Court Opinion

ID: 4573149
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-10-05 22:02:01.764215+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:31:41.147731
License: Public Domain

Filed 10/5/20 S.I. v. Superior Court CA5

                  NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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

    S.I.,
                                                                                             F081306
             Petitioner,
                                                                              (Super. Ct. No. JD139612-00)
                    v.

    THE SUPERIOR COURT OF KERN COUNTY,                                                    OPINION
             Respondent;

    KERN COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN
    SERVICES,

             Real Party in Interest.

                                                   THE COURT*
            ORIGINAL PROCEEDINGS; petition for extraordinary writ review. Harry A.
Staley, Judge. (Retired judge of the Kern County Sup. Ct. assigned by the Chief Justice
pursuant to art. VI, § 6 of the Cal. Const.)
            Kimberly J. Savage for Petitioner.
            No appearance for Respondent.
            Margo A. Raison, County Counsel, and Bryan C. Walters, Deputy County
Counsel, for Real Party in Interest.

*           Before Levy, Acting P.J., Detjen, J. and Franson, J.
                                           -ooOoo-
         Petitioner, S.I. (mother), seeks an extraordinary writ from the juvenile court’s
orders issued at a contested 12-month review hearing (Welf. & Inst. Code, § 366.21,
subd. (f))1 in June 2020 terminating her reunification services and setting a
section 366.26 hearing for October 14, 2020, as to her now three-year-old son, P.E.
P.E.’s father, D.E. (father), also filed a writ petition, which is pending in this court in our
case No. F081305. Mother contends the court denied her due process by not continuing
the hearing and by conducting it telephonically. She further contends there was
insufficient evidence to find it would be detrimental to return P.E. to her custody, that the
Kern County Department of Human Services (department) provided her reasonable
reunification services and that there was not a substantial probability P.E. could be
returned to her custody. We deny the petition.
                      PROCEDURAL AND FACTUAL SUMMARY
Relinquishment and Detention
         Mother gave birth to P.E., her fourth child, in March 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Two of her children were in legal guardianship with relatives and one was deceased. On
March 27, 2019, mother relinquished custody of P.E. to J. Garces, the maternal
stepgrandmother, on the condition Garces file for legal guardianship. However, Garces
could not take care of P.E. and, on April 5, 2019, she relinquished custody to the
department, who placed him in foster care in Bakersfield.
         Garces reported she had legal guardianship of mother’s oldest child, a six-year-old
daughter, and was in the process of adopting her. Mother dropped the child off with her
when the child was 14 months old and never returned for her. Garces’ nephew had legal
guardianship of mother’s then three-year-old son. Garces said mother took care of her

1        Statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code unless otherwise
noted.

                                               2.
children until they were about two years of age and then placed them in the custody of
family members. Mother gave her P.E. in the parking lot of an apartment complex in Las
Vegas. Mother had her fifth child with her at the time, a newborn daughter. Mother
asked Garces to keep P.E. for two weeks until she received her welfare check and income
tax refund. Garces said mother contacted them for money “all the time.” Garces said
P.E. was dirty and smelled, he had “ ‘black stuff underneath his toe nails’ ” and his
dreadlocks were “ ‘tangle[d], dry and stunk[.]’ ” Mother gave her a backpack with
diapers that did not fit him but no clothes. There were no signs P.E. had been physically
abused. Garces wanted to take care of P.E. but was 70 years old and could not care for a
two year old.
       Garces said mother was “constantly moving.” The year before she lived in Ohio,
Sacramento, California and Las Vegas, Nevada. Mother used “ ‘pot and speed’ ” and
was “ ‘skinny as a rail’ ” when she dropped P.E. off with her. Mother was not upset
when she said goodbye to P.E. She showed Garces her newborn, turned away and
walked off. The only information Garces could provide about father was that he was an
inmate in a Nevada state prison.
       The department filed a dependency petition on P.E.’s behalf, under section 300,
subdivision (g) (no provision for support), alleging mother’s whereabouts were unknown
and father was incarcerated. Father was serving a prison sentence for possession of a
stolen vehicle.
       The juvenile court ordered P.E. detained and found mother’s whereabouts were
unknown. The court ordered the department to offer mother services pending its
disposition of the case, including weekly supervised visits. The department offered
mother counseling for parenting/child neglect and random drug and alcohol testing. If
mother produced a confirmed positive drug test, she was to enroll in substance abuse
counseling.

