Filed 7/17/15 In re Joshua A. CA4/1 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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). Th is opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.

COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION ONE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA

In re JOSHUA A., a Person Coming Under the Juvenile Court Law.
SAN DI EGO COUNTY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY, Plaintiff and Respondent,

v. CHARLOTTE A., Defendant and Appellant. D067498
(Super. Ct. No. EJ3656)

APPEAL from an order of the Superior Court of San Diego County, Gar y M. Bubis, Judge. Affirme d.

Christopher R. Booth , under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant. Thomas E. Montgomery, County Counsel, John E. Philips, Chief Deputy County Counsel, and Jennifer Stone , Deputy County Counsel, for Plaintiff and Respondent.2

Charlotte A. challenges the finding that h er boyfriend, Luis O., did not qualify as a nonrelative extended family member (NR EF M) for placement of her son Joshua A

. She contends the juvenile court erred as a matter of law when it ruled a parent is not a r elative within the meaning of Welfare and Institutions Code section 361.3, subdivision (c)(2) 1 for purposes of determining NREFM status. Charlotte also argues the juvenile court erred when it did not order the San Diego County Health and Human Services Ag ency (Agency) to evaluate Luis ' s home as a placement option for Joshua. The Agency agrees the juvenile court misinterpreted section 362.7 when it ruled Luis was not an NREFM

. The Agency contends the error was harmless because the juvenile court found it was not in Joshua ' s best interest s to be placed with Luis , which would have disqualified the placement had the court correctly determined Luis ' s NREFM

status

. We conclude the juvenile court erred as a matter of law when it ruled a parent is not a relative within the meaning of 361.3, subdivision (c)(2) for purposes of determining
NREFM statu s within the meaning of section 36 2 .7

. The statutory scheme clearly allows a person who has an established familial relationship with a parent of the dependent child

t o qualify as an NREFM

. However, the court did not abuse its discretion when it determined placement with Luis was not in Joshua ' s best interest s . Because placement was not in Joshua ' s best interest s notwithstanding Luis ' s status as an NREFM , the court

1 Further stat utory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code unless otherwise indicated.3

wa s not required to direct the Agency to complete its evaluat ion of his home. We affirm the order.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND Joshua is the 13

- year - old son of Charlotte. In October 2014, Joshua was removed
from his mother ' s care after she became i ntoxicated and scratched and pinched him. Police officers observed that Charlotte w as " delirious " and " obviously intoxicated. " Charlotte denied she had a drinking problem

. The Agency filed a section 300 petition on Joshua ' s behalf

. In its court report , the Agency detailed seven earlier referrals to child protective services concerning Joshua ' s safety , and Joshua ' s pr ior adjudicat ion as a juvenile court dependent . All th os e refer rals , as well as the previous dependency, resulted from Charlotte ' s drinki ng. In 2011, Charlotte was arrested for driving under the influence with Joshua in the car . In 2012, Joshua found Charlotte unresponsive. She was hospitalized with a blood alcohol level of .233. In 2013, Joshua was afraid to return home . Charlotte cou ld be physically abusi ve when intoxicated. Joshua was declared a dependent of the juvenile court. He remained with his mother under a plan of family maintenance services. Charlotte completed services and t he juvenile court termin at ed jurisdiction six mo nths later

. When th e current dependency proceeding was initiated, the social worker asked Charlotte for placement options for Joshua. 2 Charlotte identified her boyfriend Luis. Luis did not have any criminal or child protective history. Charlotte broug ht Luis with

2 Joshua did not have a significant relationship with his father , wh o lived in another state.4

her to vis it Joshua after he was detained . Joshua was happy to see his mother but was uncomfortable with Luis. He asked the social worker if Luis was allowed to yell at him. Charlotte told Joshua she could visit him another time. Joshua ch ose to end the visit early. Joshua told the social worker he wanted some time away from his mother and hoped she would obtain treatment so she would not drink. He did not want to live with Luis. Joshua said Luis was very strict and had called him " stupi d. " At the contested disposition hearing, t he social worker testified the Agency had completed Luis ' s initial background checks and social interview , and concluded it was not in Joshua ' s best interest s to be placed with Luis. When the social worker tr ied t o discuss placement, Joshua said he was uncomfortable with Luis and did not want to be alone with him in a home. T he Agency did not recommend the placement because Charlotte and Luis ' s relationship was of relatively short duration, Luis did not re ali ze C harlotte had a drinking problem , and Joshua was not comfortable with Luis and did not want to live with him. T he social worker said she was concerned that Luis ' s relationship with Charlotte was not stable and Luis would not be committed to Joshua were he not with Charlotte . Charlotte informed a police officer that problems in her relationship with Luis had led to her drinking. Luis did not contact the social worker to inquire about Joshua ' s well

