Court Opinion

ID: 9908884
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-12-12 00:02:15.211465+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:49:34.700693
License: Public Domain

Filed 12/11/23 T.J. v. Superior Court CA4/2

                        NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for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

 T.J. et al.,

           Petitioners,                                                          E082175

 v.                                                                              (Super.Ct.No. DPSW2200017)

 THE SUPERIOR COURT OF                                                           OPINION
 RIVERSIDE COUNTY,

           Respondent;

 RIVERSIDE COUNTY DEPARTMENT
 OF PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES,

           Real Party in Interest.

         ORIGINAL PROCEEDINGS; petition for extraordinary writ. Sean P. Crandell,

Judge. Petitions denied.

         Laurie Minter for Petitioner, T.J.

         Chrystal James for Petitioner, M.P.

         No appearance for Respondent.

                                                                    1
       Minh C. Tran, County Counsel, Teresa K.B. Beecham and Catherine E. Rupp,

Deputy County Counsel, for Real Party in Interest.

                                     INTRODUCTION

       Petitioner M.P. (mother) filed a petition for extraordinary writ pursuant to

California Rules of Court, rule 8.452 challenging the juvenile court’s order terminating

reunification services as to her children, X.J. and Z.J. (the children), and setting a Welfare

and Institutions Code1 section 366.26 hearing. She contends the Riverside County

Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) did not provide her with reasonable

services and that the court erred in finding it would be detrimental to return the children

to her care. Petitioner T.J. (father) has filed a separate writ petition similarly arguing

that DPSS did not provide him with reasonable services, and the court erred in

terminating his services and finding that placement of the children with him would create

a substantial risk of detriment. They both request a temporary stay of the section 366.26

hearing, pending the granting or denial of their writ petitions. We deny the request for a

stay and also deny the writ petitions.

                                PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

       On July 26, 2022, DPSS filed a section 300 petition, alleging that the children

came within the provisions of subdivision (b) (failure to protect). At that time, X.J. was

seven years old and Z.J. was 10 months old. The petition alleged that mother and father

       1  All further statutory references will be to the Welfare and Institutions Code,
unless otherwise indicated.

                                              2
(the parents) engaged in severe acts of domestic violence in the children’s presence,

causing X.J. to intervene by hitting mother in an attempt to stop the fighting. The

petition also alleged that the parents had a prior welfare referral history for domestic

violence and failed to benefit from services, that they both abused controlled substances,

and that they both had criminal histories, which included arrests for domestic violence

and child endangerment offenses.{CT 60-64}

       The social worker filed a detention report, recommending that the children be

detained and the parents have supervised visitation.{CT 33-35} The social worker

reported that DPSS received a referral on July 19, 2022, due to a domestic violence

incident, and law enforcement responded to the parents’ residence. According to the

police report, both parents reported engaging in a physical altercation. Father reported

that mother was the aggressor, he started recording her with his cell phone, and she

slapped the phone from his hand, scratched his neck, and kicked him in the head. Their

daughter, X.J., began yelling at mother and hit her over the head with a metal water

bottle.{CT 17} Mother reported that father had been drinking most of the day and, when

she asked him why he was drinking so much, it caused tension, so they took the children

to the park. Mother said, upon their return, X.J. wanted to watch online videos, was

upset, and swung a metal flask at her, hitting her in the head.{CT 17}

       The social worker interviewed mother on July 21, 2022. Mother said the day of

the incident was stressful, and she drank a wine cooler. She said X.J. was not listening

to her, so she asked father for help. Mother could not remember what happened, except

that she and father got into an argument, and X.J. was mad because of it. Mother could

                                              3
not recall any other details but just remembered that X.J. struck her on the head.{CT 17-

18} She denied having any issues with drugs or alcohol but said father drinks too

much.{CT 18}

       The social worker also interviewed father, who referred to himself as an alcoholic,

and said he smoked marijuana and had a history of methamphetamine use.{CT 18}

Father reported that he and mother were “ ‘buzzed’ ” on the day of the incident, as

mother drank three wine coolers and mixed them with her medication, which contributed

to her hostile and aggressive behavior. Father said she pushed him against the wall and

grabbed his neck with her nails, and he fell to the floor. While mother was hunched

over, X.J. hit her on the head. Father said he started recording a video on his cell phone

when things got “ ‘heated,’ ” and he showed the social worker the videos.{CT 18} The

video clips showed mother and father engaging in an argument. One of the clips showed

