Court Opinion

ID: 4660959
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-02-17 20:02:38.854591+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:02:10.382544
License: Public Domain

Filed 2/17/21 In re Layla S. CA3
                                           NOT TO BE PUBLISHED
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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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
                                      THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                                         (Sutter)
                                                            ----

 In re LAYLA S., a Person Coming Under the Juvenile                                     C092165, C092506
 Court Law.

 SUTTER COUNTY HEALTH AND HUMAN                                                          (Super. Ct. No.
 SERVICES DEPARTMENT,                                                                   DPSQ190000053)

                    Plaintiff and Respondent,

           v.

 S.S. et al.,

                    Defendants and Appellants.

         S.S. (father) and T.J. (mother), parents of the minor, appeal from the juvenile
court’s order terminating parental rights and freeing the minor for adoption. (Welf. &
Inst. Code, §§ 366.26, 395; statutory section references that follow are found in the
Welfare and Institutions Code.) The parents contend the juvenile court failed to apply the
correct standard of proof -- beyond a reasonable doubt -- at the selection and
implementation hearing given that the minor is an Indian child within the meaning of the

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Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) (25 U.S.C. § 1901 et seq.). The Sutter County
Department of Human Services (Department) argues the parents failed to object and
therefore forfeited their claim on appeal.
       We agree with the Department and affirm the juvenile court’s orders.

                           FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

       Given the limited nature of the claims on appeal, we dispense with a detailed
recitation of the facts and procedural history in the case.

       The Department filed a dependency petition on behalf of the newborn minor
Layla S. pursuant to section 300, subdivisions (b) and (j), alleging the parents had
substance abuse problems rendering them incapable of providing care and supervision to
the minor, the minor tested positive at birth for methamphetamines and opiates after
mother sought no prenatal care and used heroin and methamphetamines three days prior
to the birth, father was previously discharged from a drug abuse treatment program after
testing positive for opiates, father failed to engage in any other available programs to
address his continued substance abuse, and the parents had recently had their parental
rights over the minor’s sibling C.S. terminated due to their continued drug abuse and
failure to participate in reunification services. It is undisputed that the minor is an Indian
child with the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma.
       On August 8, 2019, the court ordered the minor detained in out-of-home
placement. Once the minor was discharged from the hospital, she was placed with the
paternal grandparents who also provided care for the minor’s sibling, C.S.
       On August 29, 2019, the court sustained the first amended petition (the original
petition having been amended to correct the minor’s name) and adjudged the minor a
dependent of the juvenile court.
       On December 2, 2019, the Cherokee Nation filed a notice of intervention in the
dependency proceedings. The attached declaration of the Cherokee Nation’s child

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welfare specialist, Nicole Allison, stated mother was an enrolled member in the Cherokee
Nation and the minor was eligible for citizenship in the Cherokee Nation through the
mother. Allison also declared that, in her opinion, the parents’ continued custody of the
minor was “likely to result in serious emotional or physical damage to the child” due to
the parents’ long history of substance abuse, the fact that the parents’ previous receipt of
services as to C.S. for the same issues did not prevent removal of the minor, and the
parents were currently incarcerated and unable to care for the minor. Allison also noted
the minor was placed with her sibling in the home of the grandparents and that the
placement was ICWA compliant and the Cherokee Nation’s preferred placement.
       The disposition report filed December 17, 2019 stated that, due to their “out of
control drug use” including heroin, methamphetamines, and marijuana, the parents
remained homeless and unemployed, continued to lack an appropriate support network,
and were not regularly drug testing or visiting the minor. The parents refused to
participate in any intensive substance abuse treatment programs and resorted to the
Salvation Army Depot to address their drug issues, refusing to accept that the Depot was
insufficient to meet their needs or address the reasons for their continued substance
abuse. The parents appeared to suffer from grief from the death of their oldest child,
R.S., and had been unable to progress in their lives due to their grief. Despite having had
“plenty of opportunities to participate in continued mental health treatment and
counseling services,” the parents failed to attend appointments. The Department
provided the parents with information on substance abuse and mental health services.
However, both parents were using heroin in combination with methamphetamines and
marijuana and were not in a position to provide a safe environment for the minor.
Although the Department arranged visitation, the parents were not regularly visiting with
the minor. The Department recommended that the court bypass the parents for
reunification services pursuant to section 361.5, subdivisions (b)(10), (b)(11), and
(b)(13), and set the matter for a section 366.26 hearing.