- being or to request visits. T he social worker said t he Agency did not complete a n assessment of Luis ' s home because it did not intend to place Joshua with
him

. Luis testified he and Charlotte had been dating for approximately a year and a half. He stayed with her in her home one or two nights a week. T hey were still dating

.5

H owever, their relationship was " on hold " to allow each of them to work through personal issues. Luis said he c ould assure Charlotte did not drink when Joshua was present. He would follow court orders, cooperate with the Agency and r eport any laps es in Charlotte ' s behavior. Luis said h is and Joshua ' s relationship was " good for the most part " and described the activities and experiences they shared , including playing Frisbee and catch , and swimming and hiking

. If he could, he helped Joshua with his homework. Joshua was a " very, very good kid " but acted defiant ly toward his mother. Luis denied calling Joshua " stupid

. " He said he did not talk that way to children. Luis did not understand why Joshua would not want to live with him. He had the means to support Joshua and could provide a stable residence for him, as well as adult guidance. Luis said he had not been aware of Charlotte ' s alcoholism but now realized the extent of her problem. He acknowledged drinking with her. Charlo tte became a little tipsy on occasion but he did not recall her being drunk

. Her drinking was typical for anyone who drank. He did not believe Charlotte was a danger to Joshua. Luis acknowledged telling the social worker he c ould not provide a long

- term placement for Joshua . H e had changed his mind and was willing to have Joshua live with him long

term if necessary

. Luis said it was " more [Charlotte ' s] idea " to have Joshua live with him. The juv enile court asked the parties whether a parent was inclu ded in the definition of a relative under section 361.3, subdivision (c)(2). County counsel and mother ' s attorney said it did. Minor ' s counsel argued the Legislature did not intend to include a parent in the definition of a relative under section 361.3, subdivision (c)(2) ,6

pointing out other statutes in the dependency code distinguish between a parent and a relative. The juvenile court found that under a strict interpretation of section 361.3, subdivision (c)(2), Luis did not meet the description of an NREFM because t he term

" parent " was not included in the definition of a relative. Further, Luis was not entitled to NREFM status because he did not have a familial or mentoring relationship with Joshua

. Joshua had a negative reaction to Luis

. Placing a teenager in a home in which he was uncomfortable c ould be destabilizing . T he court was not willing to conduct " a grand experiment " at the risk of having to find multiple placements for Joshua. T he court also questioned Luis ' s abilit y to recognize Charlot te ' s alcoholism and protect Joshua

. Even if Luis qualified as an NREFM , the court wo uld not place Joshua with Luis

. DISCUSSION
A Applicable Law and Issues Raised Whe re , as here, a child has been removed from a parent ' s care under section 361 , and the c hild is not placed with a noncustodial parent or relative , the social worker may place the child in the approved home of a n NREFM

. ( Samantha T. v. Superior Court (2011) 197 Cal

. App. 4th 94, 108 ( Samantha T .) ; In re R.T . (2015) 232 Cal.App.4th 1284, 1298

- 12 99 .) Section 362.7 defines a n NREFM as " an adult caregiver who has an established familial relationship with a relative of the child, as defined in [section 361.3, subdivision (c)(2)], or a familial or mentoring relationship with the child. " A relative i s7

" an adult who is related to the child by blood, adoption, or affinity [ 3 ] within the fifth degree of kinship, including stepparents, stepsiblings, and all relatives whose status is preceded by the words ' great, ' ' great

- great, ' or ' grand, ' or the spouse of any of these persons even if the marriage was terminated by death or dissolution. " 4 (§ 361.3, subd. (c)(2).) Charlotte contends Luis is Joshua ' s NREFM under either definition of section 362.7. She argues the juvenile court erred when it found that she was not a relative of the child, as that term is defined in section 361.3, subdivision (c)(2) , for purposes of determining NREFM status

. Charlotte states a parent is within " the fifth degree of kinship " ( i bid .) and thus is a relative of the child. She a rgues Luis qualifies as an
NREFM because he had an established familial relationship with her or alternatively,
because he had a familial or mentoring relationship with Joshua. (§ 362.7.)

