In re D.H. CA2/6 ( 2023 )


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  • Filed 6/20/23 In re D.H. 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    NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS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    has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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 D.H. et al., Persons                                   2d Juv. No. B320188
    Coming Under the Juvenile                                 (Super. Ct. No. 20JD-00133)
    Court Law.                                                 (San Luis Obispo County)
    SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY
    DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
    SERVICES,
    Plaintiff and Respondent,
    v.
    JANE B. et al.,
    Defendants and Appellants.
    Jane B. (mother) and Jeremy H. (Jeremy) appeal from the
    juvenile court’s order removing three children from their physical
    custody. The order followed the court’s sustaining of a Welfare
    and Institutions Code section 387 supplemental petition.1
    Appellants join in each other’s appellate briefs. They contend the
    juvenile court’s jurisdictional findings and dispositional order are
    not supported by substantial evidence. We affirm.
    Factual and Procedural Background
    Appellants are the parents of D.H., who was born in 2014.
    Mother is also the parent of Z.M., born in 2004, and B.B., born in
    2008. Jeremy is not the father of Z.M. or B.B. C.M., the
    presumed father of Z.M. and B.B., has not filed an appeal. All of
    the children are female.
    In August 2020 a juvenile dependency petition was filed. It
    alleged that the children came within the jurisdiction of the
    juvenile court because their parents had failed “to supervise or
    protect the child[ren] adequately” and “to provide the child[ren]
    with adequate food, clothing, shelter, or medical treatment.”
    Furthermore, the parents were unable “to provide regular care
    for the child[ren] due to the parent[s]’ . . . mental illness . . . or
    substance abuse.”
    According to the petition, on August 18, 2020, a social
    worker and deputy sheriff visited the home where appellants
    resided with the children. “The condition of the home posed
    concern for the health and safety of the children. The home had
    rat feces throughout the entire house, bugs on the inside of the
    refrigerator, counters, and on the trash. There was trash and
    chest height debris scattered throughout the entire home and on
    the property outside. There were narrow paths to walk
    throughout the home; however, the home had so much debris
    that it was nearly impossible to determine the intended purpose
    Unless otherwise stated, all statutory references are to the
    1
    Welfare and Institutions Code.
    2
    for each room. Some of the rooms were inaccessible due to the
    debris and trash. The children presented with dirty skin and
    clothing, including having an odor.”
    The petition continued, “There are . . . concerns about the
    mental health of both parents [Jeremy and mother]. During
    previous investigations, the parents have discussed being
    diagnosed with various mental health concerns. In addition, the
    parents refused to submit to a drug test during the current
    investigation, causing concerns for possible substance abuse.”
    In December 2020 the juvenile court found true the
    petition’s allegations. The court stated: “[T]here is a
    preponderance of the evidence that, in fact, . . . the children were
    living at the [parents’] home, that it was in pretty abysmal
    condition. There were rat feces at the time of detention. There
    was trash piled chest high. The children were in poor hygiene
    . . . and this wasn’t the first time that this issue had been
    reported. It's not something that came out of the blue. In fact,
    those concerns have been there for a long time . . . . So there’s no
    question I should take jurisdiction of the case and I will, and that
    will be of all three kids.”
    The children were adjudged dependent children of the
    juvenile court within the meaning of section 300, subdivision (b).
    The court placed the children “in family maintenance with
    [mother] and Jeremy.” But it directed “that the place of [family
    maintenance] is to be at Jeremy’s mother's [i.e., D.H.’s paternal
    grandmother’s] house . . . until such time as the appropriate
    health and land use authorities approve [appellants’] residence to
    be habita[ble] and then the children can move back in at that
    residence.”
    3
    In February 2021 the San Luis Obispo County Department
    of Social Services (DSS) filed a supplemental petition pursuant to
    section 387. This was the first of two section 387 petitions. The
    present appeal involves only the second petition. Section 387,
    subdivision (a) provides that “[a]n order changing or modifying a
    previous order by removing a child from the physical custody of a
    parent . . . and directing placement in a foster home . . . shall be
    made only after noticed hearing upon a supplemental petition.”
