Jose S. v. Superior Court CA4/1 (2015) · DecisionDepot
Jose S. v. Superior Court CA4/1
California Court of Appeal Jul 20, 2015 No. D067784Unpublished
Filed 7/20/15 Jose S. v. Superior Court CA4/1 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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
JOSE S. et al., D067784
Petitioners, (San Diego County Super. Ct. No. J517952) v.
THE SUPERIOR COURT OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY,
Respondent;
SAN DIEGO COUNTY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY et al.,
Real Parties in Interest.
PROCEEDINGS in mandate after referral to a Welfare and Institutions Code
section 366.26 hearing.1 Kimberlee A. Lagotta, Judge. Petitions denied; requests for
stay denied.
1 Further statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code.
Dependency Legal Group of San Diego and Amanda J. Gonzales for Petitioner
Jose S.
Dependency Legal Group of San Diego and John P. McCurley for Petitioner L.C.
Thomas E. Montgomery, County Counsel, John E. Philips, Chief Deputy County
Counsel, and Paula J. Roach, Deputy County Counsel, for Real Party in Interest San
Diego County Health and Human Services Agency.
Dependency Legal Group of San Diego and Natasha Edwards for Real Party In
Interest, Dominic S., a Minor.
Presumed father Jose S. and mother L.C. (together, the parents) seek writ review
of the juvenile dependency court's order, made at the six-month review hearing,
terminating reunification services and setting a section 366.26 hearing for 10-month-old
Dominic S. The parents contend there is no substantial evidence to support the finding
they received reasonable services. We deny the parents' petitions and requests for a stay.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
Introduction
Jose has been a client of the Regional Center since infancy. He has a history of
marijuana use and "anger issues." L.C. has suffered from a seizure disorder since
childhood. When she was in high school, she had an Individualized Educational Program
due to a learning disability. She has a history of mental health issues (including
depression with psychotic features), domestic violence and use of opiates and marijuana.
Beginning in November 2008, L.C. received voluntary services following reports
that she had left her three oldest children with strangers when those children were
2
between eight months and one and one-half years old. The voluntary services included
"Regional Center, Respite, . . . [public health nurse], and Sunny Days,"2 which L.C.
completed, and counseling and in-home support, which she did not complete. She
participated in parent-child attunement therapy, but stopped attending. She did not
address her domestic violence issues. When voluntary services ended in September
2009, after approximately nine months, L.C. "still appeared to have limited insight into
her children's needs."
In October 2010, a dependency case was opened for L.C.'s three oldest children,
based on neglect, and for her fourth child, an infant, based on abuse of the siblings.3
L.C. admitted hitting her children. She received reunification services including a
domestic violence program, general counseling and parenting education. She completed
a parenting program. She did not provide attendance sheets from the domestic violence
program. Her therapist ended treatment after four months because L.C. refused to
cooperate and had made no progress. The therapist said L.C. was "mentally disabled,"
which rendered her incapable of caring for herself or her children, and was "incapable of
utilizing services to deal with the protective issue." In early 2012, L.C.'s reunification
services were terminated and the father of her fourth child reunified with that child. In
March 2013, L.C.'s parental rights to her three oldest children were terminated.
2 The record does not describe "Sunny Days" services.
3 Jose is not the father of L.C.'s four oldest children. He has a child older than Dominic; that child was not in Jose's care.
3
The Instant Case
When Dominic was born in May 2014, L.C. tested positive for benzodiazepines
(antianxiety medication) and the parents appeared to be "very delayed." Personnel from
the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency (the Agency) met with the
parents, their pastor, their friend, Jose's Regional Center worker and hospital staff.
Agency personnel discussed their concerns including L.C.'s history of domestic violence,
unstable housing and limited baby supplies; the removal of her older children; her seizure
disorder; and the parents' disclosure of daily marijuana use.4 The Agency verified that
the parents had baby supplies and before Dominic was discharged from the hospital, the
parents were able to articulate that he needed feeding every two to three hours.
After Dominic was discharged, the parents fed him inconsistently and
inadequately. The parents admitted they did not feed him at night, saying he wanted to
sleep. On May 30, 2014, Dominic's doctor admitted him to the hospital because he had
lost weight and suffered from reflux. Dominic's liver enzymes were elevated. He gained
weight in the hospital and was discharged on June 5. The parents were given feeding
instructions and told to see the doctor the next day. They did not appear for the
appointment.