                                             3.
Disposition
       Mother appeared at the jurisdictional hearing on April 29, 2019, by court call from
Las Vegas. The court continued the hearing to May 29, 2019. Mother did not appear at
the continued hearing but was represented by counsel, who objected to the juvenile court
exercising jurisdiction. The court sustained the allegation in the petition and set the
dispositional hearing for June 18, 2019.
       The dispositional hearing was not conducted until November 14, 2019, after
multiple continuances. Neither parent appeared at any of the hearings in the interim.
Mother was represented, but father was not until July 2019 when he was deemed P.E.’s
presumed father.
       Esmeralda Lopez, the social worker assigned P.E.’s case, mailed mother a case
plan letter to her home in Sacramento, California, informing her of her case plan
requirements and intent to locate a drug testing center near her and provide her that
information. On September 19, 2019, Lopez attempted to contact mother by telephone to
discuss drug testing in her county. Unable to reach her by phone, she sent her a letter,
giving her the assigned pin number and telephone number of the testing laboratory. She
gave her the telephone number of the Sacramento County Department of Child, Family
and Adult Services and encouraged her to call and get additional information. She also
provided mother information for court-approved parenting and child neglect classes near
her.
       On October 29, 2019, Lopez talked to mother by telephone about her case plan.
Mother was enrolled in a parenting class but had not started the class because she was
working. She said she used “weed weeks ago,” but had been “clean for weeks now.”
She said she was tested for her job and tested negative. Lopez told her the letter she sent
her with the names of providers for a parenting class had been returned. Mother gave her
an additional address in Sacramento and said she lived off and on between two addresses.
Mother said she visited P.E. by video chat or telephone every day from Monday through

                                             4.
Thursday. On October 31, Lopez texted mother her pin number for the drug testing
hotline. Mother advised Lopez that she received the pin number and called in but did not
have to test that day.
       On November 12, 2019, Lopez spoke to a staff member from Concerta Urgent
Care in Sacramento where mother was referred for drug testing. Mother tested the Friday
before, November 8, and had come in again but the staff member needed clarification
about authorization for testing. Lopez advised the staff member to test her and explained
how the cost was billed to the department through National Toxicology.
       By the time of the dispositional hearing, mother had not participated in any of the
services offered at detention or visited P.E. The department recommended the juvenile
court transfer the case to Sacramento County.
       Neither parent appeared at the dispositional hearing on November 14, 2019.
Minor’s counsel objected to transferring the case. The juvenile court exercised its
dependency jurisdiction, ordered P.E. removed from parental custody and ordered the
parents to participate in counseling for parenting/child neglect and mother to submit to
random drug testing. If she received a confirmed positive result for a controlled
substance, her case plan required her to enroll in substance abuse counseling. The court
set the six-month review hearing for May 14, 2020. Father was released from custody
five days after the dispositional hearing.
       In January 2020, mother moved to Las Vegas. Lopez or a representative
continued to contact her at least once a month concerning her case plan either by face-to-
face contact, letter or telephone call.
Six-Month Review Hearing
       Neither parent was present at the six-month review hearing on May 14, 2020. The
department’s recommendation was to terminate reunification services and set a section
366.26 hearing. Mother’s attorney requested a contested video hearing, which the
juvenile court set for June 16, 2020.