    The first section 387 petition alleged: “[A]t the last Court
    hearing on December 16, 2020,” mother had stated that “the
    family home [appellants’ residence] would be ready for the
    children to reside in within two weeks.” “On January 22, 2021,
    the assigned social worker responded to the parent[s]’ home
    unannounced as she had been unable to make contact with the
    parents via telephone and text message. The home was found to
    be cluttered with boxes, miscellaneous items piled high, broken
    windows, and the outside of the home continues to be cluttered
    and overwhelmed with items. The social worker was not allowed
    entry into the home. [Jeremy] confirmed that [mother] and he
    had been residing in the home since the last Court date, and were
    only visiting the children every few days. [Jeremy] admitted that
    he has been relying on [D.H.’s] paternal grandmother to meet the
    children’s basic needs daily.” The petition requested that “the
    children remain in the care of the paternal grandmother, and the
    parents be offered Family Reunification services.”
    In March 2021 the juvenile court sustained the first section
    387 petition. It found “that the prior disposition was ineffective
    in family maintenance and that we need a different plan.” It
    removed the children from appellants’ physical custody and
    “place[d] them where they are right now, in the care of their
    4
    grandmother.” It ordered that family reunification services be
    provided to appellants.
    In September 2021 the juvenile court ordered the children
    “placed, effective immediately, in the care and custody of”
    appellants. It directed DSS to “provide family maintenance
    services.” All of the parties agreed to this arrangement.
    On April 1, 2022, DSS filed a second section 387
    supplemental petition. The petition alleged that the parents had
    failed to provide the children “with adequate care due to concerns
    regarding the parents’ mental health and possible substance
    abuse issues.” Both parents failed to participate in random drug
    testing. Jeremy tested positive for THC (tetrahydrocannabinol),
    “the psychoactive element in marijuana or cannabis.” (People v.
    Kidane (2021) 
    60 Cal.App.5th 817
    , 823.) In addition, the parents
    “failed to ensure [the children’s] regular[] and consistent
    attendance at school.” The petition was orally amended to allege
    that the parents did not provide “adequate dental care” for D.H.’s
    “broken tooth.”
    DSS’s section 387 report, dated April 25, 2022, was
    prepared by Valerie Amador, a social worker. The parties
    stipulated “to the expertise of Valerie Amador as a social worker,
    specifically in the field of family reunification.”
    According to Amador’s report, the children were living with
    appellants. If the court decided to remove them from the
    parental home, D.H.’s paternal grandmother “has agreed to take
    placement of all three children.”
    The section 387 report emphasized the children’s school
    absences and deficient academic performance: “The children have
    not been attending school consistently and are grossly behind in
    their schoolwork.” Z.M. “has l0 unexcused absences, 26 truancies
    5
    and 5 tardies. She currently has 1 D, 3 F’s, 1 B and 1 A in her
    classes.” D.H. “has had 35 days of quarantine.”
    A note from B.B.’s school said, “As of Wednesday, March
    30, 2022, [B.B.] has been absent from school for 57 days and
    present for 77 days. This is equivalent to [B.B.] being present
    57% of the days this school year.” “Of [B.B.’s] 57 absences, [only]
    5 of them (3/22-3/28) were excused by a doctor’s note.” “[B.B.]
    currently has 2 Bs, 1 C, 1 D, and 2 Fs with teachers excusing the
    majority of assignments from when she was absent.”
    The section 387 report continued: “On March 29, 2022, the
    mother became escalated when advised of the intent to file a
    petition to remove the children. . . . The mother denied that the
    children had any absences [from school]. When reminded that
    the school . . . had asked Law Enforcement to do a welfare check
    due to the number of absences the mother ‘exploded’ and stated
    that was ‘bullshit’ . . . . The mother continued to yell, walking
    away . . . and stating that [Amador] just wanted to take the
    children away.”
