Court Opinion

ID: 9375793
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-02-28 21:02:30.899226+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:17:01.897429
License: Public Domain

Filed 2/28/23 In re A.J. CA4/2
(See concurring opinion)
                      NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
 California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for
publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication
                                     or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.

           IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

                                   FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                                 DIVISION TWO

 In re A.J., a Person Coming Under the
 Juvenile Court Law.

 SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
 CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES,                                           E079687

          Plaintiff and Respondent,                                      (Super.Ct.No. J292132)

 v.                                                                      OPINION

 J.C., ET AL,

          Defendants and Appellants.

         APPEAL from the Superior Court of San Bernardino County. Annemarie G.

Pace, Judge. Conditionally reversed with directions.

                                                             1
       Michelle D. Pena, by appointment of the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and

Appellant, J.C.

       Jamie A. Moran, by appointment of the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and

Appellant, P.J.

       Tom Bunton, County Counsel, and Svetlana Kauper, Deputy County Counsel, for

Respondent.

                                    I. INTRODUCTION

       Defendant and appellant J.C. (Mother) is the mother, and defendant and appellant

P.J. is the alleged father of A.J., a child born in April 2021. Mother and P.J. appeal from

the August 30, 2022 orders terminating parental rights to A.J. and selecting adoption as

A.J.’s permanent plan. (§ 366.26)1 The parents claim the section 366.26 orders must be

conditionally reversed and the matter remanded with directions to ensure that San

Bernardino Children and Family Services (CFS) discharges its duty of initial inquiry and,

if applicable, its duties to conduct a further inquiry and to give notice of the proceedings

pursuant to the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA; 25 U.S.C. § 1901 et seq.) and related

California law (§§ 224.2, 224.3).

       The parents claim CFS did not discharge its initial duty of inquiry under state law

(§ 224.2, subd. (b)) because it did not make meaningful efforts to locate and interview six

maternal extended maternal family members—the maternal grandmother (the MGM)); a

maternal cousin, Monica R.; and four maternal aunts, Lupé S., Teresa R., Sylvia C., and

       1   Undesignated statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code.

                                              2
Reyna C.—for information concerning A.J.’s possible status as an Indian child. The

parents also claim the juvenile court and CFS erroneously failed to question P.J.

concerning A.J.’s possible status as an Indian child when P.J. first appeared in the

proceedings at the August 30, 2022 section 366.26 hearing, even though P.J. never

elevated his status to a presumed father from an alleged father.2

       We conclude that insufficient evidence supports the court’s determination at the

section 366.26 hearing that ICWA did not apply to the dependency proceedings for A.J.

Thus, we conditionally reverse the section 366.26 orders and remand the matter with

directions to the juvenile court to ensure that CFS fully complies with the requirements

and of ICWA and related California law.

                            II. FACTS AND PROCEDURE

       On January 31, 2022, CFS received a report alleging that Mother was living “out

on the streets,” using methamphetamine, and neglecting to care for A.J., then age nine

months. The report alleged that, from late October 2021 to January 19, 2022, Mother

was sober and living in North Dakota with A.J. But Mother relapsed and began using

methamphetamine again after Mother returned to California with A.J. around January 19.

Mother had a history of leaving A.J. “with random people” so she could “go off and use

drugs.” A.J.’s alleged father, P.J., was incarcerated at North Kern State Prison and was

expected to be released in April 2022. The reporting party did not know where Mother

and A.J. were staying but said it was unlikely they were staying with the MGM and an

       2 The parents join each other’s contentions in this appeal. (Cal. Rules of Court,
rule 8.200(a)(5).) Further references to rules are to the California Rules of Court.

                                             3
unidentified maternal aunt, where they had previously stayed, because those maternal

relatives were upset with Mother and did not want Mother in their homes.

