California Court of Appeal May 13, 2014 No. D065122Unpublished
Filed 5/13/14 In re Scarlett R. CA4/1 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.
COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION ONE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
In re SCARLETT R., a Person Coming Under the Juvenile Court Law. D065122 SAN DIEGO COUNTY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY, (Super. Ct. No. 516518C-D) Plaintiff and Respondent,
v.
TARA G.,
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL from orders of the Superior Court of San Diego County, Kenneth J. Medel,
Judge. Affirmed.
Christina Gabrielidis, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and
Appellant.
Thomas E. Montgomery, County Counsel, John E. Philips, Chief Deputy County Counsel,
and Daniella Davidian, Deputy County Counsel, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
Tara G. appeals the juvenile court's denial of her petition under Welfare and Institutions
Code section 388,1 which sought (1) to modify the juvenile court's earlier order denying her
reunification services, (2) the return of her children to her custody, and (3) a six-month
continuance of the section 366.26 hearing. Tara also appeals the juvenile court's subsequent order
terminating her parental rights and selecting adoption as the permanent placement under section
366.26. She challenges the sufficiency of the evidence supporting the juvenile court's finding that
the parent-child beneficial relationship exception to adoption (§ 366.26, subd. (c)(1)(B)(i)) does
not apply. We affirm.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
Detention
In February 2013, Tara was pulled over for driving a truck with suspended tags. Tara's
four-year-old daughter, Scarlett R., was also in the truck. Because Tara was on informal
probation due to prior criminal charges,2 police searched her vehicle under a Fourth Amendment
waiver. Police found two methamphetamine pipes and "a significant amount of
methamphetamines" within Scarlett's reach. They also found marijuana in Tara's purse and inside
her bra, as well as prescription medication that had been prescribed to someone else. Police
arrested Tara and released Scarlett to her paternal grandparents.
Two days later, Tara gave birth to a baby boy, Vincent G. Tara later admitted she had
smoked methamphetamine throughout her pregnancy with Vincent, including while she was in
1 All statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code.
2 Tara was charged in March 2012 with disturbing the peace and possession of a methamphetamine pipe. 2
labor on the way to the hospital. Tara tested positive for methamphetamine and
tetrahydrocannabinol at the time of Vincent's birth; Vincent tested presumptively positive.3
Vincent was transferred to Children's Hospital to assess an apparent skull deformity.
On February 6, 2013, Michael R., Scarlett and Vincent's father, was arrested on a variety
of serious charges that included possession of narcotics and intent to sell narcotics.
The San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency (Agency) received separate
referrals arising from Tara's arrest in February and the circumstances of Vincent's delivery in
February. On February 13, 2013, the Agency filed petitions on behalf of Scarlett and Vincent
under section 300, subdivision (b). The petitions alleged the children had suffered, or were at
substantial risk of suffering, serious physical harm or illness due to the inability of the parents to
supervise or protect the children adequately and provide them with regular care due to the parents'
substance abuse.
The Agency's detention report and subsequent addenda provided additional information.
In 2007, Tara lost custody of two older children, J.G. and Taylor G., due to her substance abuse.
Tara had tested positive for methamphetamine and admitted to consuming methamphetamine the
day before she gave birth to Taylor. Tara had been given the opportunity to participate in
reunification services that included substance abuse treatment, but she failed to reunify with either
child. Tara's parental rights were terminated and both children were adopted by Tara's relatives.
Agency social worker Stephanie Trecha interviewed Michael in jail. Michael
acknowledged he had an extensive criminal history and a 20-year history of substance abuse. He
described himself and Tara as addicts and reported using methamphetamine, marijuana, and
3 Subsequent confirmatory tests showed Vincent tested positive for methamphetamine and amphetamine. 3
alcohol with Tara throughout their approximately six-year-long relationship—including while
Tara was pregnant. Michael said he had full custody of Scarlett, but she has lived primarily with
his parents since her birth. Michael described a six-month period when Scarlett lived with him
and Tara. Scarlett was an infant and Michael had just been released from prison, was sober, and
was working full time. But when Michael relapsed, ending his longest period of sobriety since he
was 17, he placed Scarlett back with his parents for her safety. Michael said Tara's pregnancy
with Vincent was unplanned and that Tara used methamphetamines, alcohol, and marijuana
throughout the pregnancy. He reported being homeless when not incarcerated. Michael stated
several times that he and Tara are "[u]nfit to be parents" and that he wanted his parents to adopt
the children.
