In re S.C. CA2/7

INTRODUCTION

Abraham A. challenges the juvenile court’s order denying his petition pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code section 3881 and the order terminating his parental rights to his son S.C., arguing that the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services made no effort to give him notice of the proceedings. He contends that the Department had sufficient identifying information to locate him in prison prior to the jurisdiction and disposition hearing, but failed to do so. We conclude that Abraham has not shown that the Department failed to exercise reasonable diligence in attempting to locate him, and that, in any event, any error with respect to notice was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. The evidence shows that Abraham has never had any relationship or lived with S.C., never provided any support for the child, and never sought or achieved the status of the child’s presumed father. As the child’s biological father, Abraham has no right to family reunification services. The evidence also shows beyond a reasonable doubt that, given his lack of contact and participation in S.C.’s life and the fact that Abraham’s term of incarceration far exceeded the…