In re E.D. CA4/1 ( 2014 )

Filed 12/30/14 In re E.D. 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NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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
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COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION ONE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
In re E.D. et al., Persons Coming Under the
Juvenile Court Law.
D066187
SAN DIEGO COUNTY HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY,
(Super. Ct. No. J518660D-E)
Plaintiff and Respondent,
v.
CRYSTAL S.,
Defendant and Appellant;
MIA S. et al.,
Appellants.
APPEALS from orders of the Superior Court of San Diego County, Edlene C.
McKenzie, Commissioner. Affirmed.
Suzanne Davidson, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and
Appellant Crystal S.
Patricia K. Saucier, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Mia S., A.S. and
Christopher S., Minors.
Thomas E. Montgomery, County Counsel, John E. Philips, Chief Deputy County
Counsel, and Patrice Plattner-Grainger, Deputy County Counsel, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
Crystal S. appeals orders denying her petition to reinstate family reunification services
under Welfare and Institutions Code section 3881 and terminating parental rights to her
children, E.D. and G.D., under section 366.26. She argues the juvenile court erred when it
determined the beneficial parent/child relationship and the sibling bond exceptions did not
apply. The children's siblings also challenge the finding the sibling bond exception did not
apply. We affirm the findings and orders.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
Crystal S. is the mother of five children, Mia S., A.S., Christopher (collectively, the
older children or older siblings) and E.D. and G.D. (together, the younger children). The
children are now ages eight, seven, five, four and two years old, respectively. This appeal
concerns the termination of parental rights to E.D. and G.D. The younger children's father,
Gabriel D., does not appeal.
In April 2013, the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency (the Agency)
detained the children in protective custody and filed petitions under section 300, subdivision
(b) alleging the children had suffered or were at substantial risk of suffering serious physical
harm as a result of their parents violent confrontations, which often occurred in the children's
presence. Crystal initially agreed not to permit Gabriel in the home, but allowed him to return.
1 All further statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code.
2
The family lived in a motel room, which was filthy. The petitions further alleged Gabriel
injected methamphetamine and had a history of drug use. Crystal coached the older children to
lie about the domestic violence in the home. She later acknowledged the children were
exposed to approximately nine incidents of domestic violence.
The court sustained the jurisdictional allegations and removed the children from the
custody of Crystal and their respective fathers. E.D. and G.D. were placed with their paternal
aunt and uncle, the C.'s. G.D. was four months old when she was placed with her aunt. E.D.
was just shy of his third birthday. The older children were placed together in foster care. The
three boys, Christopher, A.S., and E.D. displayed aggressive behaviors. A.S. could be violent.
Seven-year-old Mia appeared to be parentified. She worried about being separated from E.D.
and G.D. Mia said she often cared for G.D. while Crystal was sleeping.
Crystal's case plan required her to complete a domestic violence treatment program,
participate in counseling, and complete a parenting education course. She did not participate in
all aspects of her case plan. Crystal maintained telephone contact with Gabriel while he was
incarcerated. After Gabriel was released from custody, Crystal resumed her relationship with
him despite a restraining order. Aunt C. said the parents spent a weekend together and Gabriel
appeared to be under the influence of drugs.
Aunt C. and the older children's foster parent arranged for the children to visit each
other. The children were very happy to see each other. Mia missed her younger siblings. E.D.
missed Mia and Christopher and enjoyed playing with them.
Crystal was chronically late for visits with her children, scheduled appointments and
services. The children were happy to see her. They loved her and enjoyed their visits. Crystal
tried to spend time with each child. She was patient and loving. The Agency planned to allow
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Crystal to have unsupervised visits until it learned she had resumed her relationship with
Gabriel. The social worker said Crystal appeared to be more vested in the older children and
was somewhat disconnected from her younger children. Crystal had problems redirecting and
disciplining the children.
Gabriel was arrested and incarcerated in November 2013 on charges of robbery and
being under the influence of a controlled substance.
On November 15, 2013, at the six-month review hearing, the court terminated
reunification services and set a section 366.26 hearing for the younger children. Crystal
continued to receive reunification services for the older children.
