R.H. v. Superior Court CA4/2

• Court: California Court of Appeal
• Decided: July 15, 2013
• Docket: E058618
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

Filed 7/15/13 R.H. v. Superior Court CA4/2

NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION TWO

R.H.,

Petitioner, E058618

v. (Super.Ct.No. SWJ009201)

THE SUPERIOR COURT OF OPINION RIVERSIDE COUNTY,

Respondent;

RIVERSIDE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES,

Real Party in Interest.

ORIGINAL PROCEEDINGS; petition for extraordinary writ. John M.

Monterosso, Judge. Petition denied.

Daniel L. Vinson for Petitioner.

No appearance for Respondent.

Pamela J. Walls, County Counsel, and Carole A. Nunes Fong, Deputy County

Counsel, for Real Party in Interest.

1 Petitioner R.H. (Mother) filed a petition for extraordinary writ pursuant to

California Rules of Court, rule 8.452, challenging the juvenile court‟s order terminating

reunification services as to her one-year-old son I.H. and setting a Welfare and

Institutions Code section 366.261 hearing at the six-month review hearing.2 Mother

argues that services should have been continued since she participated regularly and

made substantive progress in her case plan and there was a substantial probability that the

child may be returned to her care if provided with additional services. We reject this

contention and affirm the judgment.

I

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

Mother and Father had an “on and off” relationship, which included a history of

domestic violence, anger issues, unresolved mental health issues, and two prior

dependency cases resulting in the termination of parental rights as to their two older

children.3 Additionally, Mother had a criminal history for assaulting Father, resulting in

a criminal conviction. Father also had a criminal history for assaulting Mother in 2008

and 2011, resulting in two criminal convictions, as well as numerous theft-related arrests

1 All further statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code unless otherwise noted.

2 D.H. (Father) is not a party to this appeal.

3 In the first dependency case, the parents received about 16 months of services. In the second dependency case, the parents were denied services pursuant to section 361.5, subdivision (b)(10).

2 and convictions. Both parents were on probation for domestic violence offenses; Mother

until June 2014 and Father until February 2014.

The parents‟ third child, I.H. (the child) came to the attention of the Riverside

County Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) following the child‟s birth in June

2012 when Mother told hospital staff that she did not have enough money to feed herself,

the baby, and Father. It was also reported that Mother had made comments hoping to

keep “this baby because CPS has taken her other children.”

In an interview with DPSS, Father acknowledged that he did not have money to

buy food; that he was unemployed and worked irregularly cleaning windows; that he

suffered from depression and bipolar; and that he saw a therapist twice a week. Mother

stated that she lived in a home alone; that she received $855 per month in “SSI” benefits;

that her rent was $177 a month; and that she had sufficient items for the baby. Mother

also reported that she was not under the care of a doctor or therapist; that she was not

taking any medication for her depression and anxiety; and that she was enrolled in a 52-

week domestic violence program. She believed that her mental health issues did not

affect her ability to parent or that she required medication. The parents also reported that

there were no recent incidents of domestic violence between them and that both had been

arrested in the past for domestic violence.

On July 3, 2012, a petition was filed on behalf of the child pursuant to section 300,

subdivision (b) (failure to protect). At the detention hearing, the child was formally

removed from his parents and placed in foster care. The parents were offered services

3 and visitation. The parents were ordered to attend counseling and complete a

psychological assessment and medication evaluation.

The social worker subsequently spoke with the parents and provided them with

referrals for counseling, mental health services, a parenting program, and a medication

evaluation. The parents were cooperative and participating in counseling and anger

management services, but still had not participated in a medication evaluation or

parenting program. In addition, the parents were regularly visiting the child and the visits

appeared to be going well.

The jurisdictional/dispositional hearing was held on September 6, 2012. The

social worker recommended that the allegations in the petition be found true and that

reunification services be denied to the parents pursuant to section 361.5, subdivisions

(b)(10) and (b)(11). The juvenile court found the allegations in the petition true as

amended and declared the child a dependent of the court. The court found that the

parents had made “substantial efforts to address the issues that brought the case to the

court” and offered them reunification services. The court also authorized unsupervised

day visits if the parents complied with their case plan and made progress. Mother‟s case

plan required her to participate in general counseling, submit to a medication evaluation

and follow the recommendations and medication prescribed by the psychiatrist, submit to

a psychological evaluation, and complete a parenting program.