3 " 'Affinity' " means the connection existing between one spouse or domestic partner and the blood or adoptive relatives of the other spouse or domestic partner. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.502(1).) (Further rule references a re to the California Rules of Court.) 4 See also rule 5.502(34): " ' Relative ' means [:] (A) An adult who is related to the child by blood, adoption, or affinity within the fifth degree of kinship. This term includes: (i) A parent, sibling, grandparent, aunt, uncle, nephew, niece, great

- grandparent, great

- aunt or

- uncle (grandparents ' sibling), first cousin, great

- great

- grandparent, great

great

- aunt or

- uncle (great

- grandparents ' sibling), first cousin once removed (parents ' first cousin), and great

- grea t

- great

- grandparent; (ii) A stepparent or stepsibling; and (iii) The spouse or domestic partner of any of the persons described in subparagraphs (A)(i) and (ii), even if the marriage or partnership was terminated by death or dissolution; or (B) An exte nded family member as defined by the law or custom of an Indian child ' s tribe. (25 U.S.C. § 1903(2).) "8 B Standard of Review and Principles of Statutory Interpretation
T he primary argument on appeal involve s an issue of statutory interpretation, which we review de novo. ( In re D.S. (2012) 207 Cal.App. 4th 1088, 1097 ( D.S. ) .) In ascertaining legislative intent, we look first to the words of the statute , giving effect to their plain meaning. ( In re P.A

. (2011) 198 Cal.App. 4th 974, 979

. ) If the statutory language is clear and unambiguous , we presume the Legislature meant what it said and the plain meaning of the statute governs . ( Murphy v. Kenneth Cole Prod uctions , Inc. (2007) 40 Cal. 4th 1094, 1103

. ) We construe the language in the context of the statute as a whole and the overall statutory scheme, and give significance to every word, phrase, sentence and part of an act in pursuing the legislative purpose. ( In re Adria nna P. (2008) 166 Cal.App.4th 44, 57

. ) Where the Legislature refers to a particular statute containing a word or phrase, the omission of another word or phrase in that statute, or the lack of reference to another statute dealing with the same general subj ect matter, shows a different legislative intent. ( In re E.M. (2014) 228 Cal.App. 4th 828, 844 .) We avoid construing a statute in a manner that would render parts of the statute surplusage. ( D.S. , supra, 207 Cal.App. 4th at p. 1097

. )
C For Purposes of Det ermining NREFM Status, A Parent Is A Relative Within the Meaning of Section 361.3, Subdivision (c)(2) The definition of relative under s ection 361.3, s ubdivision (c)(2 ) includes an adult who is related to the child by blood, adoption, or affinity within the fifth degree of9

kinship

. By its plain meaning t his includes a parent, who is related to his or her child in the first degree of lineal kinship. (Rule 5.502 (34); Prob. Code, § 13, subd

. (b).) 5 Although t he dependency code draws a distinction between a parent and a relative in
other contexts , 6 w e conclude the Legislat ur e did not intend to distinguish between a parent and other relatives for purposes of determining NREFM status.

5 Probate Code section 13 explains " [t]he degree of kinship or consanguinity between two persons is determined by counting the number of generations s eparating those persons, pursuant to subdivision (b) or (c). Each generation is called a degree. " ( Id

. , subd

. (a).) " Lineal kinship or consanguinity is the relationship between two persons, one of whom is a direct descendant of the other. The degree of kinship between those persons is determined by counting the generations separating the first person from the second person. In counting the generations, the first person is excluded and the second person is included. For example, parent and child are re lated in the first degree of lineal kinship or consanguinity, grandchild and grandparent are related in the second degree, and great

- grandchild and great

- grandparent are related in the third degree. " ( Id. , sub

. (b).)

