Los Angeles County Department of Children & Family Services v. Julie G.

*836 Opinion

INTRODUCTION

Appellant, Julie G., is the mother of two minor children, namely, Miracle M., bom in 2003 and Faith M., bom in 2005. Julie G. will hereafter be referred to as Mother in this opinion. The father of the children, Odele M., is not a party in this appeal, but will be referred to hereafter as Father as necessity dictates in the interest of presenting a full and accurate statement of the facts. Mother claims that errors were committed by the trial court in ordering the termination of parental rights. Mother’s claim of errors centers on the alleged failure of the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to give proper notices pursuant to the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 ( 25 U.S.C. § 1901 et seq.), hereafter referred to as ICWA. For the reasons hereafter given, the order terminating parental rights over Miracle M. is affirmed, but the order pertaining to Faith M. is reversed and remanded for further proceedings in accordance with the views expressed in this opinion.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL SYNOPSIS

Detention background.

On March 3, 2006, DCFS received a report that contained allegations of child abuse occasioned by Mother’s use of…