In re A.D. CA4/2

INTRODUCTION

The Riverside County Department of Public Social Services (the Department or

DPSS) filed a petition on behalf of then nine-year-old A.D. alleging her mother, Ciara

D.’s (Mother), and father, Arrion W.’s (Father 1) neglect and failure to supervise, within

the meaning of Welfare and Institutions Code1 section 300, subdivision (b)(1). The

Department’s intervention was precipitated by a pair of referrals grounded on Mother’s

mental health issues and substance use, and the fact Father 1’s whereabouts and ability to

provide for A.D. were unknown. Jurisdiction over A.D. was established, and

reunification services were ordered for Mother, but she persistently failed to address her

mental health issues (characterized by delusions), and she refused to submit to drug

testing throughout the reunification period. Services for Father 1 were denied because he

was merely an alleged father and had not made himself available to the Department.

Services for Mother were terminated at the 12-month status review hearing.

The juvenile court found that the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (ICWA; 25

U.S.C. § 1901 et seq.) did not apply because Mother denied any Native…