Trecha also interviewed Michael's parents, Richard and Nancy R. (collectively, the
grandparents). The grandparents both reported they had concerns about Tara and Michael's
ongoing drug dependence, domestic violence, homelessness, and criminal activities. The
grandparents stated they had been Scarlett's primary caretakers since she was born, but added that
Tara occasionally took Scarlett from them without their permission. Indeed, the week before
Tara's February arrest, she had taken Scarlett from the grandparents without their consent. Tara
and Michael occasionally stayed with the grandparents. On those occasions, police responded
several times due to domestic violence incidents involving Tara and Michael.
The Agency had difficulty locating Tara, but eventually located and interviewed her. Tara
admitted she had used drugs throughout her pregnancy with Vincent, including on the way to the
hospital while in labor. She said her pregnancy with Vincent was unplanned and that she had
already made plans to have a close friend, Antonia P., adopt him. (Antonia reported to social
4
worker Trecha that Tara wanted her to adopt Vincent because "it is just too hard.") Tara
acknowledged Michael had full custody of Scarlett, but noted Scarlett was living with the
grandparents. Regarding placement, Tara stated "she is ok with Scarlett staying with her
grandparents because she is attached to them and it is what she knows, it is her home." Tara was
opposed to placing Vincent with the grandparents, however, because she did not believe they
would let her see him.
Tara said she attained sobriety when she found out she was pregnant with Scarlett,
sometime in 2008. Antonia helped her enter the Family Recovery Center (FRC). But Tara
relapsed in 2011, when she used methamphetamine again with Michael. Tara reported Michael
was a heavy drug user, and suspected he also sold drugs. The social worker reported Tara
appeared to blame Michael for her own drug use.
Tara reported a long history of domestic violence by Michael. On one occasion, Michael
punched Tara several times in the face and kicked her in the ribs, which loosened Tara's teeth and
cracked her jaw, requiring her to go to the hospital twice. On another occasion, after Tara took
Scarlett from the grandparents' home, Michael scratched Tara's arm while grabbing Scarlett away
from her. Tara then obtained a restraining order against Michael, but later dropped it.
Tara stated she feels Scarlett is emotionally traumatized and "damaged" from witnessing
Michael's domestic violence against Tara. Tara reported Scarlett has asked her, "Did daddy hit
you again," and said things like "Mommy, let's just get on the bus and go away from here." Tara
stated she has tried to get away from Michael, but he stalks her and sabotages her living
arrangements by beating up her landlords, roommates, or relatives. Yet, when the social worker
5
asked about her recent arrest involving Scarlett, Tara stated she was following Michael to their
campsite when she was pulled over.
Tara stated she and Michael had been dating for approximately five years, but broke up
when Vincent was born. She noted they had broken up several times.
Social worker Trecha opined Tara (1) had a pattern of blaming her drug use and relapses
on her partners and others in her life; (2) had been unable to successfully implement the tools and
resources provided to her in previous substance abuse programs; and (3) took no responsibility
for the methamphetamine pipes found in her possession and within access to Scarlett. Trecha
concluded Tara demonstrated little insight into how her drug use impacted her ability to care for
and make sound decisions for her children.
At the detention hearing, the juvenile court made a prima facie finding as to both petitions,
ordered out-of-home detention for the children, and ordered supervised visits for Tara.
Jurisdiction/Disposition
On March 8, 2013, social worker Kali Chosich filed a jurisdiction/disposition report. This
report documented Tara's criminal history, which included drug-related charges, and Michael's
lengthy criminal history, which included felony charges, domestic violence charges, and drug-
related charges. Chosich also reported Tara failed to appear for an on-demand drug test, which
was deemed a positive result. Additionally, Chosich documented the numerous occasions on
which Tara failed to attend scheduled meetings with her.
