In re K.S. CA4/3

INTRODUCTION

The juvenile court found, pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code section 366.26, that five-year-old K.S. was adoptable, and that none of the exceptions to termination of parental rights applied. (All further statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code.) The court therefore terminated the parental rights of K.S.’s parents, C.S. (father) and A.C. (mother). Father appeals. Because substantial evidence supports the juvenile court’s findings, we affirm the order.

STATEMENT OF FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

In January 2013, three-year-old K.S. was living with father, as well as father’s parents and father’s adult brother. Mother was living in Sacramento County with K.S.’s older sibling and younger half sibling. K.S. was developmentally delayed, and possibly mildly autistic. On January 25, 2013, K.S. got out of her home, chased her dog across a busy intersection, and ran to a nearby school. This was the third time she had gotten out of her home without an adult noticing or stopping her. A social worker with the Orange County Social Services Agency (SSA) investigated; SSA and father agreed to a safety plan, by which father would install a front door key…