                                             5.
       In its report for the six-month review hearing, the department informed the
juvenile court mother started counseling for parenting in February 2020 and attended four
of the six required sessions. She informed Lopez on March 17, 2020, that the parenting
class was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. She failed to appear for drug
testing from November 2019 to March 2020. She was excused for failing to drug test in
January because she was moving to Las Vegas.
       On May 14, 2020, Lopez asked mother whether she participated in a substance
abuse assessment. Mother said she had not because her insurance would not pay for it
and she had not been paid yet. Mother said she had been calling in to drug test but
missed testing the preceding Monday because she was in jail. That same day, Lopez sent
mother a letter confirming that she was enrolled in a parenting class at Parenting Project
through King Bridge Community Center in Las Vegas. Lopez asked mother whether the
classes were suspended because of the pandemic or if she was able to participate in
classes on-line. She asked mother to request a progress report. Lopez identified
Concerta Medical as mother’s testing facility and gave her the assigned pin number. She
reminded mother that she was asked to drug test on May 8 but did not because of work.
She was asked to test on May 9, but Lopez had not talked to her to know if she tested.
She asked mother to complete a substance abuse assessment and gave her the telephone
number of Choices Group, LLC (Choices Group) to make an appointment. She also
suggested mother call the local child protective services for assistance in locating a
provider that accepted her insurance.
       On May 20, 2020, mother told Lopez she was not able to drug test on May 9
because she was not on the list to test at the testing facility. She was supposed to drug
test on May 11 but was not able to test. Lopez asked her why she did not test on May 12.
Mother explained she did not know she was supposed to test that day. Mother contacted
Rudy at Choices Group and was waiting for a call back. She could pay the $187 cost for
the substance abuse assessment.

                                             6.
       On May 21, 2020, mother told Lopez she spoke to Rudy from Choices Group
regarding a substance abuse assessment and he said she needed a referral from the
department. Lopez spoke to a staff member from Choices Group named Karen who
stated she needed a letter. Lopez faxed a letter that same day and told mother to call and
set up an intake appointment. Father registered in parenting counseling in April 2020 in
Las Vegas. He did not register sooner because he was employed, and his work scheduled
prevented it.
       On June 10, 2020, Lopez received an email regarding three negative drug test
results from samples provided by mother in Sacramento on November 8, December 12
and December 17, 2019. However, the test results were not issued by the National
Toxicology, Inc., the only drug testing service approved by the department.
       The department recommended the juvenile court terminate reunification services
based on the parents’ minimal progress in their case plans and irregular visitation. They
only had one face-to-face visit with P.E. on March 14, 2020. Father told Lopez he called
P.E. every Monday, Tuesday and Friday at 5:00 p.m., but sometimes the caretaker was
busy and unavailable. The caretaker reported the parents often called together, but she
preferred they call separately. She observed that P.E. was not very responsive during the
video visits and that his attention span was short. However, he greeted his parents. P.E.
was doing well in her home and she was willing to adopt him if the parents failed to
reunify.
Combined Contested Six- and 12-Month Review Hearing
       By the time the juvenile court conducted the contested six-month review hearing
on June 16, 2020, it had been 15 months since P.E. was removed from the parents’
physical custody. Consequently, the court conducted a combined contested six- and 12-
month review hearing.

