San Diego Health & Human Services Agency v. Amber G.

Amber G., the mother of Sabrina H., Dakota H., Ashley L., Christina L. and Christopher G., appeals the juvenile court orders that detained and placed some of her children in Mexico after they were taken into protective custody.

Amber contends that detention and placement of dependent children in a foreign country is inimical to juvenile court law and the court lacked jurisdiction to place the children in a Mexican residence without adequate background checks of the caregiver. Amber also contends the detention of her children in Mexico violated the statutory requirements of prior notice to the parent and a showing of good cause for a placement outside of San Diego. Additionally, Amber contends the court abused its discretion in placing the children in the Mexican home of the caregiver.

FACTS

On March 28, 2006, Dakota, then 11 years old, was admitted to a hospital psychiatric ward for children after he threatened to kill Amber, his half siblings and Christopher’s father. The hospital was ready to release Dakota on April 5, but Amber refused to pick him up and bring him home because she was afraid for her other children. On April 10, the San Diego County Health and Human…