In re Alice Z. CA4/3

INTRODUCTION

Michael Z., father of minor Alice Z., appeals from an order of the juvenile court maintaining jurisdiction and supervision over Alice after the court found that Michael and Alice’s mother, Tara Z., had not made sufficient progress in their case plan to warrant an end to supervision. Police officers detained three-year-old Alice – and arrested her parents – after the officers found Alice living in appalling filth. Her parents regained custody of Alice after about a month, but under close supervision by Orange County Social Services Agency (SSA). Over the ensuing two years, Michael and Tara attended classes and counseling sessions, endeavoring both to resolve problems in their marriage and to learn proper parenting skills. The court then had to determine whether to keep the family under SSA supervision or to close the case. After a hearing in February 2014, the court found the parents were taking better care of Alice and their home only because they knew SSA could check up on them at any time. Without SSA’s oversight, the court concluded, Alice’s living conditions would rapidly deteriorate until they were back where they were when police officers had found her naked…