Butte County Department of Employment & Social Services v. Jason H. , 178 Cal. Rptr. 3d 888 ( 2014 )

Filed 10/16/14
CERTIFIED FOR PARTIAL PUBLICATION*
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
(Butte)
----
In re D.H. et al., Persons Coming Under the C075278
Juvenile Court Law.
BUTTE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF (Super. Ct. Nos. J-33052, J-36726)
EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL SERVICES,
Plaintiff and Respondent,
v.
JASON H.,
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL from orders of the Superior Court of Butte County, Clare Keithley,
Judge. Affirmed.
Jack A. Love, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and
Appellant.
Bruce Alpert, County Counsel; and Kimberly Merrifield for Plaintiff and
Respondent.
* Pursuant to California Rules of Court, rules 8.1105 and 8.1110, this opinion is certified
for publication with the exception of part II. of the Discussion.
1
Jason H. (father) appeals the juvenile court’s determination to deny him
reunification services with the minors, now 16-year-old D.H. and seven-year-old T.H.
The trial court found two reunification bypass provisions applied, that (1) father had
previously had reunification services and his parental rights terminated to the minors’
half siblings and father had not made reasonable efforts to treat the problems that led to
the removal of the half siblings (Welf. & Inst. Code, § 361.5, subds. (b)(10) & (11));1 and
(2) father was incarcerated and the provision of services would be detrimental to the
children (§ 361.5, subd. (e)). Father contends these bypass provisions did not apply as he
had made reasonable efforts to treat the problems that led to the removal of the half
siblings and reunification services were in the minors’ best interest; and, it would not be
detrimental to the minors for him to be provided reunification services. We agree with
father that there is not sufficient evidence to support the finding that he had not made
reasonable efforts to treat the problems that led to the removal of the half siblings,
because the record before us shows that the problems that led to the removal of the half
siblings (unsafe and unhealthy conditions) were different from those presented in this
case (alcohol abuse, anger management problems and domestic violence); nor does the
record establish any connection between the two sets of problems or even that father
received services in the prior case for the problems manifest in the present case.
However, we find there was sufficient evidence to support the finding that father was
incarcerated and it would be detrimental to the minors to provide services. Accordingly,
we shall affirm the orders of the juvenile court.
1 Undesignated statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code.
2
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
In 1997, the minors’ half siblings were declared dependents of the court, “as a
result of unsafe and unhealthy living conditions.” Father did not participate in services
and on June 7, 2000, parental rights were terminated.
Father has a history of referrals to children’s services including numerous
complaints of domestic violence and intoxication. His criminal history goes back to 1995
and includes charges for assault with a deadly weapon, battery, spousal abuse, driving
under the influence, and child cruelty. The first report of his being arrested for domestic
violence and drunkenness is November 1999. His first conviction for an alcohol-related
offense was for driving under the influence in February 2000, followed by another in
May 2000. His first conviction for a violent offense was in 1998 and his first arrest for
domestic violence was in November 1999. In 2000, he was pending trial for multiple
charges of domestic violence and driving under the influence. Allegations of neglect and
emotional abuse as to D.H. were substantiated. In 2004, Butte County Department of
Employment and Social Services (Department) received a referral that father was
drinking alcohol and had been in a car accident with D.H. in the car.
In 2006, the minor D.H. was removed from his parents’ home as a result of
father’s alcohol abuse and domestic violence between the parents. D.H. reported father
put him in a room and shot BB’s at him, hit D.H. in the head, stomach and arm with his
fist, drank beer every night and was mean after drinking the beer. The parents
participated in family services and D.H. was returned to their home in November 2007.
Dependency was dismissed in December 2008, due to the family’s having reached the
legal time limits for provision of family maintenance services. The prognosis for the
family “ ‘was poor since neither parent demonstrated a willingness to access resources
unless ordered to do so by the court.’ ”
3
Throughout 2010 and 2012, D.H. made repeated allegations that father was
physically and verbally abusive to him, and had alcohol abuse and anger management
problems. D.H. frequently had marks and bruises on his body. D.H. was placed in a plan
of legal guardianship with his maternal grandmother in November 2010. The
guardianship terminated in January 2012 and D.H. was returned to his parents. In
December 2012, mother obtained a restraining order because father had physically
abused D.H.
