San Mateo County Department of Social Services v. Deborah C.

Opinion

LOW, P. J.

Deborah C. appeals from a judgment terminating her parental rights over her daughter Jenelle. (Civ. Code, § 232.) We affirm.

The minor was born on April 15, 1979. On February 17, 1984, the minor was declared a dependent of the court (Welf. & Inst. Code, § 300) and placed in the foster home of Dyan C., where she has continuously lived. The dependency order was based on the social worker’s report that appellant’s boyfriend, Wendall, had sexually abused the child several times, on one occasion in a most disgusting manner, and when appellant was present she had failed to intervene; appellant’s brother had repeatedly hit the minor; appellant had no stable residence; she was unemployed and could not financially provide for the minor; she abused drugs and lacked essential parenting skills; and appellant has severe emotional problems which require extensive therapy.

During the foster care placement, appellant was seen by a therapist, who described her as being “deeply disturbed,” a “borderline personality” with “unstable moods, identity disturbance, difficulty with interpersonal relationships, and impulsive, unpredictable behavior which is often self-damaging.” Appellant demonstrated a profound lack of awareness of the unsuitability of raising a small child in her current living situation. Without intensive psychotherapy, she would not be able to provide a healthy environment for the minor. During this period, appellant’s living situation remained unstable, often living on the street. She remained financially unable to provide for her own support or the minor’s.

[817]

Appellant failed to complete the drug counseling, parent training and therapeutic programs made available to her; she attended substantially less than all the scheduled supervised visits with the minor, and during many of these visits she acted inappropriately. During one of the unsupervised visits, the minor was sexually molested by her uncle. Appellant also threatened to kidnap the minor if she were not returned. At the time of the permanent planning hearing on July 31, 1985, appellant was still on probation for bringing marijuana into a jail, and was reported to have married.

Jenelle was diagnosed as a severely disturbed child with self-destructive tendencies. She was too emotionally damaged to enter a group therapy program with other children and continued to attend individual counseling throughout this period. The psychologist treating her strongly recommended termination proceedings be commenced. The social worker reported that Jenelle was adjusting well to the foster home and the foster mother was willing to adopt the minor. Adoption by Dyan C. was recommended.