Court Opinion

ID: 9889351
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-10-09 19:04:29.561289+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:38:47.501631
License: Public Domain

Filed 10/9/23 L.T. v. Superior Court CA4/2
See Concurring Opinion

                      NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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

                                   FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                                 DIVISION TWO

 L.T.,

          Petitioner,                                                    E081916

 v.                                                                      (Super.Ct.Nos. J293732 &
                                                                          J293733)
 THE SUPERIOR COURT OF SAN
 BERNARDINO COUNTY,                                                      OPINION

          Respondent;

 SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
 CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES,

          Real Party in Interest.

         ORIGINAL PROCEEDINGS; petition for extraordinary writ. Cara D. Hutson,

Judge. Petition denied.

         Stephanie H. Veniez for Petitioner.

         No appearance for Respondent.

                                                             1
       Tom Bunton, County Counsel, and Svetlana Kauper, Deputy County Counsel, for

Real Party in Interest.

                                              I.

                                     INTRODUCTION

       L.T. (Mother) seeks extraordinary relief from the juvenile court’s order

terminating reunification services and setting a Welfare and Institutions Code1

section 366.26 permanency planning hearing for her two children, 16-year-old Na. (born

January 2007) and 15-year-old No. (born July 2008). Mother challenges the court’s

finding that she received reasonable reunification services and believes the court should

have extended her services to the 18-month date.2 We deny the petition.

                                              II.

                    FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

       A. Prior Dependency

       Mother’s prior child welfare history indicates that she had numerous referrals

relating to substance abuse, domestic violence, and mental health issues. In 2005, the

children’s half sibling M.N. ingested methamphetamine when he was only 17 months’

old while in Mother’s care.3 Mother was offered reunification services from

       1 All future statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code unless
otherwise stated.

       2 N.E. (Father) is not a party to the writ petition.

       3 M.N. passed away in 2021 from a drug overdose.

                                              2
February 2005 until January 2008 and successfully reunified with her children.

Additionally, Na. was detained from the parents in June 2007 due to their substance

abuse. Also, from August 2008 until March 2009, the parents participated in a voluntary

family maintenance case plan for No. The parents participated in their services and the

case was dismissed in March 2009. In total, Mother had approximately 21 prior referrals

out of Los Angeles County from 2005 until 2022.

       B. Current Dependency

       Na. and No. came to the attention of the San Bernardino County Children and

Family Services (CFS) in May 2022, after a referral was received alleging general neglect

and emotional abuse by Mother related to Mother’s substance abuse history, domestic

violence between Mother and Father in the presence of the children, Father’s absence,

and Mother’s failure to provide for the children’s special medical needs. Both children

suffered from several medical conditions. Na. was on a medication regimen for thyroid

issues, but Mother was inconsistent with the treatment. No. suffered from developmental

delays and short bowel syndrome, which required No. to receive intravenous nutrition by

way of total parental nutrition. Mother, however, left No. for prolonged periods of time

expecting her then 14-year-old daughter Na. to care for No. The social worker asked

Mother to submit to on-demand drug testing twice⸺on June 22 and June 24, 2022.

Mother failed to test on both occasions.

       Due to Mother’s missed drug tests, recent domestic violence, and extensive child

welfare history, CFS sought a detention warrant for the children on July 7, 2022. The

                                            3
social worker contacted Mother by phone and advised her of CFS’s intent to take the

children into temporary protective custody. Mother told the social worker “‘Fuck you,’”

and disconnected the call. On this same day, the social worker, accompanied by law

enforcement, attempted to serve the detention warrant at Mother’s residence. Mother and

the children were not home. Mother had been residing with the maternal grandmother

who reported the children’s belongings were gone. The maternal grandmother suspected

that Mother had taken the children to Los Angeles County to her boyfriend’s residence.

The maternal grandmother did not know his address or the phone number.

       On July 11, 2022, petitions were filed on behalf of the children pursuant to

section 300, subdivisions (b) (failure to protect), (g) (no provision for support), and (j)

(abuse of a sibling). The children were detained the following day. Mother was ordered

to drug test and was granted authority to participate in No.’s medical appointments if she

was no longer a risk to the children.

