In re F.A. CA3

I. BACKGROUND

Because the issues on appeal are limited to compliance with the ICWA, we dispense with a detailed recitation of the underlying facts and procedural history. This case commenced in Shasta County when the Department filed a dependency petition under section 300, subdivisions (b)(1) and (g) on behalf of the then newborn minor and her two older maternal halfsiblings, who were later dismissed from the proceedings and are not subject of this appeal. Neither mother nor the alleged father appeared at the January 2024 detention hearing, and their whereabouts were then unknown, as they had been evicted from their residence and were not returning calls. According to the detention report, mother had denied Native American ancestry. The alleged father had not provided any information confirming or denying Native American ancestry. The juvenile court ordered the minor detained. Mother made her first appearance at the February 2024 jurisdiction hearing. At that hearing, the juvenile court inquired of mother whether she had Native American ancestry, to which she replied, “No, I do not.” The juvenile court then directed mother to

2 notify the Department “right away” if she learned…