In re Z.K. CA2/6

Filed 9/22/21 In re Z.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NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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 Z.K., a Person Coming 2d Juv. No. B310112 Under the Juvenile Court Law. (Super. Ct. No. 19JV00320) (Santa Barbara County)

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES,

Plaintiff and Respondent,

v.

S.K.,

Defendant and Appellant.

S.K. (mother) appeals the juvenile court’s order terminating parental rights to her son, Z.K. (Welf. & Inst. Code, § 366.26.)1 She contends the court lacked substantial evidence to

All statutory references are to the Welfare and 1

Institutions Code.

support its ruling because it failed to ascertain the wishes of Z.K. about his impending adoption. We affirm. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND Santa Barbara County Child Welfare Services (CWS) detained then-eight-year-old Z.K. in August of 2019 after police discovered his father operating a butane honey oil lab2 in their home’s backyard. Z.K.’s maternal great aunt and uncle took the boy into their home three days later. The juvenile court declared Z.K. a dependent of the court in September and continued placement with his aunt and uncle. It ordered his parents to participate in reunification services, including parenting education courses and substance abuse treatment. Mother and father participated minimally in these services. CWS could not contact father at all during the first review period. Mother met with child welfare workers intermittently but tested positive for methamphetamine. At the six-month status review hearing, the parties submitted on CWS’s recommendation that Z.K. remain in placement while his parents received more time to complete reunification services. Father eventually contacted CWS by phone but failed to complete a drug screen or enter treatment before the twelve- month status review. Mother entered inpatient treatment but left after one day. She opted to remain homeless and refused offers to help arrange outpatient treatment and transportation. Neither parent communicated regularly with CWS about their progress.