In re I.G.

Fourteen-year-old I.G. was detained from her mother’s custody due to her mother’s substance abuse and failure to supervise. I.G.’s father was in prison for attempted murder and did not make any arrangements for the minor’s care. I.G. proved to be a challenge for the juvenile court and Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency (Agency). She was defiant and uncooperative, used illegal drugs, refused to attend school, was a frequent runaway and threatened to run away from any group home in which she was placed. The juvenile court sustained the Agency’s petition, declared I.G. a dependent, found the parents had made no progress in overcoming the circumstances requiring out-of-home placement but, at the Agency’s urging, returned I.G. to her mother’s custody and terminated dependency jurisdiction.

I.G.’s counsel, with the assent of her guardian ad litem, appealed on I.G.’s behalf, contending the juvenile court erred in granting mother custody and terminating dependency because I.G. remained at risk and in need of supervision. We agree and reverse the juvenile court’s orders returning the minor to her mother and terminating dependency jurisdiction.

BACKGROUND

I.G. was 14…