Court Opinion

ID: 2655994
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-03-07 22:54:59.932101+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:32:07.960250
License: Public Domain

Filed 3/7/14 In re S.S. CA2/2

                  NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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
                                     SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                                  DIVISION TWO

In re S.S., a Person Coming Under the                                B248682 c/w B251629
Juvenile Court Law.
                                                                     (Los Angeles County
                                                                     Super. Ct. No. CK80982)
LOS ANGELES COUNTY
DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND
FAMILY SERVICES,

         Plaintiff and Respondent.

         v.

DAVID S.,

         Defendant and Respondent;

S.S.,

         Minor and Appellant.

         APPEAL from orders of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County. Marilyn
Mordetzky, Juvenile Court Referee. Affirmed.
         John L. Dodd, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Minor and
Appellant.
         Daniel G. Rooney, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and
Respondent.
         No appearance for Plaintiff and Respondent.
         In this consolidated appeal, minor S.S. (born February 2010) appeals from the
juvenile court’s order granting a petition under Welfare and Institutions Code section
3881 filed by respondent David S. (father), returning S. to father’s custody, and according
father family maintenance services. S. also appeals from the order made at an August 26,
2013 section 364 review hearing continuing juvenile court jurisdiction and family
maintenance services for an additional six months. We affirm the juvenile court’s orders.
                                       BACKGROUND
Detention and section 300 petition
         On March 18, 2010, the Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services
(the Department) received a referral alleging that Nancy S. (mother)2 had suffered a
nervous breakdown following S.’s birth and was on a psychiatric hold at the Antelope
Valley Hospital in Lancaster. Mother had been diagnosed with schizophrenia several
years ago and was a Regional Center client. After mother’s hospitalization, S. was cared
for by her maternal grandmother.
         The maternal grandmother told the Department’s social worker that mother came
to her home to visit with S. on a daily basis since her release from the hospital and had
one overnight visit with the child. During the overnight visit mother “hid the baby” while
the maternal grandmother was sleeping, and the maternal grandmother had to look
around her apartment to locate the child.
         The social worker visited mother’s home, where two Regional Center caretakers
were present at mother’s request to watch over her and to assist her in caring for S.
According to the caretakers, mother had been hospitalized twice since S.’s birth. One
hospitalization followed an incident in which mother slapped a caregiver, prompting law
enforcement intervention. The caretakers reported that father, who was also a Regional
Center client, visited with mother and S. on a daily basis, but they did not know where he
lived.

1        All further statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code.

2        Mother is not a party to this appeal.

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          The Department filed a section 300 petition on S.’s behalf alleging that mother had
engaged in a violent altercation during which she slapped an unrelated adult female in
S.’s presence, necessitating law enforcement intervention; that mother had mental and
emotional problems, including schizophrenia, which rendered her incapable of providing
regular care and supervision for S.; that father had failed to provide S. with the
necessities of life; and that father had limited ability to provide for S.
          Both parents were present and were appointed counsel at the March 25, 2010
detention hearing. Mother’s counsel was also appointed as her guardian ad litem. The
juvenile court found father to be S.’s presumed father and ordered S. detained from both
parents’ custody.
Jurisdiction and disposition
          In April 2010, the Department reported that father was mildly mentally retarded
and living in a boarding care facility. He had maintained a relationship with mother and
had provided clothes and baby supplies for S. On April 26, 2010, father submitted a
waiver of rights admitting the allegations of the section 300 petition. The juvenile court
ordered a psychological evaluation pursuant to Evidence Code section 730 for both
parents.
          In July 2010, the Department filed a supplemental report that included
psychological evaluations of mother and father. The psychologist, Dr. Michael P. Ward,
found that father had an IQ of 72 and that mother had an IQ of 64. Dr. Ward further
found that father’s overall functioning was in the mildly retarded range, but that he had
some skills above that level. With regard to whether father was capable of eventually
caring for S., Dr. Ward opined that father “seems to have a little more ability or potential
than [mother]” and that “he might be a little more equipped to eventually have full
independent care and custody of his daughter, although only with . . . continued
supervision and support.” Dr. Ward further opined that father “definitely does have the
capacity to learn and so he should be able to benefit from appropriately tailored parenting
classes, along with any in-home type supportive services regarding the proper care of a
child.”