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       An addendum report filed by the Department the same day included the
declaration of Cherokee Nation representative Allison, who opined that the continued
custody of the minor by the parents was likely to result in serious emotional or physical
damage to the minor due to the parents’ continued abuse of illegal substances and their
failure to avail themselves of reunification services previously offered to them in the case
of the minor’s sibling, C.S. The report noted that Allison agreed, “that the Department
made reasonable efforts to assist the parents and the parents have not participated in
services in order to avoid the removal of [the minor],” and the Cherokee Nation agreed
reunification services should not be offered to the parents due to their continued drug
abuse and risk to the minor if placed in their care. In that regard, Allison’s declaration
stated in part that it was her opinion, “that active efforts were made by the state workers
to provide remedial services, referral services and rehabilitative programs designed to
prevent the breakup of this Indian family.”
       Neither parent was present at the disposition hearing on December 17, 2019.
Cherokee Nation representative Allison appeared telephonically. The parents’ respective
attorneys informed the court they had had no contact with the parents and requested that
the court follow the Department’s recommendations. The court read and considered the
Department’s reports and adopted the recommended findings and orders. In particular,
the court found, “by clear and convincing evidence that there is a substantial danger to
the physical, health, safety, protection, or physical or emotional well-being of the child or
will be if the child is returned home, and there is no reasonable alternative means to
protect the child.” The court further found that “continued placement of the child is
necessary and appropriate” and “the agency has complied with the case plan by making
reasonable efforts to make it possible for the child to safely return to the child’s home and
to complete whatever steps are necessary to finalize the permanent placement of the
child.” The court bypassed reunification services to the parents pursuant to section 361.5,
subdivisions (b)(10), (b)(11), and (b)(13), and set the matter for a section 366.26 hearing.

                                              4
       In her second declaration filed on June 12, 2020, Cherokee Nation representative
Allison again stated it was her opinion that the Department made “active efforts . . . to
provide remedial services, referral services and rehabilitative programs designed to
prevent the breakup of this Indian family.” Allison opined that, based on her knowledge
of Indian culture and her personal knowledge of the minor’s case, “continued custody of
the child by [the parents] is likely to result in serious emotional or physical damage to the
child. Both parents have a long history of substance abuse that places [the minor] in
danger if placed with them. [The minor] is currently placed in a relative placement with
her sister and doing well. This home is willing to adopt her along with her sister.”
Allison recommended the court find that “beyond a reasonable doubt continued custody
would likely result in serious emotional or physical damage to the child,” that “active
efforts were made by the department to prevent the breakup of an Indian family and those
efforts should [sic] failed,” and that the placement was in compliance with the ICWA
placement preferences and was in the best interest of the minor. Finally, Allison
recommended the court terminate parental rights and identify adoption as the appropriate
permanent plan for the minor.
       According to the section 366.26 report, father was residing in a sober living home
and engaging in an outpatient substance abuse treatment program. Mother was in
custody at the Sutter County jail. The Department recommended the court terminate
parental rights, identify adoption as the permanent plan, and make a number of findings
and orders including that “reasonable services had been provided to the parent designed
to facilitate reunification of the family and to eliminate the circumstances which
necessitated the detention of the child.”
       Father appeared by telephone for the section 366.26 hearing on June 16, 2020.
Mother was not present. Both parents were represented by counsel. Cherokee Nation
representative Allison appeared telephonically and stated her position as follows: “I’m in
agreement with the Department’s plan for termination and a plan of adoption. . . . I did