Mother was evaluated by a therapist in August 2012 and diagnosed with Major

Depressive Disorder, which affected her mood and energy and made it difficult for her to

complete her daily tasks and have positive relationships with others. She had completed

4 her parenting classes and was regularly attending her individual counseling sessions. Her

therapist reported that she appeared “positive,” “upbeat,” and motivated “to learn and

work on herself.” Her therapist acknowledged that Mother had anger issues especially

when she felt overwhelmed and that Mother was “„still working on [her] anger.‟” Her

therapist was working with Mother on “„being patient” in the counseling sessions and had

not seen any anger outbursts by Mother.

Mother sought a medication evaluation on December 15, 2012. However, the

social worker was unable to obtain the Mother‟s evaluation as of September 2013,

because Mother had not signed a medical release despite the social worker‟s repeated

requests. Mother also underwent a psychological evaluation on December 29, 2012, and

was diagnosed with a number of disorders. The psychologist found that Mother had

learning disabilities and mental health issues that impacted her ability to parent. The

psychologist reported that Mother‟s tests showed that Mother desired “„to escape from

her problems and stay in a childlike state of dependence‟” and that her “„methods of

problem solving are superficial and unconvincing.‟” He further noted that Mother

“„could easily become involved in domestic violence again to the detriment and danger of

any child in her care‟”; that tensions between her and Father still existed; that Mother had

no depth or insight into past problems; and that Mother had problems “„which would not

easily (if at all) be corrected by short term therapy or classes offered by [CPS].‟”

Father‟s therapist noted that Mother and Father continued to have a “„very volatile

relationship‟” and that they were “„mutually‟ argumentative.” Father‟s therapist did not

believe the child should be returned to the parents‟ care. Father‟s psychologist found that

5 Father could not care for the child, noting “„[i]t would be overtly detrimental to place a

child with him.‟” Father was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, had stopped taking

his medication, and had chronic auditory hallucinations and delusions. His tests revealed

that he had a “„very heightened degree [of] anger‟” and “„a high potential of physically

abusing children.‟”

The parents had consistently been visiting the child together twice a week for two

hours. The visits were reported as being “„good,‟” but that Mother at times did not know

how to respond to the child‟s needs and had to prompt Father to interact with the child.

Father reported that he did not believe they were capable of caring for the child and

appeared to have no interest in him as evidenced by his lack of interaction with the child

at visits. He also believed that the child was “„better off‟” in foster care and that he was

being pressured by Mother.

Mother remained in a relationship with Father, and confirmed that she intended to

continue the relationship. Mother reported that she felt that she had “„learned how to deal

with [her] anger in lots of different ways and how to express [her]self.‟” She also

believed that she had benefitted from her parenting classes and counseling by being able

to take care of the child without “tension” and placing him first without domestic

violence. She further believed that Father had been interacting positively with the child;

and that she really had no mental health issues but anger and domestic violence issues

that had been resolved.

The social worker noted that although Mother had been compliant in her case plan,

she appeared to be “limited in her ability to benefit from the services.” The social worker

6 further noted that Mother continued to have unresolved mental health needs and

expressed concern about Mother‟s volatile relationship with Father. The social worker

therefore recommended terminating the parents‟ services and setting a section 366.26

hearing.

The contested six-month review hearing was held on April 23, 2013. Following

argument from counsel, the juvenile court found that although Mother was “actively

participating” in her services, she was not “capable of learning anything and actually

making the improvements that are necessary to have [the child] returned to her.” The

court also found that the parents had not made substantive progress in their case plan and

that there was no substantial probability the child could be returned to either parent‟s care

if given an additional six months. The court thereafter terminated reunification services

to both parents and set a section 366.26 hearing.

II

DISCUSSION

Mother argues that her services should have been continued since she participated

regularly in her case plan, made substantive progress, and there was a substantial

probability the child could be returned to her care if given additional services.