A.S.'s behaviors deteriorated. He hit his best friend and his foster parents in the face.
He kicked his foster parents, pulled their hair and threw objects. In February 2015, after A.S.
began to scratch and hit Mia and Christopher, the Agency placed A.S. in another foster home
where he could receive one-on-one care and intensive behavioral services. Crystal blamed the
foster mother for A.S.'s behavior.
Following A.S.'s placement in a different foster home, the children's three caregivers
found it difficult to arrange sibling visitation.
In April 2014, Crystal filed a section 388 petition asking the court to reinstate family
reunification services for the younger children. She alleged with the exception of some missed
visits in December 2013 and January 2014, she regularly and consistently visited E.D. and
G.D. and they were bonded with her. Crystal said she completed a domestic violence support
group and a parenting course.
A combined hearing on Crystal's section 388 petition and the section 366.26 hearing
was held on May 30, and June 16 and 23, 2014.
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A facilitator for a women's support group for domestic violence testified Crystal started
their program in July 2013 and completed it in March 2014. She missed 17 sessions. Part of
the training was to help women learn the behavioral effects of domestic violence on children,
which included acting out, inability to concentrate, depression, anxiety, defiance, sleep
disorders and posttraumatic stress disorder.
Crystal's therapist said Crystal initially wanted to keep Gabriel in the family as the
father figure. Crystal had completed a safety plan but had not yet started working on a relapse
prevention plan.
A social worker informed the court that Crystal began therapy in February 2014.
Crystal attended the first session but missed three out of the next four sessions. She attended
three out of six classes for parents of children less than six years of age, and four out of six
classes for parents of children ages six through 12. Crystal struggled to take any responsibility
for the children's circumstances. She saw herself as the victim, not her children. The social
worker testified Crystal had some regular visits with her children, but she was chronically late
and the visits did not last the full two hours. Crystal's visits with the children were sporadic
from November through February.
Ernesto Escobar, the permanency planning social worker, testified Crystal had periods
in which she was highly motivated but stopped attending services at other times. In his
opinion, Crystal did not have a parental role with E.D. and G.D. E.D. was distressed when
visits were over. It was unusual for a child to continue to demonstrate distress when he or she
had been separated from a parent for a long time. Between May 30 and June 16, Crystal did
not request any visits with E.D. and G.D.
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Escobar observed one visit when all the siblings were present. He said each of the
children had different levels of attachment to their siblings. G.D. did not have a sibling bond
with her three oldest siblings. Sibling visits were not occurring as frequently as the Agency
wanted. Escobar acknowledged the sibling bonds were stronger at the time the children were
removed from their parents' care than they were at the current time. Escobar said there was no
possibility of placing the children together. Aunt C. was willing to adopt E.D. and G.D.
Escobar believed that the younger children's bonds with their three older siblings were not
sufficiently strong to justify the selection of a plan other than adoption. E.D. believed that
Aunt C.'s children were his siblings.
Aunt C. testified she considered the older children as her niece and nephews. She saw
them at family gatherings. She and the children's other caregivers had conflicting schedules,
which made it difficult to arrange sibling visits. At visits, the children were happy to see each
other. Mia and G.D. played. At a recent visit, A.S. did not want to interact with E.D. E.D. did
not ask to visit his older siblings.
Aunt C. offered to facilitate Crystal's visits with the younger children more than 100
times. Crystal was supposed to have two visits a week with them. Crystal visited E.D. and
G.D. approximately 15 percent of the time. At other times, she would not show up and did not
call to say she was not coming. In April, Aunt C. arranged for Crystal to come for E.D.'s
birthday, who was turning four years old. Crystal said she wanted to bring a birthday cake.
Aunt C. did not tell E.D. about the visit. Crystal did not show up for E.D.'s birthday.
Eight-year-old Mia testified when she lived with her siblings, they played together and
had fun. They celebrated birthdays with family and had cake and presents. They had not
celebrated any birthdays with E.D. and G.D. since they were taken away. They used to
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celebrate all the holidays together. Mia said she wanted all her brothers and sister to be
together. It had been two months since she last saw her two youngest siblings. E.D. and G.D.
were happy to see them. They ran to their older siblings and gave them hugs. Mia said they
were all very close. The three boys liked to play together. She missed taking care of E.D. and
G.D. If they could not go back to their mother, Mia hoped she and her siblings would be
adopted together.