    In an earlier status review report filed on February 14,
    2022, Amador noted: “Since returning to the care of [appellants],
    the children are reportedly sick all the time with different
    symptoms. This was never an issue while the children were in
    foster care [with the paternal grandmother]. [DSS] believes that
    the children are healthy and that the parents exaggerate many
    basic health issues.” “The mother has described the children as
    at risk for autoimmune diseases but [DSS] has not received any
    documentation to support this information. . . . The children have
    been tested for COVID-19 several times throughout the review
    period and have never tested positive.”
    6
    As to D.H.’s dental problem, the February 14, 2022 status
    review report said: “[D.H.] has had a broken tooth for many
    months. The parents finally got her into a dentist in January
    2022. Her tooth needs to be removed. The parents report that
    they do not want a regular dentist taking out her tooth. They
    state that she needs a specialist who can do the procedure
    properly and without causing trauma.” The section 387 report
    stated, “[D.H.] had a dental appointment on April 14, 2022, and
    was referred to a pediatric specialist.”
    At the hearing on the second section 387 petition, Amador
    testified as follows: “The concern is [the parents] have not
    followed through with their court-ordered case plan or with
    meeting the children's basic needs throughout the past six
    months.” “In this school year, [each of] the children [has] missed
    30 to 60 days of school.”
    “As to [Z.M.], she is missing a lot of assignments.”
    Although Z.M. will soon turn 18, she is not “on track to graduate
    this year.” As of April 26, 2022, “[s]he has three Fs, two Ds, and
    an A.”
    B.B. “had been exposed to her family who had COVID in
    February [2022]. School was fine with her isolating for five days
    and returning to school; however, the parents kept her home for
    more than the five days and did not return her to school.”
    “The children are not going to be able to progress in school
    if they are not attending regularly.” “The children had better
    grades while they were residing with [the paternal
    grandmother].”
    The school informed Amador that the children have “dirty
    nails and unkempt hair.” Amador personally observed “[t]he
    7
    same kind of thing. Just unwashed hair, unkempt nails. . . . Just
    an uncleanliness, in general.”
    The children’s poor hygiene was a longstanding problem.
    In October 2019 an unnamed person, designated as “the RP,”
    reported to DSS that “[Z.M.] has very poor hygiene with soiled
    hair, dirty skin, and dirty clothing that she wears for days at a
    time. Other children and teachers are noticing, and it is
    impacting her socially. The RP spoke with staff at . . . School,
    and they indicated the same for the other children.”
    As to the parents’ participation in random drug testing,
    Amador testified: “From April 4th [2022] to now [April 27, 2022],
    mother has tested approximately seven times. Three of those
    have been negative. Three have been positive for THC. And one
    test result is currently pending.” “[Jeremy] went to Drug and
    Alcohol on April 4th to test and tested positive for THC. He has
    missed approximately four tests since then. He is also not calling
    consistently to see if it is his day to test.”
    Amador said that, if the children were placed in the
    paternal grandmother’s home, DSS “would offer [appellants] at
    least three visits per week at the grandmother's home with
    liberal phone contact.”
    Jeremy did not testify. Mother testified that she had
    received a mental health diagnosis of “[b]ipolar disorder and
    episodes of depression” along with “other specified trauma.” In
    addition, she “suffer[ed] from fibromyalgia, as well as
    endometriosis and PTSD [Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder].”
    According to the prior jurisdiction report filed on September 14,
    2020, mother “shared that she [had been] diagnosed with . . .
    Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social Anxiety, Agoraphobia, and
    Borderline Personality Disorder.”
    8
    Juvenile Court’s Ruling
    The juvenile court struggled with the issues: “[T]his is an
    incredibly difficult case, and I've been agonizing it over since I
    started reading these reports. And the record will reflect that I
    have read all the reports, all the exhibits. I have heard all the
    testimony, and I struggled back and forth with this case.”
