Orange County Social Services Agency v. Richard B.

*1223 Opinion

— Nine-year-old William and five-year-old Noah were removed from their parents’ custody for the third time in March 2007. Because the previous dependency proceedings had been terminated, the Orange County Social Services Agency (SSA) filed a new petition based on the children’s abuse and neglect due to the parents’ long-standing drug use and recommended denying the parents reunification services. The juvenile court denied services to the father, but, notwithstanding the “staggering amount” of services previously offered to the mother, it gave her “one more chance” and ordered services.

Three times is enough. The juvenile court improperly focused on the children’s love for their mother rather than any realistic chance they would find permanency and stability with her. We find the order providing services to the mother was an abuse of discretion and reverse it. We affirm the order denying services to the father.

FACTS

C.C. and Richard B., parents of William and Noah, met in a recovery home in 1996. Both have a long history of drug and alcohol abuse. The mother was previously married to Bill S., with whom she had two daughters, Melissa and Megan. They divorced in…