In re J.J. CA4/3

INTRODUCTION

Appellant C.L., a young mother, struggles with drug addiction. In early 2020, her one-year-old baby boy, J.J., was taken into protective custody over fears that C.L. and J.J.’s father, William J., were unable to properly care for the child due to their drug abuse and associated criminal history. C.L. was offered reunification services but did not fully engage in them. She continued to battle her addiction throughout the pendency of the case, all the while denying it posed any significant risk of harm to J.J. The juvenile court disagreed, terminated her parental rights, and chose adoption as J.J.’s permanent plan. C.L. believes the court should have found a significant emotional bond existed between she and J.J., the termination of which would be detrimental to him. But we cannot quarrel with the juvenile court’s judgment. The sad fact is C.L.’s substance abuse problem not only posed a continuing danger to J.J.; it also prevented him from being able to adequately bond with his mother. We therefore affirm.

FACTS

In March 2020, Orange County Social Services Agency (SSA) received a report that J.J. had been left by William in the custody of his paternal aunt, Shelby…