    The court found true the second section 387 petition’s
    allegations. In addition, it found that the “previous disposition
    has not been effective in the protection of the children.” The
    court’s decision to remove the children from appellants’ physical
    custody was based on the totality of the circumstances: “[E]ach of
    these problems taken independently would not rise to a [section]
    300 [dependency] petition. . . . I’ve seen many cases with dirty
    houses. I’ve seen many cases where the parents have drug
    issues. I’ve seen many cases where the kids are not in school.
    I’ve seen cases where the kids are not getting adequate medical
    information and medical and dental care. [¶] It’s a neglect
    case. . . . There’s mental illness. There’s truancy. And there’s
    lack of cooperation. And so the answer is that . . . all these things
    taken together . . . rise to the level of removal, not any one of
    them. [¶] And the kids are at risk. . . . And I know the kids don’t
    want to leave their parents. And so the recommendation is to go
    to [the paternal grandmother] until the end of school and then to
    stay in family reunification. So family reunification is still
    possible.”
    The court expressed concern that Jeremy was not
    participating in random drug testing: “I am concerned that dad is
    not testing. I don’t know whether that’s paranoia or drug use.
    He is not cooperating. He needs to cooperate.”
    9
    The court also expressed concern about D.H.’s broken tooth:
    “I don’t know what’s going on with [D.H.’s] tooth. It needs to be
    resolved . . . . And it’s another one of those things that just adds
    another layer to this case.”
    The court concluded by declaring: “And so I am going to
    follow the recommendations of [DSS]. And I will state for the
    record that all of these findings are made by clear and convincing
    evidence . . . .”
    DSS Has Not Shown that the
    Issues Regarding Z.M. Are Moot
    Without citing supporting authority, DSS contends, “The
    issues regarding Z.[M]. are moot, as she is now an adult.” DSS
    offers no further explanation why the issues regarding Z.M. are
    moot.
    It does not follow that these issues are moot merely because
    Z.M. attained the age of majority during the appeal. In
    December 2020 Z.M. was adjudged a dependent child of the
    juvenile court. At that time, she was 16 years old. She will not
    turn 21 until 2025. The juvenile court may retain jurisdiction
    over her until her 21st birthday. (§ 303, subd. (a).) “[W]hen a
    juvenile court has assumed jurisdiction over a person, the
    person's 18th birthday does not divest the court of jurisdiction
    and does not necessarily render moot an appeal from an order
    entered in the dependency proceedings.” (In re David B. (2017)
    
    12 Cal.App.5th 633
    , 651-652, disapproved on other grounds in In
    re D.P. (2023) 
    14 Cal.5th 266
    , 283; see In re Ruth M. (1991) 
    229 Cal.App.3d 475
    , 480, fn. 4 [“Ruth reached the age of 18 in
    November 1990, during the pendency of this appeal. However, it
    is necessary for this court to review the order as it affects the
    10
    rights of the parties as of the time it was made; the appeal is not
    moot”].)
    On the other hand, “a parent cannot have ‘physical custody’
    of a dependent child who has turned 18.” (In re K.L. (2012) 
    210 Cal.App.4th 632
    , 642.) Family Code section 7505, subdivision (c)
    provides: “The authority of a parent ceases on . . . [t]he child
    attaining the age of majority.”
    Irrespective of whether the appeal as to Z.M. is moot, we
    have discretion to decide the issues pertaining to Z.M.: “Given the
    short timeframes associated with dependency cases and the
    potentially significant, if sometimes uncertain, consequences that
    may flow from jurisdictional findings, consideration of the
    overarching purposes of the dependency system may counsel in
    favor of reviewing a parent's appeal despite its mootness.” (In re
    D.P., supra, 14 Cal.5th at pp. 286-287.)
    Jurisdictional and Dispositional Phases of a
    Section 387 Supplemental Petition Proceeding
    “A section 387 supplemental petition is used to change the
    placement of a dependent child from the physical custody of a
    parent to a more restrictive level of court-ordered care.
