In re M.P. CA4/2

INTRODUCTION

In this dependency matter, Mercedes P. (Mother) filed a Welfare and Institutions

Code1 section 388 petition, seeking the return of her infant daughter M.P. with family

maintenance services, or alternatively, family reunification services. The juvenile court

summarily denied the petition. It then terminated Mother’s parental rights following a

contested section 366.26 hearing.

Mother appeals. She contends the juvenile court erred by denying her section 388

petition without holding an evidentiary hearing and by terminating her parental rights.

We affirm.

BACKGROUND2

Mother’s Prior Dependency Proceedings

Before M.P. was born, Mother had three other children removed from her care.

A.U. (age 8) and M.A. (age 1) were removed from Mother in January 2020, following

allegations of sexual abuse of A.U., physical abuse of M.A., domestic violence, and

Mother’s substance abuse. E.P., who was born in August 2020, was removed from

Mother a few days after he was born, due to Mother’s continued substance abuse and

1 All further statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code unless noted otherwise.

2 Our procedural history does not address the efforts…