In re N.D. CA3

BACKGROUND

This matter commenced in April 2022 when the Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency (Agency) filed a section 300 petition on behalf of the then one-year-old minor N.D. and her four siblings. N.D. and two of her brothers were placed in the home of N.D.’s current nonrelative caregivers. After less than a month, the caregivers requested N.D. remain in the home but her two brothers be removed. At the time of the June 2022 disposition hearing, the two brothers had been removed and N.D. and her siblings were separated into three different foster placements. In November 2022, appellants attended a family program where they visited with N.D. and her siblings. It was at this time that appellants learned that the parents were not on track to reunify. S.M. began calling the social worker to express her interest in becoming the children’s permanent placement. S.M. stated she was able to finally reach the social worker in March 2023, after four months of attempts, but was told that the children were on track to reunify with the father The Agency had planned to move N.D. and place her with her two brothers, but that move did not occur and N.D. remained in her original…