Court Opinion

ID: 2813351
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-07-01 00:07:48.175196+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:30:27.992607
License: Public Domain

Filed 6/30/15 In re Tyy. D. CA4/1
                      NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for
publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication
or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.

                    COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                                  DIVISION ONE

                                           STATE OF CALIFORNIA

In re Tyy. D. et al., Persons Coming Under
the Juvenile Court Law.
                                                                 D067389
SAN DIEGO COUNTY HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY,
                                                                 (Super. Ct. No. EJ003555 A-B)
         Plaintiff and Respondent,

         v.

T.D. et al.,

         Defendants and Appellants.

         APPEALS from a judgment of the Superior Court of San Diego County, Gary M.

Bubis, Judge. Affirmed.

         William Hook, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and

Appellant T.D.

         Elizabeth C. Alexander, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant

and Appellant To. D.
       Thomas E. Montgomery, County Counsel, John E. Philips, Chief Deputy County

Counsel, and Patricia Plattner-Grainger, Deputy County Counsel, for Plaintiff and

Respondent.

       T.D., the father, and To. D., the mother, appeal a judgment terminating their

parental rights over their daughters, Tyy. D. and Tye. D. (together the girls), and selecting

adoption as the preferred permanent plan. The parents challenge the sufficiency of the

evidence to support the court's finding of adoptability.1 We affirm the judgment.

                   FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

       In May 2012, the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency

(Agency) filed petitions on behalf of three-year-old Tyy. and 10-month-old Tye. Both

children have osteogenesis imperfecta, a genetic disorder characterized by fragile bones.

Tyy.'s petition alleged she had a fractured humerus, and the parents failed and refused to

seek treatment for nine days. The Agency learned that during an argument between the

parents, T.D. grabbed Tyy.'s stroller and she was injured, but that was not alleged in the

petition. Tye.'s petition alleged a failure to thrive, in that she had gained very little

weight, and the parents had not addressed her condition. The girls were placed together

in a foster home for medically fragile children.

       The parents had Regional Center cases in Los Angeles, which were transferred to

San Diego when they relocated here. After the stroller incident, police transported T.D.

to a medical facility "for a 72-hour hold." According to medical records, he had a history

1      To. D. joins in T.D.'s briefing.
                                               2
of mental illness and had not been taking his prescribed medication. He was discharged

with a recommendation to follow up with his outpatient psychiatrist and restart his

medication, and the hold was discontinued.

       In June 2012, the Agency filed amended petitions that added a count alleging facts

pertaining to the stroller incident, and that T.D. suffered from mental illness, including

depression and bipolar disorder, and he had not received regular refills of his medication

during the previous six months. The Agency moved to dismiss the original count of

Tye.'s petition on failure to thrive.

       In July 2012, the court sustained the petitions, declared the girls dependents of the

court, and removed them from parental custody. The court ordered the parents to comply

with their case plans.

       At the six-month review hearing, the court ordered an additional six months of

services. T.D. had completed a psychological evaluation, and he was found to have

attention deficit disorder, mild mental retardation, and fetal alcohol syndrome. The

evaluator believed there was "a less than average probability that [he would] benefit from

reunification services within the court mandated time frame." To. D. had also completed

a psychological evaluation. She "was diagnosed with a [m]ood [d]isorder," and mild

mental retardation with "paranoid features." She reported "mild cerebral palsy, impaired

pulmonary functioning secondary to premature birth, [and] in utero exposure to alcohol."

Her evaluator assessed her ability to benefit from services as "guarded."

       At the 12-month review hearing, the court again ordered an additional six months

of services, even though the Agency and the court-appointed special advocate (CASA)

                                              3
recommended the termination of services and the scheduling of a permanency planning

hearing under Welfare and Institutions Code2 section 366.26. The parents had not

consistently taken their medications, and in the social worker's opinion they had "not

demonstrated enough progress to show that they would be able to safely care for their

children on their own." T.D. told the CASA he understood "he cannot care for [the girls]

at this time and . . . wants them to be safe."

