F.K.
F.K. v. Superior Court
Opinion
Opinion
Baltodano, J.
Filed 3/18/
CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION SIX
F.K., 2d Juv. No. B333788 (Super. Ct. No. 23JV00092) Petitioner, (Santa Barbara County)
v.
THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY,
Respondent;
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
CHILD WELFARE SERVICES,
Real Party in Interest.
When a juvenile court removes a child from a parent’s custody and orders reunification services, the purpose of those services is to facilitate reunification of the family. The court must evaluate the parent’s progress with the court-ordered treatment plan during the reunification period. At the six-month review hearing, the court has discretion to continue reunification services even if it finds there is not a substantial probability the child will be returned to the parent. The court errs when it does not exercise that discretion. In this petition for extraordinary writ, F.K. (Mother) challenges the juvenile court’s order terminating her reunification services and setting the matter for a selection and implementation hearing regarding her daughter, A.R. (Welf. & Inst.…