       CFS received two earlier referrals on August 29, 2021 and October 14, 2021,

alleging Mother was neglecting A.J. due to “substance abuse, as well as gang affiliation

and weapons in the home in the presence of the child.” These referrals were closed as

inconclusive because Mother and A.J. were unable to be located. Mother had an

extensive CFS history, dating to 2002 and involving eight other children. A.J. is

Mother’s ninth child. Before the January 31, 2022 referral involving A.J., Mother failed

to reunify with her eight older children despite being offered or provided with

reunification services, and Mother’s parental rights to some of her eight older children

had been terminated.

       After receiving the January 31, 2022 referral, CFS contacted Mother, and Mother

gave CFS an address where she could be contacted for “face-to-face” interviews. On

February 7, two social workers made an unannounced visit to the address Mother

provided. There, the maternal aunt, Lupé S., said that Mother and A.J. did not live there,

Lupé S. had last seen Mother and A.J. on February 6, and Mother was scheduled to begin

a treatment program on February 8. Lupé S. called Mother, Mother gave the social

workers another address, and Mother said she would be at that address in 20 minutes.

When the social workers arrived at the second address, Mother was not present and, when

contacted by phone, said she was at Walmart. CFS next discovered that Mother had not

called her treatment program to confirm that she would check in as scheduled on

February 9. Later on February 8, CFS obtained a detention warrant, took A.J. into its

                                             4
temporary protective custody, and placed A.J. in temporary foster care with A.J.’s older

sibling, M.

       On February 10, 2022, CFS filed a petition alleging juvenile court jurisdiction

over A.J. pursuant to section 300, subdivisions (b), (g), and (j). The petition alleged that:

Mother and the alleged father, P.J., had substance abuse histories and extensive criminal

histories; the parents knew or should have known about each other’s substance abuse and

criminal histories; Mother had an unstable lifestyle, a history of homelessness, and was

unable to provide A.J. with adequate shelter and care; Mother’s reunification services and

parental rights to “multiple children” had been terminated; P.J. had been incarcerated

several times and continued to be arrested and incarcerated; P.J.’s whereabouts and

willingness and ability to parent and provide for A.J. were unknown; P.J. had not made

“any efforts” to provide for A.J.; and P.J.’s parental rights to one of A.J.’s older siblings

had been terminated.

       A February 14, 2022 detention report stated that ICWA did not apply. The report

included a chart indicating that, on January 27 and 28, 2020, unspecified “inquiry” was

made of Mother, P.J., and a maternal cousin, Savannah H., and none of them reported

Native American ancestry. The report indicated that the inquiries were made after

Mother’s eighth child, M., was born in January 2020 and was placed with maternal

cousin, Savannah H. The report included a telephone number for Savannah H. The

report thus indicated that P.J. is M.’s biological father and stated that several children,

including M., had been removed from P.J.’s care. In describing Mother’s prior

dependency cases, the detention and jurisdiction and disposition reports indicated that, in

                                              5
addition to Lupé S., Mother had three other sisters or maternal aunts to A.J.: Sylvia C.,

Teresa R., and Reyna C.

       In response to the juvenile court’s questions at the February 14, 2022 detention

hearing, Mother said she had no Native American ancestry and identified P.J. as A.J.’s

biological father. Mother said she was certain that P.J. signed A.J.’s birth certificate or

“paperwork” when A.J. was born at a hospital, but Mother and P.J. were not married and

P.J. had never lived with A.J. P.J. was not present at the February 14 detention hearing,

and Mother said she believed he was incarcerated “somewhere in Orange County.” The

court ordered A.J. detained.

       Also on February 14, 2022, Mother completed (1) a family find and ICWA inquiry

form (CFS 030), and (2) a parental notification of Indian status form (ICWA-020). On

the family find form, Mother identified two cousins, Teresa R. and Monica R., as her first

and second choices for A.J.’s placement. As additional family contact information,

Mother listed the MGM and an “aunt” Teresa and a phone number for each of them. On

the notification form, Mother checked the box “none of the above apply,” indicating that

neither A.J., Mother, nor any of A.J.’s maternal lineal ancestors were members of, or

eligible for membership in, a federally recognized Indian tribe. In the jurisdiction and

disposition report filed March 3, CFS noted that the juvenile court found ICWA did not

apply in three prior jurisdiction and disposition hearings in 2014, 2015.