       Mother believed Father made the referrals to CFS “out of spite,” but eventually

admitted that she had relapsed after her son died due to an overdose. She, however,

minimized her drug use, claiming that “it [was] not as big a problem like before.”

Mother denied leaving No. without supervision for extended periods of time, but

acknowledged that she and Father had engaged in domestic violence. She claimed that

she was willing to participate in services and was interested in therapy. The social

worker believed that Na. was severely parentified as she reported taking care of her

brother in the parents’ absence, and that Na.’s worry about her brother’s well-being

                                              4
contributed to her anxiety and panic attacks. CFS recommended reunification services

for Mother with a case plan that included a domestic violence program, general

counseling, psychotropic medication evaluation, parenting education, substance abuse

treatment, and drug testing.

       The jurisdictional/dispositional hearing was held on August 2, 2022. The court

dismissed an allegation regarding Mother’s untreated mental health and an allegation

against Father concerning his ability to provide for the children, and sustained the

remainder of the allegations in the petitions. Mother submitted on the recommendation

for reunification services and requested an inpatient substance abuse treatment. The

court declared the children dependents of the court and provided the parents with

reunification services and supervised visits once a week for two hours.

       No. and Na. were placed separately. No. was initially placed in a medically fragile

placement where he was physically aggressive with the caretakers and the other children

in the home. He also acted out sexually. As a result, the caregivers requested an

immediate removal. In September 2022, No. was placed with Mr. and Mrs. W. Mrs. W.

is a registered nurse and was able to care for No.’s special medical needs. Mr. and

Mrs. W. provided No. with his medications 24 hours a day, made sure he attended school,

and took him to all his doctor’s appointments. In October 2022, Na. was placed with her

maternal grandmother.

       Mother was referred to substance abuse counseling, a domestic violence program,

individual therapy, parenting education, and drug testing. Mother had yet to complete her

                                             5
case plan. She failed to drug test on 12 different occasions and tested negative once. It

also appeared that Mother had moved out of the county and resided in Los Angeles

County where she was looking for employment. Mother visited the children on a weekly

basis supervised by the maternal grandmother and the visits went well. However, Mother

brought her new boyfriend to the visits with the children.

       At the February 2, 2023, six-month review hearing, Mother’s counsel reported that

Mother was randomly drug testing at a site in Los Angeles County. However, Mother

did not provide any results or receipts, and the court asked Mother “to provide all those

receipts to the Agency.” Mother also averred that she was enrolled in an outpatient

substance abuse program, and complained that there was “trouble getting in touch with

CFS to set [ ] up [make-up visits].” In response, CFS’s counsel noted that Mother had

never previously raised any concerns contacting CFS and that counsel was unable to

investigate or verify whether the contention was true. Counsel requested that Mother

update her mailing address and telephone number. The court granted the request.

Minor’s counsel raised the issue of Mother bringing unauthorized third parties, namely

her boyfriend, to her visits with the children. The court found by clear and convincing

evidence that reasonable services had been provided to the parents and continued services

for the parents.

       By the 12-month review hearing, CFS recommended terminating reunification

services for the parents and setting a section 366.26 hearing for legal guardianship.

Although Mother had been referred to substance abuse counseling, domestic violence

                                             6
education, individual therapy, parenting education, and drug testing, she had not

completed the majority of her case plan. Mother failed to randomly drug test as

requested by CFS, missing seven drug tests during this reporting period, and had not

made herself available to the social worker. On July 7, 2023, the social worker provided

Mother with a multitude of drug testing sites throughout California. Yet, Mother again

failed to show up for drug testing. There was no evidence that Mother was sober, and she

continued to live with her boyfriend without any participation in the children’s care or

welfare. Mother also misrepresented her participation in services to the social worker. In

January 2023, Mother reported that she was taking substance abuse classes at Claremartix

in Ontario. However, when the social worker contacted the facility on July 6, 2023, she

was advised that Mother had never enrolled for services at that site. On July 7, 2023,

Mother presented a letter from Conclusions Treatment Center stating that she had

enrolled in substance abuse treatment a few days prior on June 30, 2023. Mother had

completed a parenting education program and domestic violence classes at White Stone

Counseling on February 23, 2023, and January 17, 2023, respectively.