In March 2013, father had returned to the home, despite a safety plan indicating he
would not be in the home. D.H. had been suspended from school. He reported he and
father had gotten into an argument the night before and father was provoking D.H. to hit
him. Father had an extensive criminal history associated with uncontrolled anger
impulses. D.H. told a Department worker he was “sure that ‘either my father will kill me
or I will end up killing my father.’ ” D.H. and T.H. were detained and placed into foster
care.
In April 2013, the Department filed petitions under section 300 alleging father had
an alcohol abuse problem that rendered him periodically unable to provide care for the
minors and, as a result of his abuse, he becomes violent with D.H. The petitions also
alleged that in 1997, the minors’ half siblings were declared dependents “as a result of
unsafe and unhealthy living conditions. The parents failed to participate and progress in
court ordered services and on June 7, 2000, parental rights were terminated and adoption
was finalized on December 7, 2000.” The juvenile court found the allegations of the
petitions true on June 27, 2013.
Upon being interviewed, D.H. reported father was an alcoholic who became
abusive to him and mother when father was intoxicated, which is the majority of nights
he is in the home. He stated father dared D.H. to hit him and when D.H. does not
comply, father physically provokes him. D.H. stated, “ ‘one of us will be dead one of
4
these days.’ ” He reported both he and his younger brother T.H. had witnessed domestic
violence by father against mother. T.H. has special needs, as he suffers from a
cardiovascular disorder that involves autistic-like characteristics, and heart and breathing
problems. He also has significant developmental delays. Based on this information, the
juvenile court also issued a protective custody order for the two minors.
The Department placed T.H. and D.H. in separate foster homes. The homes were
across the street from each other and the minors had frequent contact with each other.
T.H. had significant health problems and developmental delays. He was described
as a happy boy who enjoys playing and has a vivid imagination; however, he also
presented as “ ‘disruptive, defiant, [and] displaying severe signs of Pervasive
Developmental Disorder (autism).’ ” D.H. was physically healthy and was meeting
developmental milestones. D.H. had struggled in school and had failed eighth grade for
the second time. The Department suspected these struggles were due to the chaos and
abuse in his home. D.H. was doing well in his foster home. He had become involved in
bicycle motocross (BMX) racing with his foster parent and had won several races and
awards. The racing was giving D.H. a way to redirect his past misbehaviors and channel
his anger.
Father admitted alcohol was a serious problem for him. He also reported “ ‘this’ is
‘all [D.H.’s] fault.’ ” At the time of the dispositional hearing, father was incarcerated in
state prison. The Department recommended father not be provided reunification services.
Father did not have visits with the children. He informed the Department he did not want
to see D.H. and blamed D.H. for the family’s dysfunction. The Department was also
concerned about T.H.’s ability to cope with the stress of visits with father at the prison
because of the environment.
As a result of his incarceration, father had limited access to services. He was able
to participate in occasional Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and church services. The
5
Department had sent him written packets on substance abuse, parenting, anger
management, and domestic violence. The Department also gave him permission to
complete written assignments and he had done so.
The Department recommended father not be offered reunification services under
the bypass provisions of section 361.5, subdivision (b)(10) and (11) (hereafter
section 361.5(b)(10) and (11)) and section 361.5, subdivision (e)(1) (hereafter section
361.5(e)(1)). The Department noted the minors’ half siblings had been removed from
father’s home as a result of unsafe and unhealthy living conditions and father failed to
participate and progress in court-ordered services. Services were terminated and father’s
parental rights were also terminated. The Department alleged father had made no effort
to mitigate the circumstances which led to the removal of those half siblings, in that he
“continues to abuse alcohol, and when intoxicated, physically abuse[s] his girlfriend and
children.” Furthermore, the Department had received numerous referrals regarding
father’s alcohol abuse and physical abuse of mother and D.H. Father “has not
subsequently made a reasonable effort to treat the problem that led to removal of the half
siblings of [T.H. and D.H.] from his care.”
The Department also reported on the factors underling a bypass under section
361.5(e)(1). The minors were five and 14 years old in July of 2013. T.H. did not speak
of his father. D.H. had expressed anger and stated he did not want to see father. Father
also did not want to see D.H. D.H. did not want to reunify with father. Father was
sentenced to four years in prison. The maximum reunification period would end on
October 16, 2014. It was unlikely father would be released from prison with adequate
time to address his alcohol addiction and anger management problems before that date.