                                            7.
Parents’ Request for Continuance
       The parents appeared by telephone represented by counsel at the combined
contested hearing. Father’s attorney informed the juvenile court that she had her first
contact with father that morning. One of the issues was whether he had regular visits
with P.E. and father sent her 51 or more texts showing he had video visits with P.E. on a
regular basis. She requested a brief continuance to verify his contacts.
       Counsel for the department objected to a continuance, pointing out that the parties
conferred the evening before about whether the matter should be contested. That
morning, the department provided an updated phone number for the parents that was
provided to counsel. Counsel for the department asserted that visitation was only
one requirement for continuing the hearing to the 18-month review hearing and opined
there was insufficient evidence to find a substantial probability P.E. would be returned to
parental custody by then. She also pointed out that father and the caretaker were
available by telephone and could testify about visitation. Minor’s counsel objected to the
continuance. Mother’s attorney joined in the request for a continuance, stating mother
also had evidence of video visits to offer. Father’s counsel disagreed she indicated the
matter would not be contested. She expected it to could go forward as a telephonic
contested hearing but after receiving the new evidence, she did not feel prepared to
proceed.
       The juvenile court did not find good cause to continue the hearing and denied the
requests.
Mother’s Testimony
       Mother moved to Las Vegas in January 2020 but not to live with father. She
moved in with him a month before the hearing. She completed four of the six required
parenting classes. Mother completed nine of the 16 parenting classes in Sacramento but
had to start parenting classes again when she moved to Las Vegas. She would have
completed the parenting class in April if the pandemic had not broken out. She learned

                                             8.
how children react and how the parent should react to the child, how to give them
attention and regard them and how they learn at different ages.
       Mother started drug testing in January 2020 but did not have physical copies of the
test results. She called in to drug test every day and only had to drug test four times. She
provided the test results to Lopez but did not know the results. She had no reason to
believe they would be positive. She was not enrolled in substance abuse counseling. She
still needed a referral to complete a substance abuse assessment and was able to pay for
it.
       Initially, mother did not visit P.E. while she lived in Sacramento because she did
not have transportation. Later, Lopez arranged for her to visit P.E. by bus, which she did.
Her last in-person visit was on March 14, 2020. She was not able to visit after that
because of the pandemic. She visited P.E. by video chat and by telephone. She did not
know how many video calls she had with P.E. but was scheduled Monday through
Thursday at 6:00 p.m., and visited most of the time. She did not miss any telephone calls.
She was with father during some of his visits.
       Mother was arrested in May 2020 in Long Beach for possession of a gun. She was
in Long Beach for her stepson’s birthday. Father was with her when she was arrested.
She did not attempt to see P.E. while she was in Long Beach because she was told in-
person visits were not offered at that time.
Father’s Testimony
       Father completed four of the six parenting classes. He expected to complete one
of the remaining two classes on July 2 and was on a waiting list for the other. He visited
P.E. by telephone or video Monday through Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. He initially had
difficulty making all his calls because of his work schedule. He told his social worker
and the caretaker he was having difficulty but neither accommodated his schedule. P.E.
recognized him and called him “Dad.” P.E. was overjoyed when he saw father. P.E.

                                               9.
talked on average about eight minutes and sometimes did not interact with father, instead
playing with his toys. However, father watched him engage in his other activities.
       Father visited P.E. on November 27, 2019, 14 times in December 2019, 12 times
in January 2020, seven in February, 14 in March, 17 in April, 13 in May and six times in
June. Mother also participated in some of the video visits. Approximately five times the
caretaker did not answer the phone.
Lopez’s Testimony
       Father contacted Lopez in November 2019 when he was released from custody.
Since then she had contact with him at least once a month except January 2020. She
arranged video and telephonic visitation for him. In-person visits were not arranged at
that time because father said he could not come to Bakersfield because he was not
familiar with the area. She offered him a bus ticket from Barstow to Bakersfield but not
from Las Vegas. Father never told her electronic visitation was difficult because of his
work schedule. She did not believe father had a telephone visit prior to December 14 and
did not know if he had any video visits. She had no record of speaking to father about
visits in January 2020, but he told her in February he was visiting three times a week.
She was not able to verify that.
       Lopez confirmed that Choices Group received her letter regarding substance abuse
counseling for mother. She informed a staff member the department would not pay for it
and mother would have to apply through her insurance carrier. The staff member said
Choices Group did not accept mother’s insurance but would see her if she paid at the time
of service. Lopez did not know if mother completed an assessment or exactly how much
it cost. She received several amounts ranging from $175 to $187.
Caretaker’s Testimony
       P.E. had been in the caretaker’s care for a year and a few months. She kept
records of the parents’ visitation. Mother generally visited separately from father in the
beginning. Most of the visits occurred over Facebook Messenger. Mother visited