On June 12, 2014, the parents took Dominic to the doctor. The parents told the
doctor they had fed Dominic only once the previous night. The doctor noted Dominic
4 L.C. said that Jose smoked marijuana for his depression. Jose said he had reduced his use. L.C. said she had smoked marijuana in the past but was not doing so currently.
4
was doing well and told the parents to feed him every two to three hours, for 15 minutes
on each breast, and to feed him at least two to three times each night.
On June 13, 2014, Agency social worker Elvin Gonzales contacted L.C. L.C. said
Dominic's doctor had told her to feed Dominic every two to three hours, for 15 minutes
on each breast. According to L.C., Dominic was "doing good."
At an appointment on June 16, 2014, the doctor noted Dominic had gained a few
ounces, which was not enough. L.C. told the doctor she was feeding Dominic four times
a night. The doctor instructed L.C. on the use of a breast pump and told the parents to
bottle feed Dominic in order to measure his intake. The doctor sought to rule out reflux
as a cause of Dominic's failure to thrive. The doctor debated whether to admit Dominic
to the hospital again, but decided "to give the parents one more chance."
Between June 16 and 19, 2014, Dominic lost four ounces. Dominic's doctor
believed the parents had good intentions, but were incapable of understanding the
importance of feeding him. L.C. told the doctor that one night she had fed Dominic
water. For several nights, the parents had allowed Dominic to sleep through the night
with no feedings.
On June 19, 2014, Dominic was admitted to the hospital due to failure to thrive.
He was emaciated and weighed less than he had when last discharged from the hospital.
At the hospital, the parents had to be prompted to feed him. L.C.'s seizure medication
caused her to sleep most of the time. The parents slept instead of feeding Dominic as
scheduled. On two separate occasions, the parents slept while a nurse fed Dominic.
When Jose attempted to feed Dominic, he watched television at the same time, ignored
5
Dominic and failed to respond when the nurse twice told him to burp Dominic. L.C. was
also distracted by the television.
On June 20, 2014, L.C. acknowledged that Dominic had lost weight. She blamed
this on his thyroid problem and claimed she was feeding him as directed. Hospital
personnel did not find any thyroid problem. A hospital doctor believed L.C. "does not
grasp the medical situation."
While in the hospital, Dominic gained weight and his liver enzyme levels
improved. The doctors determined his previous weight loss was due to the parents'
inadequate feeding and the previous elevation of liver enzymes was due to malnutrition.
On June 23, 2014, Gonzales met with the parents. The parents insisted they fed Dominic
as directed and his weight loss had been caused by diarrhea.
The Agency referred the parents to SafeCare5 and the public health nurse. The
parents repeatedly expressed their disinclination to cooperate with the Agency. They did
not drug test when Gonzales asked them to do so. On June 23, 2014, Dominic was
detained in the hospital. He was moved to a confidential foster home that day.
On June 25, 2014, the Agency filed a dependency petition for one-month-old
Dominic. The petition alleged he had been hospitalized twice in one month due to failure
to thrive based on inadequate and inconsistent feeding. At the June 26 detention hearing,
the court ordered the Agency to provide the parents voluntary services. The court warned
the parents that because Dominic was younger than three years when detained, they
5 The record does not disclose the nature of SafeCare.
6
might have only six months in which to participate regularly and make substantive
progress in services. (§ 361.5, subd. (a)(1)(B).)
On July 11, 2014, social worker Sandra Moreno met with the parents. When
Moreno asked why the parents thought Dominic was in custody, L.C. replied, "Nobody
told me that my medicine was causing my milk to be bad." L.C. claimed she had
followed the hospital's feeding instructions and denied failing to feed Dominic at night.
Jose said Dominic was in custody because "all of you think we are not taking care of him
and can't watch him." Jose said he and L.C. could care for Dominic and denied they
failed to awaken to feed him during the night. Jose acknowledged near daily use of
marijuana although he did not have a medical marijuana card. He admitted having anger
issues and suffering from mild depression, but said he did not like speaking to therapists
or taking medication. Moreno gave the parents information about voluntary services and
gave L.C. referrals to therapy, substance abuse counseling and parenting classes.
In her jurisdictional and dispositional report, Moreno stated the Agency was
"considering not offering services to [the parents], depending on results of psychological
evaluation." The Agency requested two psychological evaluations for Jose and two for
L.C. in order to determine how their "mental health concerns . . . will impact their ability
to benefit from services and safely parent a delicate growing newborn." On July 15,
2014, the court authorized the evaluations; there were no objections from the parents'
counsel. On July 31, Moreno gave the parents bus passes and referrals to therapy. The
parents said they did not want the names of psychological evaluators because, on the
advice of their attorneys, they were not going to participate in the evaluations.
