In Re Jamika W.

54 Cal.App.4th 1446 (1997) In re JAMIKA W., a Person Coming Under the Juvenile Court Law.

LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES, Plaintiff and Respondent,

v.

LULA MAE S., Defendant and Appellant.

Docket No. B104954. Court of Appeals of California, Second District, Division Two.

April 16, 1997. [1447] COUNSEL

William M. Roth, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant.

[1448] De Witt W. Clinton, County Counsel, Frank J. DaVanzo, Deputy County Counsel, and Gary P. Gross for Plaintiff and Respondent.

OPINION

FUKUTO, J.

On August 30, 1994, the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), filed a petition pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code section 300 (statutory references are to that code unless otherwise indicated) alleging that appellant Lula Mae S., mother of minor, Jamika W., had on numerous occasions left Jamika, then age nine, with various relatives without making provisions for her care and supervision. The petition also alleged that appellant had struck Jamika with a belt and cord, that appellant was a frequent user of cocaine and alcohol, and that appellant had failed to send Jamika to school on a regular basis. On August 31, 1994, following a detention hearing, Jamika was detained in the home of her adult half brother, Jimmy W.[1]

On November 23, 1994, the section 300 petition was sustained as to all allegations. Although she was given notice, appellant did not attend the hearing. The DCFS social worker's report indicated that appellant was developmentally delayed and is addicted to cocaine and alcohol. Appellant has lived with various relatives most of her life and was unable to provide care for herself and Jamika without assistance. The cousin with whom appellant had been living and who reported Jamika's situation to the DCFS, stated that she was left unattended and that appellant was sleeping in a car with a male friend she had known for only two weeks. The social worker also reported that Jimmy W. and his live-in companion appear to be providing very good care for Jamika. Jamika was declared to be a dependent of the court. It was ordered that she continue to reside with Jimmy W. Appellant was ordered to a parenting program and also to participate in a drug counseling program with random testing. It was ordered that appellant have monitored visits with Jamika.