In re Isaiah N. CA2/5

I. INTRODUCTION

S.N. (father) appeals from a judgment and postjudgment orders of the juvenile court regarding Isaiah N. (the child), who was adjudged a dependent of the court pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code section 300.1 Father contends that the court erred when it reversed a prior bench officer’s ruling that father was the presumed father and found instead that he was an alleged father. Father also challenges the court’s order denying reunification services as unsupported by the evidence. Finally, he asserts the court and the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (Department) failed to comply with their inquiry obligations under the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (ICWA; 25 U.S.C. § 1901 et seq.) and related California statutes (§ 224 et seq.). We affirm the orders.

Further statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code unless otherwise indicated. Mother, B.L., is not a party to this appeal.

II. BACKGROUND2

A. Dependency Petition and Detention Hearings

On September 28, 2021, the Department filed a section 300 petition, alleging that mother’s substance abuse and father’s failure to protect the child placed the…