X.J. “screaming, crying, and yelling in distress,” apparently after hitting mother on the

head.{CT 19} In another video, mother was holding Z.J. and asking why she was

bleeding and who hit her. Both children could be heard crying and panicking in the

video.{CT 19} Mother was arrested and charged with inflicting corporal injury on a

spouse and child endangerment.{CT 23}

       The social worker interviewed X.J. at the maternal grandmother’s home. X.J.

explained that the parents were fighting about drinking, mother scratched father, and

father pushed mother to the floor. She said that, while mother was on the floor, father

hit mother on the head with his hand.{CT 20}

                                             4
      In light of the domestic violence incident, DPSS placed the children in protective

custody in the home of the maternal grandparents.{CT 13, 21}

      The social worker reported on the parents’ prior history. On November 6, 2018,

DPSS received a referral for general neglect and domestic violence. Mother had

contacted law enforcement to report an incident of domestic violence. The police

observed a cut to her nose and bruising to her face and right hand. The referral was

substantiated for father but unfounded as to mother.{CT 22} On August 12, 2019,

DPSS received another referral, as mother contacted law enforcement to report that father

had been drinking and began to fight with her, biting her on the hand and breaking items

in the home. X.J. (age 4) witnessed the domestic violence incident.{CT 22} Father was

charged with domestic violence and child endangerment, and mother was charged with

domestic violence. Mother failed to appear at court, and the case was still pending.{CT

23} Father pled down to two charges of malicious disturbance of another person by loud

noise and was on probation until July 20, 2023.{CT 24, 137}

      The court held a detention hearing on July 28, 2022, and detained the children in

the maternal grandparents’ home, with the plan to move them to the home of the maternal

great-grandparents.{RT 11, 15, 17} The court ordered separate visitation for the parents,

supervised by the maternal grandmother, twice a week. It also ordered that substance

abuse treatment and testing, parenting education, and counseling services be provided

pending further proceedings.{RT 17-18, CT 27, 33}

                                            5
       Jurisdiction/Disposition

       The social worker filed a jurisdiction/disposition report on August 16, 2022,

recommending that the court sustain the petition, declare the children dependents, and

order reunification services for mother and father.{CT 126} The social worker reported

that the children were placed in the home of the maternal great-grandparents on

July 28.{CT 127} She also reported that a visit was scheduled on August 5, at the DPSS

office, and the parents visited the child, Z.J., separately. However, X.J. refused to go to

the visit.{CT 148} The social worker spoke with her, and she said she did not want to

visit with the parents at that time but might want to the following week.{CT 148} The

parents said they understood why X.J. did not want to visit and indicated they spoke with

her on the phone almost daily.{CT 148} On August 12, the maternal great-grandparents

said they did not feel comfortable supervising visits at their home.{CT 148}

       The social worker reported that, on August 1, 2022, mother and father were

referred to counseling services and domestic violence services through Marsell

Consulting (Marsell), and to parenting education and substance abuse services through

MFI Recovery Center (MFI).{CT 149, 344, 345} On August 12, both mother and father

stated they were enrolled in counseling and domestic violence services and had signed up

for an online parenting class. They both said they did not need substance abuse

services.{CT 150, 154}

       The court held a jurisdiction/disposition hearing on August 19, 2022.{RT 21}

The parents set the matter contested and requested that the maternal grandmother be

authorized to supervise the visits at her house, without the maternal grandfather present,

                                             6
since he had a nonexemptible criminal case against him.{RT 22-23} The court

authorized DPSS to permit the maternal grandmother to supervise visits at her home, if it

deemed that appropriate. The court set the contested hearing for September 29.{RT 24}

The matter was later continued to October 19.{RT 29}

       DPSS filed an amended petition on October 19, 2022, that essentially amended the

allegations under section 300, subdivision (b), to specifically state that, on July 18, the

parents engaged in an act of domestic violence in the children’s presence, where mother

pushed and scratched father, which resulted in his sustaining injuries to his neck and

caused X.J. to intervene by hitting mother in an attempt to stop them; mother was

arrested for battery on a spouse.{CT 267} Both mother and father filed “Waiver of