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submit a declaration for the need of expert testimony and hope that had made that into the
file. We do believe that it is in the best interests of the [minor] for the parental rights of
both parents to be terminated and the child be set free for adoption in a current relative
placement.”
       The court adopted the recommended findings and orders, including the following:
       “The Court found at the dispositional hearing that reasonable services had been
provided to the parents designed to facilitate the reunification of the family and to
eliminate the circumstances which necessitated the detention of the [minor].
       “The Court does find the [minor’s] placement is necessary and appropriate.
       “The Court finds the agency has complied with the case plan by making
reasonable efforts including whatever steps are necessary to finalize the permanent
placement of the minor child.
       “The Court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the permanent plan of
adoption is appropriate.
       “The Court finds by clear and convincing evidence that it is likely the [minor] will
be adopted. The likely date by which the permanent plan will be achieved is December
the 15th, 2020.
       “The Court finds the [minor] is an Indian child as defined by 25 U.S.C. 1903(4).”
The court also adopted the recommended order that “[a]ll previous Orders, not herein
modified, remain in full force and effect.” Finally, the court renewed and continued its
prior orders, terminated parental rights, and ordered adoption as the permanent plan.

                                        DISCUSSION
       The parents contend the juvenile court failed to apply the correct standard of proof
-- beyond a reasonable doubt -- when it found there was a likelihood of serious emotional
or physical damage to the minor if returned to the parents’ care and custody and
terminated parental rights. In addition, mother claims the court failed to consider the

                                               6
Indian expert’s opinion before terminating parental rights. The Department argues the
parents forfeited their claims by failing to raise them below and, in any event, any error
was harmless. We agree with the Department.
       Where, as here, the information before the juvenile court is sufficient to show that
the child is a member of a tribe, or is eligible for membership and is the child of a
member, Rules of Court, rule 5.482(d)(2) requires compliance with all of the provisions
of the ICWA. (In re L.B. (2003) 110 Cal.App.4th 1420, 1427, superseded by rule on
other grounds.) These provisions include the requirement that, “No termination of
parental rights may be ordered in [a dependency proceeding] in the absence of a
determination, supported by evidence beyond a reasonable doubt, including testimony of
qualified expert witnesses, that the continued custody of the child by the parent . . . is
likely to result in serious emotional or physical damage to the child.” (25 U.S.C.
§ 1912(f); see also § 366.26, subd. (c)(2)(B)(ii).)
       It was never disputed that the minor is an Indian child within the meaning of the
ICWA. As such, before terminating parental rights, the juvenile court was required to
make a determination, supported by evidence beyond a reasonable doubt, that the minor’s
continued custody by the parents was likely to result in serious emotional or physical
damage to the minor.
       At the December 17, 2019 disposition hearing, the court found “by clear and
convincing evidence that there is a substantial danger to the physical, health, safety,
protection, or physical or emotional well-being of the child or will be if the child is
returned home, and there is no reasonable alternative means to protect the child.” That
prior order was renewed and continued by the court at the June 2020 section 366.26
hearing.
       It is undisputed that the juvenile court applied the clear and convincing standard of
proof rather than the beyond a reasonable doubt standard when finding the minor was at
risk of serious emotional or physical damage if returned to the parents’ custody.

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However, neither parent objected, at either the December 2019 hearing or the June 2020
hearing, to the court’s use of the clear and convincing standard, or to the court’s receipt
and consideration of Cherokee Nation representative Allison’s declaration in lieu of her
testimony. “ ‘An appellate court will ordinarily not consider procedural defects or
erroneous rulings in connection with relief sought or defenses asserted, where an
objection could have been, but was not, presented to the lower court by some appropriate
method.’ [Citation.]” (In re Dennis H. (2001) 88 Cal.App.4th 94, 98.) This is the
general rule, because any other rule would allow a party to deliberately stand by in
silence and permit the proceedings to reach a conclusion in which the party could
acquiesce if favorable and avoid if unfavorable. (In re Riva M. (1991) 235 Cal.App.3d
403, 412 (Riva M.), citing In re Christian J. (1984) 155 Cal.App.3d 276, 279.) The
forfeiture doctrine has been applied in dependency proceedings in a wide variety of
contexts, including cases involving failure to require expert testimony and to make the
required findings using the beyond a reasonable doubt standard as mandated by the
ICWA. (See Riva M., at p. 411.)
       The forfeiture doctrine is applicable here. The minor was identified as an Indian
child early on in the proceedings. The Cherokee Nation intervened in the case in early-
December 2019, and representative Allison filed a declaration stating the parents’
continued custody of the minor was “likely to result in serious emotional or physical
damage to the child” due to the parents’ long history of substance abuse, the fact that the
parents’ previous receipt of services as to C.S. for the same issues did not prevent
removal of the minor, and the parents were currently incarcerated and unable to care for
the minor. The notice of intervention and Allison’s declaration were attached to the
Department’s addendum report filed the day of the disposition hearing. Allison filed a
second declaration on June 12, 2020, repeating her previous opinion and recommending
that the court “find that beyond a reasonable doubt continued custody would likely result
in serious emotional or physical damage to the child.” The Department’s section 366.26