Crystal testified she visited her younger children twice a month. E.D. called her
"mom." He was happy to see her and would consistently ask her, "When am I going to go with
you?" Crystal said G.D. did not know her as a mother figure. Crystal acknowledged she did
not consistently visit E.D. and G.D. during a period of depression. Crystal said E.D. had a
bond with his older siblings, but G.D. did not.
The court denied Crystal's request to reinstate her reunification services. In view of
Crystal's inconsistent participation in services and the minimization of her relationship with
Gabriel, she showed only that her circumstances were changing. The court noted that Crystal
was at least a half hour late to the last two court sessions and said her chronic tardiness would
adversely impact the children's health, education and therapeutic needs. Further, Crystal did
not consistently visit E.D. and G.D. and did not show it was in their best interests to grant the
petition.
The court found that the children were likely to be adopted and none of the exceptions
under section 366.26, subdivision (c)(1) applied. The court faulted the Agency for not doing
more to ensure frequent sibling visits, but found it significant that E.D. named G.D. and his
two cousins as his siblings, not Mia, A.S. or Christopher. Noting that Mia's testimony was
"heart wrenching," the court found that the younger children would benefit more from the
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permanency of adoption than they would from maintaining the sibling relationship, and
terminated parental rights.
DISCUSSION
A
Section 388 Petition
Under section 388, a parent, interested person or the dependent child (generically,
petitioner) may petition the court to change, modify or set aside a previous order on the
grounds of changed circumstances or new evidence. (§ 388, subd. (a).) The petitioner
requesting the modification has the burden to show a change of circumstances or new
evidence, and that the proposed modification is in the child's best interests. (In re Jasmon O.
(1994) 8 Cal. 4th 398, 415; Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.570(e).)
In evaluating whether the petitioner has met his or her burden to show changed
circumstances, the juvenile court should consider a number of factors, including: "(1) the
seriousness of the problem which led to the dependency, and the reason for any continuation of
that problem; (2) the strength of relative bonds between the dependent children to both parent
and caretakers; and (3) the degree to which the problem may be easily removed or ameliorated,
and the degree to which it actually has been." (In re Kimberly F. (1997) 56 Cal. App. 4th 519,
531-532 (Kimberly F.).)
We review the grant or denial of a petition for modification under section 388 for an
abuse of discretion. (In re Shirley K. (2006) 140 Cal. App. 4th 65, 71; In re Casey D. (1999) 70
Cal. App. 4th 38, 47.) While the abuse of discretion standard gives the trial court substantial
latitude, "[t]he scope of discretion always resides in the particular law being applied, i.e., in the
'legal principles governing the subject of [the] action . . . .' Action that transgresses the
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confines of the applicable principles of law is outside the scope of discretion and we call such
an action an 'abuse' of discretion." (City of Sacramento v. Drew (1989) 207 Cal. App. 3d 1287,
1297.)
Under section 388, subdivision (a), the focus of a petition for modification is on whether
the petitioner has shown a legitimate change of circumstances. The court could reasonably
conclude that Crystal did not make the required showing. There is substantial evidence to
support the finding that Crystal's circumstances, while changing, were not yet changed.
(Kimberly F., supra, 56 Cal.App.4th at p. 532.)
Crystal was offered or provided services for more than 12 months. Her participation in
services was inconsistent. Despite attending therapy and domestic violence prevention classes,
Crystal violated a restraining order and continued to minimize her relationship with Gabriel.
The violence in the home had been extensive and Crystal was not able to easily resolve her
issues concerning her acceptance of domestic abuse. (Kimberly F., supra, 56 Cal.App.4th at
p. 532.) The court reasonably inferred Crystal did not show she could be trusted to protect her
children from domestic violence.