Rights” forms and submitted on the amended petition.{CT 275-278}

       That same day, the court held the contested jurisdiction/disposition hearing.{RT

30} The social worker informed the court that the maternal grandmother no longer

wanted visits to take place at her home.{RT 31} The maternal great-grandmother added

that it was because the maternal grandmother did not want to supervise the visits

anymore.{RT 32} Mother’s counsel noted that mother’s visits had recently been

changed back to the DPSS office, and requested that mother have her visits either “in the

community” or at the maternal great-grandparents’ home.{RT 33} Both mother and

father acknowledged they were waiving their rights and submitting on the amended

petition, and county counsel informed the court that the amended petition was negotiated

by the parties.{RT 35-36} The court found true the allegations, sustained the amended

petition, and then declared the children dependents of the court. It removed the children

                                              7
from the parents’ custody and ordered mother and father to participate in reunification

services.{RT 38-39} Both of their case plans included the requirements that they

participate in individual counseling, complete a domestic violence program, complete a

parenting education program, and participate in a substance abuse program, including

substance abuse testing.{CT 158-163} The prior visitation orders were to remain in

effect.{CT 181, RT 39-40} The court authorized the maternal grandfather to be present

for visits, as long he was not left alone with the children.{RT 42-43}

       Six-month Status Review

       On April 6, 2023, the social worker filed a six-month status review report,

recommending that the children remain dependents of the court, and the court terminate

both parents’ reunification services and set a section 366.26 hearing.{CT 325-326} The

social worker reported that the parents agreed to meet on December 9, 2022, to review

their case plans after their visits that day. However, father called to cancel the meeting

for both him and mother and rescheduled visits for December 12. On December 12,

mother contacted the social worker to say she could not meet due to car troubles and

rescheduled for December 15. On December 15, she failed to show up.{CT 342-343}

She also either cancelled or failed to appear at two other scheduled meetings.{CT 343}

On March 8, 2023, the social worker met with mother, and mother said she was not

interested in the case plan services and refused to accept a copy of the case plan or

referral letter.{CT 343}

       The social worker further reported that mother had been referred to MFI for

substance abuse treatment and testing but adamantly refused to participate. She was

                                             8
given the opportunity to choose an alternative program, with DPSS’s approval.{CT 344}

However, on January 11, 2023, mother completed the MFI assessment, tested positive for

opiates, and qualified for treatment; but she indicated she did not need a substance abuse

program and refused to enroll.{CT 344} Mother did submit to substance abuse testing

numerous times from September 2022 to March 2023, but failed to test five times during

that period. The social worker noted that mother was banned from testing at certain

facilities due to being verbally aggressive with staff and not complying with

regulations.{CT 344-345} The social worker reported that mother was referred to PPP

Parenting Services on August 8, 2022, but there was no record of her enrolling or

participating in the program.{CT 345} She was referred to individual counseling at

Marsell and, on February 2, 2023, a counselor reported that she completed her counseling

with no concerns.{CT 345} Mother was also referred to Marsell for a domestic violence

program. She was participating but was discharged on March 15, due to poor

attendance, and she was re-enrolled on March 30.{CT 346} The social worker noted

that mother continued her unhealthy relationship with father and expressed her intent to

stay in that relationship.{CT 346}

       The social worker reported that father repeatedly refused to enroll in services,

stating that he was the victim.{CT 347} Throughout the review period, the social

worker tried to review the case plan with him, but father failed to attend five scheduled

meetings.{CT 347} Father was referred to MFI for substance abuse treatment and

testing, completed his assessment on January 11, 2023, and qualified for treatment; but,

he did not enroll and indicated he did not need a substance abuse treatment program.{CT

                                             9
348} Father submitted to multiple substance abuse tests from September 2022 to March

2023, failed to appear three times, and tested positive for marijuana on January 11 and

March 9, 2023.{CT 348-349} As to the parenting education requirement, father said he

enrolled in PPP Parenting Services on August 8, 2022. However, PPP reported there

was no record of enrollment, participation, or completion for him.{CT 349} Father was

referred to Marsell for individual counseling and a domestic violence program, and he

started services in August 2022. On March 1, 2023, Marsell reported that he was

discharged due to lack of attendance. Father had 16 individual therapy sessions

scheduled and did not show up for any of them.{CT 349-350} The social worker further

reported that father was arrested on March 29, 2023, and charged with inflicting corporal

injury on a spouse.{CT 350, 481} According to the police report, mother and father

were drinking at a saloon together and got into an argument. Mother called a Lyft

driver, who reported that he saw father shove mother to the ground with both hands.

