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Name: In re Nadia G.
Case #: B243392
Court: CA Court of Appeal
District 2 DCA
Division: 3
Opinion Date: 05/30/2013
Summary

Termination of jurisdiction was premature where the Department failed to file a requisite report concerning the pregnant nonminor. The dependent appellant, Nadia, was 19 years old and had only minimally participated in services provided by the Department. Over her objection, and in contradiction to the Department’s recommendation that the case remain open, the juvenile court terminated jurisdiction. Nadia appealed, and the Department did not file a brief. The appellate court held that termination of jurisdiction was premature because the mandates of Welfare and Institutions Code section 391 were not followed. Despite having been ordered to, the Department filed no section 391 report describing whether it was in Nadia’s best interests to remain under juvenile court jurisdiction and what services had been provided to her. Although the record supports a finding that termination of jurisdiction was justified, the order was premature. Reversal was required so that the Department could file the necessary reports and the juvenile court could make the necessary findings.