In re Jamar J. CA2/5

I. INTRODUCTION

A.G. (mother) appeals from the juvenile court’s orders sustaining a Welfare and Institutions Code section 3001 petition, declaring Jamar J. (the child) a dependent of the court and ordering him removed from his parents.2 Mother does not challenge the merits of the court’s orders. Instead, she contends the Department of Children and Family Services (Department) and the court failed to comply with their inquiry duties under the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (ICWA; 25 U.S.C. § 1901 et seq.) and related California statutes (Cal-ICWA; § 224 et seq.). We affirm.

II. BACKGROUND

Mother and father are the parents of five children, four of whom were the subject of another dependency case before the birth of the child. During that prior case, the Department made

Further statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code unless otherwise stated.

I.J. (father) is not a party to this appeal.

2 inquiries of mother, father, maternal grandmother, and maternal great-aunt Kelly J. (who is also referred to in the record as Kelly G.) about possible Indian ancestry and those family members denied any such ancestry. On July 16, 2024, the Department…