                                            10.
13 times in December and father did not participate in any of those visits but visited
separately, four times. P.E. had difficulty during visits because he was autistic, and he
struggled with speech. In January 2020, mother visited 13 times and father visited
three times. Mother visited seven times in February and father visited four times. In
March, mother visited 18 times. Father was present for some of mother’s 18 visits and
visited seven times along with mother. Mother visited 15 times in April, father visited
six times and they participated in the other’s visits. Mother visited six times in May but
did not have a working phone during that month, so they used father’s phone. Father
visited seven times in May, and they participated in the other’s visits.
Argument and Ruling
       Counsel for the department argued the parents’ failure to participate regularly in
their case plan was prima facie evidence it would be detrimental to return P.E. to their
custody. She also argued there was insufficient evidence to support a finding he could be
returned to their custody by October 5, 2020, the 18-month limitation on reunification
services. Mother’s attorney argued for continued services based on Lopez’s failure to
adequately assist mother in accessing her services and mother’s demonstrated ability to
complete her services plan. Father’s attorney argued he was not provided reasonable
visitation and that he demonstrated the ability to complete his case plan. Minor’s counsel
argued the court should find the parents did not make sufficient progress in their case
plans or demonstrate the capacity and ability to complete their services plans and
terminate reunification services.
       The juvenile court found it would be detrimental to return P.E. to parental custody
and the department provided them reasonable reunification services, but their progress
was minimal. The court also found there was not a substantial probability P.E. could be
returned to their custody with additional time, terminated reunification services and set a
section 366.26 hearing.

                                             11.
                                      DISCUSSION
Due Process
       Mother contends the juvenile court violated her right to due process by denying
her request for a short continuance and by conducting the hearing by telephone. We
disagree.
       Due process requires “a ‘hearing appropriate to the nature of the case.’ ” (In re
James Q. (2000) 81 Cal.App.4th 255, 265, quoting Mullane v. Cent. Hanover Bank &
Trust Co. (1950) 339 U.S. 306, 313.) Although due process is “a flexible concept which
depends upon the circumstances and a balancing of various factors,” it generally requires
the right to present relevant evidence. (In re Jeanette V. (1998) 68 Cal.App.4th 811,
817.) This means parents are entitled to be heard in a meaningful manner. (In re James
Q., at p. 265; In re Crystal J. (1993) 12 Cal.App.4th 407, 412) [parents whose rights will
be impacted entitled to be heard].) However, “[t]he state’s strong interest in prompt and
efficient trials permits the nonarbitrary exclusion of evidence [citation], such as when the
presentation of the evidence will ‘necessitate undue consumption of time.’ (Evid. Code,
§ 352.) The due process right to present evidence [therefore] is limited to relevant
evidence of significant probative value to the issue before the court.” (Maricela C. v.
Superior Court (1998) 66 Cal.App.4th 1138, 1146−1147.)]
       Section 352 governs continuances in juvenile dependency matters.
Subdivision (a) of section 352 provides in part:

              “(1) Upon request of counsel for the parent, guardian, minor, or
       petitioner, the court may continue any hearing under this chapter beyond
       the time limit within which the hearing is otherwise required to be held,
       provided that a continuance shall not be granted that is contrary to the
       interest of the minor. In considering the minor’s interests, the court shall
       give substantial weight to a minor’s need for prompt resolution of his or her
       custody status, the need to provide children with stable environments, and
       the damage to a minor of prolonged temporary placements. [¶]
       (2) Continuances shall be granted only upon a showing of good cause and