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       The juvenile court ordered both parents to attend interactive parenting education
classes, to participate in Regional Center services, and to take all prescribed medications.
The court also ordered mother to participate in mental health treatment and psychiatric
monitoring.
       In September 2010, the Department reported that both parents had been visiting S.
twice a week for a total of three hours. Mother had difficulty staying awake and would
often sleep through the visits. Father was present at every monitored visit with mother
and remained alert and awake to ensure S.’s safety. The juvenile court accorded father
10 hours of unmonitored visits per week and allowed him to monitor mother’s visits.
       In October 2010, the Department reported that mother was still having difficulty
staying awake during visits. The juvenile court ordered an additional 10 hours per week
visitation for father so that he could monitor mother’s visits.
Six-month review proceedings
       In February 2011, the Department reported that S. was developmentally on track
and was bonded with her foster family. Both mother and father were participating in
interactive parent education provided by the Regional Center, but the parents did not
want to have the educators present during S.’s visits.
       In May 2011, the Department reported that both parents continued to participate in
interactive parent education services provided by the Regional Center but were refusing
to allow the instructors to observe their interaction with S. Father’s Regional Center
parenting instructor submitted a letter on his behalf stating that since November 2010,
father had been having unmonitored visits with S. for 10 hours a week and that the visits
increased to 20 hours a week in February 2011. The instructor expressed the belief that
father “would continue to grow as a parent with continued and consistent visits and
parenting support.” The instructor qualified his remarks, however, by noting that it was
difficult to assess father’s parenting skills in day-to-day situations because his visits with
S. did not occur daily. The instructor opined that “continued support is needed to provide
[father] with the skills for his current situation and his future.”

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       In June 2011, father discussed moving into his own apartment because he
understood that S. could not live with him in his current group home. In July 2011, the
Department received a suspected sexual abuse referral for S. when the foster parents
reported redness in the child’s vaginal area after S. returned from an extended visit with
the parents. The child’s condition was subsequently determined to be diaper rash.
Twelve-month review proceedings
       In November 2011, father was still living in a group home but was saving money
to obtain his own apartment. Mother was living in the maternal grandmother’s home.
Both parents continued to receive Regional Center services but were no longer
participating in any parenting program.
       S. remained placed with her foster parents, who were interested in pursuing an
open adoption so that the child could continue to have a relationship with mother and
father. The juvenile court found father to be in compliance with his case plan and mother
to be in partial compliance. The court terminated reunification services, ordered an
adoption home study, and set a permanency planning hearing.
Section 366.26 proceedings
       In March 2012, the Department reported that S.’s foster parents had an open
referral alleging general neglect and physical and emotional abuse by foster mother of
another child that had recently been replaced from their home. In light of the open
referral, the foster parents said they wished to pursue legal guardianship over S. and to
consider adoption at a later date.
       In May 2012, the Department reported that the foster parents were again being
investigated for child abuse, this time with respect to S., whom they had allegedly
slapped across the face on several occasions. The juvenile court continued the matter
pending conclusion of the investigation.
       In June 2012, the Department informed father that his visits with S. would be
monitored on a going forward basis because he was allowing negative contact between
mother and S. Mother was using inappropriate language around S., and allegedly
slapping the child. The Department reported that the referral regarding alleged physical