7
On August 3, 2014, Jose was arrested for battering L.C. L.C. denied there was
any domestic violence. On August 6, the parents completed a parenting class. On
August 13, L.C. had an intake appointment with therapist Kasimu Harley. Jose had not
started therapy; L.C. said he was waiting for a call from a therapist.
On August 14, 2014, the court entered a true finding on the petition, ordered
Dominic placed in foster care and ordered reunification services for the parents. Services
included two psychological evaluations for each parent, individual counseling with
approved therapists, parenting education and referral to and evaluation by the family
preservation services program.6 The court again warned the parents that because
Dominic was younger than three years when detained, they might have only six months
in which to reunify.
On October 8, 2014, L.C. began therapy with Jack Sullivan. In December,
Sullivan reported that L.C. had attended five sessions and missed two. L.C. seemed "to
have cognition distortions relating [to Dominic's] care," disbelieved reports by the
Agency that he was now thriving and did "not appear to understand her role in the
neglect." L.C.'s frequent seizures, mental health symptoms, inadequate support system
and difficulty setting boundaries with Jose appeared to be "a serious impediment" to her
ability to care for herself and Dominic.
6 This program "provided assistance with referrals for affordable housing, parent training and demonstration and household management." The parents were unable to participate in the program because it required them to be within 30 days of achieving Dominic's return home, and they never reached that point. Thus, the Agency did not refer them to this program. 8
Meanwhile, social worker Patrice Clark was assigned to this case on October 10,
2014, and reviewed the case plan with the parents. L.C. was able to articulate some of
what she had learned in the parenting class. Clark did not offer another parenting class
because L.C. said she was not interested. Jose received services through the Regional
Center, and Clark gave him additional referrals to therapy. Jose began therapy with Kim
Murphy, but Murphy terminated therapy due to Jose's noncompliance and repeated
failure to attend appointments. Murphy reported "Jose presents with limited insight
regarding parenting a child as evidence[d] by the lack of follow through with
appointments and continued substance abuse/alcohol."
In December 2014, L.C. told Clark that L.C. "was experiencing domestic violence
with [Jose] and wanted to move out." Agency personnel gave L.C. housing referrals and
drove her to a friend's house. L.C. said she would obtain a restraining order. When Clark
asked Jose if he had ever hurt L.C., he replied, "Only one time a long time ago. I hit her."
L.C. did not obtain a restraining order and resumed living with Jose after a week or two,
against Clark's advice.
After this violence, the parents were required to visit Dominic separately. The
parents were often late to visits and did not ask how he was doing. At Christmas, the
parents did not bring Dominic gifts.
L.C. visited Dominic twice a week. She held him, changed his diapers and fed
him. At first, L.C. brought age-inappropriate food to visits, and Dominic suffered from
an allergic rash and diarrhea after visits. Clark and the foster parent talked to L.C. about
this, and after that Clark did not hear of further problems with food. L.C. was informed
9
of Dominic's medical appointments and attended some of them, but was unable to
articulate any information about the appointments. She was not allowed to attend
Dominic's physical therapy and occupational therapy appointments, which took place in
the confidential foster home.
Jose also visited Dominic and participated in medical appointments. Like L.C.,
Jose initially brought age-inappropriate food to visits. Jose did not know how to relate to
Dominic; he stared at him and spent most of the time pulling his clothes up and looking
at his skin. During a visit in early March 2015, Jose did not interact much with Dominic.
Jose told Clark that he had made a therapy appointment for March 23.
The Psychological Evaluations
Psychologist Katherine Ellis-Hernandez evaluated L.C. on November 6 and 10,
2014. Dr. Ellis-Hernandez's November 17 report stated the following. L.C. "appears to
have difficulty accepting responsibility and demonstrating insight into how her behaviors
may cause emotional or physical harm to [Dominic]" and "appears to lack understanding
and insight into her need for treatment which is exacerbated by delusional and paranoid
fixed beliefs regarding [the Agency]'s involvement." L.C.'s "cognitive and intellectual
impairment . . . impede her ability to benefit from services." Her "severe depression and
pervasive personality dysfunction characterized by psychotic symptoms, severe
interpersonal conflicts, emotional dysregulation, level of motivation, non-compliance
with treatment, and lack of insight and awareness regarding her mental health issues will
likely impede [her] ability to benefit from services and would render her 'incapable of
utilizing reunification services' at this time." L.C.'s "symptoms are chronic and will
10
likely require treatment across the lifespan" and her "lack of awareness, insight and fixed
delusions are likely to impede her ability to benefit from services and meet expected
goals within the six[-]month legal deadline." Dr. Ellis-Hernandez concluded: "If the
court should continue to offer services, it is highly recommended that [L.C.] be evaluated
by a psychiatrist for medication recommendations and receive a neurological evaluation
to address complications related to her epileptic seizure disorder. In addition, [L.C.]
would benefit from individual therapy . . . to increase her ability to protect her child
and/or parent safely."