                                              8
report referred the court to Allison’s declaration in support of its recommendation to
terminate parental rights. The court found continued custody would likely result in
serious emotional or physical harm to the minor, but by clear and convincing evidence
rather than beyond a reasonable doubt. By failing to object, however, the parents
forfeited their claim on appeal. (Riva M., supra, 235 Cal.App.3d at p. 412.)
       The parents’ reliance on In re Matthew Z. (2000) 80 Cal.App.4th 545 (Matthew Z.)
and In re Barbara R. (2006) 137 Cal.App.4th 941 (Barbara R.) does not compel us to
decide otherwise. Matthew Z. and Barbara R. both discuss the proper timing of the
requisite ICWA findings by the juvenile court, namely, that the agency made active
efforts to provide services and rehabilitative programs and that the continued custody of
the minor by the parents is likely to result in serious emotional or physical damage to the
minor. Both agree that the required findings should be made at the final review hearing
at which the section 366.26 hearing is set and need not be readdressed unless the parents
present evidence of changed circumstances or show that the earlier findings were stale.
(Matthew Z., supra, at pp. 554-555; Barbara R., supra, at pp. 949-950.) They provide no
guidance on the issue presented here and do nothing to undermine the holding regarding
forfeiture in Riva M.
       In any event, we have the authority to decide whether the error in this matter was
harmless. The question is whether there is a reasonable probability the outcome would
have been different absent the court’s error. (Riva M., supra, 235 Cal.App.3d at pp. 411-
412.) We hold that there is not.
       Section 366.26, subdivision (c)(2) provides: “The court shall not terminate
parental rights if: . . . [⁋] (B) In the case of an Indian child: [⁋] . . . (ii) The court does
not make a determination at the hearing terminating parental rights, supported by
evidence beyond a reasonable doubt, including testimony of one or more ‘qualified
expert witnesses’ as defined in Section 224.6, that the continued custody of the child by
the parent is likely to result in serious emotional or physical damage to the child.”

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       The record provided the requisite level of evidence to support the court’s
determination. The declaration authored by Allison and referenced in the section 366.26
report stated, among other things, that Allison was an employee of the Cherokee Nation
in the capacity of a Child Welfare Specialist; her duties included intervening on behalf of
the minor to determine if the minor’s best interests were being served by the agency,
court, and extended family as to compliance with the federal ICWA; she was the
specialist assigned to the minor, who was eligible for citizenship with the Cherokee
Nation through mother; it was her opinion that “active efforts were made by the state
workers to provide remedial services, referral services and rehabilitative programs
designed to prevent the breakup of this Indian family”; mother tested positive for illegal
substances during pregnancy with the minor and failed to obtain needed prenatal care
which resulted in the minor being born premature and suffering from withdrawal
symptoms; prior to removal of the minor, the Department had been providing active
efforts to the parents with regard to the minor’s older sibling, but those efforts failed and
parental rights were terminated; and the parents had not yet corrected the conditions that
led to removal of the minor’s sibling. Allison also stated: “It is in my opinion, based
upon my knowledge of Indian culture and my personal knowledge of this case, that
continued custody of the child by [the parents] is likely to result in serious emotional or
physical damage to the child. Both parents have a long history of substance abuse that
places [the minor] in danger if placed with them. [The minor] is currently placed in a
relative placement with her sister and doing well. This home is willing to adopt her along
with her sister.”
       Allison’s opinion that return of the minor to the parents would likely result in
serious emotional or physical damage was supported by facts in the record regarding the
parents’ continuing problems. For example, prior to being bypassed for services, the
parents’ drug use was described as “out of control,” as they continued to use heroin,
methamphetamine, and marijuana. They remained homeless and unemployed and were

