In re D.W. CA4/1

INTRODUCTION

When 12-year-old D.W. was admitted to a hospital for severe abdominal pain and chronic diarrhea, he weighed 42 pounds, appeared emaciated, and had other physical findings indicating he had experienced significant malnutrition or starvation over a prolonged period. The San Diego Health and Human Services Agency (Agency) filed a petition alleging that D.W. needed the protection of the juvenile court because he was at substantial risk of serious physical harm or emotional damage based on his parents’ failure to provide him with medical and mental health care treatment, their minimization of his low weight, and their conduct in undermining his medical treatment and treatment providers in his presence.

(Welf. & Inst. Code, § 300, subds. (b), (c).)1 S.M. (Mother) and V.W. (Father) appeal the juvenile court’s dispositional order removing D.W. from their custody. They contend the removal order was not supported by substantial evidence and the juvenile court failed to ensure reasonable efforts were made to prevent his removal

from their care. We disagree and affirm the order.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

A. Background and Prior Child Welfare History3 1. First…