       At the 18-month review hearing, the court terminated reunification services and

scheduled a section 366.26 hearing. The Agency advised that the parents were unable to

provide for the girls' special needs. They had not been able to address their own needs,

they engaged in loud arguing, "demonstrated poor decision making," and lacked stable

housing.

       In its September 2014 assessment report, the Agency recommended the

termination of parental rights and a permanent plan of adoption. The report stated Tyy.

had fallen and broken both legs and an arm. She had a slow recovery but was able to

walk again. Both girls wore leg braces and had periodical infusion therapy to strengthen

their bones and muscles. The report described Tyy. as "happy-go-lucky." She enjoys

"crafts, drawing, playing with toys, and watching cartoons or movies." The report

described Tye. as "goofy." She "has developmental delays in her gross motor skills" and

speech issues.

2      All further statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code.
                                                 4
       The social worker assessed the girls as generally adoptable because there were 15

San Diego County families with approved home studies willing to adopt siblings with

their characteristics, and numerous families willing to adopt one child with their

characteristics. Since the girls had always been placed together, however, the Agency

intended to consider only families willing to adopt both of them. At that time, no specific

adoptive family had been identified.

       In a January 2015 addendum report, the Agency advised that Tye. had broken a

leg, and a rod was surgically installed in the leg. In November 2014, a prospective

adoptive family "expressly sought out [Tyy. and Tye.] as they saw the girls on Adopt 8."

On November 13, "the adoptive telling was read to [the prospective] adoptive family."

       The Agency chose the family for adoptive placement for several reasons. It had

been "an Options Licensed Foster Home for many years, and [it] had several children

with significant medical needs in [the] home." The parents were "familiar with working

with medical providers to communicate and advocate for children's needs." The mother

is a stay-at-home parent, and the father has a flexible work schedule, and thus they are

available for all medical appointments. The prospective "adoptive parents' children,

[whom] they adopted from the county over [10] years ago, have specialized educational

needs," and the parents "are highly skilled at working with the school district to advocate

for the children's needs."

       The report also states that on November 19, 2014, the girls met and began

spending time with the family. While "the girls' transition was somewhat hampered by

[Tye.] breaking her leg," the incident "gave the prospective adoptive parents a very clear

                                             5
picture of the specialized care that the girls require." They attended medical

appointments with the girls, and they were at the hospital during Tye.'s surgery. Further,

they contacted the school in their district about the girls' enrollment. On December 24,

2014, the girls were placed in their home.

       A report by the CASA also recommended adoption. The CASA observed that the

girls "were immediately at ease" around the prospective adoptive family, the "potential

adoptive mother was very loving and attentive to [the girls]," and the "potential adoptive

father was very playful and loving as well." There are two older children in the home,

who "appeared as healthy, happy, and respectful." The parents "appear[ed] to be

emotionally invested in the girls already."

       At the hearing on January 7, 2015, the social worker testified the girls are

generally and specifically adoptable. There were 20 prospective adoptive homes for a

child with Tyy.'s characteristics, 28 prospective adoptive homes for a child with Tye.'s

characteristics, and 15 prospective adoptive homes for the sibling set. Further, their

current caregivers wish to adopt the girls and "are capable of providing the type of care

and provisions [they] need."

       The parents were opposed to adoption. T.D. noted that despite the number of

families reportedly interested in adopting children with the girls' characteristics, the

Agency was unable to place them in a prospective adoptive home until December 24,

2014. He argued that is "not a long enough time to indicate whether they are able to

really take on the specific needs that these children have." He asserted that attending the

girls' infusion treatments, which require several hours in the hospital, and other medical

                                              6
appointments and occupational therapy "is a heavy task for anybody to take on." To. D.

added, "All accounts at this point [are] that the caretakers are great, excellent, but the risk

we run of terminating parental rights today is that the caretakers may not be able to keep

up [with] this pace."

