In re S.S. CA3

BACKGROUND

Facts and Procedure On January 12, 2018, the Department filed section 300 petitions on behalf of minors S.S. (then age three) and J.S. (then age 11 months), after a violent altercation resulted in parents’ arrest. The minors’ older half siblings, then ages 11 and 9, with whom the minors resided, were also detained. The juvenile court assumed jurisdiction, adjudged the minors dependents of the court, ordered the minors removed from parental custody, and ordered reunification services be provided to parents. After a few months of separation, the minors and their half siblings were placed together in a foster home, where they have remained throughout these dependency proceedings. Mother’s reunification services were terminated in November 2018 and father’s reunification services were terminated on February 21, 2019. All parties agreed that the minors and half siblings were bonded and should stay together if possible. The juvenile court declined to order a sibling bonding study. The section 366.26 hearing was set for October 6, 2020. By the time of the section 366.26 hearing, the caregiver foster parents had been caring for the minors and their half siblings for two and a…