" Collateral kinship or consanguinity is the relationship between two people who spring from a common ancestor, but neither person is the direct descendent of the other. The degree of kinship is determined by counting the generations from the first person up to the common ancestor and from th e common ancestor down to the second person. In counting the generations, the first person is excluded, the second person is included, and the common ancestor is counted only once. For example, siblings are related in the second degree of collateral kins hip or consanguinity, an aunt or uncle and a niece or nephew are related in the third degree, and first cousins are related in the fourth degree. " (Prob. Code, § 13 , subd. (c).)
6 For example, section 361.3 governs placement with a relative when a child is removed from the custody of his or her parent. Even though a parent is a relative within the definition of section 361.3, subdivision (c)(2), in that context, the juvenile court is not required to consider placing a child with a parent. I f the literal meaning of a word or sentence, when considered in the context of a statute, is contrary to the legislative intent apparent in the statute, its literal construction will not be adopted. ( Dyna

- Med, Inc. v. Fair Employment & Housing Com. (1987) 43 Cal.3d 13 79, 1386

- 1387 ; Amador Valley Joint Union High Sch. Dist. v. State Bd. of Equalization (1978) 22 Cal.3d 208, 245 [ a literal construction of statutory language that leads to absurd results may be disregarded for a construction that furthers the legislative i ntent apparent in the statute ] .)10

Before January 1, 2014, an NREFM was defined as " any adult caregiver who has an established familial or mentoring relationship with the child. " ( Former § 362.7 ; Stats. 2013, ch. 294, § 1; Samantha T ., supra , 197 Cal.App.4th at p. 108

. ) In Samanatha T ., this court, noting that it was sympathetic to the Agency ' s argument a nar row interpretation of section 362.7 might prevent otherwise appropriate placements, held that

a woman who had a long

- standing and close relationship with the children ' s mother did not meet the definition of an NREFM because she did not have a familial or m entoring relationship with the children. ( Samantha T ., at pp. 97, 110

- 111.) In 2013, this court decided In re Michael E. (2013) 213 Cal.App. 4th 670 ( Michael
E. ) , which concerned the juvenile court ' s refusal to consider the father ' s girlfriend, who

was the mother of the dependent child ' s half sibling, for placement as the dependent
child ' s NREFM . ( Id. at p. 67 4.) Rejecting the argument NREFM status is conferred through a mutual relative whe n there is no existing relationship between the child and the
p erson seeking recognition as an NREFM , t his court noted that section 362.7, by its plain terms, applie s when the child ha s an existing relationship with an individual seeking
NREFM status . ( Michael E., at p. 675.) N otwithstanding the plain terms of the s tatute, this court concluded the juvenile court should have consider ed whether the child ' s placement with his half sibling ' s mother would further the legislative goals of allowing Similarly, section 361.2 controls placement in the custody of a noncustodial parent under section 361.2 . The more specific statute controls placement with a noncustodial parent. If we can reasonably harmonize two statute s dealing with the same subject, we give concurrent effect to both, even though one statute is specific and the other is general. ( In re Greg F . (2012) 55 Cal.4th 393, 407.) Thus, although a noncustodial parent is the child's relative within the meaning of section 361.3, subdivision (c)(2), a parent is not considered for relative placement under section 361.3

.11

the child to remain in familiar surroundings, facilitating family reunificat ion or providing a culturally sensitive environment to the child

. ( Id . at p p . 675

- 676.) Less than eight months after Michael E . was decided, the Legislature modified section 362.7 to include " an adult caregiver who has an established familial relations hip with a relative of the child, as defined in paragraph 2 of subdivision (c) of Section 361.3 " as an alternative definition of an NREFM

. (Stats. 2013, c h . 294, § 1 , italics added.) The Legislature is deemed to be aware of statutes and judicial decision s in existence . ( People v. Neild (2002) 99 Cal.App. 4th 1223, 1226 .) We presume the Legislature amended section 362.7 in view of its recognition that a parent is related to his or her child in the first degree of lineal kinship (Prob. Code, § 13, subd. (b ) ) , and its awareness of judicial decisions noting that the existing limited definition of NREFM did not comport with its goals of maintaining stability for a child who has been removed from parental custody ( Michael E. , supra , 213 Cal.App. 4th at pp. 675

- 6 76; Samantha T. , supra, 197 Cal.App.4th at pp. 109

- 110)