                                            12.
       only for that period of time shown to be necessary by the evidence
       presented at the hearing on the motion for the continuance.”
       In April 2020, the Judicial Council issued emergency rules to address the use of
remote and telephonic hearings in response to the COVID-19 global pandemic.
Emergency rule 3 authorizes courts to require that judicial proceedings and court
operations be conducted remotely, “in order to protect the health and safety of the public,
including court users, both in custody and out of custody defendants, witnesses, court
personnel, judicial officers, and others ….” (Emergency rule 3(a).) A remote proceeding
under the rule “includes, but is not limited to, the use of video, audio, and telephonic
means for remote appearances; the electronic exchange and authentication of
documentary evidence; e-filing and e-service; the use of remote interpreting; and the use
of remote reporting and electronic recording to make the official record of an action or
proceeding.” (Emergency rule 3(a)(3).)
       We review the juvenile court’s denial of a continuance for abuse of discretion;
discretion is abused when a decision is arbitrary, capricious or patently absurd and results
in a manifest miscarriage of justice. (In re D.Y. (2018) 26 Cal.App.5th 1044, 1056.)
       Mother contends the juvenile court abused its discretion because it denied her the
ability to produce evidence of the frequency of her visitation with P.E. By denying a
continuance and by conducting the hearing telephonically, she asserts, the juvenile court
“seriously crippled [her] ability to effectively put on … [evidence,] present supporting
evidence, and cross-examine and impeach the social worker with proposed exhibits and
evidence.”
       We cannot say that the juvenile court abused its discretion. First, mother was not
prejudiced by the court’s decision not to continue the hearing. She was able to testify
concerning how often she visited P.E. She said she had video visits four days a week and
participated in most of the available visits and did not miss any telephone calls. Her
testimony was bolstered by the caretaker who kept a record of mother’s visits and gave a

                                             13.
monthly count. For the most part, her testimony coincided with mother’s estimate that
she participated in most of the 16 available monthly video visits. To the extent mother
disagreed with the caretaker’s recorded number of visits, her attorney had an opportunity
to examine the caretaker. Further, continuing the hearing even for a short time for
mother to produce documentary evidence of her visits did not serve P.E.’s best interest.
He had been out of mother’s custody for over a year and had not visited her in person for
most of that time. Given the unlikely circumstance that he would reunify with her, there
was no reason to postpone permanency for him.
       We conclude mother was provided a meaningful opportunity to present relevant
evidence regarding visitation. Therefore, no violation of her right to due process
occurred. We also conclude the juvenile court did not abuse its discretion in denying her
request to continue the hearing.
Detrimental Return
       Mother contends the juvenile court erred in finding it would be detrimental to
return P.E. to her custody because the department did not articulate its reasons for
concluding that P.E. would be at risk of harm in her care.
       At each review hearing, “there is a statutory presumption that the child will be
returned to parental custody.” (In re Marilyn H. (1993) 5 Cal.4th 295, 308.) A court,
therefore, must return the child to parental custody at the 12-month review hearing unless
it finds by a preponderance of the evidence that doing so would “create a substantial risk
of detriment to the safety, protection, or physical or emotional well-being of the child.”
(§ 366.21, subd. (f)(1).) It is the department’s burden to prove the child would face some
actual, nonspeculative risk if returned to parental custody. (In re Yvonne W. (2008) 165
Cal.App.4th 1394, 1400.)
       “In evaluating detriment, the juvenile court must consider the extent to which the
parent participated in reunification services. [Citations.] The court must also consider
the efforts or progress the parent has made toward eliminating the conditions that led to

