In re R.W. CA3

FACTS AND PROCEEDINGS

On December 5, 2012, Sacramento County Department of Health and Human Services (the Department) detained minor R.W. (then seven months old) due to her parents’ drug abuse and history of domestic violence. The parents said they did not have any relatives they wanted assessed for placement and no relatives came forward seeking placement. R.W. was adjudged a dependent and placed with foster parents. In April 2013, the Department reported that it was considering a family friend, Elizabeth, for placement of R.W. However, she was not yet ready to take placement so no further action was taken at that time. On May 15, 2013, the paternal grandmother contacted the Department and expressed an interest in placement. The Department did not pursue placement with the paternal grandmother because, (1) R.W. was by then in a foster/adoptive placement, and (2) the parents were seeking to live with the paternal grandmother so her home would not be approved for placement. On June 5, 2013, the foster parents who had been caring for R.W. since January 18, 2013, filed a request for de facto parent status. They also indicated they wanted to pursue adoption should reunification…