San Diego County Department of Social Services v. Richard V.

— Richard V. appeals after the court severed his parental rights and ordered his dependent twin sons, Raymond R. and Rudy R., be *438 placed for adoption. (Welf. & Inst. Code, 1 § 366.26, subd. (b)(1).) Richard contends the San Diego County Department of Social Services (the Department) did not make a sufficient effort to locate him, thus the reunification services provided him were insufficient to support a finding his parental rights should be terminated. We affirm.

Factual and Procedural Background

Raymond and Rudy were taken into protective custody on March 6, 1992, after their mother, Blanca R., 2 told social workers and relatives she could not care for them and “sometimes [felt] like throwing the babies in the trash.” The babies were then five weeks old. 3 The maternal grandmother reported Blanca disappeared for days, leaving the babies with her but without provision for their care. Richard appeared at the grandmother’s home only to take Blanca’s disability check. The grandmother saw Richard beat Blanca on various occasions, including during her pregnancy.

The Department petitioned to declare Raymond and Rudy dependents on March 10, alleging they were at risk of…