    [Citations.] In the jurisdictional phase of a section 387
    proceeding, the court determines whether the factual allegations
    of the supplemental petition are true and whether the previous
    disposition has been ineffective in protecting the child. (§ 387,
    subd. (b); [Cal. Rules of Court,] rule 5.565(e)(1).) If the court
    finds the allegations are true, it conducts a dispositional hearing
    to determine whether removing custody is appropriate.
    [Citations.] A section 387 petition need not allege any new
    jurisdictional facts, or urge different or additional grounds for
    dependency because a basis for juvenile court jurisdiction already
    11
    exists. [Citations.] The only fact necessary to modify a previous
    placement is that the previous disposition has not been effective
    in protecting the child.” (In re T.W. (2013) 
    214 Cal.App.4th 1154
    ,
    1161.)
    Substantial Evidence Supports the
    Juvenile Court’s Jurisdictional Findings
    Appellants contend substantial evidence does not support
    the juvenile court’s jurisdictional findings, i.e., the findings that
    the factual allegations of the section 387 petition are true and
    that the previous disposition has not been effective in protecting
    the children. “On appeal from an order making jurisdictional
    findings, we must uphold the court’s findings unless, after
    reviewing the entire record and resolving all conflicts in favor of
    the respondent and drawing all reasonable inferences in support
    of the judgment, we determine there is no substantial evidence to
    support the findings. [Citation.] Substantial evidence is
    evidence that is reasonable, credible, and of solid value.” (In re
    Veronica G. (2007) 
    157 Cal.App.4th 179
    , 185.) “Thus, in order to
    succeed on appeal, [appellants] must demonstrate that there is
    no evidence of a sufficiently substantial nature to support the
    court's [jurisdictional findings].” (In re K.B. (2015) 
    239 Cal.App.4th 972
    , 979.) “Issues of fact and credibility are the
    province of the juvenile court and we neither reweigh the
    evidence nor exercise our independent judgment.” (In re Yolanda
    L. (2017) 
    7 Cal.App.5th 987
    , 992.)
    The petition alleged, “The previous disposition has not
    been effective in the protection or rehabilitation of the child[ren].”
    “The children . . . continue to be at risk and/or suffer serious
    emotional harm or illness as a result of the failure or inability of
    the parent[s] to provide the children with adequate care due to
    12
    concerns regarding the parents’ mental health and possible
    substance abuse issues.” Both parents failed to participate in
    random drug testing. Jeremy tested positive for THC. The
    parents “failed to ensure [the children’s] regular[] and consistent
    attendance at school and . . . failed to appropriately and
    adequately address their educational needs.” The petition was
    amended to also allege that the parents had failed “to get
    adequate dental care” for D.H.’s “broken tooth.”
    Substantial evidence supports the juvenile court’s finding
    that the petition’s allegations are true. Jeremy refused to
    participate in random drug testing. The two tests he took were
    positive for THC. “Prior to the filing of the [second section] 387
    petition on April [1], 2022, [mother] had failed to follow through
    with the 60 days of random drug testing that was ordered in
    November 2021.” Upon the filing of the second section 387
    petition, she began participating in random drug testing. But her
    record was dismal – of the six tests she had taken in April 2022,
    three were positive for THC.
    As to mother’s mental health, she admitted that she had
    been diagnosed with various mental disorders. It is reasonable to
    infer that serious mental health issues and substance abuse
    contributed to the deplorable, chaotic condition of the parental
    home in August 2020 and thereafter. The unhealthy home
    environment posed a substantial danger to the children’s physical
    and emotional well-being. “[E]vidence of past conduct may be
    probative of current conditions.” (In re Yolanda L, supra, 7
    Cal.App.5th at p. 993.)
