San Diego County Health & Human Services Agency v. Ray M.

Ray M. appeals a judgment terminating his parental rights to his daughter, S.M., under Welfare and Institutions Code section 366.26. 1 Ray asserts the judgment should be reversed because (1) proper notice was not provided under the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) ( 25 U.S.C. § 1901 et seq.); (2) the court abused its discretion by denying his section 388 modification petition; and (3) the court did not ensure S. was able to visit her half brother, J.B. Lucille S., S.’s paternal grandmother and de facto parent, appeals from the denial of her section 388 modification petition. She raises no arguments relating to the denial of that petition, but contends that the judgment should be reversed because notice was not provided in compliance with the ICWA. Because the Agency did not comply with the notice provisions of the ICWA, we reverse the judgment terminating parental rights and direct the court to ensure proper notice under the ICWA is given.

*1113 FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

The San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency (the Agency) removed S. from the custody of her mother, T.D. (T.), shortly after her April 2001 birth and filed a section 300 petition on her…