In re H.I. CA4/1

INTRODUCTION

H.I., Sr. (Father) and E.S. (Mother) appeal from the juvenile court’s orders placing their sons, H.I. and Z.I., with the maternal grandmother (grandmother) and later terminating their parental rights. Father contends the court erred by (1) changing his sons’ placement to grandmother, and (2) declining to apply the parental-benefit exception to adoption. (Welf. &

Inst. Code,1 § 366.26, subd. (c)(1)(B)(i).) Mother joins Father’s arguments regarding application of the parental-benefit exception to the extent it may

inure to her benefit. We find no error and affirm.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

At H.I.’s birth in April 2021, Mother disclosed domestic violence to hospital staff, the police, and a San Diego Health and Human Services Agency (Agency) social worker. A hospital social worker stated Mother trembled and cried as she recounted the domestic violence. Father claimed Mother’s reports of domestic violence were “lies.” The Agency created a safety plan for Mother to stay with the grandmother out of state, but she returned to San Diego prior to the expiration of the safety plan. In October 2021, the Agency received a referral reporting a domestic violence…