In Re Patricia

Appellant Patricia O. is the natural mother of Patricia T., Arturo T., and Damian S. [1] Appellant contends that she did not understand that her waiver of a contested dispositional hearing would result in the denial of reunification services. We affirm.

Respondent Jose T. is the natural father of Patricia and Arturo, who were born, respectively, in 1992 and 1994. Hector S. is the natural father of Damian, who was born in 1996.

On May 25, 2000, the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) [2] filed a dependency petition pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code section 300 [3] regarding Patricia, Arturo, and Damian. The petition alleged that the children faced a substantial risk of harm due to Hector's infliction of inappropriate physical discipline, appellant's failure to prevent this discipline, and appellant's and Hector's history of substance abuse. (§ 300, subds.(a) & (b).)

In connection with the petition, DCFS reported that appellant and Hector had used illegal drugs. In addition, they had engaged in physical violence in Patricia's and Arturo's presence, and Hector had used excessive physical force in disciplining Patricia and Arturo.…