Chosich eventually connected with Tara and submitted an addendum report on March 27,
2013. Tara elaborated on Michael's history of domestic violence. She reported he had given her
countless black eyes, a cracked rib, facial injuries, a cracked tooth, scars on her head from him
6
hitting her with a beer bottle, and another scar on her face from him head-butting her. Tara said
Scarlett had seen four or five of these incidents. Despite this history of violence, Tara explained
she was not used to having to provide for herself since Michael had been financially supporting
her for the last four years. Tara said that when she moved in with Michael after completing the
FRC program she "became very codependent on him."
Tara provided a detailed history of her substance abuse. She began using marijuana and
drinking alcohol when she was 13, and started using methamphetamine at 14. At age 17 she
became pregnant with J.G. and continued to use methamphetamine during her pregnancy. She
subsequently got clean, found a job, and lived on her own with J.G. At age 21, when she became
pregnant with Taylor, Tara relapsed and began using methamphetamine again. When Taylor was
born with a positive test result for methamphetamine, child welfare services removed J.G. and
Taylor from her care. Tara was incarcerated for the majority of the failed reunification period,
but was doing so well upon her release from jail that she was granted unsupervised visits with the
children and her social worker at the time wanted Tara to start overnight visitation. Tara told
Chosich "that she was not ready to be given so much freedom, and as a result, ended up relapsing
less than one month later and going back to jail."
Tara stated that after she was released from jail a second time, she met Michael and
became pregnant with Scarlett. Tara said she was "on the run" from her criminal charges, so she
decided to turn herself in. Tara was able to complete the FRC program instead of going back to
jail. She gave birth to Scarlett while Michael was incarcerated. When Michael was released from
custody, he, Tara, and Scarlett moved into an apartment together. Shortly thereafter, Michael
7
relapsed and Tara briefly separated from him. Tara later lost her housing and Michael sought and
won custody of Scarlett. Tara relapsed and began using methamphetamine again.
Chosich reported Tara had two-hour weekly supervised visits with Scarlett and Vincent.
At the end of two of the visits in March 2013, both Tara and Scarlett cried, hugged, and kissed
each other goodbye. Chosich also reported Tara had five intake appointments scheduled at four
drug treatment programs, but failed to attend any of them. Tara also failed to drug test on
February 25, 2013, and had not made herself available for any other drug testing. She also had
been out of contact with the Agency.
On April 4, 2013, the juvenile court found jurisdiction under section 300, subdivision (b),
removed the children from the parents' custody, and declared the children dependents of the court.
Michael voluntarily waived his right to reunification services, and the court denied reunification
services for Tara under section 361.5. The court set a section 366.26 hearing to determine the
children's permanent placement.
The Agency's Section 366.26 Report
Social worker Jaimi Martin was assigned to the children's case in May 2013. She filed a
section 366.26 report on July 11, 2013, in which she recommended the juvenile court terminate
the parents' parental rights and order adoption as the children's permanent plan.
As of the date of Martin's report, the children were still living with the grandparents; Tara
was incarcerated at Las Colinas Detention Facility (Las Colinas), having been arrested on April
8
26, 2013, on four felony charges, including possession of a controlled substance, vehicle theft,
and burglary;4 and Michael was incarcerated on numerous drug and other offenses.
Martin opined Tara did not have a parent-child bond with the children. Martin wrote that
Tara had only visited the children six times since they were placed in protective care, with three
of the visits occurring while she was incarcerated. During those visits, Scarlett, who was
normally a talkative, smiling child, would become withdrawn and uncomfortable. Scarlett
maintained limited eye contact with Tara and would not engage with her freely. By contrast,
when Scarlett was with her grandparents, she appeared to be relaxed, would smile, maintain eye
contact, and freely share her experiences. Martin observed that while Scarlett gets more
comfortable with Tara toward the end of her visits, Scarlett appears to treat Tara as a friendly
visitor.
Regarding Vincent, Martin noted that during two visits with Tara, he cried inconsolably,
requiring him to be removed from the visitation room and returned to his grandparents. Once he
was with his grandparents, he was soothed and stopped crying. Martin opined Vincent knew his
grandparents as "mom and dad," recognized them as his primary caregivers, and demonstrated a
secure bond with them.