       Mother was not in contact with CFS between February 14 and March 14, 2022.

During a March 14 interview with CFS, Mother again reported having no Native

American heritage. Mother said the MGM lived in San Bernardino, her father was

                                              6
deceased, and she had two brothers and three sisters who were “good support” to her.

Mother also claimed that P.J. was A.J.’s biological father; P.J. was present at the hospital

when A.J. was born and is listed on A.J.’s birth certificate as A.J.’s father. On March 18,

the juvenile court again found ICWA did not apply, sustained the allegations of the

petition, declared A.J. a dependent, bypassed services for Mother (§ 361.5, subd. (b)(10),

(b)(11)), and found that P.J. was an alleged father not entitled to services.

       An ICWA “review hearing” was held on July 18. In response to the juvenile

court’s questions at the hearing, Mother said she was not an enrolled member of any tribe

and had no “additional information on Indian ancestry.” CFS filed a report for the July

18 hearing, documenting its attempts to contact A.J.’s family members to conduct

ICWA-related inquiries. The report stated that, on June 14, 2022, CFS contacted the

maternal aunt Teresa R. and the MGM at the phone number the Mother had provided for

Teresa R., but CFS received a message stating the number was no longer in service. On

June 14 and 15, CFS twice attempted to call the maternal cousin, Monica R. During the

first call, the phone continued to ring, and there was no option to leave a message; during

the second call, the phone rang several times and disconnected. On June 15, CFS

contacted the Mother’s niece, Savannah H., who was identified in the detention report as

a maternal cousin. Savannah H. said she did not know of any Indian heritage in the

family. On June 15, CFS attempted to contact P.J. at his last known phone number, but

the number was disconnected. The report for the July 18 ICWA review hearing did not

mention whether CFS had attempted to contact (1) the MGM, at the number Mother

provided for the MGM on the family find form on February 14, or (2) the maternal aunt,

                                              7
Lupé S., whom social workers contacted on February 7, to ask the MGM and Lupé S.

whether A.J. may be an Indian child. At the July 18 hearing, the juvenile court found that

CFS had completed the ICWA inquiry and ICWA did not apply.

       On August 15, 2022, CFS filed a report stating that, on July 15, P.J. left a message

with CFS, saying P.J. wanted to speak with the social worker about the case and that he

wanted to be present in juvenile court on July 18, but he was incarcerated at West Valley

Detention Center. P.J.’s July 15 message also asked the social worker to contact P.J.’s

mother at a specific phone number. On July 19, the social worker called the number for

P.J.’s mother, Melissa J., and left a voice message requesting a return call. On July 27,

the social worker twice called the number for Melissa J., and both times the phone

continued to ring without the option of leaving a message.

       Throughout the proceedings, A.J. remained in foster care with her older sibling,

M. At the time of the section 366.26 hearing on August 30, 2022, the foster parents were

in the process of adopting M. and were willing to adopt A.J. At the section 366.26

hearing, the parties stipulated that, if the social worker were to testify, her testimony

would be that she called the number for the MGM provided by Mother on the family find

form and discovered that the number was not associated with the MGM or with anyone

connected to Mother’s family. Following that submission, the juvenile court found that

CFS had satisfied its duty of inquiry and that ICWA did not apply.

