San Bernardino County Department of Children's Services v. Theresa W.

*1077 Opinion

1. Introduction 1

Mother and father appeal separately from the dependency court’s order denying their petitions brought under section 388. Father joins in mother’s arguments to the extent they are relevant. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.200(a)(5).) Two children, C.P. and C.J., are the subject of the appeals.

We hold the dependency court did not abuse its discretion in denying the section 388 petitions. It properly conducted a hearing on the petitions and determined parents did not show that changed circumstances or the best interests of the children warranted a modification of its order denying reunification services.

2. Factual and Procedural Background

Mother was bom in August 1979. She began using drugs at age 16. She has given birth to seven children in 12 years by three men. Her first child, M.F., was bom in 1993 when she was 14 and had been molested by her stepfather. Her next two children, D.K. and C.K., were fathered by her foster brother and bom in March and November 1997. Her parental rights to these three children were terminated in 1998 and 1999. Her fourth child, Chad, was by the father in this case and was bom in June 1999. The court terminated…