Psychologist Abraham Loebenstein evaluated L.C. on December 21, 2014. Dr.
Loebenstein's January 29, 2015, report noted "[t]his evaluation was initially ordered to be
completed sometime during the summer, with [L.C.] being very resistant at the time to
participate." Dr. Loebenstein concluded that L.C. had "a serious mental illness"; it
appeared to incapacitate her and "would be disabling" "[w]ithout treatment." Her mental
disorders were treatable, "with the biggest hurdle being her willingness to participate, and
her ability to stay consistent with her treatment." While her history suggested "her
prognosis is not good," it was possible that she might improve substantially over the next
12 months if she accepted her need for treatment and participated fully. Although L.C.'s
intelligence was below average, she "has sufficient intelligence to participate in treatment
and to follow guidelines." She was capable of "psychotic like thinking" and her mental
stability had to be addressed before she would be able to benefit from services such as
parenting education." Dr. Loebenstein recommended the monitoring of L.C.'s abstention
from the use of marijuana and other illicit substances; a psychiatric consultation;
11
psychotherapy; parenting education once L.C. demonstrated progress in the foregoing
areas; residential substance abuse treatment if she had trouble maintaining sobriety; and a
neuropsychological screening should the court find it beneficial.
Psychologist E. Warren O'Meara evaluated Jose on January 15, 2015. Dr.
O'Meara's January 22 report concluded that Jose's mental disability, exposure to domestic
violence while a child and poor impulse control impeded his ability to parent and "[h]is
low intellectual capacity renders him unable to safely parent." Jose's low IQ (in the .2 to
3 percentile range) and poor comprehension abilities, judgment and insight made it
"unlikely that he would benefit from services, especially within the timelines." Dr.
O'Meara noted that Jose was not in therapy and should not be referred to therapy.
Psychologist M. Bruce Stubbs evaluated Jose on February 25, 2015. Dr. Stubbs's
March 4 report cited Jose's low IQ, history of domestic violence and lack of insight and
concluded Jose's mental disability rendered him incapable of caring for any child
appropriately and incapable of utilizing reunification services regardless of the length of
the reunification period. Dr. Stubbs noted that Jose minimized his domestic violence;
asserted that the parents had done everything they believed appropriate in caring for
Dominic; and never said they were doing everything they had been instructed to do.7
The Six-Month Review Hearing
At the time of the March 27, 2015, six-month review hearing, Dominic continued
to have special needs requiring services. In addition to physical and occupational
7 Clark transported Jose to both of his psychological evaluations after Jose missed his first appointment with Dr. O'Meara. 12
therapy, he participated in a failure-to-thrive clinic and was under the care of a renal
specialist. He had at least one appointment a week.
L.C. was still attending therapy and was in compliance with the therapy
component of her services plan. The Agency had not given her referrals for a
neurological or psychiatric evaluation, as recommended by Dr. Ellis-Hernandez and Dr.
Loebenstein, but L.C. had a psychiatric referral from her therapist, had a psychiatric
appointment set for the day of the hearing and saw a neurologist when she needed a new
prescription for her seizure medication. L.C. testified she would take another parenting
class if the social worker asked her to. L.C. was living with Jose. She had returned to
him because she had no other place to live, but there were other people who would take
her in. L.C. would move "[if] the opportunity comes up . . . and it's needed." By
"needed," she meant that she wanted a bigger home for Dominic. Jose was supporting
L.C., but she received food stamps and was applying for Supplemental Security Income.
The court found the parents had been provided reasonable reunification services,
terminated services and set a section 366.26 hearing.
The parents petitioned for review of the court's orders. (§ 366.26, subd. (l); Cal.
Rules of Court, rule 8.452.) This court issued an order to show cause, the Agency
responded and the court heard oral argument at the parents' request.