       During this reporting period, Mother was inconsistent in visiting with the children.

She continued to reside in Torrance with her boyfriend who transported Mother to visits

with the children. When asked about the inconsistent contact with the children, Mother

“always ha[d] an excuse [why] she ha[d] not been visiting.” From October 6, 2022, until

June 30, 2023, Mother only visited the children three times and had not called to check

on them. Mother also failed to attend No.’s medical appointments and did not visit No. at

                                             7
the hospital during his almost two-week hospitalization in May 2023 for abscess

treatment.

       CFS inquired of the maternal grandmother of her interest in caring for No.

However, the maternal grandmother reported that she would not be able to take legal

guardianship of No. due to his special health care needs. Na. continued to reside with her

maternal grandmother. Na. enjoyed living with her maternal grandmother, who

transported Na. to school on a daily basis, took her to her medical appointments and

visits, and provided Na. with security and stability. Na. reported that she did not want to

move back to her parents’ care. She feared she would regress if she moved back home

with her parents. Na. requested to shorten and modify her visits with the parents to every

other week so that she could have time with her friends on the weekend.

       At a hearing on July 19, 2023, Mother’s counsel noted “inconsistencies” in each

child’s report regarding the frequency of Mother’s visits and suggested that Mother tested

in Los Angeles County but presented no evidence to support the contention. Mother

provided one negative drug test dated July 12, 2023. On August 1, 2023, the social

worker contacted Mother requesting receipt for out-of-county testing. Mother never

responded. CFS was also unable to verify whether she was attending individual therapy

at White Stone Counseling where she had completed her parenting and domestic violence

classes. CFS was unable to verify Mother’s enrollment or progress in substance abuse

counseling because Mother did not sign a consent form for CFS to speak with a

                                             8
representative of Conclusions Treatment Center. As to visits with the children, since

October 2022, Mother missed 17 visits with No. and visited him only seven times.

       The contested 12-month review hearing was held on August 2, 2023. Mother

appeared telephonically. Mother’s counsel argued that Mother was consistent in visiting

both children, that she had completed her parenting and domestic violence classes and

claimed that Mother had completed counseling “for some time.” Mother’s counsel

admitted that Mother had not “been super reachable,” noting CFS had attempted to

contact Mother but that Mother had not returned the social worker’s calls. The children’s

counsel and CFS’s counsel requested the court terminate services for both Mother and

Father. As to Mother, the children’s attorney noted that Mother still had not completed

her case plan, there were questions as to whether Mother maintained her sobriety or

benefitted from the services she had received, and more importantly, that Na. was not

interested in reunification with Mother, whether or not Mother had completed her case

plan. CFS’s counsel, in part, stated Mother “was zero compliant with the substance

abuse program and random drug testing components of her case plan which were central

and critical to her reunification services.” Following argument, the juvenile court found

that CFS had provided Mother with reasonable services, Mother had failed to participate

regularly and make substantive progress in her court-ordered case plan, and custody by

Mother continued to be detrimental to the children’s well-being. As such, the court

terminated Mother’s reunification services and set a section 366.26 hearing. Mother

timely filed a notice of intent to file a writ petition.

                                                9
                                             III.

                                       DISCUSSION

       Mother contends the juvenile court should have continued her services to the 18-

month date because CFS failed to provide her with reasonable services by not following

up with her service providers. She believes CFS failed to make reasonable contact with

Mother and reasonable efforts to assist her in complying with the case plan. CFS

responds Mother forfeited her challenge to the adequacy of services because she never

raised the issue in the court below and that substantial evidence shows CFS had provided

Mother with reasonable services.

