positive, other staff adequately reported on the interactions, and the social 

worker did not want to disrupt the parent-child dynamic during visits any 

more than was necessary.

As for drug testing, the social worker tried to make this requirement as 

flexible as possible, and we disagree with father that he had adequately 

established his sobriety with the few tests he did take. The juvenile court 

expressly rejected father’s excuses for failing to engage in services. Finally, 

the social worker explained that counseling was not initially ordered in the 

case because the focus was on ensuring E.M.’s safety. Moreover, the parents’ 

failure to remain in contact with the Department and engage in the services 

already provided hampered the provision of services. As the social worker 

explained, she never got to the point where she could reevaluate and 

determine whether additional services might be beneficial to the parents.

For the same reasons, we reject mother’s complaint that services were 

unreasonable due to the social worker’s failure to observe more visits or refer 

the parents to therapy. Mother’s other claim—that the social worker did 

little to provide adequate referrals and support with respect to entering 

residential treatment—is belied by the record. When mother identified a 

treatment program she was interested in, the social worker obtained a 

release from mother, spoke to the program to see what steps mother needed 

to take for admission, explained those steps to mother, and contacted the 

eligibility worker directly when mother reported difficulty transferring her 

Medi-Cal. Yet mother failed to follow through or respond to the social 

worker’s phone calls, voicemails, and text messages. As the Department 

observed in the proceedings below, the parents “participated in the elements 

of the case that they wanted to participate in, and they did not participate in 

the elements of the case that they didn’t want to participate in.” The parents’ 
23

inability to participate in the services offered does not reflect a failure of the 

Department to offer or provide reasonable services. 

The evidence regarding the Department’s active efforts in this case is 

arguably more compelling. As discussed above, the Department conducted a

comprehensive assessment of the circumstances of the Indian child’s family, 

even without the parents’ cooperation, and recommended reunification efforts 

for mother despite the fact that her history made her presumptively 

ineligible. (§ 224.1, subd. (f)(1).) The Department then identified appropriate 

services and attempted to assist the parents in obtaining those services, 

again to the extent it was able to do so given the parents’ refusal to 

communicate and engage. (Id., subd. (f)(2) & (8).) The Department 

immediately contacted the ONC when it learned of mother’s Indian heritage 

and involved the tribe throughout the case. (Id., subd. (f)(3).) It contacted 

and consulted with E.M.’s extended Indian family members to provide 

support for the minor and his parents. (Id., subd. (f)(4).) It offered culturally 

appropriate services. (Id., subd. (f)(5).) It supported regular visitation not 

only with the parents but with E.M.’s extended Indian family. (Id., 

subd. (f)(7).) Finally, the Department monitored the parents’ progress and 

participation in services to the extent permitted by the parents. (Id., 

subd. (f)(9).) As the juvenile court observed after going through a similar 

analysis, it could not “see where [the social worker] fell below providing 

active efforts.” We agree. 

In characterizing the Department’s efforts as passive rather than 

active, the parents raise many of the same arguments we rejected above

concerning the provision of reasonable services. Their arguments fare no 

better through the lens of the ICWA. As one court has described it: 

“ ‘Passive efforts are where a plan is drawn up and the client must develop
24

his or her own resources towards bringing it to fruition. Active efforts . . .

[are] where the state caseworker takes the client through the steps of the

plan rather than requiring that the plan be performed on its own.” (In re

K.B. (2009) 173 Cal.App.4th 1275, 1286.) It is abundantly clear that the

Department did more in this case than merely draw up a reunification plan

and leave the parents to use their own resources to bring it to fruition. We 

see no error in the juvenile court’s reasonable services and active efforts 

findings.6

III. DISPOSITION

The petitions are denied on the merits. (See § 366.26, subds. (l)(1)(C), 

(l)(4)(B).) Because the permanency planning hearing in this matter is set for 

July 6, 2021, this opinion is final as to this court immediately. (Cal. Rules of 

Court, rule 8.490(b)(2)(A).)

6 In parts of her writ petition, mother appears to argue in passing that, 

even if sufficient services were provided, the court nevertheless abused its 

discretion in ordering a permanency planning hearing in this case. Since 

mother failed to support this claim with reasoned argument and citations to 

authority, she has forfeited it. (A.C., supra, 13 Cal.App.5th at p. 672.) 

Regardless, we see no abuse of discretion.
25

SANCHEZ, J.

WE CONCUR:

HUMES, P. J.

BANKE, J.

A162235

J.M. v. Superior Court