                                            14.
the child’s out-of-home placement.” (In re Yvonne W., supra, 165 Cal.App.4th at
p. 1400.)
       A parent’s failure to participate regularly and make substantive progress in court-
ordered treatment programs constitutes prima facie evidence that return would be
detrimental. (§ 366.21, subd. (f)(1).) Technical compliance with court-ordered services,
though significant, is not conclusive evidence a parent does not pose a risk of detriment
to his or her child. It simply means there was not prima facie evidence of detriment. The
court must still consider whether the parent eliminated the conditions leading to the
child’s removal and whether the child would be safe in parental custody. (See, e.g., In re
Dustin R. (1997) 54 Cal.App.4th 1131, 1141−1142.)
       We review a juvenile court’s detriment finding for substantial evidence.
“ ‘ “Substantial evidence” is evidence of ponderable legal significance, evidence that is
reasonable, credible and of solid value. [Citation.]’ [Citation.] ‘Inferences may
constitute substantial evidence, but they must be the product of logic and
reason. Speculation or conjecture alone is not substantial evidence.’ ” (Tracy J. v.
Superior Court (2012) 202 Cal.App.4th 1415, 1424.)
       Mother does not argue the evidence is insufficient to support a finding of
detriment. She simply argues the juvenile court’s finding is error because the department
did not address detriment in its report and, therefore, the court did not have evidence to
support its finding. As a reviewing court, we can affirm the court’s finding if it is
supported by substantial evidence. (In re B.S. (2012) 209 Cal.App.4th 246, 252.) We
conclude such evidence exists on this record.
       The risk of detriment, in this case, was mother’s pattern of abandoning her
children without provision and the possibility she was using drugs. When she left P.E.
with the maternal stepgrandmother in March 2019, she was reportedly as “ ‘skinny as a
rail.’ ” The following October, she told Lopez she used marijuana but had discontinued
its use. Throughout the 15-month period of reunification, mother failed to comply with

                                             15.
the requirement that she drug test, despite repeated prompting by Lopez. Consequently,
the question of whether she had a substance abuse problem was unanswered. Further, she
failed to obtain a substance abuse assessment, which would have either obviated the need
for drug testing or provided the department information to assist her in addressing her
substance abuse problem. Given mother’s failure to participate in random drug testing,
the court could find prima facie evidence it would be detrimental to return P.E. to her
custody.
Reasonableness of Services
       Mother contends the department misrepresented her drug testing results in
November 2019, did not credit her for the negative results in November and December
2019 and failed to help her obtain a substance abuse assessment even though Lopez knew
she was having difficulty completing that requirement of her case plan. We disagree.
       Reunification services are intended to facilitate the return of a dependent child to
parental custody. (In re T.G. (2010) 188 Cal.App.4th 687, 696−697.) The adequacy of a
reunification plan and the department’s efforts are judged according to the circumstances
of each case. (Robin V. v. Superior Court (1995) 33 Cal.App.4th 1158, 1164.) To
support a finding reasonable services were offered or provided, “the record should show
that the supervising agency identified the problems leading to the loss of custody, offered
services designed to remedy those problems, maintained reasonable contact with the
parents during the course of the service plan, and made reasonable efforts to assist the
parents in areas where compliance proved difficult .…” (In re Riva M. (1991) 235
Cal.App.3d 403, 414.)
       In determining whether services were reasonable and appropriate to the individual,
we look at the totality of the services offered or provided. (In re Mario C. (1990) 226
Cal.App.3d 599, 604−605.) “In almost all cases it will be true that more services could
have been provided more frequently and that the services provided were imperfect. The
standard is not whether the services provided were the best that might be provided in an