In addition, the record shows that Crystal did not regularly visit E.D. and G.D., and they
were happy, safe and stable with their aunt and uncle, who were willing to adopt them. G.D.
did not know Crystal as a mother figure. The record supports the reasonable inference that
G.D. was attached to her aunt, who had cared for her since she was three months old. In view
of Crystal's history of chronic tardiness to appointments, services, visits with children, and her
recent tardiness to her children's court hearings, the court reasonably inferred Crystal did not
show her circumstances had sufficiently changed where she could consistently meet the
children's needs to attend school, obtain appropriate medical and dental care for them, and
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transport them to any required therapeutic services on time. We conclude that the court did not
abuse its discretion when it denied Crystal's petition to vacate the section 366.26 hearing and
extend reunification services to the 18-month review date.
B
Legal Framework for Termination of Parental Rights and Standard of Review
At a permanency planning hearing, the court may order one of three alternatives—
adoption, guardianship or long-term foster care. (In re S.B. (2008) 164 Cal. App. 4th 289, 296-
297.) If a child is adoptable, there is a strong preference for adoption over the alternative
permanency plans. (Id. at p. 297; San Diego County Dept. of Social Services v. Superior Court
(1996) 13 Cal. 4th 882, 888.) Once the court determines that a child is likely to be adopted, the
burden shifts to the parent to show that termination of parental rights would be detrimental to
the child under one of the exceptions listed in section 366.26, subdivision (c)(1). (In re
Lorenzo C. (1997) 54 Cal. App. 4th 1330, 1343-1345.)
Section 366.26, subdivision (c)(1)(B)(i) provides an exception to termination of parental
rights when "[t]he parents have maintained regular visitation and contact with the child and the
child would benefit from continuing the relationship." " '[B]enefit from continuing
the . . . relationship' " means that the parent-child relationship "promotes the well-being of the
child to such a degree as to outweigh the well-being the child would gain in a permanent home
with new, adoptive parents." (In re Autumn H. (1994) 27 Cal. App. 4th 567, 575 (Autumn H.).)
"If severing the natural parent/child relationship would deprive the child of a substantial,
positive emotional attachment such that the child would be greatly harmed, the preference for
adoption is overcome and the natural parent's rights are not terminated." (Ibid.)
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The sibling bond exception applies where the parent or sibling proves by a
preponderance of evidence that termination of parental rights would substantially interfere with
a child's sibling relationship. (§ 366.26, subd. (c)(1)(B)(V).) In determining whether this
exception applies, the court considers "whether the child was raised with a sibling in the same
home, whether the child shared significant common experiences or has existing close and
strong bonds with a sibling, and whether ongoing contact is in the child's best interest,
including the child's long-term emotional interest, as compared to the benefit of legal
permanence through adoption." (Ibid.; In re Valerie A. (2007) 152 Cal. App. 4th 987, 1007.)
We determine whether there is substantial evidence to support the court's ruling
terminating parental rights by reviewing the evidence most favorably to the prevailing party,
and indulging in all legitimate and reasonable inferences to uphold the court's ruling. (In re
S.B., supra, 164 Cal.App.4th at pp. 297-298; In re Misako R. (1991) 2 Cal. App. 4th 538, 545.)
We do not reweigh the evidence, evaluate the credibility of witnesses or resolve evidentiary
conflicts. (Autumn H., supra, 27 Cal.App.4th at p. 576.)
C
There Is Substantial Evidence to Support the Court's Finding the Sibling Bond Exception to
Termination of Parental Rights Does Not Apply
Crystal contends the younger children are bonded with their older siblings, and
termination of parental rights would disrupt those bonds and be detrimental to the children's
long-term emotional well-being. Mia, A.S, and Christopher join in and adopt Crystal's
arguments. They also contend the social worker's opinion that E.D. and D.G. were not bonded
with their older siblings does not constitute substantial evidence because the Agency did not
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meet their responsibilities to ensure frequent sibling visits and the social worker observed only
one visit between the siblings.
Appellants do not show that adoption would substantially interfere with E.D.'s and
G.D.'s relationships with their older siblings. Aunt C. wanted to adopt E.D. and G.D. She
considered the older siblings to be her niece and nephews, and would continue whatever
sibling contact she could arrange with their caregivers. The social worker testified that in view
of the children's needs and circumstances, there was no possibility of placing them together.