Martin wrote that Scarlett had been in the grandparents' care for the majority of her life,
and Vincent had been in their care since his birth. She opined the children were bonded to the
grandparents. Martin wrote the grandparents wanted to adopt the children and provide them with
a stable, secure, and loving home. The children were doing extremely well in their care and were
4 Martin noted Tara had enrolled in classes at Las Colinas to address her addiction, but she was dropped from the classes for lack of attendance. 9
securely attached to their grandparents. The grandparents had demonstrated they were capable
for caring for the children's day-to-day needs.
Additionally, there were 87 families in San Diego County approved to adopt a child with
Scarlett's characteristics; 93 families approved to adopt a child with Vincent's characteristics
(including his cosmetic issue); and 39 families approved to adopt a sibling group matching the
children's characteristics.
Martin concluded Tara had not demonstrated the presence of any parental bond that would
outweigh the benefits of the children being adopted.
On September 10, 2013, the Agency filed an addendum report seeking a 60-day
continuance of the section 366.26 hearing so that the Agency could investigate allegations that the
grandparents were engaging in physical altercations in front of the children. The juvenile court
continued the hearing. After conducting its investigation, the Agency concluded the allegations
were unfounded.
Tara's Section 388 Petition
On September 10, 2013, Tara filed a section 388 petition seeking to modify the court's
previous orders denying her reunification services. She also requested that the court return the
children to her care and continue the section 366.26 hearing for six months. The petition argued
Tara's circumstances had changed since the court denied her reunification services on April 4,
2013. Tara showed she had completed an 18-hour parenting class, an 18-hour anger management
class, and a 10-hour workshop in nonviolent conflict resolution. Tara cited the following
additional changed circumstances:
"[Tara] is currently enrolled in the North County Serenity House substance abuse treatment center. She is making good progress and has had 10
all negative drug tests since entering the program. One of the reasons this case came before the court was substance abuse, and now [Tara] has actively sought out a program and is making strides towards completing that program and becoming an appropriate parent."
Although her petition did not cite it as a changed circumstance, Tara was released from Las
Colinas on August 7, 2013. From there, she entered the Serenity House substance abuse
treatment center, whereupon she tested negative for all substances.
Tara argued modification of the court's orders was in her children's best interests because
Tara
"is their mother. The children are placed with relatives, and as such, their permanency would not be impacted by the provision of services to [her]. The children have been placed with the relatives since the inception of the case and the relatives are willing to provide a permanent plan should the mother be unsuccessful in her efforts. Scarlett is four years old and knows her mother, speaks to her, and expresses love for her mother, it would be in Scarlett's, and by virtue of their sibling relationship, Vincent's, best interest to be given a chance to reunify with their one parent who wants to do so."
The juvenile court found Tara made a prima facie showing and set her petition for an
evidentiary hearing to coincide with the section 366.26 hearing.
Section 366.26 Addendum Reports
Social worker Martin filed an addendum to her section 366.26 report on November 4,
2013. She reported that due to Tara's incarceration and lifestyle, Tara had visited the children
only about 16 times. Martin acknowledged the children were becoming more comfortable with
Tara, though Tara was not able to care for both children simultaneously. Vincent no longer cried
throughout the visits, Tara could lay him down to sleep, and she had changed his diapers four
times when prompted to do so. Scarlett looked forward to visits and was excited when Tara
brought promised gifts for her. Scarlett played games and colored with Tara, and often instructed
11
Tara on how to properly care for Vincent. However, other than on one occasion in August 2013,
the children easily transitioned back to the grandparents after visits were over.
When Martin asked Scarlett to draw a picture of the people Scarlett wanted to live with,
she drew a picture that included her parents and grandparents. Scarlett explained she wanted to
live with her grandparents and her "other mother," referring to both her grandmother and Tara as
"mom" or "mama." Martin continued to characterize the children's relationship with Tara as
"more of a friendly family member [than] that of a mother-child relationship." Martin concluded
the benefits of the children's relationship with Tara did not outweigh the benefits of adoption.