The Department noted father’s extensive history of alcohol abuse, domestic violence,
lack of impulse and anger control, and abuse of his children. It stated father “first came
to the attention of Children’s Services in 1997 and services to address these issues were
6
provided to him at that time. [Father] failed to attend, participate or progress in those
services.” He had also participated in both probation and parole services, and received
services in 2006 to address domestic violence and alcohol abuse. Despite all of these
services, he continued to engage in alcohol abuse and violence toward mother and D.H.
Based on this history, the Department concluded father had been unable or unwilling to
address his severe and chronic alcohol addiction or manage his anger. The Department
concluded there would be no detriment to the children if reunification services were not
provided to father. Mother was being offered and actively engaging in services.
Father testified at the contested dispositional hearing. As to the termination of his
parental rights to the minors’ half siblings, he testified that his parental rights had been
terminated in June 2000; he had only one driving under the influence arrest since 2000;
and he was arrested in 2009 and 2010 for disorderly conduct, which were alcohol related.
He claimed he had made reasonable efforts to address his alcohol problem through
outpatient rehabilitation programs from 2011 to 2012. He had also attended Alcoholics
Anonymous meetings, and was completing his Life Recovery Bible workbook.
As to any detriment to his children, father testified that he and T.H. had a
“tremendous bond.” He would take him to the park and his mother’s home and on Easter
egg hunts. He testified he was scheduled to be released from prison in June 2014 and
then planned to be released to a live-in rehabilitation treatment program. He
acknowledged his relationship with D.H. was “rocky.” He had last seen both boys in
April 2013, some six months earlier.
The social worker testified that father’s convictions for driving under the influence
occurred in February and May of 2000, prior to the termination of his parental rights to
the half siblings, and that there was only one driving under the influence conviction since
that termination, in October 2003. It was her understanding that many of father’s
7
convictions involved alcohol.2 She did not believe father’s participation in the Butte
County rehabilitation program constituted reasonable efforts to address his alcohol
problems because he had not remained clean and sober, continued to perpetuate domestic
violence, and had multiple arrests. When asked if providing reunification services to
father would be a detriment to the minors, she answered, “I don’t know that I would call
it a detriment. But there would be a concern about [father] being able to follow through
with his plan of sobriety and follow through with his, with the plans that he has for his
life, and the children being anxious and let down again if he’s unable to. So that is, that
is a concern. [¶] [D.H.], this is his third time in foster care. You know, I would be very
concerned with him and, you know, the lasting emotional effects of being let down
again.” She went on to agree it would be beneficial to D.H. if his father could get and
stay clean and sober. Upon further questioning about whether providing reunification
services to father would be detrimental to the minors, the social worker opined, “I think
my concerns remain the same. The anxiety, the fear, being let down again. [T.H.] in
particular, he’s very cognitively delayed. He’s a very sensitive child. And there’s
definitely a concern of, you know, the potential for relapse and what may happen to
[T.H.]” As to D.H., “Again, I think it’s the same. You know, he’s been let down so
many times that there’s a mistrust there and there’s anxiety. And my fear is every time
he gets his hopes up and then is let down, there’s just a little bit more anger, a little bit
more resentment, a little bit more emotional trauma. And I just, you know, fear for his
emotional being overall.” She expressed additional concern that if father again failed in
services, it could lead to “[D.H.] again being let down and having the emotional crisis
and depression and all the things that go along with that.” She had the same concerns,
2 The social worker testified this belief was based on police reports. She indicated she
had provided copies of these police reports as part of the discovery packet. Those reports
are not contained in our record on appeal.
8
albeit on a different level, for T.H. In addition, D.H. was not willing to engage in
reunification services with father.
Counsel for the minors also reported D.H. was playing football. Although he had
received a failing grade for speed reading, his grades were “okay.” D.H. indicated he
wanted to visit with his father because he had some questions for him. D.H. also told the
social worker he wanted a DNA test because he wanted to know if father was
biologically his father.
