Francis F. v. Superior Court CA1/5

BACKGROUND

In May 2012, the Lake County Department of Social Services (Department) filed a section 300 petition alleging that three-year-old A.W. and newborn A.W. (baby A.W.) were minors within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court due to their mother‟s substance abuse and failure to meet the basic needs of baby A.W. Francis F. was identified as the alleged father of baby A.W. Francis F. was in prison at the time of baby A.W.‟s birth and when the section 300 petition was filed. At the June 2012 jurisdiction hearing, the juvenile court sustained the section 300 petition. At the July disposition hearing, the court declared the minors dependents of the court. Among other things, the juvenile court found that Francis F. “does not meet the standards of statutorily presumed father and therefore is not entitled to family reunification services.” The court scheduled a six-month review hearing for December, although the hearing was continued to February 2013. Francis F. remained in prison until his release in January 2013. He was not notified of the detention or jurisdiction hearings, but he did receive notice of the disposition and six-month review hearings. On February 4, Francis F.…