In re D.P. CA4/1

INTRODUCTION

Mother appeals from a juvenile court judgment terminating her parental rights and

choosing adoption as the appropriate permanent plan for her child. (Welf. & Inst. Code,

§ 366.26.)1 She contends the court erred in determining the beneficial parent-child

relationship exception to adoption (§ 366.26, subd. (c)(1)(B)(i)) is inapplicable. We

disagree and affirm the judgment.

BACKGROUND

The San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency (Agency) filed a

petition alleging mother failed to protect her then five-year-old child.2 (§ 300, subd. (b).)

According to the petition, mother has a history of methamphetamine use, the child had

previously been a dependent of the court because of mother's drug use, mother had

recently been arrested for possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia, and law

enforcement officers conducting a lawful search of mother's home found drugs and drug

paraphernalia within the child's reach.

The court detained the child in a relative's home and ordered reunification services

for mother as well as liberal, supervised visitation between mother and the child.

Following a contested jurisdiction and disposition hearing,…