                                            16.
ideal world, but whether the services were reasonable under the circumstances.” (In re
Misako R. (1991) 2 Cal.App.4th 538, 547.)
       On a challenge to the juvenile court’s reasonable services finding, we view the
evidence in a light most favorable to the respondent, indulging all legitimate and
reasonable inferences to uphold the verdict. (In re Misako R., supra, 2 Cal.App.4th at
p. 545.) If substantial evidence supports the juvenile court’s finding, we will not disturb
it. (Ibid.)
       Mother’s reunification plan required her to participate in random drug testing and
complete a substance abuse assessment if she produced a confirmed positive drug test
result. Lopez provided mother information to access the drug testing services in
Sacramento and Las Vegas and consulted with her at least once a month to find out if she
was complying and to assist her. Yet, by the 12-month review hearing, she had not
participated in any drug tests through the department’s authorized drug testing services.
Consequently, sometime around May 2020, Lopez asked mother to participate in a
substance abuse assessment through Choices Group. Choices Group required a letter
authorizing the assessment, which Lopez provided. Mother, however, was required to
pay for the assessment. There is no explanation in the record why mother and not the
department had to pay for the assessment. In any event, mother had the means to pay for
it.
       On appeal, mother contends there is a conflict in the record as to whether she
tested on November 12, 2019. It states that she failed to test that day but also states that
she went to the testing facility, which prompted the call from the staff member to Lopez
and Lopez’s explanation of the billing process. There does not appear to be a conflict,
however, because the staff member did not say he tested mother. Further, the dates the
department alleged mother missed drug tests, including November 2019, were entered
into evidence through the department’s report without objection. More importantly, even
if mother were credited for testing on that day, it does not diminish evidence that she did

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not comply with the drug testing component of her case plan by regularly submitting to
random drug testing. The same line of logic applies to mother’s complaint the
department disregarded negative drug test results dated November 8, December 12 and
December 17, 2019. Even assuming she was credited for those results, it still does not
bring her into compliance with the requirement she regularly participate in random drug
testing.
       Mother further contends the department caused the delay in her obtaining a
substance abuse assessment because Lopez did not provide Choices Group a referral.
According to the record, however, Choices Group was not waiting for a referral from
Lopez; they were waiting for a letter, which Lopez provided. The next step was for
mother to make an appointment for an assessment, which she did not do. Consequently,
any delay in complying with that component of her case plan was attributable to mother.
Substantial Probability of Return
       At the 12-month review hearing, the juvenile court may continue the case for up to
six months if there is a substantial probability the child will be returned to parental
custody within 18 months from the time the child was initially removed. (§ 366.21,
subd. (g)(1).) The “substantial probability” of return considers whether the parent
consistently and regularly visited the child, made significant and consistent progress in
resolving the problems that led to the child’s removal from the home, and demonstrated
the capacity and ability to complete the objectives of his or her treatment plan and to
provide for the child’s safety, protection, and physical and emotional well-being. The
juvenile court must find evidence of all three to determine there is a substantial
probability of return. (§ 366.21, subd. (g)(1)(A)−(B).) Otherwise, the court must
terminate reunification services and set a section 366.26 hearing to implement a
permanent plan for the child. (§ 366.21, subd. (g)(4).)
       Mother objects to the juvenile court’s finding she made “minimal” progress. She
contends her ability to complete her parenting classes was impeded by the COVID-19

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pandemic and she should not be faulted for not drug testing when P.E. was removed from
her for failure to provide support—not because she had a substance abuse problem.
       Contrary to mother’s assertion, there is no evidence she was penalized for any
delay caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in completing any of her services. In fact, the
court stated that it took the virus into account. ([“[T]he court is taking into account the
delays necessitated by the COVID virus”].) Further, although mother was not considered
compliant with the parenting component of her case plan, that did not appear to be a
major concern. She participated in two parenting classes and would complete the
program after attending two more classes. Mother’s greatest area of noncompliance was
drug testing. As a result, the department had no idea whether she had a substance abuse
problem. While the court’s basis for jurisdiction was mother’s failure to provide P.E.
support, there was concern from the beginning that she may have a drug problem and the
department rightfully included that service in her case plan. By failing to address it for
an entire year, mother prevented the court from safely returning P.E. to her custody. On
that evidence, the juvenile court could properly find that mother’s progress was minimal
and, therefore, there was not a substantial probability P.E. could be returned to her
custody in the four months remaining before the 18-month review hearing.
       We find no error on this record.
                                      DISPOSITION
       The petition for extraordinary writ is denied. This court’s opinion is final
forthwith as to this court pursuant to rule 8.490(b)(2)(A) of the California Rules of Court.

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