In re M.C. CA4/3

Filed 12/2/24 In re M.C. CA4/3

NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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 THREE

In re M.C., a Person Coming Under the Juvenile Court Law.

ORANGE COUNTY SOCIAL SERVICES AGENCY, G064044, G064110 Plaintiff and Respondent, (Super. Ct. No. 22DP0926) v. OPINION M.G.,

Defendant and Appellant.

Appeals from an order of the Superior Court of Orange County, Joseph Kang, Judge. Affirmed. Marisa L. D. Conroy, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant. Leon J. Page, County Counsel, Debbie Torrez and Aurelio Torre, Deputy County Counsel, for Plaintiff and Respondent. No appearance for Minor.

The Orange County Social Services Agency (SSA) took custody of the child M.C. pursuant to a protective-custody warrant. At the end of the ensuing dependency proceedings, the juvenile court terminated parental rights over the child. M.C.’s mother, M.G. (Mother), challenges that order, contending that SSA failed to comply with its inquiry duties under the federal Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (25 U.S.C. § 1901 et seq.) (ICWA) and related California law. She complains that SSA failed to inquire with certain extended family members.1 As discussed below, the record supported the juvenile court’s determination that SSA’s inquiry was adequate, proper, and duly diligent. We therefore affirm. FACTS I.

OVERVIEW OF PROCEEDINGS In July 2022, SSA applied for a protective-custody warrant for eight-month-old M.C. because Mother was incarcerated and Father’s whereabouts were unknown, among other reasons. The juvenile court granted SSA’s application and issued a warrant under Welfare and Institutions Code section 340, authorizing SSA to take custody of M.C.2 SSA later filed a petition under section 300 on behalf of M.C., alleging, inter alia, that the parents had unresolved substance abuse issues and that Mother had unresolved mental health issues and was currently incarcerated. The juvenile court sustained the allegations in SSA’s petition