       Minors' counsel argued for adoption. Counsel noted that the prospective adoptive

family had "spent a lot of time" with the girls since November 19, 2014, the family was

aware of the girls' special needs, and "[t]his is a skilled adoption/foster home" that has

cared for "many children with special needs over the years."

       The court determined it is likely the children will be adopted if parental rights are

terminated. The court explained: "[T]hey are in a home [that] is ready, willing and able

to adopt. In this particular case, it appears [the Agency has] gone to great lengths to try

to find a home. It appears that the reason it took longer than usual is [the Agency]

wanted to make sure that there was someone who was able and capable of doing it.

There is no [100] percent guarantee, but the evidence is they are specifically adoptable

because these people are willing to adopt. With regard to general adoptability, there are

numbers in the report. And I understand counsel's argument that those are just standard

things in the report, but that's evidence that's uncontradicted, that there are homes

located." The court terminated parental rights and selected adoption as the preferred

permanent plan.

                                               7
                                      DISCUSSION3

                                              A

       "If there is no probability a child will reunify with his or her parents, adoption is

the Legislature's preferred plan. [Citation.] To select and implement adoption as a

child's permanent plan, the court must first find, by clear and convincing evidence, it is

likely the child will be adopted if parental rights are terminated." (In re L.Y.L. (2002)

101 Cal. App. 4th 942, 956.)

       "The issue of adoptability 'focuses on the minor, e.g., whether the minor's age,

physical condition, and emotional state make it difficult to find a person willing to adopt

the minor.' [Citation.] And '[u]sually, the fact that a prospective adoptive parent has

expressed interest in adopting the minor is evidence that the minor's age, physical

condition, mental state, and other matters relating to the child are not likely to dissuade

individuals from adopting the minor.' [Citation.] In some cases, a minor 'who ordinarily

might be considered unadoptable due to age, poor physical health, physical disability, or

emotional instability is nonetheless likely to be adopted because a prospective adoptive

family has been identified as willing to adopt the child.' [Citation.] And when a child is

deemed adoptable 'only because a particular caretaker is willing to adopt, the analysis

shifts from evaluating the characteristics of the child to whether there is any legal

impediment to the prospective adoptive parent's adoption and whether he or she is able to

meet the needs of the child.' " (In re Jose C. (2010) 188 Cal. App. 4th 147, 158.)

3      Minors' trial counsel agrees with the Agency's position.
                                              8
       "We review a finding of adoptability for substantial evidence [citation], and '[t]he

appellant has the burden of showing there is no evidence of a sufficiently substantial

nature to support the finding or order.' " (In re Jose C., supra, 188 Cal.App.4th at

p. 158.) "The appellate court does not reweigh the evidence, evaluate the credibility of

witnesses or indulge in inferences contrary to the findings of the trial court." (In re

Michael G. (2012) 203 Cal. App. 4th 580, 589.)

                                              B

       The parents contend "substantial evidence did not show it was likely [Tyy.] and

[Tye.] would be adopted within a reasonable period of time as both children had

osteogenesis imperfecta, a serious medical and developmental condition that severely

limited the pool of families interested in adopting them." They make several assertions

about the condition and its prognosis that are apparently gleaned from an Internet source.

They do not cite the appellate record to show the information was before the juvenile

court (see Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.204(a)(1)(C)), and we disregard factual assertions

attributed to sources outside the record. (Banning v. Newdow (2004) 119 Cal. App. 4th
438, 457.)

       We conclude substantial evidence supports a finding of the likelihood of adoption

within a reasonable time. Despite their fragile medical conditions, the Agency reported

that the girls are generally adoptable because it had identified 15 families willing to adopt

a sibling set with their characteristics. This evidence was undisputed.