Martin filed a final addendum to her section 366.26 report on December 9, 2013. She
reported Tara continued to attend each of her two-hour weekly visits. Tara's relationship with her
children had improved; Scarlett would greet her with excitement and had become more open in
sharing her experiences, and Vincent no longer cried throughout the visits. Tara spent the
majority of the visits interacting with one child at a time.
Tara continued to test negative for drugs, except on one occasion when she tested positive
for morphine.5 Tara's program counselor reported Tara was doing well in the Serenity House
treatment program, had obtained a sponsor, and was on the first step in the 12-step drug treatment
program. Tara told Martin she was "stressed out" because she had been asked to look for a job.
Tara ultimately found a job—her first in over seven years. Tara told Martin that if the children
were returned to her custody, she would move to a room at Serenity House that allowed children.
Martin reported Scarlett and Vincent continued to thrive in their grandparents' care. The
grandparents continued to ensure all the children's needs were met on a daily basis and provided
5 Tara explained she received a morphine injection because she was supposed to have surgery for a cyst, but the doctors decided at the last minute not to do to the surgery. 12
them with a safe home. Scarlett was very outgoing when with her grandparents, and Vincent
continued to be very excited to see his grandmother at the end of visits with Tara.
Martin acknowledged in her report that Tara had "come a long way," but noted Tara "still
has a long way to go." Martin also noted Scarlett knows and loves Tara, but turns to her
grandparents to meet her daily needs and emotional support. Martin opined that while the
children enjoyed visiting Tara, removing them from their grandparents' care would be detrimental
to them, as the grandparents had raised them. She further opined adoption appeared to be the
most appropriate and beneficial permanent plan for the children.
The Contested Section 388 and Section 366.26 Hearings
On December 13, 2013, the court held an evidentiary hearing on Tara's contested section
388 petition and on permanent placement selection under section 366.26. The court received in
evidence the Agency's reports and addenda, Tara's section 388 petition and attachments, and a
letter from Tara's counselor at Serenity House. The court heard live testimony from Tara and
social worker Martin.
Regarding the section 388 petition, the court found Tara failed to demonstrate changed
circumstances or that it would be in the children's best interests to grant the relief Tara requested.
Regarding permanent placement, the court found both children adoptable, found that none of the
exceptions to adoption applied, and ordered adoption as the permanent plan. The court
terminated Tara and Michael's parental rights, and named the grandparents as the prospective
adoptive parents.
Tara filed a timely notice of appeal.
13
DISCUSSION
I
SECTION 388 PETITION
Tara contends the court erred by denying her section 388 modification petition. She
argues she adequately showed changed circumstances and the proposed modification was in the
best interests of Scarlett and Vincent. We disagree.
A. Legal Framework
"A juvenile court order may be changed, modified or set aside under section 388 if the
petitioner establishes by a preponderance of the evidence that (1) new evidence or changed
circumstances exist and (2) the proposed change would promote the best interests of the child.
[Citation.]" (In re A.A. (2012) 203 Cal.App.4th 597, 611 (A.A.).) "The parent bears the burden to
show both a legitimate change of circumstances and that undoing the prior order would be in the
best interest of the child." (Id. at pp. 611-612.) "Generally, the petitioner must show by a
preponderance of the evidence that the child's welfare requires the modification sought." (Id. at
p. 612.)
"It is not enough for a parent to show just a genuine change of circumstances under the
statute. The parent must show that the undoing of the prior order would be in the best interests of
the child. [Citation.]" (In re Kimberly F. (1997) 56 Cal.App.4th 519, 529.) The fact that the
parent "makes relatively last-minute (albeit genuine) changes" does not automatically tip the scale
in the parent's favor. (Id. at p. 530.) Instead, courts should examine at least the following factors:
"(1) the seriousness of the problem which led to the dependency, and the reason for any
continuation of that problem; (2) the strength of relative bonds between the dependent children
14
to both parent and caretakers; and (3) the degree to which the problem may be easily removed or
ameliorated, and the degree to which it actually has been." (Id. at p. 532.) "While the bond to the
caretaker cannot be dispositive [citation], . . . our Supreme Court made it very clear in [In re
Jasmon O. (1994) 8 Cal.4th 398, 408] that the disruption of an existing psychological bond
between dependent children and their caretakers is an extremely important factor bearing on any
section 388 motion." (Ibid.)