Mother landed on her back, hit her head, and appeared to lose consciousness.{CT 502-

503}

       Additionally, the social worker reported that, on October 12, 2022, X.J. contacted

her to report that father and Z.J. fell into the pool at the maternal grandmother’s home.

Father’s popsicle fell into the pool and Z.J. went in to get it. Father told X.J. not to tell

anyone. The social worker moved the visits to the DPSS office temporarily, due to

concerns about what occurred.{CT 351} The social worker informed the parents the

visits would be moved, and both father and mother said X.J. was a liar. The social

worker had to end the call with father because he was irate, combative, and “unable to

                                              10
have a civil conversation.”{CT 351-352} Subsequently, father had a visit scheduled

with X.J. on November 9, 2022, but the maternal great-grandmother informed the social

worker that X.J. was crying and saying she did not want to go. X.J. ended up going, but

father did not show; and X.J. said she no longer wanted to visit him.{CT 352}

       On December 14, 2022, a Child Family Team Meeting (CFTM) was held to

discuss the issue of the parents’ inconsistent visitation. It was established that father

would visit X.J. from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and mother would visit from 3:00 p.m. to

5:00 p.m.{CT 354} On December 15, the social worker went to see X.J. at school and

noted her demeanor changed when discussing the parents, as she became guarded and

quiet.{CT 354} On December 22, the maternal great-grandmother and the social worker

agreed that the visits should be moved to the DPSS office to be supervised by DPSS, as

the maternal great-grandmother had observed father being aggressive and inappropriate

with the social worker at the last visit in her home.{CT 354-355} On December 30, both

mother and father did not attend their scheduled visits with the children.{CT 355} On

January 5, 2023, mother notified the social worker that neither she nor father would

attend the scheduled visit.{CT 355} On February 8, X.J. said she no longer wanted to

visit the parents. When asked for a reason, she just said she did not want to do so.{CT

355} On February 14, both parents cancelled their scheduled visits due to work issues.

Their visits were rescheduled for a few days later, and they both cancelled their

rescheduled visits.{CT 355-356} On February 21, the maternal great-grandmother

cancelled the visits due to Z.J.’ being sick; the parents were offered a virtual visit, but did

not respond.{CT 356} On February 23, the social worker asked X.J. how visits were

                                              11
going, and she said she did not enjoy visits with the parents; however, she said she would

visit if the maternal great-grandmother was present.{CT 356} However, on March 8,

X.J. called the social worker to say she was not going to visit with the parents, since she

did not like being in a room with them.{CT 356} The parents did visit with Z.J. on that

day for the first time in a month, and he seemed anxious every time mother or father

came near him.{CT 356} Mother’s visit reportedly went well toward the end, but father

ended his visit prematurely because he could not get Z.J. to stop crying.{CT 357} On

March 29, X.J. again refused to visit with either parent, saying she did like not the visits.

The maternal great-grandmother brought Z.J. to the DPSS office for the scheduled visit,

but both parents failed to show.{CT 357}

       The social worker filed an addendum report on June 22, 2023, and reported that,

since the last hearing, mother continued to participate in her services; however, she had

not attended the last three sessions of her domestic violence program. Furthermore,

despite several attempts to obtain a signed consent from her to complete the referral

process for a substance abuse program, mother failed to make herself available to sign the

documents. She also failed to attend a drug test on June 7. Father similarly had not

made himself available to sign the documents needed for the substance abuse program.