(In re Celine R. (2003) 31 Cal. 4th 45, 61 [sibling bonds should not prevent younger siblings
from gaining a permanent home where there were no prospects of placing siblings together].)
The record supports the inference it would be detrimental to remove E.D. and G.D. from their
aunt's care, who had been involved in their lives since their births and had cared for them full
time since April 2013. E.D. was bonded to his cousins and viewed them as his siblings. Thus,
a plan of adoption for the younger children would no more interfere with the siblings'
relationships than would a plan of guardianship.2
The application of the sibling bond exception will be rare, particularly when the
proceedings concern young children whose needs for a competent, caring and stable parent are
of utmost importance. (In re Valerie A., supra, 152 Cal.App.4th at p. 1014.) G.D. and E.D.
are very young children. Even if termination of parental rights would result in severing the
younger children's relationships with their older siblings, the record supports a finding that the
younger children's long-term emotional interests are better served by having a permanent home
2 The selection of a permanent plan and placement for the older children, particularly for
Mia, will be critical in maintaining their bonds with E.D. and G.D. However, the focus of this
proceeding is on E.D. and G.D. (See, e.g., In re Celine R., supra, 31 Cal.4th at pp. 61-62.)
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with capable parents than by having ongoing contact with their siblings. The court did not err
when it found that the sibling bond exception did not apply. (§ 366.26, subd. (c)(1)(B)(V).)
D
There Is Substantial Evidence to Support the Court's Finding the Beneficial Parent-Child
Relationship Exception to Termination of Parental Rights Does Not Apply
Crystal asserts the court erred when it determined the beneficial parent-child
relationship exception did not apply. She contends that apart from a two-month period after
reunification services were terminated, she maintained regular visitation and contact with E.D.
and G.D., and the children would benefit from continuing the relationship. (§ 366.26, subd.
(c)(1)(B)(i).)
The record does not support Crystal's assertion she maintained regular visitation and
contact with E.D. and G.D. Crystal was offered two two-hour visits a week with the younger
children. There is substantial evidence in the record to show she visited them only 15 percent
of the time. Crystal did not show up for E.D.'s fourth birthday even though she had told Aunt
C. she was bringing a birthday cake for him. Her visitation with E.D. and G.D. had been so
sporadic Aunt C. thought it better not to tell E.D. about Crystal's plans. The record also
supports a finding that Crystal did not maintain regular visitation with the younger children
from November 2013 through February 2014. She did not visit or ask to visit E.D. and G.D.
for two weeks during the pendency of the section 366.26 hearing in early June. Thus, the
record supports the finding that Crystal did not meet her burden to the first prong of section
366.26, subdivision (c)(1)(B)(i).
In her briefing, Crystal focuses on the positive visits she did have with her children, and
their delight in seeing her. She discusses E.D.'s repeated entreaties to her not to leave him or to
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"come with us" but does not consider how her sporadic visitation may have undermined his
sense of security. Crystal acknowledged at trial G.D. did not know her as a mother figure. To
meet the burden of proof for the beneficial parent/child relationship exception to apply, the
parent must show more than frequent and loving contact or pleasant visits. (In re L.Y.L. (2002)
101 Cal. App. 4th 942, 953-954.) Even if Crystal could show she maintained regular visitation
and contact with her children, which she did not, she does not meet her burden to that the
children had a substantial, positive emotional attachment to her that would outweigh the
benefit they would receive from adoption. (Autumn H., supra, 27 Cal.App.4th at p. 575.)
Although the record shows that Crystal loves her children, there is substantial evidence
to support the finding that termination of parental rights would not be detrimental to E.D. and
G.D., and they would greatly benefit from the security of a stable, permanent home with
committed, capable adoptive parents. (§ 366.26, subd. (c)(1)(B)(i); Autumn H., supra, 27
Cal.App.4th at p. 575.)
DISPOSITION
The orders are affirmed.
O'ROURKE, J.
WE CONCUR:
MCCONNELL, P. J.
MCDONALD, J.
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