In re Dana L.
In October 2008, the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency (the Agency) filed a dependency petition for one-month-old Dana. The petition alleged Dana was exposed to domestic violence between Donald and mother Brenda L. (together, the parents),[1] and the parents drank alcohol to excess. The court made a true finding on the petition. Dana remained in foster care until July 2009, when she began a 60-day trial visit with the parents. In November, on the day the court terminated dependency jurisdiction, the Agency received a referral alleging further alcohol abuse and domestic violence. The Agency offered the parents voluntary services, but they refused to cooperate. The domestic violence continued and Donald, who was in the military, was placed in the brig.
Donald was released in April 2011 and the Agency filed a new petition for two-and-one-half-year-old Dana. The petition alleged Brenda had relapsed on alcohol and Donald had not protected Dana. Dana was detained and the court ordered supervised visits for Donald. A restraining order protected Brenda and Dana from Donald, with an exception for court-ordered visitation.
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