He missed four sessions of his domestic violence program and 10 sessions of individual

therapy.{CT 614, 617}

       As to visitation, the social worker reported that DPSS and the caregiver had been

flexible with the parents and offered tele-video visits; however, father only attended some

of his tele-video visits with Z.J. Father was asked to provide a list of times for visits, but

                                             12
he had yet to do so.{CT 618} Mother had terminated her in-person visits and attended

tele-video visits. The social worker opined that the parents failed to make visitation a

priority.{CT 618} The social worker further reported that mother and the maternal

grandmother had conspired to plan unauthorized visits during the maternal grandmother’s

visits.{CT 620} The social worker also reported that DPSS had received numerous

concerns from the maternal great-grandmother regarding the parents’ volatile

temperament and lack of cooperation during their visits. The social worker opined that

the parents lacked insight on how their behavior impacted their children and their ability

to provide a safe and stable environment.{CT 620}

       The court held a six-month review hearing on June 29, 2023.{RT 305} The

current social worker assigned to the children’s case was called as a witness by father.

He said he was assigned to the case four months prior, and there were four other social

workers before him.{RT 308} The social worker confirmed that a previous social

worker had inputted father’s name incorrectly in submitting a referral.2{RT 310} The

referral with the wrong last name was submitted in August, father was enrolled, the

referral was dropped in October, and he had to be re-enrolled.{RT 311}

       The social worker further testified that the parents had not been consistent in their

visits, and it was extremely difficult to set a schedule, since they would often ask for

different dates.{RT 413-414} He noted that they had been asking for more visits in the

       2The previous social worker apparently put father’s first name with mother’s last
name; however, mother and father had different last names.{RT 310}

                                             13
community, so there had been some lately, which were supervised by the maternal great-

grandmother.{RT 421} The social worker said he set up a visit with Z.J. at a restaurant,

and after that one went well, X.J. said she wanted to have community visits with mother;

so he set up a visit between her and mother at a pottery store.{RT 421} On cross-

examination, the social worker testified that he would always ask X.J. if she wanted to

visit, and there was a period of time when she declined to have visits, even in the

community.{RT 431} He testified that the parents initially had visits at the maternal

great-grandmother’s home, but there was an incident with a prior social worker where

father “got right up in that social worker’s face.”{RT 431-432} At that point, the

maternal great-grandmother felt uncomfortable having the visits in her home, and the

visits were moved to the DPSS office for a substantial period of time. Then, DPSS made

the decision to allow visits in the community to occur again.{RT 432-433} However,

the visits were currently back in the DPSS office due to the parents’ behavior of

constantly arguing with the maternal great-grandmother and X.J.{RT 434-435}

       After considering the evidence and hearing closing arguments, the court remarked

that the parents denied they needed help, refused to participate in services, and simply

looked for ways not to comply.{RT 544} The court found that DPSS had provided

reasonable services, the parents failed to participate regularly and make substantial

progress in their case plans, and there was no substantial probability the children would

be returned to their custody if given additional services. It also found that the children

were a sibling set, since one of them was under the age of three at the time of the initial

                                             14
removal.{RT 549-550} The court terminated the parents’ reunification services and set

a section 366.26 hearing.{RT 550}

                                        DISCUSSION

  The Court Properly Terminated the Parents’ Reunification Services and Set a Section

                                       366.26 Hearing

       Mother and father both argue that the court erred in terminating their services and

setting a section 366.26. They each contend they were not provided with reasonable

services, and the court erred in finding it would be detrimental to return the children to

their custody. We conclude they were both provided with reasonable services and failed

to substantially complete their case plans and make substantive progress. Therefore, the

court properly found it would be detrimental to return the children to their custody,

terminated their services, and set a section 366.26 hearing.

       A. Relevant Law

       “At the review hearing held 6 months after the initial dispositional hearing, . . . the

court shall order the return of the child to the physical custody of their parent . . . unless

the court finds, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the return of the child to their

parent or legal guardian would create a substantial risk of detriment to the safety,

protection, or physical or emotional well-being of the child.” (§ 366.21, subd. (e)(1).)

“The failure of the parent . . . to participate regularly and make substantive progress in

court-ordered treatment programs shall be prima facie evidence that return would be

detrimental.” (Ibid.)