After considering the testimony and the Department’s reports, the juvenile court
adopted the findings and orders of the disposition report. The court found father’s
progress in alleviating the causes necessitating placement of the minors was poor. He did
not take responsibility for the removal, but blamed D.H. The court found that the bypass
provisions of section 361.5(b)(10) and (11) applied, in that father’s parental rights to half
siblings had previously been terminated and he had not made reasonable efforts to treat
the problems that led to the removal of the half siblings. The court also found the
provisions of section 361.5(e)(1) applied in that father was incarcerated and the provision
of services would be detrimental to the minors. The court considered the children’s ages
and their relationship with father—in particular, that the relationship with D.H. reflected
a long history of aggression and violence. D.H. refused to see father until recently and
had suffered academically, failing eighth grade. Father had an early release date from
prison, but would be going to necessary residential treatment upon his release and it was
unknown “what the length and nature of that treatment will be.” Moreover, the juvenile
court found it did not have persuasive evidence that father would be released from the
Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation during a period of time in which services
would be effective. The juvenile court considered the nature of father’s current
conviction that involved both violence and alcohol. The juvenile court also considered
D.H.’s attitude, and the medical status and fragility of T.H. These factors led the court to
9
conclude the provision of services would be detrimental to the minors. Accordingly, the
court denied father reunification services.
DISCUSSION
I. Section 361.5(b)(10) and (11)
Father contends the trial court erred in denying him reunification services under
section 361.5(b)(10) and (11) on the basis that he had not made reasonable efforts to treat
the problems which led to the removal of the minors’ half siblings and that services were
in the minors’ best interests. Father contends there is no evidence that alcohol or
domestic violence led to the removal of the half siblings. But he details the services he
participated in to address his substance abuse problems, including attending a
rehabilitation program from 2011 to 2012, attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings
while in prison, reading packets provided by the social worker on substance abuse,
parenting, anger management and domestic violence, and satisfactorily completing the
homework assignments from those packets.
When a child is removed from the parent’s home, reunification services may be
offered to the parent, “ ‘in an effort to eliminate the conditions leading to loss of custody
and facilitate reunification of parent and child. This furthers the goal of preservation of
family, whenever possible. [Citation.]’ [Citations.] Section 361.5, subdivision (b) sets
forth certain exceptions—also called reunification bypass provisions—to this ‘general
mandate of providing reunification services.’ ” (In re Allison J. (2010) 190 Cal.App.4th
1106, 1112.)
Section 361.5(b)(10) and (11) “authorize the denial of services to a parent who has
failed to reunify with another child or whose parental rights to another child were
terminated if the court finds that the parent ‘has not subsequently made a reasonable
effort to treat the problems that led to removal of the sibling or half sibling . . . .’ ” (R.T.
10
v. Superior Court (2012) 202 Cal.App.4th 908, 914 (R.T.).) An order denying
reunification services is reviewed for substantial evidence. (Cheryl P. v. Superior Court
(2006) 139 Cal.App.4th 87, 96.) We agree the record in this case does not contain
substantial evidence to support the trial court’s denial of services on the basis that father
had not made reasonable efforts to treat the problems which led to the removal of the
minors’ half siblings.
To be perfectly clear, this is not a determination on our part that father made
reasonable efforts to address his alcohol abuse or domestic violence problems. “We do
not read the ‘reasonable effort’ language in the bypass provisions to mean that any effort
by a parent, even if clearly genuine, to address the problems leading to removal will
constitute a reasonable effort and as such render these provisions inapplicable. It is
certainly appropriate for the juvenile court to consider the duration, extent and context of
the parent’s efforts, as well as any other factors relating to the quality and quantity of
those efforts, when evaluating the effort for reasonableness. And while the degree of
progress is not the focus of the inquiry, a parent’s progress, or lack of progress, both in
the short and long term, may be considered to the extent it bears on the reasonableness of
the effort made. [¶] Simply stated, although success alone is not the sole measure of
reasonableness, the measure of success achieved is properly considered a factor in the
juvenile court’s determination of whether an effort qualifies as reasonable.” (R.T., supra,
202 Cal.App.4th at pp. 914-915, italics omitted.) Father’s history as to both the quality
and quantity of his efforts, as well as the lack of progress and success, provide ample
evidence to support the conclusion that he has not made reasonable efforts to address
those problems.
Instead, the insufficient evidence here relates to the “problems that led to removal
of the . . . half siblings.” (§ 361.5(b)(10) & (11).) The record reflects only that the half
siblings were removed because they were living in “unsafe and unhealthy conditions”;
11
those problems were not addressed in the case with the half siblings, and parental rights
were terminated. The record does not, however, reflect that those unsafe and unhealthy
conditions were caused by father’s alcohol use, anger management problems or domestic
violence—the problems that led to D.H.’s and T.H.’s removal. The record does not
contain the case plan for the half siblings’ 1997 dependency case. The record does not
contain any report of specific services provided to father in the context of that case. Nor
is there any indication in the record that father had an alcohol abuse problem in 1997.
