In Re Joshua M.

Catherine Campbell, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Minor.

OPINION

BAMATTRE-MANOUKIAN, J.

The mother in this dependency proceeding appeals from orders terminating both parents' parental rights. She argues that the father's attorney was ineffective in his representation and that she was prejudiced thereby. We reject these claims and affirm the orders.

Joshua M. was born December 19, 1992, to Jennifer M., an unmarried teenage mother. He was small at birth and gained weight very slowly during his first year of life, prompting concerns whether he was getting sufficient nourishment. A referral was made to the department of family and children's services (the Department) in April of 1993 and several months thereafter Joshua and his mother began receiving voluntary services from the Department.

The social worker assigned to assist Joshua and his mother found the mother's care to be "unsatisfactory." The mother had difficulty maintaining a regular feeding schedule and feeding Joshua nutritionally appropriate foods. She would become angry and resentful when she had to attend to her child's needs. Joshua was often ill during his first year, with colds, infections,…