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abuse of S. by her foster parents had been closed as inconclusive. The Department
recommended adoption by the foster parents as the permanent plan for S.
       On September 27, 2012, the Department received a referral alleging that S. was a
victim of emotional abuse by father. The reporting party alleged that she overheard
mother and father arguing while she was on the phone with mother and that the police
were contacted. Mother told the social worker that father had always been verbally and
physically abusive toward her and that he had hit her when she was pregnant and caused
her to lose a tooth. Father denied ever physically abusing mother. He said that the
incident during which mother lost a tooth occurred while mother was having a nervous
breakdown and was hitting him with her head, which caused her to lose a tooth. The
social worker informed father that he could continue to have unmonitored visits with S.
but that he would no longer be allowed to monitor mother’s visits.
       In October 2012, the social worker interviewed mother’s Regional Center
counselor, Wendy Rasky, regarding domestic violence between the parents. According
to Rasky, mother had a history of violence and her disability did not prevent her from
becoming aggressive toward others.
       In November 2012, the Department reported on an unannounced visit to assess
father’s home. The social worker found the home to be appropriately furnished with
working utilities, and was clean, neat, and devoid of safety hazards. Mother was present
in the home but claimed she was there to visit father, not S. The social worker
admonished both parents that in light of the domestic violence allegations, they could not
visit S. together. S.’s foster mother expressed concerns that father could not protect S.
from mother. She reaffirmed her willingness to adopt S.
       On December 21, 2012, the Department informed the juvenile court that an
adoption home study had been approved for S.’s foster parents and recommended
termination of parental rights.
       In January 2013, the Department reported that father was employed at Target and
was working 25 hours per week. Father wanted S. returned to his care and told the social
worker about his childcare plans for S. while he was at work. He planned to put S. in a

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daycare center near his apartment when he worked during the week. On weekend days
when father had to work his sister would care for S. Father said his goal was to reunite
with mother so that S. could live with both of her parents as a family. The Department
expressed concern about father’s ability to protect S. from mother.
       The Department also reported on its investigation into the additional Regional
Center services father would be eligible to receive if S. were returned to his care.
According to Donna Rentsch (Rentsch), father’s Regional Center coordinator, the
Regional Center staff would undertake a needs assessment when S. was returned to father
to determine the types and quantity of services father would be eligible to receive.
Because Regional Center services are voluntary, father would then decide which services
he wished to accept. A Regional Center staff member would then visit father’s home
twice a week to provide the services. Rentsch emphasized that Regional Center staff
would visit the home to assist father in caring for S., but not for the purpose of
monitoring S.’s safety.
Section 388 petitions
       On October 26, 2012, father filed a section 388 petition requesting return of S. to
his custody or alternatively, reinstatement of family reunification services and
unmonitored visits, including overnight visits. In support of his petition, father stated he
had complied with his case plan by participating in all Regional Center services and by
taking his prescribed medication, and that he had obtained a two-bedroom apartment and
lived independently. Father’s petition further stated he had substantial unmonitored visits
with S., with whom he shared a significant bond, and that he would receive additional
Regional Center services when S. was returned to his care.
       Mother filed a section 388 petition on December 21, 2012, seeking reinstatement
of family reunification services and unmonitored visits with S. In support of her petition,
mother provided written confirmation that she had attended 14 parent education and
anger management classes, as well as a parenting support group. Mother further stated
she had visited S. on a weekly basis for 10 hours.