       P.J. first appeared in the proceedings at the section 366. 26 hearing. P.J.’s

counsel, who was appointed on July 26, 2022, argued that P.J. should be considered

A.J.’s presumed father and granted reunification services. Minor’s counsel argued it

                                              8
would be “massively procedurally improper” to grant P.J.’s request for services because

the petition was filed in February and P.J. had had several months “to come forward and

elevate his status” to presumed father, but he had not done so. County counsel noted that

CFS had attempted to contact P.J. and serve P.J. with notice of the proceedings at

“multiple addresses and phone numbers,” but P.J. did not come forward, “even when he

was out of custody.” The juvenile court acknowledged CFS’s due diligence in attempting

to contact P.J. and agreed it was too late for P.J. to elevate his status to a presumed father.

The juvenile court terminated parental rights to A.J. and selected adoption as A.J.’s

permanent plan. The parents appeal from the August 30 section 366.26 orders.

                                     III. DISCUSSION

A. Legal Principles

       “Congress enacted ICWA in 1978 in response to ‘rising concern in the mid-1970’s

over the consequences to Indian children, Indian families, and Indian tribes of abusive

child welfare practices that resulted in the separation of large numbers of Indian children

from their families and tribes through adoption or foster care placement, usually in non-

Indian homes.’ ” (In re Isaiah W. (2016) 1 Cal.5th 1, 7.) ICWA establishes minimum

standards that state courts must follow before removing an Indian child from the child’s

family and placing the child in foster care or an adoptive home. (In re D.S. (2020)

46 Cal.App.5th 1041, 1048.) An “ ‘Indian child’ ” is any unmarried person under the age

of 18 who “is either (a) a member of an Indian tribe or (b) is eligible for membership in

an Indian tribe and is the biological child of a member of an Indian tribe.” (25 U.S.C.

                                              9
§ 1903(4), (8); § 224.1, subd. (b) [adopting federal definition of Indian Child for ICWA-

related state law].)

       Federal regulations implementing ICWA require state courts to “ask each

participant in an emergency or voluntary or involuntary child-custody proceeding

whether the participant knows or has reason to know that the child is an Indian child.

(25 C.F.R. § 23.107(a) (2022).) This inquiry is to be made “at the commencement” of

the proceeding, and “all responses should be on the record.” (Ibid.) State courts are also

required to “instruct the parties to inform the court if they subsequently receive

information that provides reason to know the child is an Indian child.” (Ibid.)

       California law mirrors these federal requirements and imposes additional duties on

juvenile courts and child welfare agencies to inquire whether a child for whom a section

300 petition “may be or has been filed, is or may be an Indian child.” (§ 224.2, subds.

(a)-(c); rule 5.481(a)(2)-(a)(5); 25 U.S.C. § 1921 [state law may provide “a higher

standard of protection to the rights of the parent or Indian custodian of an Indian child”];

see In re Abigail A. (2016) 1 Cal.5th 83, 93.) At the first appearance in court of each

party in a dependency proceeding, the court is to (1) “ask each participant present in the

hearing whether the participant knows or has reason to know that the child is an Indian

child,”( 2) “instruct the parties to inform the court if they subsequently receive

information that provides reason to know the child is an Indian child,” and (3) “[o]rder

the parent . . . to complete Parental Notification of Indian Status (form ICWA-020).”

(§ 224.2, subd. (c); rule 5.481(a)(2)(A)-(C).)

                                             10
       The juvenile court and child welfare agency have “an affirmative and continuing

duty to inquire” whether a child for whom a section 300 petition “may be or has been

filed, is or may be an Indian child.” (§224.2, subd. (a); see In re Isaiah W., supra,

1 Cal.5th at p. 9; rule 5.481(a).) “The duty to inquire consists of two phases—the duty of

initial inquiry and the duty of further inquiry.” (In re Ricky R. (2022) 82 Cal.App.5th

671, 678.) “The duty to inquire begins with the initial contact” and includes, but is not

limited to, “asking the party reporting child abuse or neglect whether the party has any

information that the child may be an Indian child.” (§ 224.2, subd. (a).)

