Sacramento County Department of Health & Human Services v. Epifania B.

J.Epifanía B., mother of the five minors, appeals from orders entered at a combined hearing for status review and disposition on a supplemental petition, denying her further services and placing the minors in long-term foster care. (Welf. & Inst. Code, §§ 364, 387; further section references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code unless otherwise designated.) Appellant contends the juvenile court erred in denying reunification services and in failing to give preference to the minors’ relatives when determining their placement. We reverse the order denying appellant reunification services and remand the case for a new dispositional hearing.

Facts

The five minors, then ranging in age from five months to nine years, were detained in October 1996, based upon allegations that appellant permitted Steven T., father of the youngest child, into the appellant’s home although Steven T. had sexually molested the other children. Appellant believed the molestations had occurred, but was afraid of Steven T. The court authorized a trial placement of the minors with appellant pending a hearing on jurisdiction since appellant was participating voluntarily in drug testing, counseling, a…