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       The juvenile court granted both parents a hearing on their respective section 388
petitions.
Section 388 hearing
       Father testified at the January 23, 2013 hearing on his section 388 petition that he
participated in Regional Center services one day a week for four hours. Father further
stated that he would continue to work with the Regional Center and would participate in
any additional services he became eligible for once S. was placed in his care. Father
described his unmonitored visits, which took place at his apartment once a week for 10
hours. He and S. watched television and ate meals he prepared for them. They also went
out to restaurants, visited family members, and went shopping together. Father said he
disciplined S. by sending her to her room, but that he did not use any physical discipline.
He described the visits he monitored for mother and said that on occasion he had to
correct mother when she used inappropriate language in S.’s presence. Father denied
ever striking mother, but admitted that he and mother had argued in the past when S. was
not present.
       Father said he had been living alone in a two-bedroom apartment since July 2012
and that he worked 25 hours per week. While he was at work during the week, father
planned to have S. attend a daycare center across the street from his apartment. On
weekend days when he had to work, he planned to have his sister care for S.
       Rentsch, father’s Regional Services coordinator, testified that if S. were placed in
father’s care, father would be assessed for additional services. Father would then be
allocated additional service hours based on his needs. Rentsch further testified that
parenting training services provided by the Regional Center were individualized and
would take place in the home with S. present.
       The Department’s social worker testified that the Department was opposed to
father’s section 388 petition because of concerns regarding the allegations of domestic
violence between the parents and father’s limited ability to protect S. from mother.

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       Mother testified and admitted arguing with father in the past but denied any
incidents of domestic violence. Mother stated she would comply with any visitation
order applicable to her if S. were placed in father’s care.
       On January 31, 2013, the juvenile court further liberalized father’s visitation,
according him weekend and overnight visits from Friday to Sunday, and calendared
another hearing date for its ruling.
Juvenile court rulings and the instant appeal
       On February 25, 2013, the juvenile court granted father’s section 388 petition.
The court concluded that father had demonstrated a change in circumstances. The court
noted that at the outset of the case, father lived in a group home and was incapable of
caring for S., but that since then, he had completed a hands-on parenting class and moved
into a stable home that was clean, safe, and appropriate for a child. The juvenile court
further found that continued stability was possible because father received supportive
services from the Regional Center. Finally the court concluded that S.’s best interests
would be served by returning her to the care and custody of her biological father, as long
as that situation was safe, and there was no evidence that it was not.
       The juvenile court found that father was in full compliance with court orders, that
he had established through his unmonitored overnight and weekend visits that he did not
present a risk to the child, and that returning S. to his care and custody would not create a
substantial detriment to the safety and physical well-being of the child. Over the
Department’s objection, the juvenile court ordered S. to be released to father. The court
further ordered that mother was not to reside in father’s home and not to have overnight
visits in the home without prior court approval. The juvenile court denied mother’s
petition seeking unmonitored visitation but allowed father to monitor mother’s visits.
The court accorded family preservation services for both parents, denied the
Department’s request for a stay of order, and set the matter for a progress hearing.
       The Department filed a writ petition on March 4, 2013, seeking a stay of the
juvenile court’s home of parent order on the ground that release to father placed S. at
serious risk of harm. The petition was supported by a letter brief submitted by counsel

                                              9
representing S. This court initially stayed the release order but subsequently denied the
Department’s writ petition and lifted the stay on March 26, 2013.
       S. and the Department appealed from the order granting father’s section 388
petition. The Department subsequently abandoned its appeal.
       In August 2013, the Department reported that S. had been continuously residing in
father’s home since March 28, 2013. Father was receiving both parenting and
independent living services through the Regional Center. Mother also participated in
some parenting classes. Both parents were participating in family maintenance services.
Although mother was not living in father’s home, father stated he wanted mother to move
in with him once the case was closed. The Department found S. to be well cared for by
father and recommended termination of juvenile court jurisdiction.
       At the August 26, 2013 review hearing, the juvenile court declined to terminate
jurisdiction, and ordered the Department to provide father with an additional six months
of family maintenance services. On September 4, 2013, S. appealed from the juvenile
court’s August 26, 2013 order.
                                      DISCUSSION
       Under section 388, a party may petition the juvenile court to change, modify, or
set aside any previously made order. The petitioning party has the burden of showing, by
a preponderance of the evidence, (1) there are changed circumstances or new evidence,
and (2) the proposed modification is in the child’s best interests. (§ 388; In re Jasmon O.
(1994) 8 Cal.4th 398, 415-416.) The decision to grant the proposed change of order is
within the sound discretion of the juvenile court. (In re Stephanie M. (1994) 7 Cal.4th
295, 318; In re Michael B. (1992) 8 Cal.App.4th 1698, 1704.) We will not disturb the
juvenile court’s order unless it has exceeded the limits of legal discretion by making an
arbitrary, capricious or patently absurd determination. (Stephanie M., supra, at p. 318,
citing In re Geoffrey G. (1979) 98 Cal.App.3d 412, 421.) When two or more inferences
can be made reasonably from the facts, we have no authority to substitute our decision for
that of the juvenile court. (Stephanie M., at pp. 318-319.)