DISCUSSION
L.C. contends the Agency failed to provide services tailored to her special mental
health needs. She argues the psychological evaluations took place "late in the
reunification period, the Agency did not use the evaluations to match [her] to the
13
appropriate services" and instead used them to justify its failure to provide her reasonable
services. Jose contends the Agency failed to provide services tailored to his
developmental disability. He argues the Agency delayed in providing psychological
evaluations and other services and did not arrange interactive parent training, coordinate
with the Regional Center or notify him of Dominic's physical therapy appointments and
allow him to attend. Jose also argues the Agency used the psychological evaluations to
justify terminating services rather than to assist him with services.
"Reunification services should be tailored to the particular needs of the family."
(Tracy J. v. Superior Court (2012) 202 Cal.App.4th 1415, 1425.) The court and the
Agency "must accommodate the special needs of disabled . . . parents." (Id. at pp. 1425-
1426.) "To support a finding reasonable services were offered or provided, 'the record
should show that the supervising agency identified the problems leading to the loss of
custody, offered services designed to remedy those problems, maintained reasonable
contact with the parents during the course of the service plan, and made reasonable
efforts to assist the parents in areas where compliance proved difficult . . . .' [Citation.]"
(Id. at p. 1426.) "The effort must be made to provide reasonable reunification services in
spite of difficulties in doing so or the prospects of success." (Mark N. v. Superior Court
(1998) 60 Cal.App.4th 996, 1011.)
" 'It is . . . well established that "[r]eunification services are voluntary, and cannot
be forced on an unwilling or indifferent parent. [Citation.]" ' " (In re Nolan W. (2009) 45
Cal.4th 1217, 1233, quoting In re Jonathan R. (1989) 211 Cal.App.3d 1214, 1220.)
There is no " 'requirement that a social worker take the parent by the hand and escort him
14
or her to and through [services].' " (In re Nolan W., supra, at p. 1233, quoting In re
Michael S. (1987) 188 Cal.App.3d 1448, 1463, fn. 5.) " 'The standard is not whether the
services provided were the best that might be provided in an ideal world, but whether the
services were reasonable under the circumstances.' " (Katie V. v. Superior Court (2005)
130 Cal.App.4th 586, 598-599, quoting In re Misako R. (1991) 2 Cal.App.4th 538, 547.)
In "[determining] whether substantial evidence supports the trial court's [reasonable
services] finding, [we review] the evidence in a light most favorable to the prevailing
party[,] and [indulge] in all legitimate and reasonable inferences to uphold the court's
ruling." (Katie V. v. Superior Court, supra, at p. 598.)
Before filing the dependency petition, the Agency offered the parents services; the
parents declined to cooperate. Dominic's doctor repeatedly instructed the parents how to
feed Dominic properly and adequately, to no avail. L.C. had received extensive services
in connection with the dependencies of her older children, but had failed to reunify.
L.C.'s therapist during a prior case concluded L.C. was incapable of utilizing services and
her mental disability rendered her incapable of protecting and caring for her children.
The parents cannot now challenge the services ordered as part of the case plan or
other findings and orders made at disposition. (Steve J. v. Superior Court (1995) 35
Cal.App.4th 798, 811.) We need not discuss their contentions that the Agency requested
psychological evaluations solely to justify terminating services and "[t]he questions
provided to the psychological evaluators were questions which would provide the
information needed to bypass reunification services under section 361.5, subdivision
(b)(2)." We need not address Jose's contention "there is no indication that the Agency
15
provided domestic violence services" because the case plan did not include such services
as a discrete component.
As noted above, the case plan consisted of psychological evaluations, individual
counseling, parenting education and referral to and evaluation by the family preservation
services program. The reunification period lasted from August 14, 2014, to March 27,
2015, more than seven months. The parents completed only a parenting class and the
psychological evaluations.
The parents declined to participate in psychological evaluations before the
jurisdictional and dispositional hearing, citing the advice of counsel, although counsel
voiced no objection to the court.8 L.C.'s first psychological evaluation took place in
early November 2014, before the midpoint of the reunification period. Because she
arrived late for her appointment, the first evaluation took place over a span of five days,
rather than being completed in one day. L.C.'s second evaluation took place
approximately six weeks later, in late December, after the midpoint of the reunification
period, and was delayed by her resistance. Jose's first psychological evaluation took
place in mid-January 2015, five months into the reunification period, after he missed his
8 While "a court has no authority to order a psychological evaluation of a parent until it has exercised dependency jurisdiction" (In re C.C. (2003) 111 Cal.App.4th 76, 91), it is disingenuous of the parents to complain the evaluations were delayed under these circumstances.