       If the child is taken into the temporary custody of the child welfare agency

(§§ 224.2, subd. (b), 306), the initial duty of inquiry requires the agency to “as[k] the

child, parents, legal guardian, Indian custodian, extended family members, others who

have an interest in the child, and the party reporting child abuse or neglect, whether the

child is, or may be, an Indian child and where the child, the parents, or Indian custodian

is domiciled” (§ 224.2, subd. (b); In re Austin J. (2020) 47 Cal.App.5th 870, 883).

“ ‘Extended family member[s]’ ” are “defined by the law or custom of the Indian child’s

tribe” and, in the absence of such law or custom, consist of adults who are the child’s

“grandparent, aunt or uncle, brother or sister, brother-in-law or sister-in law, niece or

nephew, first or second cousin, or stepparent.” (25 U.S.C. §1903(2); § 224.1, subd. (c).)

       The duty of further inquiry arises if there is a “reason to believe that the child is an

Indian child.” (§ 224.2, subd. (e).) There is reason to believe a child is an Indian child if

the court or child welfare agency has “information suggesting that either the parent of the

child or the child is a member or may be eligible for membership in an Indian tribe.”

                                              11
(§ 224.2, subd. (e)(1).) The required further inquiry includes interviewing the parents

and extended family members to gather the information to be included in ICWA notices,

contacting the Bureau of Indian Affairs and State Department of Social Services to gather

the names and contact information of any identified tribes, and contacting the tribes and

any other person who may reasonably be expected to have information regarding the

child’s membership status or eligibility for membership in an Indian tribe. (§ 224.2,

subd. (e)(2); In re T.G. (2020) 58 Cal.App.5th 275, 294.)

        Notice of the proceedings is required to be given if there is “reason to know” the

child is an Indian child. (25 U.S.C. § 1912(a); §§ 224.3, subd. (a), 224.2, subd. (d); In re

Austin J., supra, 47 Cal.App.5th at pp. 883-884.) “Notice to Indian tribes is central to

effectuating ICWA’s purpose, enabling a tribe to determine whether the child involved in

a dependency proceeding is an Indian child and, if so, whether to intervene in, or exercise

jurisdiction over, the matter.” (In re T.G., supra, 58 Cal.App.5th at p. 288.) The question

of membership is determined by the tribes, given that ICWA defines “ ‘Indian child’ in

terms of tribal membership, not race or ancestry.” (In re K.T. (2022) 76 Cal.App.5th 732,

742.)

        A juvenile court’s finding that ICWA does not apply includes an implicit finding

that the child welfare agency fulfilled its duty of inquiry. (In re Austin J., supra,

47 Cal.App.5th at p. 885.) On appeal, ICWA findings and orders are reviewed for

substantial evidence. (In re D.S. (2020) 46 Cal.App.5th 1041, 1051; § 224.2, subd.

(i)(2).) We must uphold the findings and orders if any substantial evidence supports

them, and we resolve all conflicts in the evidence in favor of affirmance. (In re A.M.

                                              12
(2020) 47 Cal.App.5th 303, 314.) When, however, the facts are undisputed, we

independently determine whether the requirements of ICWA and related California law

(§§ 224-224.6) have been satisfied (In re Michael V. (2016) 3 Cal.App.5th 225, 235,

fn. 5). As the appellants, Mother and P.J. have the burden to show that insufficient

evidence supports the juvenile court’s ICWA-related findings and orders. (Austin J., at

p. 885.)

B. The Initial Duty to Inquire/The Reporting Party and Maternal Relatives

       The parents first claim that CFS did not discharge its duty of initial inquiry under

state law (§ 224.2, subd. (b)) because it did not make a meaningful effort to locate and

interview six maternal family members concerning A.J.’s possible status as an Indian

child: the MGM, the maternal cousin Monica R., and maternal aunts Lupé S., Teresa R.,

Sylvia C., and Reyna C. We agree. The inquiry errors also extend to the party who

reported that Mother was neglecting A.J. and to all of the maternal relatives who were

available to CFS, namely, Mother, Lupé S. and Savannah H.

