In re K.K. CA4/3

Filed 4/16/25 In re K.K. CA4/3 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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 K.K., a Person Coming Under the Juvenile Court Law.

ORANGE COUNTY SOCIAL SERVICES AGENCY, G065029 Plaintiff and Respondent, (Super. Ct. No. 24DP1273) v. OPINION E.K.,

Defendant and Appellant.

Appeal from an order of the Superior Court of Orange County, Joseph Kang, Judge. Affirmed. Megan Turkat Schirn, 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 the Minor. * * *

E.K. (the mother) appeals the juvenile court’s dispositional order as to her daughter, K.K., in this dependency matter. The mother’s sole argument is that the court improperly concluded that the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) does not apply to this case. The mother, who was adopted, contends sufficient efforts were not made to inquire of her biological family members as required by the California version of ICWA (Cal-ICWA). We conclude the efforts made by the Orange County Social Services Agency (SSA) were adequate. Accordingly, the court’s dispositional order is affirmed. STATEMENT OF FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY Because of the limited nature of this appeal, we focus on the facts relevant to the ICWA inquiry. Prior to detention, the mother had a lengthy child welfare history, with numerous reports. The incident that led to detention occurred when the mother arrived at the child’s school two hours late to pick her up. The child was six years old at the time. The reporting party stated that the mother appeared to be under the influence, and the police detained the child on an emergency basis. K.K.’s father was deceased. SSA filed a petition pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code section 300, subdivision (b).1 With regard to ICWA, a few days before the detention hearing, on October 12 and 14, the maternal grandmother, maternal grandfather, and the mother denied Native American ancestry. The mother, who was adopted by the maternal grandparents, reported no knowledge of Native American heritage through her biological family.