       A. Forfeiture

       At the outset, we address CFS’s claim that Mother forfeited her reasonable

services claim by failing to object in the court below. “A party forfeits the right to claim

error as grounds for reversal on appeal when he or she fails to raise the objection in the

trial court [and may not be raised for the first time on appeal]. [Citations.] Forfeiture,

also referred to as ‘waiver,’ applies in juvenile dependency litigation and is intended to

prevent a party from standing by silently until the conclusion of the proceedings.” (In re

Dakota H. (2005) 132 Cal.App.4th 212, 221-222; see In re Christopher B. (1996) 43

Cal.App.4th 551, 558.) Appellate courts have applied the waiver (forfeiture) doctrine in

dependency proceedings in a variety of contexts in which the parent has failed to object,

including situations in which the juvenile court has set a section 366.26 hearing after

                                             10
determining that reasonable services had been provided. (In re Kevin S. (1996) 41

Cal.App.4th 882, 885-886.)

       In this case, Mother failed to object to the adequacy of the reunification plan or the

services provided to her. Instead, Mother argued that she had substantially completed her

services “for some time” and complied with her case plan. Mother also represented that

she may be able to complete her case plan if given another six months of reunification

services and asked the court to continue her services until the 18-month date of

February 2023. There was no argument made that the services provided to the parents

were unreasonable. Thus, she has forfeited her claim as to the reasonableness of the

services offered in her plan. Notwithstanding any forfeiture, Mother’s claim lacks merit.

       B. Substantial Evidence of Reasonableness Finding

       “In a juvenile dependency proceeding, a parent generally has a statutory right to

reunification services when his or her child is removed from the parent’s custody at a

disposition hearing.” (In re M.S. (2019) 41 Cal.App.5th 568, 590; see § 361.5, subd. (a).)

Reunification services are among the “[s]ignificant safeguards” that are built into the

current dependency scheme. (In re Marilyn H. (1993) 5 Cal.4th 295, 307-308.) As a

result, the department must make a “‘“‘good faith effort’”’ to provide reasonable services

responsive to the unique needs of each family through a plan that is ‘“specifically tailored

to fit the circumstances of each family . . . , and . . . designed to eliminate those

conditions which led to the juvenile court’s jurisdictional finding.”’” (In re Taylor J.

(2014) 223 Cal.App.4th 1446, 1451 (Taylor J.).)

                                              11
       Reunification services are typically available to parents for a maximum of

18 months from the physical removal of the children from their home. (T.J. v. Superior

Court (2018) 21 Cal.App.5th 1229, 1251.) At each review hearing, if the child is not

returned to the custody of his or her parent, “the juvenile court is required to determine

whether reasonable services that were designed to aid the parent in overcoming the

problems that led to the initial removal and the continued custody of the child have been

offered or provided to the parent.” (In re J.P. (2014) 229 Cal.App.4th 108, 121.) At the

12-month status review hearing, if the juvenile court determines that a child should not be

returned, it is required to terminate reunification services unless it finds (1) there is a

substantial probability that the child will be returned within 18 months of the initial

removal; or (2) reasonable reunification services were not provided to the parent.

(§ 366.21, subd. (g)(1)(C); Amanda H. v. Superior Court (2008) 166 Cal.App.4th 1340,

1345 (Amanda H.).)

       The adequacy of the plan and the reasonableness of the department’s efforts are

judged according to the circumstances of the specific case. (Taylor J., supra, 223

Cal.App.4th at p. 1451.) To support a finding that the department provided or offered

reasonable services to the parent, the record should demonstrate the department

“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, italics

                                               12
omitted; see In re A.G. (2017) 12 Cal.App.5th 994, 1001.) “[I]n reviewing the

reasonableness of the reunification services provided by [CFS], we must also recognize

that in most cases more services might have been provided, and the services which are

provided are often imperfect. The standard is not whether the services provided were the

best that might have been provided, but whether they were reasonable under the

circumstances.” (Elijah R. v. Superior Court (1998) 66 Cal.App.4th 965, 969.)

       C. Standard of Review

       We review the juvenile court’s reasonable services finding for substantial

evidence, bearing in mind the clear and convincing evidence burden of proof.

