Cynthia C. v. Superior Court

Opinion

CROSBY, Acting P. J.

Cynthia C. petitions this court for extraordinary relief from juvenile court orders denying reunification services and scheduling a Welfare and Institutions Code section 366.26 permanency hearing for her daughter Christina M. Cynthia contends the court abused its discretion when it declined to allow her to withdraw her waiver of reunification services. Having reviewed her petition on the merits, we deny relief. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 39.IB.)

[1198]

I

Christina is her mother’s oldest child and has two half siblings, Hope and Henry C.

1

In June 1997, Christina was declared a dependent child when she was six years old. She was abused by her stepfather, Henry C., and in the cross-fire of domestic violence between Henry and Cynthia.

2

Before the declaration of dependency, Christina was released to her parents. They were actively involved in services at the time of the dispositional hearing in June, and Christina was allowed to remain in their custody under family maintenance supervision.

From June 1997 until August 1998, the family received extensive parenting and counseling services. They completed parenting education classes, went to individual and couples therapy, received in-home therapy for Christina, including a hands-on parenting skills component, and had in-home parenting skills training through Boys Town.

In spite of this assistance, the parents were openly hostile toward Christina. Both the parents’ therapist and Christina’s therapist concluded they were emotionally abusive to her. The parents attributed her problem behaviors, including lying and stealing, impulsivity, hyperactivity, somatic complaints, explosive tantrums, fearfulness, and inability to respond to directions and separation difficulties, to “planned deviousness” on seven-year-old Christina’s part.

In response to these behaviors, Christina was assessed for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) by two psychiatrists. Both concluded her behavior was more likely attributable to anxiety stemming from emotional abuse and neglect rather than ADHD. As the social worker, Deborah Phillipson, poignantly noted, “[T]he showering of professional attention on . . . Christina,