In re N.J. CA1/1

Filed 4/7/15 In re N.J. CA1/1 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION ONE

In re N.J. et al., Persons Coming Under the Juvenile Court Law.

MENDOCINO COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, Plaintiff and Respondent, A141600 v. (Mendocino County T.S. et al., Super. Ct. Nos. Defendants and Appellants. SCUK-JVSQ-12-16594, SCUK-JVSQ-12-16595)

INTRODUCTION T.S., the mother of sisters N.J. and M.L. (Mother), appeals from the order terminating her reunification services. A.S., the maternal grandfather of N.J. and M.L. (Grandfather) appeals from the order placing N.J. in a group home, asserting he was entitled to preferential consideration for placement. Mother merely joins and adopts by reference the arguments made by Grandfather, and raises no issues regarding termination of reunification services, thereby waiving that claim.1 Accordingly, we affirm the order terminating reunification services to Mother. We conclude Grandfather waived any

1 Because neither appellant has raised any issue regarding M.L., we grant the motion of the Mendocino County Department of Social Services (Department) to dismiss the appeal as to M.L.

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claim regarding the immediate placement of N.J. with him, and in any event, the juvenile court did not abuse its discretion in changing N.J.’s placement to a group home. We affirm the placement order. PROCEDURAL AND FACTUAL BACKGROUND We set forth only those facts necessary for resolution of the issues on appeal. N.J. and M.L., 10 years old and seven years old, respectively, when the juvenile dependency petition was filed in September 2012, were then living with their maternal grandparents and Mother. The maternal grandparents had petitioned for and been appointed their temporary guardians in July 2012. The Department filed a petition alleging four counts of failure to protect the minors, based on Mother’s uncontrolled medical condition (seizure and anxiety disorders), drug use (marijuana and prescription medications) and domestic violence. The court found continued placement in the home of the temporary guardians or the parents would be contrary to the minors’ welfare. The minors were detained and placed in foster care. After the detention hearing, the Department filed an amended petition adding allegations regarding the grandparents, including that N.J. and M.L. had been physically abused by Grandfather and their grandmother had been unable to protect them. About a month later, the Department filed a second amended petition, eliminating those allegations. At the jurisdictional hearing in November, Mother admitted the allegations of the amended petition. The court terminated the grandparents’ temporary guardianship, and ordered services for Mother. The Department recommended against placement with the grandparents because the minors did not want to live with them and indicated Grandfather hit them. The grandparents filed a request for de facto parent status, which the court granted in December. In a report for the six-month review hearing, the Department noted Mother had minimally complied with services. She had been terminated from an alcohol and other