(Conservatorship of O.B. (2020) 9 Cal.5th 989, 995-996.) Substantial evidence is that

“‘which is reasonable, credible and of solid value.’” (In re Alvin R. (2003) 108

Cal.App.4th 962, 971.) In reviewing the record for substantial evidence, we “do not

evaluate the credibility of witnesses, reweigh the evidence, or resolve evidentiary

conflicts. Rather, we draw all reasonable inferences in support of the findings, consider

the record most favorably to the juvenile court’s order, and affirm the order if supported

by substantial evidence even if other evidence supports a contrary conclusion.” (In re

L. Y.L. (2002) 101 Cal.App.4th 942, 947 (L. Y.L.).)

       Our review is “limited to that period following the last reasonable services finding,

which if unchallenged is final and binding.” (Serena M. v. Superior Court (2020) 52

Cal.App.5th 659, 675.) Here, the relevant period is between the six-month and 12-month

review hearings, from February to August 2023. Mother has the burden to demonstrate

                                            13
the evidence is insufficient to support the juvenile court’s finding that CFS provided

reasonable services. (L. Y.L., supra, 101 Cal.App.4th at p. 947.)

         D. Analysis

         Mother has not satisfied her burden. The record is replete with evidence that CFS

provided Mother with referrals for a substance abuse program, domestic violence

education, individual therapy, parenting education, and drug testing. In July 2023, the

social worker also provided Mother with a multitude of drug testing sites throughout

California. However, although Mother had completed the parenting education and

domestic violence component of her case plan, Mother failed to randomly drug test as

requested by CFS or complete a substance abuse treatment program. Between the six-

month hearing and the 12-month hearing, Mother had missed seven drug tests (once in

March 2023 and twice in April, May, and June 2023). Mother claimed that she had drug

tested in Los Angeles County, but failed to provide proof, even after requested by the

juvenile court. Mother’s longstanding history with drug addiction was the main reason

identified by CFS that led to her losing custody of her children, and CFS had offered her

services designed to remedy those problems. Yet, Mother failed to take advantage of the

services offered to her. She continued to live with her boyfriend in Torrance without any

participation in the children’s care or welfare. There was no evidence that Mother was

sober.

                                             14
       In addition, CFS attempted to maintain reasonable contact with Mother and made

reasonable efforts to assist her in the substance abuse components of her case plan.

However, as acknowledged by her counsel, it was Mother who failed to make herself

available to the social worker and CFS. Mother also misrepresented her participation in

services to the social worker. In January 2023, Mother reported that she was taking

substance abuse classes, but when the social worker contacted the facility in July 2023,

she was advised that Mother had never enrolled for services at that site. In July 2023,

Mother presented a letter from Conclusions Treatment Center stating that she had

enrolled in substance abuse treatment a few days prior on June 30, 2023. However, when

the social worker attempted to contact the facility to follow up on Mother’s progress in

services, Mother thwarted those efforts by refusing to sign a consent form for CFS to

speak with a representative of the treatment center. Further, Mother was inconsistent in

visiting with the children. Despite CFS’s efforts, it appears that Mother continued to

abuse drugs throughout the dependency and likely stopped attending visits with her

children due to her drug use. Moreover, Na. asked that her visits with Mother be

shortened and modified to every other week so she could have time with her friends on

the weekend. She also stated that she did not want to move back to her parents’ care due

to a fear that she would regress if she moved back home with her parents. In totality, the

evidence in the record amply supports the juvenile court’s finding that CFS’s efforts were

reasonable under the circumstances. (In re Misako R. (1991) 2 Cal.App.4th 538, 545-547

(Misako R.).)

