In re S.K. CA2/6

Filed 4/14/14 In re S.K. CA2/6 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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

SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION SIX

In re S.K., a Person Coming Under the 2d Juv. No. B252206 Juvenile Court Law. (Super. Ct. No. J068675) (Ventura County)

VENTURA COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY,

Plaintiff and Respondent,

v.

N.K.,

Defendant and Appellant.

N.K. appeals a judgment of the juvenile court terminating her parental rights to S.K., her daughter. (Welf. & Inst. Code, § 366.26.) The Ventura County Human Services Agency (HSA) initially placed the child "into protective custody" because of N.K.'s drug abuse problem. We conclude the juvenile court could terminate parental rights without first obtaining an adoptive home study report. Substantial evidence supports the juvenile court's finding that the child was likely to be adopted within a reasonable time. We affirm.

FACTS S.K was born in October 2011. HSA placed the child "into protective custody" on February 7, 2012, because N.K. "tested positive for methamphetamine." N.K. brought methamphetamine into a "transition home" and used the drug in the child's "presence." On February 9, 2012. the juvenile court found the child "should remain in foster care" because there was "no reasonable means of protecting her physical and emotional health other than continued detention." HSA offered N.K. family reunification services "under the supervision of the Dependency Drug Court." On March 29, 2012, the child was placed with N.K. at the "Prototypes" program. On April 23, 2012, N.K. "left Prototypes," and the child was placed back into foster care. On August 20, 2012, the juvenile court terminated family reunification services for N.K. It scheduled a December 10, 2012, hearing "to establish a permanent plan of adoption." The court continued that hearing to May 28, 2013, to provide HSA the opportunity to evaluate the "stability of [the child's] placement with her maternal aunt" and "the appropriateness of adoption." On April 29, 2013, HSA removed the child from the aunt's home and placed her with "prospective adoptive parents." HSA determined the aunt's home was not a safe place for the child. In July 2013, HSA recommended that N.K.'s parental rights be terminated and that the child be placed for adoption with the prospective adoptive parents. In a "366.26 WIC Report," the HSA social worker said the child was "an adorable 20-month- old child" who was "doing well and adjusting to her routine and environment." She said the child has "no known development issues or concerns," attends daycare, "plays with the other children, and has no tantrums while at the daycare." The HSA social worker noted that the child "was prone to having temper tantrums and crying inconsolably" when she was initially placed with the prospective