In re M.P.

Filed 3/15/06 In re M.P. CA1/5

NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 977.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

FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION FIVE

Appellant father contends the trial court erred by terminating his parental rights as to his young son (the minor), in order to allow the minor to be adopted by his aunt, appellant's sister. We find the trial court's decision is supported by substantial evidence, and affirm.

I. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

The minor in question here was born in February 1997. The juvenile court declared that the minor was a dependent in December 1997, when he was about 10 months old, and placed him in foster care. The minor's parents never visited him on a regular basis, and the last visit by appellant was on September 4, 1998. The minor has a breathing problem, which has improved over time, and he also suffers from relatively mild developmental delays.

On December 12, 2000, the San Francisco Department of Human Services (Department) filed a petition under the terms of Welfare and Institutions Code section 388,[1] seeking to modify the minor's placement from foster care to a placement with his paternal aunt, appellant's sister, Michelle. The court granted the petition on December 26, 2000, and the minor was placed with

Michelle.

Over the more than five years since then, Michelle has given the minor good care, and she has responded well to the challenges created by his special needs. Michelle and the minor love each other and have a strong bond. The minor calls Michelle â€