A petition under section 388 "is addressed to the sound discretion of the juvenile court, and
its decision will not be overturned on appeal in the absence of a clear abuse of discretion." (A.A.,
supra, 203 Cal.App.4th at p. 612.) An abuse of discretion occurs when the juvenile court exceeds
the bounds of reason by making an arbitrary, capricious, or patently absurd determination. (In re
Stephanie M. (1994) 7 Cal.4th 295, 318.)
B. Analysis
1. Changed Circumstances
Tara contends she established changed circumstances by showing she had enrolled at
Serenity House; had completed courses in parenting, anger management, and nonviolent conflict
resolution; had consistently tested negative for drugs since being released from Las Colinas in
August 2013; was working a 12-step program; had secured employment; had ended her
relationship with Michael; and would move to another room at Serenity House if she regained
custody of her children. Nevertheless, the juvenile court found that based on the length of Tara's
history of drug abuse and criminal behavior compared to the brevity of her current sobriety, the
court "cannot say that there . . . has been a significant enough change for us to reverse the
previous order . . . ." We see no abuse of discretion in that finding.
15
Tara had a substantial history of substance abuse. She was 28 at the time of the contested
hearing, and had begun using alcohol and marijuana at age 13 and methamphetamine at age 14.
She used methamphetamine throughout her pregnancies with her two older children, and
continued using despite the termination of her parental rights over them. After a brief period of
sobriety during her pregnancy with Scarlett, Tara resumed using methamphetamine during her
pregnancy with Vincent, leaving drugs and paraphernalia accessible to Scarlett. Tara continued
using drugs during the course of this dependency case.
In contrast to her extensive history of drug abuse, Tara had demonstrated only four months
of sobriety in a structured residential setting. She acknowledged that leaving a structured
environment can, "of course," create stress. After four months at Serenity House, Tara was only
on the second step of her 12-step program; she acknowledged some women take six to 12 months
to complete the process. Despite Tara's progress at Serenity House, she admitted she had relapsed
twice in the past, including after she had achieved a year of sobriety after graduating from the
FRC substance abuse treatment program. (See In re Jasmon O., supra, 8 Cal.4th at p. 424 [" '[A]
measure of a parent's future potential is undoubtedly revealed in the parent's past behavior with
the child.' [Citation.]"].)
Tara also maintained a relationship with Michael for approximately six years, despite his
drug abuse and repeated acts of serious domestic violence against Tara—acts Tara acknowledged
Scarlett had witnessed and been damaged by. Tara maintained her relationship with Michael
throughout the majority of the dependency case, including by writing to him while she was
incarcerated from March to August 2013. Tara testified at the contested hearing that she had
ended her engagement to Michael a couple months earlier, throwing away her engagement ring.
16
But Tara and Michael had both previously described their relationship as on again, off again, and
Tara acknowledged being codependent on Michael. Tara's ability to muster the strength to
separate from Michael may also have been aided by his incarceration at the time, which was only
a temporary circumstance.
Finally, we need look no further than Tara's own words to confirm the juvenile court did
not abuse its discretion in finding no changed circumstances. Tara's own petition stated she "is
making good progress" and "is making strides," both of which suggest Tara's condition was
merely changing, and not changed. (Italics added; see In re Casey D. (1999) 70 Cal.App.4th 38,
48-49 (Casey D.).) Similarly, Tara testified she was trying to stay at Serenity House as long as
she could "to make sure that I have all the tools and I am confident in doing my life the way that I
need to do it and successfully do it." She viewed the residential program as a "safety net" that
"has been helpful for me so that I can work through the things that I'm working through right now
in a safe environment." (Italics added.)
Based on all of the above, we conclude the juvenile court did not abuse its discretion in
finding Tara failed to establish changed circumstances that justified modifying the court's prior
orders.
2. The Children's Best Interests
Because Tara failed to establish changed circumstances, we need not address whether
modifying the court's prior orders was in the children's best interests. (A.A., supra, 203
Cal.App.4th at pp. 611-612.)