                                            15
       Relying on Amanda H., supra, 166 Cal.App.4th 1340, Mother blames CFS for not

following up with her service providers or attempting to gather information about her

compliance with her case plan. In Amanda H., the appellate court held that reasonable

services had not been provided to a mother whose services had included domestic

violence counseling, parent education, and individual counseling. (Id. at p. 1343.) The

social worker reported that the mother was participating in those services and was

therefore on track to having the children returned, when in fact the mother was not

actually enrolled in a program of domestic violence counseling separate from her

individual counseling. The Court of Appeal acknowledged that “it was mother’s

responsibility to attend the programs and address her problems,” but explained that “it

was the social worker’s job to maintain adequate contact with the service providers

and accurately to inform the juvenile court and mother of the sufficiency of the

enrolled programs to meet the case plan’s requirements.” (Id. at p. 1347.) Since the

social worker’s misrepresentation “may have thwarted mother’s ability adequately to

address . . . the fundamental problem that led to the children’s detention,” the services

were not reasonable. (Ibid.)

       In the instant case, the social worker made attempts to contact Mother’s service

providers at Conclusions Treatment Center, but Mother refused to provide releases that

would have allowed the social worker to access specific information about the services

and Mother’s progress. This is not a case in which the social worker lacked access to

information due to a lack of effort, and unlike in Amanda H., the social worker did not

                                             16
erroneously tell Mother or the juvenile court that Mother was participating in all the

services she had been ordered to complete. Mother was not misled by CFS to believe she

was complying with her case plan when she failed to complete her substance abuse

component. Unlike the mother in Amanda H., who immediately enrolled in domestic

violence counseling once learning of the department’s misrepresentation, Mother simply

chose to stop participating in services. In sum, it was Mother’s actions, not CFS’s, that

led to her non-compliance—which is no basis for reversal.

       Mother also complains that individual counseling or her compliance with her

medication was not mentioned in CFS’s 12-month review report and there was no

indication CFS had provided out-of-county drug testing sites to her until July 2023.

Mother forfeited any claims of inadequacies in the reports when she failed to raise the

issue to the court below. Failure to object to the adequacy of the department’s report

waives the argument for appeal. (In re Crystal J. (1993) 12 Cal.App.4th 407, 411-412.)

“‘[A]ny other rule would permit a party to . . . deliberately stand by in silence and thereby

permit the proceedings to reach a conclusion in which the party could acquiesce if

favorable and avoid if unfavorable. [Citation.]’” (In re Dakota S. (2000) 85 Cal.App.4th

494, 502.) Furthermore, at the contested 12-month review hearing on August 2, 2023,

Mother’s counsel conceded “CFS is not responsible for referring Mom to testing facilities

in L.A. County.” And, Mother did not complain as to CFS’s failure to provide her with

drug testing sites in Los Angeles County sooner than July 2023.

                                             17
       “In almost all cases it will be true that more services could have been provided

more frequently and that the services provided were imperfect.” (Misako R., supra, 2

Cal.App.4th at p. 547.) The question is whether the services were reasonable under the

circumstances. The answer is yes. CFS made referrals for Mother to participate in

domestic violence education, parenting education, individual counseling, substance abuse

treatment, and drug testing at the outset of the dependency, but Mother failed to accept

the referrals or to consistently attend the services provided to her, namely substance

abuse treatment. A social services agency cannot force a parent to participate in services.

(In re Nolan W. (2009) 45 Cal.4th 1217, 1233; In re Ronell A. (1996) 44 Cal.App.4th

1352, 1365 [“‘an unwilling or indifferent parent cannot be forced to comply’” with

reunification services].)

       CFS made numerous efforts to provide Mother with services that were designed to

remedy the problems leading to the dependency. Having carefully reviewed the entire

record, we find that substantial evidence supports the juvenile court’s finding that Mother

was provided with reasonable reunification services. (See Misako R., supra, 2

Cal.App.4th at p. 545.)

                                            18
                                            IV.

                                      DISPOSITION

       Mother’s petition for extraordinary relief is denied on the merits. (Cal. Rules of

Court, rule 8.452(h).)

       NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS

                                                               CODRINGTON
                                                                                            J.
I concur:

RAMIREZ
                         P. J.

                                            19
[L.T. v. The Superior Court; CFS, E081916]

MENETREZ, J., Concurring.

       I concur in the judgment.