    In August 2020 a social worker and a deputy sheriff
    inspected appellants’ home. Prior to the inspection, DSS received
    a report that appellants “are hoarders, and that the outside of the
    13
    property is ‘a mess.’” At the time of the inspection, the home was
    filthy and in extreme disarray. “Social Worker Webb observed
    the entirety of the front yard to be completely covered with trash,
    junk, and random items filled anywhere from knee height to
    shoulder height. There was a narrow path that led from the front
    yard to the front door of the home.” Upon entering the home,
    Webb “observed chest high piles of trash and debris.” “All of the
    rooms throughout the house were filled with trash and debris. It
    was difficult to discern what each room was used for, because
    they were so cluttered with trash and debris.” “Most of the rooms
    . . . were inaccessible due to the excessive amounts of trash and
    debris. The bathroom appeared to be unusable, other than the
    toilet due to how much trash and random items were on the
    counters.” “Throughout the home, flies and various bugs were
    present; . . . Rat droppings were visible throughout the entire
    home, but were especially present in the kitchen in which the
    counters were covered with rat droppings.”
    Appellants “moved into [the] home two years” before Webb
    inspected it in August 2020. The home was still in a state of
    extreme disarray on January 22, 2021, when “the assigned social
    worker responded to the . . . home unannounced as she had been
    unable to make contact with the parents via telephone and text
    message.” The “social worker noted that the home continues to
    be cluttered with boxes and miscellaneous items stacked high,
    broken windows, and [the] outside [of] the home continue[s] to be
    cluttered and overwhelmed with items.” Appellants did not allow
    the social worker to enter the home.
    The condition of the inside of the home had improved by
    the time of the status review report filed on February 14, 2022,
    but the outside remained in a state of disarray: “Upon arrival to
    14
    the home, the outside presents as very dirty, cluttered, and full of
    trash. However, there is a clear walkway to the front door and
    into the home. The inside of the home has clear pathways to each
    room of the house and the exits are easily accessible.”
    The section 387 report said that on March 23, 2022,
    approximately one month before the section 387 hearing, Deputy
    Sheriff Lomeli told Amador that she and a school official had
    gone “to the family’s home to speak to the parents and children,”
    but “no one answered the door. Deputy Lomeli expressed concern
    [to Amador] about the children’s absences [from school] and the
    condition of the home. Deputy Lomeli reported that the neighbor
    reported that he had not seen the children in weeks and that the
    family did not have electricity.” (Italics added.)
    As to the education issue, without good cause and despite
    the protests of school authorities and DSS, appellants engaged in
    a pattern of not sending the children to school. The children had
    numerous unexcused absences. The results were disastrous. The
    children were unable to keep up with their school work and had
    poor or failing grades. “Failing to attend school regularly not
    only deprives the children of an education, but also of the social
    interaction and ‘peer relationships necessary for normal growth
    and development’ . . . . It is a very serious allegation and a
    factual circumstance which needed immediate correction. . . .
    The lack of education may well cause psychic or emotional or
    financial or social harm.” (In re Janet T. (2001) 
    93 Cal.App.4th 377
    , 388-389.)
    Amador personally observed the “uncleanliness” of the
    children. The school complained that they had “dirty nails and
    unkempt hair.”
    15
    Finally, appellants procrastinated in attending to D.H.’s
    dental needs. For months they delayed the extraction of her
    broken tooth. As of April 27, 2022, when Amador testified at the
    hearing on the second section 387 petition, the tooth had not yet
    been extracted.
    “‘“The ultimate test [for substantial evidence] is whether it
    is reasonable for a trier of fact to make the ruling in question in
    light of the whole record.”. . .’” (In re Yolanda L., supra, 7
    Cal.App.5th at p. 992.) Considering the totality of the
    circumstances, we conclude the juvenile court reasonably
    determined that the petition’s allegations were true and that “the
    previous disposition [had] not been effective in the . . . protection
    of the child[ren] . . . .” (§ 387, subd. (b).)