17
II
PERMANENT PLACEMENT UNDER SECTION 366.26
Tara contends the juvenile court further erred by finding the parent-child beneficial
relationship exception to adoption did not apply. We disagree.
A. Legal Framework
"At a section 366.26 hearing the court is charged with determining a permanent plan of
care for the child." (Casey D., supra, 70 Cal.App.4th at p. 50.) The court may order one of three
alternatives: adoption, legal guardianship, or long-term foster care. (In re Autumn H. (1994) 27
Cal.App.4th 567, 573 (Autumn H.); § 366.26, subd. (b)(1)-(5).) "Adoption, where possible, is the
permanent plan preferred by the Legislature." (Autumn H., at p. 573.) Adoption necessarily
involves termination of the biological parents' legal rights to the child. (Id. at p. 574.) Once the
court determines by clear and convincing evidence that a child is likely to be adopted, it becomes
the parent's burden to show that termination of his or her rights would be detrimental to the child
under one of the exceptions listed in section 366.26, subdivision (c)(1). (In re C.F. (2011) 193
Cal.App.4th 549, 553 (C.F.).)
The exception at issue here applies when termination of parental rights would be
detrimental to the child because "[t]he parents have maintained regular visitation and contact with
the child and the child would benefit from continuing the relationship." (§ 366.26, subd.
(c)(1)(B)(i).) In Autumn H., we interpreted the phrase " 'benefit from continuing
the . . . relationship' " to refer to a parent-child relationship that "promotes the well-being of the
child to such a degree as to outweigh the well-being the child would gain in a permanent home
with new, adoptive parents." (Autumn H., supra, 27 Cal.App.4th at p. 575.) "In other words, the
18
court balances the strength and quality of the natural parent[-]child relationship in a tenuous
placement against the security and the sense of belonging a new family would confer. If severing
the natural parent[-]child relationship would deprive the child of a substantial, positive emotional
attachment such that the child would be greatly harmed, the preference for adoption is overcome
and the natural parent's rights are not terminated." (Ibid.)
The showing required to support the beneficial relationship exception is a substantial one.
"A biological parent who has failed to reunify with an adoptable child may not derail an adoption
merely by showing the child would derive some benefit from continuing a relationship maintained
during periods of visitation with the parent." (In re Angel B. (2002) 97 Cal.App.4th 454, 466.)
After all, "[i]nteraction between natural parent and child will always confer some incidental
benefit to the child. . . ." (Autumn H., supra, 27 Cal.App.4th at p. 575, italics added.) Therefore,
"[t]he parent must show he or she occupies a parental role in the child's life, resulting in a
significant, positive, emotional attachment between child and parent." (C.F., supra, 193
Cal.App.4th at p. 555; Autumn H., at p. 575.) That "relationship arises from the day-to-day
interaction, companionship and shared experiences." (Autumn H., at p. 575.)6 It is not enough
that the parent "demonstrate 'frequent and loving contact[,]' [citation] an emotional bond with the
child, or that parent and child find their visits pleasant." (In re Derek W. (1999) 73 Cal.App.4th
6 We clarified in Casey D., supra, 70 Cal.App.4th at page 51 that "[d]ay-to-day contact is not necessarily required, although it is typical in a parent-child relationship. A strong and beneficial parent-child relationship might exist such that termination of parental rights would be detrimental to the child, particularly in the case of an older child, despite a lack of day-to-day contact and interaction." "The benefit of continued contact between mother and children must be considered in the context of the . . . visitation mother was permitted to have." (In re Brandon C. (1999) 71 Cal.App.4th 1530, 1537-1538.) But the beneficial relationship exception is "difficult to make in the situation . . . where the parents have [not] advanced beyond supervised visitation." (Casey D., at p. 51.) 19
823, 827.) "One can know a child's interests, enjoy playtime together, and be a loved relative, but
not occupy a parental role in the child's life." (In re Jeremy S. (2001) 89 Cal.App.4th 514, 523.)
"While friendships are important, a child needs at least one parent. Where a biological
parent . . . is incapable of functioning in that role, the child should be given every opportunity to
bond with an individual who will assume the role of a parent." (In re Brittany C. (1999) 76
Cal.App.4th 847, 854.)