       The only issue raised by mother is that the juvenile court erred by finding that San

Bernardino Children and Family Services (CFS) provided reasonable services during the

12-month review period. “We review the reasonable services finding for substantial

evidence.” (In re T.W.-1 (2017) 9 Cal.App.5th 339, 346.) The reasonableness of CFS’s

efforts must be evaluated in light of all the circumstances of the case. (In re Taylor J.

(2014) 223 Cal.App.4th 1446, 1451.) Thus, the issues are (1) what CFS did during the

relevant time period and (2) whether it was reasonable under the circumstances.

       The record contains evidence that CFS provided the following services to mother:

(1) On some unspecified date before the six-month review hearing, CFS provided mother

with referrals for her case plan programs; (2) CFS conducted a child and family team

meeting (CFT) on January 13, 2023 (i.e., before the six-month review hearing); (3) CFS

conducted additional CFT’s on March 21 and July 7, 2023; and (4) at the July 7 CFT, the

social worker provided mother with a list of drug testing sites “throughout California.”

The 12-month review report also asserts that mother “has not made herself available to”

the social worker, but the report does not say what efforts, if any, the social worker made

to contact the mother. As best I can determine, the record contains no evidence of any

other services provided by CFS.

       Thus, the only services shown by the evidence to have taken place between the

six-month review hearing and the 12-month review hearing are two CFT’s and the

                                              1
provision of a statewide list of drug testing sites. It is hard to see how those could

possibly constitute reasonable services, particularly given that the standard of proof is

clear and convincing evidence. (Welf. & Inst. Code, § 366.21, subd. (f)(1)(A);

Conservatorship of O.B. (2020) 9 Cal.5th 989, 995-996.)

       CFS argues that mother forfeited her substantial evidence challenge by failing to

argue against the reasonable services finding in the trial court. The argument is meritless

because substantial evidence challenges are not forfeited by failure to raise the issue in

the trial court. (In re R.V. (2012) 208 Cal.App.4th 837, 848; In re Javier G. (2006) 137

Cal.App.4th 453, 464; see generally People v. Butler (2003) 31 Cal.4th 1119, 1126.)1

       The thrust of CFS’s argument in the remainder of its brief appears to be that

because mother’s cooperation and case plan compliance were poor, it was permissible for

CFS to do almost nothing. Insofar as that is CFS’s position, it is legally erroneous. A

parent’s failings do not relieve CFS of its statutory obligation to make efforts that are

reasonable under the circumstances. (In re Taylor J., supra, 223 Cal.App.4th at p. 1451.)

If a parent is difficult to contact or does not respond to the social worker’s

communications, then it might well be true that the social worker can do no more than

continue to try to reach out to the parent. But the social worker must make those efforts.

The record before us contains no evidence of such efforts.

1      In re Kevin S. (1996) 41 Cal.App.4th 882, which is cited in the majority opinion
(maj. opn., ante, at p. 11), is not to the contrary. In that case, the argument raised on
appeal was that the juvenile court committed legal error by terminating reunification
services at the combined 12-month and 18-month review hearing despite finding that
reasonable services had not been provided. (In re Kevin S., supra, at pp. 885-886.)

                                              2
       The record does, however, contain an alternative basis for denial of mother’s

petition. At the 12-month review hearing, mother’s counsel acknowledged having been

provided with CFS’s “delivered service logs.” No party asked that the logs be admitted

into evidence, so they were not before the trial court and are not part of the record on

appeal. But mother’s counsel, having reviewed those logs, made the following express

concession: “Mom has not been super reachable. CFS did try to reach out to Mom and

she did not return social worker’s communication. That is on my client.” Given that

mother’s counsel received the delivered service logs and, apparently on that basis,

expressly conceded that CFS did try to communicate with mother and that any lack of

communication was the fault of mother rather than CFS, mother cannot now argue that

CFS’s efforts to communicate with her were insufficient. (In re Cody W. (1994) 31

Cal.App.4th 221, 231.) Mother’s petition should accordingly be denied, and I therefore

concur in the judgment.

                                                                MENETREZ
                                                                                           J.

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