                                             10
not regularly drug testing or visiting the minor. They refused to participate in any
intensive substance abuse treatment programs and, despite having had “plenty of
opportunities to participate in continued mental health treatment and counseling
services,” they failed to do so. By the time of the section 366.26 hearing, mother was in
custody at the Sutter County jail and had not maintained visitation or occupied a parental
role in the minor’s life. Father reportedly moved to Tarzana to participate in an
outpatient substance abuse treatment program while residing in a sober living home.
While he maintained regular contact with the minor through video chats, he lived over
400 miles away and had not occupied a parental role with the minor on a daily basis.
Notwithstanding that the parents received 12 months of reunification services in the
sibling’s case to address their continued substance abuse, they failed to engage in those
services and continued to abuse drugs resulting in termination of their parental rights over
the sibling.
       The record also makes plain that the Cherokee Nation fully supported the minor’s
placement with her sister in the home of the grandparents, “an ICWA compliant
placement and the preferred placement by the Cherokee Nation,” and determined such
placement was in the minor’s best interest. We conclude the record contains substantial
evidence to support the court’s finding and therefore any error by the juvenile court was
harmless.
       The parents also claim the juvenile court erred when it failed to make a finding
regarding the Department’s “active efforts” as required by 25 U.S.C. section 1912(d),
which provides: “Any party seeking to effect a foster care placement of, or termination
of parental rights to, an Indian child under State law shall satisfy the court that active
efforts have been made to provide remedial services and rehabilitative programs designed
to prevent the breakup of the Indian family and that these efforts have proved
unsuccessful.” We are not persuaded.

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       Neither the ICWA nor its California counterpart, section 361.7, subdivision (b),
defines “active efforts.” The standards for determining whether active efforts were made
are “essentially undifferentiable” from those for assessing whether reasonable services
under state law were provided. (See In re Michael G. (1998) 63 Cal.App.4th 700, 712
[both the federal and state statutes are aimed at ensuring the provision of reasonable
reunification services and preserving the family whenever possible, thus the “clear and
convincing standard is also consistent with the ICWA’s goals” and application of that
standard to a 25 U.S.C. section 1912(d) analysis is proper]; accord C.F. v. Superior Court
(2014) 230 Cal.App.4th 227, 238-239.) Further, the parents provide no authority, and we
are not aware of any, that requires that the juvenile court use the phrase “active efforts”
rather than “reasonable efforts” in its findings regarding an agency’s efforts to provide an
Indian family with tools to prevent the breakup of the family. Instead, 25 U.S.C. section
1912(d) requires only that the agency “satisfy the court that active efforts have been
made.”
       Here, the juvenile court twice found that the Department made reasonable efforts
to facilitate reunification of the family and eliminate the circumstances which
necessitated the minor’s detention, finding so first at the disposition hearing and then
again at the section 366.26 hearing. The court’s findings were supported by the record.
For example, the Department provided the parents with reunification services in the case
involving the minor’s sibling, C.S., but the parents failed to engage and continued to
abuse drugs. As for the minor, the Department again provided the parents with substance
abuse and mental health services and arranged visitation. Again, the parents refused to
participate and continued to abuse drugs and failed to visit the minor regularly or,
eventually, at all. The court’s findings were consistent with the Department’s
recommendations as well as those made by Cherokee Nation representative Allison, who
specifically recommended the court find the Department made “active efforts” with
regard to providing services to the parents. The parents do not challenge the sufficiency

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of the court’s findings, only that those findings did not expressly state that “active
efforts” had been made without success. We see nothing that compels us to elevate form
over substance in this instance. Thus, we find sufficient the court’s findings that the
Department made reasonable efforts to provide the parents with services designed to
facilitate reunification of the family and eliminate the circumstances which necessitated
the detention of the minor.

                                       DISPOSITION

       The juvenile court’s orders are affirmed.

                                                   HULL, Acting P. J.

We concur:

ROBIE, J.

MURRAY, J.

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