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       S. contends the order granting father’s section 388 petition was an abuse of
discretion “[b]ecause there was no evidence presented concerning, precisely, what
services would be in place for father” upon her return to his custody.3 There is
substantial evidence in the record concerning additional Regional Center services that
would be available to father upon S.’s return to his custody. Father’s Regional Center
coordinator, Rentsch, testified that father would become eligible for additional services
once S. was placed with him. Rentsch explained that a Regional Center representative
would conduct an in-home assessment to determine the type and quantity of services
father would need, including individualized, in-home parent training with S. The
Department’s dependency investigator, Marion Robinson, testified about her
investigation into the services father would receive if S. were returned to him. Robinson
confirmed that the Regional Center would complete an assessment to determine whether
father needed additional services to help him care for S. and that the Regional Center
staff would consult with father about their recommendations to see if he would be willing
to accept those services. Father testified that he would participate in all services made
available to him that would help him keep S. in his care.
       S. claims the juvenile court relied on its personal experience, rather than the
evidence presented in court, as the basis for concluding that Regional Center services
would be provided to father upon her return to father’s custody. She cites the following
remarks made by the juvenile court as support for this claim:
               “[Father] has regional services that can be a supportive system that
       was provided in the 730 report as being important. There is a supportive
       system. . . . There’s a Regional Center than can provide services to this
       father if the child were returned to his care and custody. . . . Well, I can’t
       think of a more supportive system than Regional Center. I have mother and
       father both having the services of Regional Center. And it’s been my
       experience that Regional Center will provide those services once a child has
       been released to that home with services in place.”

3      S. does not challenge the sufficiency of the evidence supporting the juvenile
court’s finding that father met his burden of establishing a change of circumstances, or
that granting father’s section 388 petition was in S.’s best interests. Substantial evidence
supports these findings, in any event.

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       S.’s argument is premised on isolated remarks by the juvenile court at the
conclusion of the section 388 hearing and ignores the substantial evidence presented at
the hearing that father would be eligible for additional Regional Center services if S.
were returned to his care, that he would be evaluated to determine the type and quantity
of services needed, that those services could include in-home, individualized parent
training with S., and that father agreed to participate in all services that would help him to
retain custody of S. The record does not support S.’s claim that the juvenile court relied
solely on its personal experience as the basis for concluding that Regional Center services
would be provided to father after he was granted custody. The record discloses no abuse
of discretion by the juvenile court.
       The sole basis for S.’s challenge to the juvenile court’s August 26, 2013 order
declining to terminate jurisdiction and continuing family maintenance is that the order
granting father’s section 388 petition was in error, and the August 26, 2013 order was
accordingly invalid. Because the order granting father’s section 388 petition was not
erroneous, S. has failed to establish any basis for reversing the juvenile court’s August
26, 2013 order.

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                                    DISPOSITION
      The February 25, 2013 order granting father’s section 388 petition is affirmed, as
is the August 26, 2013 order continuing jurisdiction and family maintenance services.
      NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS.

                                                ____________________________, J.
                                                CHAVEZ

We concur:

__________________________, P. J.
BOREN

__________________________, J.*
FERNS

________________________________________________________________________
* Judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court, assigned by the Chief Justice pursuant to
article VI, section 6 of the California Constitution.

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