In re A.C v. S.E.
<script src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript"> _uacct = "UA-1698443-1"; urchinTracker(); </script> <html ><br /> <head><br /> <title>In re A</title><br /> </head><br /> <body><br /> <div><br /> <br/><b >In re A.C v. S.E.</b><br /> <br/> <br /> <br/> <br /> <br/> <br /> <br/> <br /> <br/> <br /> <br/> <br /> <br/> <br /> <br/> <br /> <br/> <br /> <br/> <br /> <br/>Filed 7/15/10<br /> <br/><b<br /> > </b><br /> <br/><b<br /> > </b><br /> <br/><b<br /> > </b><br /> <br/><b<br /> > </b><br /> <br/><b<br /> >CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION</b><br /> <br/> <br /> <br/> <br /> <br/>IN<br /> THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA<br /> <br/> <br /> <br/>SIXTH<br /> APPELLATE DISTRICT<br /> <br/> <br /> <br/> <br /> <table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0<br /> ><br /> <tr ><br /> <td width=319 valign=top ><br /> <br/>In re A.C., a Person Coming<br /> Under the Juvenile Court Law.<br /> </td><br /> <td width=319 valign=top ><br /> <br/> H034769<br /> <br/> (Santa Clara<br /> County<br /> <br/> Super. Ct.<br /> No. JD14502)<br /> <br/> <br /> </td><br /> </tr><br /> <tr ><br /> <td width=319 valign=top ><br /> <br/>SANTA CLARA COUNTY DEPARTMENT<br /> OF FAMILY AND CHILDREN'S SERVICES,<br /> <br/> <br /> <br/>Plaintiff and<br /> Respondent,<br /> <br/> <br /> <br/> v.<br /> <br/> <br /> <br/>S.E. et al.,<br /> <br/> <br /> <br/>Defendants;<br /> <br/> <br /> <br/>A.C.<br /> <br/> <br /> <br/>Appellant.<br /> <br/> <br /> </td><br /> <td width=319 valign=top ><br /> <br/> <br /> </td><br /> </tr><br /> </table><br /> <br/> <br /> <br/>The aim and purpose of Welfare and<br /> Institutions Code section 387<b ><b >[1]</b></b><br /> is the removal of a dependent child from the custody of a parent, guardian,<br /> relative, or friend and the placement of that child in a foster home or county<br /> institution. The section provides the<br /> procedure by which such placement change is made, and is, by design to be used<br /> for children who have not been freed for adoption. Section 387 does not contemplate placement in<br /> an adoptive home, and is not appropriate for children for whom parental rights have been terminated. <br /> <br/>The aim and purpose of section 388<br /> is to provide a means for any person having an interest in a dependent child to<br /> petition the court for a hearing to change or modify a previous court<br /> order. The section is broad in scope,<br /> and encompasses any change in circumstances affecting the dependent child. Section 388 is appropriate for a child who<br /> has been freed for adoption, and provides a procedural vehicle to change the<br /> child's placement based on changed circumstances. <br /> <br/> Here,<br /> appellant is a juvenile dependent that was freed for adoption, but is no longer<br /> in an adoptive home. In July 2009, the Santa Clara Department of Family and<br /> Children's Services (the Department) moved A.C. from a temporary foster<br /> home to a group home, using a supplemental petition under section 387.<br /> <br/> We hereby<br /> reverse the judgment. The trial court<br /> erred in allowing the Department to use a section 387 petition in this case,<br /> because a section 388 petition is the appropriate procedural means to move a<br /> minor freed for adoption to a more restrictive placement. <br /> <br/><b >Procedural Background<u><b ><u>[2]</u></b></u><u></u></b><br /> <br/> The<br /> Department filed a supplemental petition<br /> on July 29, 2009, to remove<br /> A.C. from her temporary foster home and place her in a community care<br /> facility. At the hearing on August 18, 2009, A.C. had no<br /> objection to the removal from the foster home and placement in the group home;<br /> however, she did object to the Department's use of the supplemental petition<br /> under section 387. A.C.'s objection was<br /> based in part on her assertion that the section 387 petition might have a<br /> negative impact on her due to the court's factual findings. <br /> <br/> In<br /> response, the Department asserted because A.C. was a child who had been freed<br /> for adoption, it was not required to file either a section 387 or 388 petition<br /> for a change in placement, but as a local practice, the Department continued to<br /> file section 387 petitions in similar cases. <br /> <br /> <br/> In ruling<br /> on the petition, the court stated: â€