Ordinarily, when a child under the age of three years is removed from parental

custody, reunification services are not to exceed a six-month period. (§§ 361.5,

subd. (a)(2), 366.21, subd. (e).) In establishing the six-month provision, the Legislature

intended “to give juvenile courts greater flexibility in meeting the needs of young

children, „in cases with a poor prognosis for family reunification, (e.g., chronic substance

7 abuse, multiple previous removals, abandonment, and chronic history of mental illness).‟

. . . „[V]ery young children . . require a more timely resolution of a permanent plan

because of their vulnerable stage of development. . . . [G]iven the unique developmental

needs of infants and toddlers, moving to permanency more quickly is critical.‟

[Citation.]” (Daria D. v. Superior Court (1998) 61 Cal.App.4th 606, 611-612.)

Section 366.21, subdivision (e), provides that if the court finds at the six-month

review hearing that the parent has failed to participate and make substantive progress in

his or her court-ordered treatment programs, the parent is not entitled to further services

unless the court finds a substantial probability that the child will be returned to parental

care within six months or that reasonable services have not been provided.

In reviewing the factual findings of the dependency court, “we look to see if

substantial evidence, contradicted or uncontradicted, supports them. [Citation.] In

making this determination, we draw all reasonable inferences from the evidence to

support the findings and orders of the dependency court; we review the record in the light

most favorable to the court‟s determinations; and we note that issues of fact and

credibility are the province of the trial court.” (In re Heather A. (1996) 52 Cal.App.4th

183, 193.)

The record shows Mother regularly participated in all aspects of her case plan.

However, that is not enough. Section 366.21, subdivision (e), requires that the juvenile

court find both regular participation and substantive progress. Although availing oneself

of the services and technical compliance with one‟s case plan is an important

consideration with respect to the juvenile court‟s decision to continue or terminate

8 reunifications, it is not determinative. (In re Dustin R. (1997) 54 Cal.App.4th 1131,

1141-1142.) Rather, the court‟s decision turns on whether the parent‟s progress has

eliminated the conditions leading to the child‟s placement out of the home. (Ibid.)

Moreover, substantive progress implies real rather than apparent progress and real

progress implies progress that can be sustained. If the purpose of the reunification plan is

family preservation, then the court must be able to find that the offending parent resolved

the problem necessitating the child‟s removal and that the parent can provide for the

child‟s safety and well-being. (Jennifer A. v. Superior Court (2004) 117 Cal.App.4th

1322, 1343-1345.)

Thus, the issue before us is whether Mother made substantive progress in

alleviating the causes that led to the child being placed in foster care—namely, her

mental health issues and domestic violence issues between Mother and Father. Our

review of the record shows that substantial evidence supports the court‟s finding that

Mother failed to make substantive progress notwithstanding her regular participation in

her court-ordered treatment plan. Mother appeared to be limited in her ability to benefit

from services and continued to have unresolved mental health needs. Her psychologist

reported that Mother desired “„to escape from her problems and stay in a childlike state

of dependence‟” and that her “„methods of problem solving are superficial and

unconvincing.‟” Her psychologist found that Mother had learning disabilities and mental

health issues that impacted her ability to parent, noting Mother “„could easily become

involved in domestic violence again to the detriment and danger of any child in her

care.‟” Her psychologist also found that tensions between Mother and Father still

9 existed; that Mother had no depth of insight into past problems; and that Mother had

problems which could not be corrected by short term therapy or services offered by

DPSS, if at all. Mother‟s therapist acknowledged that Mother had anger issues especially

when she felt overwhelmed and that Mother was “„still working on [her] anger.‟” It was

unknown whether medication could assist Mother in overcoming her mental health issues

since the social worker was unable to have access to her medication evaluation.

Moreover, it was apparent that Mother remained in a relationship with Father, who

had severe mental health issues and was a danger to any child. Despite Father‟s mental

health issues and his desire to not parent the child, Mother intended to continue in a

relationship with Father. The record shows that Mother continued to pose a risk to the

child because she had not made substantive progress with her longstanding mental health

issues and continued a volatile relationship with Father. A parent who fails to make

substantive progress continues to represent a risk to the child. (See § 366.21, subd. (e).)

