In Re David B.

Statement of the Case

This is an appeal from a judgment entered pursuant to Civil Code section 232, subdivision (a)(6), declaring the minor David B. forever free from the custody and control of his only known parent, appellant Delores B., and referring David for adoption placement. The basis for the order severing the parental relationship was appellant’s inability to care for her son, due to hér mental illness.

Dependency proceedings were initiated by the Kern County Welfare Department on December 23, 1976, just a few days after David was born to appellant. A petition was filed in the superior court alleging that David came within the provisions of former Welfare and Institutions Code section 600, subdivision (a) (now § 300, subd. (a)), because he had no parent capable of or willing to exercise parental care and control. At the jurisdictional hearing on January 3, 1977, the court found the allegations of the amended petition to be true. A dispositional hearing was held on January 17, 1977, at which time the court considered a report prepared by social worker Suzanne Dawson.

The juvenile court concluded that appellant was incapable of providing, or had failed to…