The first indications of problems with alcohol in the record before us are the driving
under the influence charges in 2000. These offenses occurred shortly before parental
rights to the half siblings were terminated, but well after their removal from the home.
Similarly, the first indication of a problem with violence is an offense in 1998, and
another domestic violence offense in November 1999. As with the alcohol offenses,
these occurred prior to the termination of parental rights to the half siblings but after their
removal from the home. Moreover, there is no indication in the record that father
received services for his alcohol abuse, anger management problems, or domestic
violence in the half siblings’ case. The record does reflect that the minors in the current
case have been removed from the home previously because of father’s problems with
alcohol abuse, anger management and domestic violence, and that father has repeatedly
received services for those problems and has been unsuccessful in remedying them. But
the problems that led to the prior removal of these minors and father’s failure to benefit
from the provision of services in prior cases involving these minors is not the issue under
these bypass provisions. The issue is the problems that led to the removal of the half
siblings—unsafe and unhealthy living conditions. On this record, we cannot find there is
substantial evidence that the bypass provisions of section 361.5(b)(10) and (11) apply.
[END OF PUB. PT. I.]
12
II. Section 361.5(e)(1)
Father also contends there was not sufficient evidence to support the trial court’s
finding that providing reunification services would be detrimental to the minors. He rests
his claim on his good relationship with T.H., the need to repair the relationship with
D.H., and the fact that mother was granted reunification services. On this point, we are
not persuaded.
Section 361.5(e)(1) provides, in relevant part, “If the parent or guardian is
incarcerated, . . . the court shall order reasonable services unless the court determines, by
clear and convincing evidence, those services would be detrimental to the child. In
determining detriment, the court shall consider the age of the child, the degree of parent-
child bonding, the length of the sentence, the length and nature of the treatment, the
nature of the crime or illness, the degree of detriment to the child if services are not
offered and, for children 10 years of age or older, the child’s attitude toward the
implementation of family reunification services, the likelihood of the parent’s discharge
from incarceration . . . within the reunification time limitations described in subdivision
(a), and any other appropriate factors.”
Section 361.5(e)(1) “reflects a public policy favoring the development of a family
reunification plan even when a parent is incarcerated.” (Mark N. v. Superior Court
(1998) 60 Cal.App.4th 996, 1011-1012.) Here, at the time of the disposition, D.H. and
T.H. were 14 and five years old, respectively. They had been detained in April 2013 and
had not seen father since that time. The maximum statutory period for reunification
services was 12 months or October 2014. Father was not expected to be released from
prison until June 2014, and then would remain in a live-in rehabilitation treatment
program. Although, according to father, T.H. had a pleasant relationship with father,
T.H. never spoke of father. D.H.’s relationship with father was filled with violence and
 See footnote, ante, page 1.
13
abuse. Father continues to blame D.H. for the family’s dysfunction and their
involvement with the Department, and did not want to see D.H. While living with father,
D.H. got suspended from school, twice failed eighth grade, and ran away from home. His
academic failures were attributed to the chaos and abuse in his home when living with
father. Since being removed from father, and having no contact with him at all, D.H.’s
behavior and grades have improved, he is winning races and awards in BMX racing, and
more appropriately channeling his anger. For most of these proceedings, D.H.
affirmatively refused to see father. D.H. did not want to reunify with father and did not
want him to receive services. Father’s criminal record includes charges for assault with a
deadly weapon, battery, spousal abuse, driving under the influence, and child cruelty. He
has repeatedly engaged in domestic violence in front of both children. The social worker
testified both children would be emotionally harmed by father’s participation in services,
and would likely suffer anxiety, increased anger, and emotional trauma. Father’s further
failure in services could also lead to the minors’ suffering an emotional crisis and
depression. Based on this record, the juvenile court’s orders denying reunification
services grounded on section 361.5(e)(1) are supported by substantial evidence.
DISPOSITION
The orders of the juvenile court denying father reunification services are affirmed.
(CERTIFIED FOR PARTIAL PUB.)
BUTZ , J.
We concur:
ROBIE , Acting P. J.
MURRAY , J.
14