                                              15
       “If the child was under three years of age on the date of the initial removal, or is a

member of a sibling group described in subparagraph (C) of paragraph (1) of subdivision

(a) of Section 361.5, and 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 may schedule a hearing pursuant to Section 366.26 within 120 days.”

(§ 366.21, subd. (e)(3).) “If, however, the court finds there is a substantial probability

that the child . . . may be returned to their parent within six months or that reasonable

services have not been provided, the court shall continue the case to the 12-month

permanency hearing.” (Ibid.)

       B. The Parents Were Provided with Reasonable Services

       Mother and father both argue that DPSS did not provide reasonable services due to

issues with visitation.{Mother’s Writ (MW) 9-11; Father’s Writ (FW) 10} Mother

contends she was not provided with reasonable services because DPSS did not liberalize

her visits, as she had supervised visits at the DPSS office for the majority of the case, and

DPSS prevented her from ever progressing to unsupervised visits.{MW 9, 11} Father

claims that he was not given a reasonable opportunity to visit the children, and that DPSS

was unwilling to change the location of his visits from the DPSS office.{FW 12} He

also claims there was an eight-week delay in receiving counseling services due to DPSS’s

error in listing the wrong last name for him in the referral.{FW 11} We conclude that

mother and father were provided with reasonable services.

                                             16
       1. Standard of Review

       “On appeal, it is our task to determine whether the record discloses substantial

evidence which supports the juvenile court’s finding that reasonable services designed to

aid the parent in overcoming the problems which led to loss of custody were provided or

offered.” (In re Joanna Y. (1992) 8 Cal.App.4th 433, 439.) “In reviewing the

reasonableness of the services provided, this court must view the evidence in a light most

favorable to the respondent. We must indulge in all legitimate and reasonable inferences

to uphold the verdict. If there is substantial evidence supporting the judgment, our duty

ends and the judgment must not be disturbed.” (In re Misako R. (1991) 2 Cal.App.4th

538, 545 (Misako R.).)

       2. Mother and Father Were Offered Consistent Visitation

       Mother’s and father’s case plans required them to complete individual counseling,

a domestic violence program, a parenting education program, and a substance abuse

program, including testing.{CT 158-163} They were referred to counseling services and

domestic violence services through Marsell, and parenting education and substance abuse

services through MFI.{CT 149, 344, 345} The parents do not complain about the

reasonableness of any of these services.

       Instead, mother specifically contends she was not provided with reasonable

services because DPSS restricted her visits to supervised visitation at DPSS offices,

which resulted in X.J. refusing to have visits with her. In other words, she claims X.J.

refused visitations “due to not wanting to be at the DPSS office.” Mother notes that

DPSS did not allow her to move to community visits until just weeks before the review

                                            17
hearing. She points out that, as soon as she was allowed to have visits in the community,

X.J. decided to participate in visits with her.{MW 9, 10} Additionally, mother claims

DPSS prohibited the maternal grandmother from continuing to supervise her visits

because the social worker mistakenly believed the maternal grandmother was colluding

with her to provide her with unauthorized visits.{MW 9-10} Father similarly claims he

had visits for months with both children when they were supervised by the maternal

grandmother; however, when DPSS withdrew the authorization for her to supervise and

visits went back to the DPSS office, X.J. would no longer visit with him.{FW 12}

       The record plainly belies mother’s and father’s claims. On July 28, 2022, the

court ordered separate visitation twice a week and subsequently authorized the maternal

grandmother to supervise.{RT 18, CT 148} On August 1, the social worker attempted to

schedule visits, but mother did not answer the phone. Father was uncooperative with the

social worker and disconnected the phone call.{CT 148} On August 5, the parents

visited Z.J. separately at the DPSS office, but X.J. refused to go and simply said she did

not want to visit.{CT 148} The court subsequently authorized the maternal grandmother

to supervise visits at her home, and both mother and father later reported that the visits

were going well.{RT 24, CT 213} However, on October 12, X.J. reported to the social

worker that father and Z.J. fell into the pool at the maternal grandmother’s home. The

social worker informed the parents that the visits would be moved back to the DPSS

office temporarily, due to concerns about what happened, and both father and mother

called X.J. a liar.{CT 351-352} At the contested jurisdiction hearing on October 19, the

