Filed 11/28/05 In re Ramona R. CA4/3

NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS

California Rules of Court, rule 977(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 977(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 977.

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION THREE

In re RAMONA R., a Person Coming Under the Juvenile Court Law.
ORANGE COUNTY SOCIAL SERVICES AGENCY, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. H.L., Defendant and Appellant.	G035346 (Super. Ct. No. DP009332) O P I N I O N

Appeal from a judgment of the Superior Court of Orange County, Ronald P. Kreber, Judge. Affirmed.

Leslie A. Barry, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant.

Benjamin P. de Mayo, County Counsel, and Saul Reyes, Deputy County Counsel, for Plaintiff and Respondent.

No appearance for the Minor.

* * *

H.L., appeals from the denial of her petition under Welfare and Institutions Code section 388^[1] and the subsequent termination of parental rights to her daughter, Ramona R. The mother contends she made a showing that her circumstances had changed and that providing her with additional reunification services would be in Ramona's best interests. She also claims the juvenile court should have found that adoption would be detrimental to Ramona because it would sever the significant and beneficial bond between them. We find the mother's arguments are without merit and affirm.

FACTS

Ramona R. was detained at birth, in October 2003, when both she and her mother tested positive for methamphetamine. After discharge, the mother left the hospital, and the social worker was unable to contact her. She was located in the Orange County Jail a week later, having been arrested for violating probation, possessing methamphetamine, and driving without a license. The mother admitted she had been using drugs for ten years and described herself as an addict. She received very little prenatal care while pregnant with Ramona. Her parental rights to two other children, Ramona's half-siblings, had been terminated in March 2003. She was released to an inpatient drug treatment program in January 2004, but she left without permission after three weeks and dropped out of sight.

Ramona was placed with her paternal grandmother on December 30. In early February 2004, a dependency petition was sustained on her behalf under section 300, subdivisions (b) [failure to protect], (g) [abandonment with no provision for support], and (j) [sibling abuse]. Although the mother was not present at the hearing, she was given a case plan requiring her to complete a parenting class and a drug treatment program, submit to random drug testing twice weekly, and show her ability to live free from alcohol and drugs. The mother was allowed supervised monthly visits with Ramona.

Shortly before the six-month review hearing, in July 2004, the social worker located the mother, who was again incarcerated in the Orange County Jail. She had made no contact with the social worker since January; she had not seen Ramona since detention. The mother appeared at the hearing in custody, where the court terminated reunification services and set a selection and implementation hearing.

The mother filed a section 388 petition in December 2004, seeking more reunification services or a 60-day trial visit with Ramona. The mother declared she had been incarcerated from May 31 until September 24, 2004, during which time she took three 12-hour parenting classes and a 12-hour substance abuse course. Upon her release, she immediately enrolled in an inpatient substance abuse treatment home in Downey as a condition of her probation. She continued to live there and was participating in drug testing, group and individual counseling, and daily â€