Although a parent is not required to comply perfectly with the service plan,

termination of services after six months is appropriate if the parent has failed to perform

adequately in the most crucial aspects of the plan. (Dawnell D. v. Superior Court (1999)

74 Cal.App.4th 393, 397-398. [“dismal performance” on crucial aspect of reunification

plan sufficient to support finding parent failed to make substantive progress], disapproved

on other grounds in Tonya M. v. Superior Court (2007) 42 Cal.4th 836, 848.) Mere

participation in services is not an indicator of parental improvement if the parent

continues his or her pattern of behavior. (Id. at p. 398.) From the inception of the case,

despite evidence to the contrary, Mother believed that she did not have any mental health

10 issues or that she required medication. By the time of the six-month review hearing

about 10 months later, Mother continued to state that she did not have mental health

issues requiring medication, and the real problem was her anger issues and domestic

violence between her and Father, which she believed had been resolved. In sum,

although Mother was positive and motivated to work on her issues, Mother still had

unresolved mental health and anger issues after she had almost 16 months of services in

the first dependency case and nine months of additional services in this dependency case.

The inescapable conclusion from this track record is Mother had not made substantive

progress. We find no error in the juvenile court‟s finding Mother failed to make

substantive progress in her court-ordered services.

Mother also contends the juvenile court erred in terminating services and setting

the section 366.26 hearing because there was a substantial probability of the child‟s

return to her custody by the 12-month review date. We disagree.

As indicated above, when a child under the age of three years is removed from the

family home and the parent does not make substantive progress in his or her case plan

within the first six months, the parent is not entitled to further reunification services

unless the court finds a substantial probability that the child will be returned to parental

care within six months or reasonable services have not been provided. (§ 366.21,

subd. (e).) The parent bears the burden of showing a substantial probability of return of

the child. (Ibid.)

In determining whether reunification is probable within six months, courts

consider three factors: whether the parent has consistently visited the child (§ 366.21,

11 subd. (g)(1)(A)); whether the parent has made substantial progress in resolving the

problems that led to removing the child (§ 366.21, subd. (g)(1)(B)); and whether “[t]he

parent . . . has demonstrated the capacity and ability both to complete the objectives of

his or her treatment plan and to provide for the child‟s safety, protection, physical and

emotional well-being, and special needs.” (§ 366.21, subd. (g)(1)(C).) All three factors

are required to support a finding that there is a substantial probability that the children

will be returned to parental custody within six months. (§ 366.21, subd. (g)(1).)

As indicated above, on appeal, we must defer to the factual determinations of the

juvenile court. It is not our function to redetermine the facts. As long as the court‟s

decision was supported by substantial evidence, we must affirm. (In re Sheila B. (1993)

19 Cal.App.4th 187, 198-200.)

Although Mother maintained regular visitation and contact with the child

(§ 366.21, subd. (g)(1)(A)), she had not met her burden to demonstrate the remaining two

requirements of section 366.21, subdivision (g)(1), had been satisfied. At the time of the

six-month review hearing on April 23, 2013, Mother had a little over two months until

the 12-month review hearing was required to be held pursuant to section 366.21,

subdivision (f). Accordingly, Mother would have had to effectively eliminate her mental

health and anger issues in a little over two months. The record clearly shows that Mother

could not show a substantial probability of return of the child if given two months of

additional services. As to the second prong—making substantial progress toward

eliminating the conditions that led to the removal of the child from the home (§ 366.21,

subd. (g)(1)(B))—as noted above, we have determined there was substantial evidence

12 that Mother had not met this requirement. The child was removed from the home

because of unresolved mental health issues and domestic violence between Mother and

Father. Notwithstanding over two years of services in two dependency cases, Mother

still had no depth or insight into past problems and was still working on her anger issues.

In addition, tensions still existed between Mother and Father and she “„could easily

become involved in domestic violence again to the detriment and danger of any child in

her care.‟”

There also was substantial evidence that Mother had not satisfied the third

requirement—demonstrating the capacity and ability to complete the objectives of her

case plan and provide for the safety and well-being of the child. (§ 366.21,

subd. (g)(1)(C)). The court had sufficient cause to question Mother‟s capacity to meet

the objectives of her case plan and to provide for the child‟s safety and well-being.

Despite intensive services, as the juvenile court found, Mother was still not “capable of

learning anything and actually making the improvements that are necessary to have [the

child] returned to her.” {RT 7-8}

We conclude there was no substantial probability that the child would be returned

to Mother‟s custody by the time of the 12-month review hearing. Thus, the court

properly terminated services.

13 III

DISPOSITION

The petition for extraordinary writ is denied.

NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS

RAMIREZ P. J.

We concur:

HOLLENHORST J.

KING J.