                                             18
court was informed that the maternal grandmother no longer wanted to supervise visits

and did not want visits to take place at her home.{RT 31-32}

       On November 9, 2022, father had a visit scheduled with X.J., but she was crying

and said she did not want to go. She ended up going, but father did not show, and X.J.

said she no longer wanted to visit him.{CT 352}

       The parents’ visitations became more inconsistent, and on December 14, 2022, a

CFTM was held to discuss the issue.{CT 354} The maternal great-grandmother agreed

with the social worker that the visits should be moved to the DPSS office to be

supervised by DPSS, as she had observed father being aggressive and inappropriate at the

last visit in her home.{CT 354-355} Subsequently, the parents missed several of their

scheduled visits, and X.J. said she no longer wanted to visit with them. When asked for

a reason, she just said she did not want to do so.{CT 355-356} On February 21, 2023,

the maternal great-grandmother cancelled the visits due to Z.J. being sick, and the parents

were offered a virtual visit but did not respond.{CT 356} X.J. told the social worker

several times that she did not enjoy visits with the parents and refused to go at various

times.{CT 356-357} The parents had a visit with Z.J. on March 8, but they then failed

to show for a scheduled visit on March 29.{CT 357} The record reflects that DPSS was

flexible and offered the parents tele-video visits; however, they only attended some.{CT

618}

       Furthermore, at the review hearing, the social worker confirmed that the parents

were not consistent in their visits.{RT 413-414} He noted there had been some visits in

the community lately, supervised by the maternal great-grandmother, which included

                                             19
X.J.{RT 421, 431} The social worker testified that there was a time when X.J. declined

to have visits, even visits in the community.{RT 431} He testified that the parents had

visits at the maternal great-grandmother’s home, but the visits were moved to the DPSS

office since the maternal great-grandmother felt uncomfortable having the visits in her

home. At some point, DPSS did allow visits in the community to occur again.{RT 431-

433} However, at the time of the review hearing, the visits were back in the DPSS

office, due to there being constant arguments between the parents, the maternal great-

grandmother, and X.J.{RT 434-435}

       Thus, contrary to the parents’ claims, the record clearly shows they were offered

regular and flexible visitation, but they were inconsistent in attending the visits. Further,

X.J.’s refusal to visit with them had nothing to do with the location of the visits; rather,

she said several times she did not like visiting with them. Moreover, DPSS did not

prohibit the maternal grandmother from supervising visits or prevent mother from

progressing to unsupervised visits. Rather, the maternal grandmother did supervise

visits for a time, but then no longer wanted to supervise visits. The visits remained

supervised due to the circumstances and the parents’ inappropriate behavior. As to

father’s claim that he suffered an eight-week delay in receiving counseling services

because of DPSS’s error in listing the wrong name on the referral, any error was

harmless, since he never attended any of the counseling sessions he was offered

thereafter.{FW 10} (See supra, § C.2.)

       Ultimately, “[t]he standard is not whether the services provided were the best that

might be provided in an ideal world, but whether the services were reasonable under the

                                              20
circumstances.” (Misako R., supra, 2 Cal.App.4th at p. 547.) Construing all reasonable

inferences in favor of the juvenile court’s findings regarding the reasonableness of

DPSS’s efforts, as we must, we conclude the services provided to mother and father were

reasonable under the circumstances. (Ibid.)

       C. The Court Properly Terminated the Parents’ Reunification Services

       Mother contends the court erred in terminating her services since she substantially

completed her case plan, there was no evidence she failed to regularly participate or make

substantive progress, and there was a substantial probability that, given six more months

of services, the children would have been returned to her care.{MW 7-9} Father

similarly claims he substantially completed his case plan, and there was no substantial

evidence that, given six more months of service, he would not be able to reunify with the

children.{FW 13-15} They both claim they were actively participating in their

substance abuse treatment programs, participating in testing, and having positive visits

with the children.{MW 9, FW 15} The record simply does not support their claims, and

there was substantial evidence to support the court’s order terminating services.

       1. Standard of Review

       “We review an order terminating reunification services to determine if it is

supported by substantial evidence. [Citation.] In making this determination, we review

the record in the light most favorable to the court’s determinations and draw all

reasonable inferences from the evidence to support the findings and orders. [Citation.]