Whether the beneficial relationship exception applies must be determined on a case-by-
case basis. (Autumn H., supra, 27 Cal.App.4th at pp. 575-576.) We review the juvenile court's
determination under the substantial evidence standard. (Id. at p. 576.) "We do not evaluate the
credibility of witnesses, reweigh the evidence, or resolve evidentiary conflicts. Rather, we draw
all reasonable inferences in support of the findings, consider the record most favorably to the
juvenile court's order, and affirm the order if supported by substantial evidence even if other
evidence supports a contrary conclusion." (In re L.Y.L. (2002) 101 Cal.App.4th 942, 947; Autumn
H., at p. 576.)
B. Analysis
The juvenile court found, and the Agency agrees, that Tara satisfied the first requirement
of the exception by establishing she maintained regular visits with the children. We therefore
address whether substantial evidence supports the juvenile court's determination that Tara failed
to carry her burden on the second prong—that "the relationship promotes the well-being of the
child to such a degree as to outweigh the well-being the child would gain in a permanent home
with new, adoptive parents." (Autumn H., supra, 27 Cal.App.4th at p. 575; In re Cliffton B.
(2000) 81 Cal.App.4th 415, 424-425 ["[T]he juvenile court must engage in a balancing test,
20
juxtaposing the quality of the relationship and the detriment involved in terminating it against the
potential benefit of an adoptive family."].) We conclude substantial evidence supports that
determination.
By the time of the contested hearings, Tara had not progressed beyond supervised weekly
visits, which, although improved, still remained tense and revealed Tara's difficulty in tending to
both children at once. In that vein, Scarlett had become "parentified"—"she often coache[d]
[Tara] how to take care of Vincent"—which was unhealthy and stressful to Scarlett. As a result,
Scarlett was more reserved during visits with Tara, and more outgoing when she was with her
grandparents. Social worker Martin opined that, on the whole, Tara's role with her children was
more akin to a friendly family member than a parent.
By contrast, the grandparents were meeting all the children's needs and the children were
thriving in their care. Vincent had lived his entire life with the grandparents, and Scarlett had
lived all but a few months of her life with them. Even Tara was initially "ok with Scarlett staying
with her grandparents because she is attached to them and it is what she knows, it is her home."
21
On balance, Martin opined that if the court terminated Tara's parental rights, Scarlett
would miss Tara, but would not suffer detriment; on the other hand, both children would suffer
detriment if they were removed from their grandparents. Substantial evidence supports the
juvenile court's determination in this regard. (See Casey D., supra, 70 Cal.App.4th at p. 53 ["The
trial court was entitled to find the social worker credible and to give greater weight to her
assessments and testimony."].)7
DISPOSITION
The orders are affirmed.
HALLER, J.
WE CONCUR:
HUFFMAN, Acting P. J.
NARES, J.
7 Tara's reliance on In re S.B. (2008) 164 Cal.App.4th 289 (S.B.), is misplaced. "S.B. is confined to its extraordinary facts." (C.F., supra, 193 Cal.App.4th at p. 558.) In S.B., the evidence showed that despite the child's strong, positive, significant relationship with her caregiver, she would be "greatly harmed" by the loss of the equally significant, positive relationship she shared with her father. (S.B., at p. 300.) Additionally, the father in that case had complied with every aspect of his case plan and the child wanted to live with him. (Id. at pp. 300- 301.) Tara made no such showing here. 22
AI Brief
AI-generated · verify before citing
Holding. The court affirmed the denial of the mother's section 388 petition and the termination of her parental rights, finding she failed to demonstrate sufficient changed circumstances or that modification was in the children's best interests.
Issues
Did the juvenile court abuse its discretion in denying the mother's section 388 petition for modification?
Was there sufficient evidence to support the juvenile court's finding that the parent-child beneficial relationship exception to adoption did not apply?
Disposition. Affirmed
Quotations verified verbatim against the opinion
“The parent bears the burden to show both a legitimate change of circumstances and that undoing the prior order would be in the best interest of the child.”
“The disruption of an existing psychological bond between dependent children and their caretakers is an extremely important factor bearing on any section 388 motion.”