16
first appointment.9 His second evaluation took place in late February, approximately one
month before the end of the reunification period.
Dr. Ellis-Hernandez, the first psychologist to evaluate L.C., concluded L.C. was
incapable of participating in services and her ability to benefit from services was
impeded, particularly within the six-month reunification period. Dr. Ellis-Hernandez
recommended that if the court continued to offer services, L.C. should receive a
psychiatric medication evaluation and a neurological evaluation. Because the court
terminated services, the premise of this recommendation did not occur. Moreover, the
court noted that L.C. had received neurological care and medication for many years.
Individual therapy, Dr. Ellis-Hernandez's additional recommendation, had already
started, and L.C. received a psychiatric referral from her therapist. Dr. Loebenstein, the
second psychologist to evaluate L.C., concluded her mental illness would be disabling
without treatment, and if she overcame her unwillingness to accept treatment, she might
improve over 12 months, longer than the six-month limit on services. In light of this
conclusion, Dr. Loebenstein's recommendation of a psychiatric consultation was moot.
Furthermore, he conditioned his recommendation of a neuropsychological screening on a
finding by the court that it would be beneficial; the court found it would not be beneficial,
noting L.C. was already under the care of a neurological specialist. In light of Dr. Ellis-
Hernandez's conclusion that L.C. had an impeded ability to benefit from services within
the six-month period and Dr. Loebenstein's conclusion that any possible improvement
9 The record does not reveal the date of the first appointment. 17
would take 12 months, earlier evaluations would have made no difference and further
services would have been an unwise use of resources. (In re Katelynn Y. (2012) 209
Cal.App.4th 871, 881.)
Before this case, L.C. had a history of involvement in violent relationships and
failure to address those issues through offered services. During the pendency of this case,
she returned to Jose despite his violence. She was living with him at the time of the
hearing and failed to see why this was inappropriate.
Dr. O'Meara, the first psychologist to evaluate Jose, concluded that his intellectual
deficit made him incapable of safe parenting and he was unlikely to benefit from
services. Thus, Dr. O'Meara recommended against a referral to therapy. Dr. Stubbs, the
second psychologist to evaluate Jose, concluded his mental disability rendered him
incapable of appropriate parenting and incapable of utilizing reunification services. It is
clear from the conclusions of both psychologists that earlier evaluations would have
made no difference and the continued provision of services would have been fruitless.
(In re Katelynn Y., supra, 209 Cal.App.4th at p. 881.)
Before the dependency petition was filed, Jose said he had told his Regional
Center worker not to talk to the Agency because Jose had not signed a release.
Nevertheless, the Agency communicated with Jose's Regional Center worker before
filing the petition and Regional Center personnel attended some of the hearings. The
reunification plan did not require the Agency to coordinate with the Regional Center.
Jose was ineligible for interactive parent training provided by the family
preservation services program because Dominic's return never became imminent.
18
Although Jose had completed a parenting class, the psychological evaluators concluded
he was incapable of proper parenting, incapable of participating in services and unlikely
to benefit from services. Given those conclusions, Jose's inability to carry on a
conversation, his failure to attend his own therapy appointments and his failure to ask
about Dominic's well-being, any failure to notify Jose of Dominic's recently begun
physical therapy appointments is of no moment.
The Agency offered the parents reasonable services in conformity with the case
plan. Under the circumstances of the instant case, it would have been unreasonable for
the Agency to have done anything further. (See In re K.C. (2012) 212 Cal.App.4th 323,
333-334.) Any lack of services did not result from any failure of the Agency, but rather
from the parents' refusal to accept the assistance they were offered. Substantial evidence
supports the court's reasonable services finding.
DISPOSITION
The petitions are denied. The requests for a stay are denied.
NARES, Acting P. J.
WE CONCUR:
HALLER, J.
MCDONALD, J.
19
AI Brief
AI-generated · verify before citing
Holding. The court held that the Agency provided reasonable reunification services to the parents, despite their failure to make substantive progress, and that the parents' own resistance and noncompliance contributed to the timing of evaluations and service delivery.
Issues
Whether substantial evidence supports the juvenile court's finding that the parents received reasonable reunification services.
Whether the Agency failed to tailor services to the parents' specific mental health and developmental disabilities.
Disposition. Petitions denied.
Quotations verified verbatim against the opinion
“The standard is not whether the services provided were the best that might be provided in an ideal world, but whether the services were reasonable under the circumstances.”