       “[A] social services agency has the obligation to make a meaningful effort to

locate and interview extended family members to obtain whatever information they may

have as to the child’s possible Indian status.” (In re K.R. (2018) 20 Cal.App.5th 701,

709, italics added.) The agency also has an obligation to make an adequate record

showing that the agency undertook a meaningful effort—that is, a reasonably sufficient

effort under the circumstances—to locate and interview extended family members

concerning the possible Indian child status of the child. (In re K.R., at pp. 708-709; In re

N.G. (2018) 27 Cal.App.5th 474, 482-485; see rule 5.481(a)(5).) The object of the initial

                                             13
inquiry is to determine whether there is reason to believe the child is an Indian child,

warranting further inquiry to determine whether there is reason to know the child is an

Indian child, which in turn requires notice of the proceedings to be given. (§ 224.2,

subds. (b), (e).)

       The Courts of Appeal are split on the standard for determining whether state law

ICWA-related inquiry error (§ 224.2) is prejudicial, and our Supreme Court is reviewing

the question. (In re Dezi C. (2022) 79 Cal.App.5th 769 [review granted Sept. 21, 2022,

S275578].) Pending a contrary decision by our Supreme Court, we will apply the

standard for determining prejudicial inquiry error recently adopted by this court in In re

Benjamin M. (2021) 70 Cal.App.5th 735, 744-745.) Under the Benjamin M. standard,

initial inquiry error is prejudicial if the agency failed to interview available individuals

who had information likely to bear meaningfully on the determination of whether the

child is an Indian child, regardless of what the missing information may have shown.

(Benjamin M., at pp. 744-745; In re Ricky R., supra, 82 Cal.App.5th at pp. 676-677; In re

D.B. (2022)___Cal.App.5th___(Dec. 6, 2022, E079380) [2022 Cal.App.Lexis 1075, at

pp. *6-*10].)

       “Under Benjamin M.’s prejudice analysis, we do not speculate about whether the

extended family members might have information that suggests the child is an Indian

child. [Citation.] We instead ask whether ‘the information in the possession of extended

relatives is likely to be meaningful in determining whether the child is an Indian child—

regardless of whether the information ultimately shows the child is or is not an Indian

child.’ ” (In re D.B., supra,___Cal.App.5th___[2022 Cal.App.Lexis 1075 at p. *9,

                                              14
quoting In re Antonio R. (2022) 76 Cal.App.5th 421, 435]; In re J.C. (2022)

77 Cal.App.5th 70, 82.)

       The record does not show that CFS made a meaningful or reasonable effort to

locate and contact the MGM, Teresa R., Sylvia C., or Reyna C., to ask these maternal

extended family members for information relevant to A.J.’s possible status as an Indian

child. First, the record does not show that CFS asked the party who reported on

January 31, 2022 that Mother was neglecting A.J. whether the party had any information

bearing on A.J.’s status as an Indian child. (§ 224.2, subd. (a) [“The duty to inquire

begins with the initial contact” and includes “asking the party reporting child abuse or

neglect whether the party has any information that the child may be an Indian child.”].)

The party may have been able to give CFS an address and contact information, including

a working phone number, for the MGM and the unspecified maternal aunt whom the

reporting party mentioned when speaking with CFS on January 31, 2022. But the record

does not show that CFS asked the party for any ICWA-related information or for contact

information for any of A.J.’s maternal relatives, even though the reporting party indicated

they may have had such information.

