In re B.C. CA3

BACKGROUND

On September 28, 2009, the Department filed a section 300 petition on behalf of the then five-year-old minor based on mother‟s failure to protect the minor due to her mental health issues. The minor was detained. The Department‟s subsequent investigation revealed the minor may have been subjected to past sexual abuse. The juvenile court sustained the petition and, at a March 12, 2010, dispositional hearing, adjudged the minor a dependent and ordered reunification services for mother. In June 2010, the minor was noted to be doing well in her foster home and making progress in treatment with her therapist. She was identifying emotions and expressing them, and opening up about past trauma and anxiety. The minor‟s foster family, however, was not willing to provide permanency for the minor if mother failed to reunify. After three months, the minor had to be moved to a higher level of care because of behavioral problems. The minor refused to follow house rules, had tantrums when she did not get her way, and displayed sexualized behavior during bath time. The minor was moved to a new foster home on September 9, 2010. In its 12- month review report, the Department reported the…