       The parents incorrectly assert that because the girls were bonded and the Agency

intended to place them together, "the court needed very strong evidence there was a

                                              9
specific family committed to adopting them." "[I]t is not necessary that the minor

already be in a potential adoptive home or that there be a proposed adoptive parent

'waiting in the wings.' " (In re Sarah M. (1994) 22 Cal. App. 4th 1642, 1649.) "If the

child is considered generally adoptable, we do not examine the suitability of the

prospective adoptive home." (In re Michael G., supra, 203 Cal.App.4th at p. 589.)

       Further, the evidence shows the girls are specifically adoptable. The prospective

adoptive parents are longtime foster parents who have cared for children with special

needs, they understood the girls' needs, and they wished to adopt them. The parents'

argument is that the children had lived with the prospective adoptive parents only two

weeks, but they cite no authority suggesting the timing prohibited the court from finding

them specifically adoptable. Further, the prospective adoptive family met and began

spending time with the girls on November 19, 2014, approximately seven weeks before

the hearing.

       The parents' reliance on In re Asia L. (2003) 107 Cal. App. 4th 498 is misplaced. In

Asia, the children's emotional and psychological development presented a potential

obstacle to adoption, and they "would require specialized placement." (Id. at p. 512.)

Asia states "the foster parents' willingness to explore the option of adopting James and

Asia is too vague to be considered evidence that some family, if not this foster family,

would be willing to adopt these children." (Ibid.) Here, the prospective adoptive parents

did not have a vague willingness to explore adoption, they were committed to adoption.

                                            10
                                               C

       The parents also assert reversal is required because the Agency conducted an

inadequate assessment of the prospective adoptive family. An assessment report is

required to include a "preliminary assessment of the eligibility and commitment of any

identified prospective adoptive parent . . . , to include a social history, including

screening for criminal records and prior referrals for child abuse or neglect, the capability

to meet the child's needs, and the understanding of the legal and financial rights and

responsibilities of adoption . . . ." (§ 361.5, subd. (g)(1)(D).) Further, the report is

required to include an explanation of the "relationship of the child to any identified

prospective adoptive parent . . . the duration and character of the relationship, the degree

of attachment of the child to the prospective . . . adoptive parent, the . . . adoptive parent's

strong commitment to caring permanently for the child, [and] the motivation for seeking

adoption." (§ 361.5, subd. (g)(1)(E).)

       The Agency's assessment report is deficient insofar as the prospective adoptive

parents are concerned.4 However, because they are licensed foster care and adoptive

parents, the court could reasonably presume they have been screened for criminal records

and child abuse or neglect, and they are familiar with the legal rights and responsibilities

of adoption. It is apparent from the Agency's report that the girls are unrelated to the

prospective adoptive parents, and since the girls had only known them for about seven

4     In his reply brief, T.D. incorrectly claims "the [A]gency failed to provide any
assessment report at all." In its January 2015 addendum to its September 2014
assessment report, the Agency discussed the prospective adoptive family.
                                              11
weeks, a strong attachment had likely not formed. As to a commitment to adopt, the

Agency's addendum report states the prospective adoptive parents sought out the girls for

adoption.

       "Deficiencies in an assessment report surely go to the weight of the evidence, and

if sufficiently egregious may impair the basis of a court's decision to terminate parental

rights. Such deficiencies, however, will ordinarily not amount to a deprivation of

procedural due process." (In re Crystal J. (1993) 12 Cal. App. 4th 407, 413.) The parents

claim no due process violation. Further, the deficiencies "appear not to have concerned

the court or any counsel at the time of the hearing." (Ibid.) The parents argued the girls

were in the prospective adoptive parents' home an insufficient amount of time to gauge

their commitment to adopt, and there is no nexus between this issue and the deficiencies

in the assessment report. To. D. conceded that except for the short placement period, the

prospective adoptive parents "are great, excellent." Reviewing the totality of evidence,

including the assessment and addendum reports, the report of the CASA, and the live

testimony of the social worker, substantial evidence supports the adoptability finding.

                                             12
                                  DISPOSITION

      The judgment is affirmed.

                                                MCDONALD, Acting P. J.

WE CONCUR:

O'ROURKE, J.

IRION, J.

                                      13