In Re Natasha H.

Every year thousands of children, victims of neglect or abuse, move through the juvenile court system. Almost always the question is whether the best interests of the child would be best served by restoration of physical custody to the parents or transfer to some other guardian considered better suited to provide for the child’s health and welfare. This case is different; no parent seeks custody, and the child protective agency presents no plan of adoption, guardianship or foster placement to provide for the child’s best interests through some alternative custodial arrangement. Instead the agency, having removed the child from parental custody and secured an adjudication of dependency, is “throwing in the towel.” It seeks relief from the burden of a troublesome child who has resisted efforts to help at every turn. The juvenile court terminated the minor’s status as a dependent child, remanding her “to her own care and custody.” Though we appreciate the challenge of helping an obstreperous child, we agree with the minor the court exceeded its statutory authority in terminating her dependency status. Accordingly, we shall reverse.

Factual and Procedural Background

At age…