       The record also does not show that CFS ever asked the maternal aunt, Lupé S., for

information bearing on whether A.J. was an Indian child, even though Lupé S. was

available to CFS on February 7, 2022, shortly before CFS took A.J. into protective

custody on February 8 pursuant to a detention warrant. On February 7, CFS spoke in-

person with Lupé S. at the address where Mother told CFS that Mother could be

contacted for an in-person interview. But the record does not indicate that CFS asked

                                            15
Lupé S. for information concerning A.J.’s possible Indian child status (§ 224.2, subd.

(b)), either when CFS first contacted Lupé S. on February 7 or later, including in

preparation for the July 18 ICWA review hearing—even though Lupé S. had information

likely to bear meaningfully on whether A.J. was an Indian child—regardless of what the

information would have shown, and even though Mother and Savannah H. had denied

knowing of any tribal membership or Indian ancestry in the maternal family. (See In re

D.B., supra,___Cal.App.5th___[2022 Cal.App.Lexis 1075 at pp. *8-*10]; In re Ricky R.,

supra, 82 Cal.App.5th at pp. 676-677; In re Benjamin M., supra, 70 Cal.App.5th at pp.

744-745.) It is also likely that Lupé S. had addresses and other contact information for

the MGM, Monica R., Teresa R., Sylvia C., and Reyna C. But the record does not show

that CFS ever asked Lupé S. for any contact information for any maternal extended

family members.

       Further, the record does not show that CFS ever asked Savannah H. (who, like

Mother and Lupé S., was in contact with the CFS) for any contact information for the

known maternal relatives. On February 14, 2022, Mother provided a phone number for

the MGM, which turned out not to be associated with the MGM or anyone else in the

family. On March 14, Mother reported that the MGM lived in San Bernardino. But the

record does not show that CFS ever asked Mother or the other available maternal

relatives (Lupé S. and Savannah H.) for the MGM’s address, or that CFS attempted to

find the MGM’s address through the internet or social media. Nor did CFS ask Mother,

Lupé S., or Savannah H. for an alternative phone number for the MGM after CFS

discovered that the telephone number Mother gave for the MGM was a wrong number.

                                            16
      The parents argue that the duty of initial inquiry (§ 224.2, subd. (b)) required CFS

to try to locate and interview the MGM, Monica R., and Teresa R., either by mail, social

media, or in person after CFS unsuccessfully attempted to contact these individuals by

phone on June 14-15, 2022. To the extent the parents suggest an agency must “make

every reasonable effort” and “leave no stone unturned” in attempting to locate and

interview extended family members for ICWA-related information, we disagree. An

agency is required to make every reasonable effort to notify parents of dependency

hearings. (See In re Mia M. (2022) 75 Cal.App.5th 792, 808-809.) But no law requires

an agency to make every reasonable effort to locate and interview extended family

members for ICWA-related information. (See § 224.2.)

      Rather, the agency is only required to make a “meaningful effort” to locate and

interview extended family members for ICWA-related information. (In re K.R., supra,

20 Cal.App.5th at pp. 707-708.) And here, the record does not show that CFS made a

meaningful effort to locate and interview the MGM, Teresa R., Monica R., Sylvia C., and

Reyna C. concerning A.J.s’ possible Indian child status, even though these individuals

had information that was likely to bear meaningfully on whether A.J. was an Indian child.

(In re Benjamin M., supra, 70 Cal.App.5th at pp. 744-745; § 224.2, subd. (b).) The

record also does not show what ICWA-related inquiries were made in the prior

dependency proceedings involving Mother’s older children. Thus, the prior juvenile

court findings in the prior proceedings that ICWA did not apply were not useful to the

juvenile court in determining whether ICWA applied to the current proceedings for A.J.

                                           17
       CFS argues it was not required “ ‘ “ ‘to cast about’ ” for investigative leads’ ” in

order to satisfy its initial duty of inquiry. (In re G.H. (2022) 84 Cal.App.5th 15, 30.)

Indeed, CFS was not required to pursue unidentified or deceased relatives for ICWA-

related information. (See ibid.) But CFS was required to make a reasonable effort to

locate and interview known maternal extended family members by asking available

maternal family members and the reporting party for additional contact information for

the known maternal relatives who were not in contact with CFS, in order to obtain

information relevant to whether A.J. was an Indian child. (See In re Oscar H.(2022)

84 Cal.App.5th 933, 937; § 224.2, subds. (a), (b).) The record does not show that these

inquiries were made. Thus, the initial inquiry errors are prejudicial and require reversal.

