In re S.T. CA1/1

INTRODUCTION

J.L., the father of S.T., (Father) appeals from a dispositional order denying him reunification services under the bypass provisions of Welfare and Institutions Code section 361.5.1 He maintains no substantial evidence supports the court’s denial of reunification services. We disagree, and affirm.

PROCEDURAL AND FACTUAL BACKGROUND

We set forth only those facts relevant to the issue Father raises on appeal. The underlying petition was filed in April 2014, alleging S.T.’s mother failed to provide him and his half siblings with adequate food, clothing and medical treatment due

1 All further statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code.

1 to her mental illness or substance abuse. At the time, S.T.’s father was incarcerated in the Marin County Jail.2 S.T., born in 2007, was first detained when he was one year old after his mother was arrested for child endangerment. At that time, Marin County Health and Human Services (Department) attempted to “engage [Father] in visiting,” but he never “followed through with any visits while [S.T.] was in foster care, or after [his] return to his mother’s care. The Department interviewed Father in regard to the…