. The intent of the Legislature to include a person with established familial ties to a parent as an NREFM is clearly expressed both in the plain language of section 362.7 as well as the statute ' s jud icial and leg islative history. It would be anomalous to afford NREFM status to someone who has an established familial relationship with the child ' s cousin or stepparent, but deny NREFM status when that
person ' s familial relationship is only with the chil d ' s parent. We conclude the juvenile court misinterpreted the law and abused its discretion when it ruled that Luis was not an NREFM because the term " parent " was not included in the definition of a relative. Luis was an NREFM because he had an establi shed familial12

relationship with Charlotte. He also qualified as an NREFM because he had a familial relationship with Joshua. " Familial " means " of, relating to, or suggestive of a family. " (Merriam

- Webster ' s Coll egiate Dict. (11 th ed. 2006) p. 451, col. 2.) Luis and Charlotte had dated for a year and a half. Luis spent one or two nights a week in the family home.
He helped Joshua with his homework, played sports with him , and went swimming and hiking. Although Joshua reacted negatively to Luis, that d oes not defeat Luis ' s status as an NREFM

. However, as we will discuss, the juvenile court properly considered the nature of Joshua ' s relationship with Luis in determining whether the placement was in Joshua's best interest s . D The Juvenile Court Was Not R equired to Order the Agency to Evaluate Luis ' s Home Charlotte contends that because Luis qualifie d as an NREFM , the juvenile court was required to order the Agency to evaluat e Luis ' s home for placement. We disagree. Section 362.7 provides: " When the home of [an NREFM] is being considered for placement of a child, the home shall be evaluated, and approval of that home shall be granted or denied, pursuant to the same standards set forth in the regulations for the licensing of foster family homes that pr escribe standards of safety and sanitation for the physical plant and standards for basic personal care, supervision, and services provided by the caregiver. " Thus the purpose of a n evaluation is to ensure (1) the home meets standards for safety and sanit ation and (2) the NREFM can provide appropriate basic personal care, supervision and services to the child

. However e ven if the home meets13

foster care standards for approval , a ny placement under section 362.7 must b e in the child ' s best interest s . ( Saman tha T. , supra , 197 Cal.App. 4th at p. 108 .)

" The best interest of the child is the fundamental goal of the juvenile dependency system, underlying the three primary goals of child safety, family preservation, and timely permanency and stability. [Citatio n.] ' The concept of a child ' s best interest " is an elusive guideline that belies rigid definition. Its purpose is to maximize a child ' s opportunity to develop into a stable, well

- adjusted adult. " [Citation.] ' " ( In re William B. (2008) 163 Cal.App. 4th 1220, 1227 .) We review the juvenile court ' s order for abuse of discretion. " [R] eversal is warranted only i f there is no reasonable basis on which the trial court could conclude that its decision advanced the best interests of the child. " ( In re Marriage of Melville (2004) 122 Cal.App.4th 601, 610 ( Melville ) .) Here, a t the time of the contested disposition hearing, the Agency had completed a portion of the evaluation required for placement― Luis ' s initial background checks and social interview

. The social worker spoke with Joshua several times about placement with Luis. Based on a number of factors, including Joshua ' s aversion to Luis, the social worker concluded it was not in Joshua ' s best interest s to place him with Luis

. Charlotte disagreed with the social worker ' s conclusion and asked the juvenile court to order the Agency to complete its evaluation of Luis ' s home. The juvenile court r easonably concluded placement with Luis was not in Joshua ' s best interest s . The court determined that placement with Luis would not offer Joshua the desired degree of stability necessary for a child in out

- of

- home placement. In large part, this was due t o Joshua ' s consistent negative reactions to the proposed placement. The14

court also found that Luis could not adequately supervise Joshua and question ed his abilit y to protect Joshua from Charlotte . The court did not abuse its discretion when it determine d that placement in foster care was in Joshua ' s best interests. ( Melville , supra , 122 Cal.App.4th at p. 610.) Thus, the juvenile court was not required to order the Agency to complete its evaluation of Luis ' s home

. Although the juvenile court erred wh en it determined that a parent is not a relative for purposes of determining NREFM status, a judgment may not be reversed on appeal unless the reviewing court, after examining the entire cause, including the evidence, concludes that the error caused a misc arriage of justice. (Cal. Const., art. VI, § 13.) We conclude that it was not reasonably probable a result more favorable to the appellant would have been reached in the absence of error. ( People v. Watson (1956) 46 Cal.2d 818, 836.)
DISPOSITION The or der is affirmed.

NARES, Acting P. J.
WE CONCUR:

HALLER, J.

M C DONALD, J.