(See In re H.V. (2022) 75 Cal.App.5th 433, 438; In re N.G., supra, 27 Cal.App.5th at

pp. 484-485.)

C. The Duty to Inquire of the Alleged Father, P.J.

       The parents claim the juvenile court and CFS erroneously failed to ask P.J.

whether A.J. may be an Indian child when P.J. first appeared in the proceedings at the

section 366.26 hearing on August 30, 2022, several months after the proceedings

commenced in February 2022. (§ 224.2, subd. (c); rule 5.481(a)(2)-(3).) CFS argues that

P.J. failed to establish a biological connection to A.J.; therefore, P.J. was not a “ ‘parent’

” within the meaning of ICWA or related California law.

       ICWA does not apply to an unwed, alleged father who has failed to establish his

paternity. (In re Daniel M. (2003) 110 Cal.App.4th 703, 708; 25 U.S.C. §1903(9)

[“ ‘parent’ ” includes “any biological parent” of an Indian child or “any Indian person

                                              18
who has lawfully adopted an Indian child,” but does not include an “unwed father where

paternity has not been acknowledged or established”]; see In re S.H. (2022)

82 Cal.App.5th 166, 171.) But here, uncontroverted evidence shows that P.J. established

his biological paternity of A.J. by signing A.J.’s birth certificate. Mother identified P.J.

as A.J.’s biological father and said she was sure P.J. signed A.J.’s birth certificate at the

hospital when A.J. was born. The record also shows that P.J.’s older sibling, M., is P.J.’s

full sibling through Mother and P.J. Thus, the juvenile court and CFS erred in failing to

make the required ICWA-related inquires of P.J. when P.J. first appeared in the

proceedings at the section 366.26 hearing. (§ 224.2. subd. (c); rule 5.481(a)(2)-(3).)

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                                    IV. DISPOSITION

       The August 30, 2022 orders terminating parental rights and selecting adoption as

A.J.’s permanent plan are conditionally reversed. The matter is remanded to the juvenile

court with directions to comply with, and to ensure that CFS complies with, the inquiry

provisions of ICWA and of sections 224.2 and 224.23 of the Welfare and Institutions

Code. If, after completing the initial inquiry, neither CFS nor the juvenile court have

reason to believe A.J. is an Indian child, the section 366.26 orders shall be reinstated. If,

however, through the initial inquiry, CFS and the juvenile court discover a reason to

believe or a reason to know that A.J. is an Indian child, CFS and the juvenile court shall

proceed as required under ICWA and related California law.

       NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS

                                                                 FIELDS
                                                                                             J.
We concur:

MILLER
                 Acting P.J.

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[In re A.J.; CFS v. J.C. et al., E079687]

MENETREZ, J., Concurring.

       In my view, the expanded duty of initial inquiry under subdivision (b) of Welfare

and Institutions Code section 224.2 applies only if the child was taken into temporary

custody without a warrant pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code section 306. (See In

re Adrian L. (2022) 86 Cal.App.5th 342, 355-359 (conc. opn. of Kelley, J.).) No opinion

of this court has ever addressed that issue, so we have no contrary precedent. (Sonic-

Calabasas A, Inc. v. Moreno (2013) 57 Cal.4th 1109, 1160 [“‘it is axiomatic that cases

are not authority for propositions not considered’”]; Fairbanks v. Superior Court (2009)

46 Cal.4th 56, 64 [“a judicial decision is not authority for a point that was not actually

raised and resolved”].) The child in this case was detained pursuant to a warrant, so the

expanded duty of initial inquiry under subdivision (b) of Welfare and Institutions Code

section 224.2 does not apply. But because appellants correctly argue that there was at

least one violation of the inquiry requirements of subdivision (c) of Welfare and

Institutions Code section 224.2, I concur in the judgment.

                                                                 MENETREZ
                                                                                             J.

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