    Substantial Evidence Supports the
    Juvenile Court’s Dispositional Order
    Appellants claim that substantial evidence does not
    support the juvenile court’s dispositional order removing the
    children from their physical custody. “The standard for removal
    on a supplemental petition is the same as removal on an original
    petition: the agency must show by ‘clear and convincing evidence
    . . . [t]here is a substantial danger to the physical health, safety,
    protection, or physical or emotional well-being of the minor’ if left
    in parental custody ‘and there are no reasonable means by which
    the minor's physical health can be protected without removing
    the minor from [parental] physical custody.’ (§ 361, subd.
    (c)(1); [citation].)” (Kimberly R. v. Superior Court (2002) 
    96 Cal.App.4th 1067
    , 1077.)
    “When reviewing a finding that a fact has been proved by
    clear and convincing evidence, the question before the appellate
    court is whether the record as a whole contains substantial
    16
    evidence from which a reasonable fact finder could have found it
    highly probable that the fact was true. In conducting its review,
    the court must view the record in the light most favorable to the
    prevailing party below and give appropriate deference to how the
    trier of fact may have evaluated the credibility of witnesses,
    resolved conflicts in the evidence, and drawn reasonable
    inferences from the evidence.” (Conservatorship of O.B. (2020) 
    9 Cal.5th 989
    , 1011-1012.)
    “‘A removal order is proper if it is based on proof of (1)
    parental inability to provide proper care for the minor and (2)
    potential detriment to the minor if he or she remains with the
    parent.’ [Citations.] It is not required that the parent be
    dangerous or that the child have been harmed before removal is
    appropriate. [Citation.] ‘The focus of the statute is on averting
    harm to the child.’” (In re D.D. (2019) 
    32 Cal.App.5th 985
    , 996.)
    “‘“The court may consider a parent’s past conduct as well as
    present circumstances. . . .”’” (In re A.F. (2016) 
    3 Cal.App.5th 283
    , 292.)
    As required, we view the record in the light most favorable
    to DSS. For the reasons discussed in the preceding section on the
    juvenile court’s jurisdictional findings, we conclude the record as
    a whole contains substantial evidence from which a reasonable
    fact finder could have found it highly probable that: (1)
    appellants were “unable to provide proper care for the children
    and that they would be at risk of harm if they remained in
    [appellants’] custody” (In re D.D., supra, 32 Cal.App.5th at p.
    996); and (2) there were not “any reasonable protective measures
    and services that [could] be put into place to prevent the
    [children’s] removal from the parent[s’] physical custody.” (In re
    Maria R. (2010) 
    185 Cal.App.4th 48
    , 70, disapproved on other
    17
    grounds by In re I.J. (2013) 
    56 Cal.4th 766
    , 780-781.) DSS
    carried its burden of showing by clear and convincing evidence
    that “[t]here is or would be a substantial danger to the physical
    health, safety, protection, or physical or emotional well-being of
    the [children] if [they] were returned home, and there are no
    reasonable means by which [their] physical health can be
    protected without removing the [children] from the . . .
    parent[s’] . . . physical custody.” (§ 361, subd. (c)(1).)
    Disposition
    As to the second section 378 supplemental petition filed on
    April 1, 2022, the juvenile court’s jurisdictional findings and
    dispositional order are affirmed.
    NOT TO BE PUBLISHED.
    YEGAN, J.
    We concur:
    GILBERT, P. J.
    BALTODANO, J.
    18
    Margaret Johnson, Judge
    Superior Court County of San Luis Obispo
    ______________________________
    Paul A. Swiller, under appointment by the Court of Appeal,
    for Defendant and Appellant, Jeremy H.
    Roni Keller, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for
    Defendant and Appellant, J.B.
    Rita L. Neal, County Counsel, Ann Duggan, for
    Respondent.
    

Document Info

Docket Number: B320188

Filed Date: 6/20/2023

Precedential Status: Non-Precedential

Modified Date: 6/20/2023