In re Emmanuel E. CA4/1

BACKGROUND

In October 2013, the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency (the

Agency) filed a dependency petition for eight-year-old Emmanuel. The petition alleged

that Emmanuel was exposed to violent confrontations between Angelica and his

stepfather, Jesse M. Despite the Agency's provision of voluntary services, Angelica

continued to argue with Jesse in Emmanuel's presence and intended to remain in a

relationship with Jesse.

At the detention hearing, the court ordered Emmanuel detained with Angelica "as

long as Jesse . . . is not around [Emmanuel] and as long as [Angelica] remains in the

maternal grandmother's home." One week later, the Agency received information that

Jesse had been having contact with Emmanuel and Angelica. Emmanuel was detained in

Polinsky Children's Center.

In November 2013, the court made a true finding on the petition, ordered

Emmanuel placed with the paternal grandmother and ordered reunification services for

Angelica and Emmanuel's presumed father, Pedro E. Angelica's case plan included

individual counseling, a domestic violence program and a parenting course.

1 Further statutory references are…