In re J.L. CA4/1
Opinion
Opinion
INTRODUCTION
Mother appeals from a judgment terminating her parental rights and ordering
adoption as the permanent plan for her child.1 Mother contends the court erred in
terminating her parental rights and ordering adoption because the beneficial parent-child
relationship exception to adoption applies. (Welf. & Inst. Code, § 366.26, subd.
(c)(1)(B)(i).)2 We disagree and affirm the judgment.
BACKGROUND
The San Diego Health and Human Services Agency (Agency) removed the child
from mother's care a few days after the child's birth because the child tested positive for
cocaine exposure. The court later declared the child to be a dependent child (§ 300, subd.
(b)(1)) and placed the child with maternal grandmother (grandmother). When mother
failed to reunify with the child, the court appointed grandmother the child's guardian.
(§ 366.26, subd. (b)(3).)
Although the Agency considered the child adoptable, the Agency recommended
guardianship as the child's permanent plan because grandmother was not ready to adopt
the child. According to the Agency, grandmother initially told the social worker "she
wanted to be [the child's] guardian. Then as she saw…