‘We do not reweigh the evidence or exercise independent judgment, but merely

                                            21
determine if there are sufficient facts to support the findings of the trial court.’ ” (Kevin

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

       2. Mother and Father Failed to Participate Regularly and Make Substantive

Progress in Their Case Plans

       We initially note that Z.J. was under three years of age when he was removed

from the parents’ custody.{CT 12} Pursuant to section 361.5, subdivision (a)(1)(B),

reunification services may be limited to six months for these very young minors.

(See M.V. v. Superior Court (2008) 167 Cal.App.4th 166, 175.) Moreover, because X.J.

is a member of Z.J.’s “sibling group,” X.J.’s reunification services may be similarly

circumscribed pursuant to section 361.5, subdivision (a)(1)(C). Specifically, at a six-

month review hearing, reunification services for members of a sibling group may be

terminated, and a permanency planning hearing scheduled, if the juvenile court “finds by

clear and convincing evidence that the parent failed to participate regularly and make

substantive progress in a court-ordered treatment plan.” (§ 366.21, subd. (e)(3).)

       The court here ordered mother and father to participate in individual counseling,

complete a domestic violence program, complete a parenting education program, and

participate in a substance abuse program and testing.{RT, 38-39, CT 158-160} Mother

initially told the social worker she was not interested in the services and refused to accept

a copy of the case plan or referral letter.{CT 343} She was referred to MFI for

substance abuse treatment and testing and adamantly refused to participate. Although

mother later completed the MFI assessment, she refused to enroll.{CT 344} Mother did

submit to substance abuse testing several times from September 2022 to March 2023, but

                                             22
missed five tests during that period.{CT 344-345} She was referred to a parenting

program in August 2022, but there was no record of her enrolling or participating in

it.{CT 345} She enrolled in a domestic violence program, but she was discharged due to

poor attendance.{CT 346} By the time of the six-month review hearing, mother had

only completed her counseling requirement.{CT 345}

       Similarly, father completed an assessment at MFI for substance abuse, but he did

not enroll and indicated he did not need a substance abuse treatment program.{CT 348}

He submitted to several substance abuse tests and tested positive for marijuana twice.{CT

348-349} Father said he enrolled in a parenting program in August 2022, but there was

no record of enrollment, participation, or completion.{CT 349} He was referred to

Marsell for individual counseling and a domestic violence program, and he started

services in August 2022, but was later discharged for lack of attendance. He had

numerous sessions of individual therapy scheduled and did not show up to any of

them.{CT 349-350} As to the domestic violence program, Marsell reached out several

times to schedule father for continued services, but he did not respond.{CT 350}

Moreover, father was arrested on March 29, 2023, and charged with inflicting corporal

injury on a spouse.{CT 350, 481} Thus, he evidently had not benefited from the

services.

       On this record, it is clear that mother and father failed to regularly participate or

make substantive progress in their case plans, and there was no substantial probability

that, given six more months of services, the children would have been returned to their

                                              23
care. Therefore, the evidence supported the court’s decision to terminate their

reunification services.

       D. The Court Properly Found That Return of the Children to the Parents’

Custody Would Be Detrimental

       Finally, mother and father argue that the court erred in finding there was a

substantial risk of detriment to the children if returned to their care. They assert that

they had adequate housing and stable employment, and had completed the majority of

their case plans.{MW 12, FW 16}

       Section 366.21, subdivision (e)(1), provides that the failure of the parent to

participate regularly and make substantive progress in court-ordered treatment programs

“shall be prima facie evidence that return would be detrimental.” (§ 366.21, subd.

(e)(1).) In view of the parents’ failure to participate regularly and make substantive

progress in their case plans, the court properly concluded that return of the children to

their custody would be detrimental. (§ 366.21, subd. (e)(1).) (See supra, § C.) A

thorough review of the record demonstrates that the evidence amply supports that

finding.

                                             24
                                    DISPOSITION

      The writ petitions are denied. The requests for a temporary stay of the section

366.26 hearing are also denied.

      NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS

                                                             FIELDS
                                                                                        J.
We concur:

MILLER
                Acting P.J.

CODRINGTON
                         J.

                                          25