An adult former foster child of Tanyann’s guardians reported to authorities that Tanyann’s guardians had sexually abused her for years when she was a foster child in their home. Authorities removed Tanyann and Katie, the natural child of the couple, and urged the trial court to deny reunification services under Welfare and Institutions Code section 361.5, subdivision (b)(6), which authorizes denial of reunification services where the child has been adjudicated a dependent child because of severe sexual or physical abuse to a sibling or half-sibling by a parent or guardian. The trial court ruled that because Tanyann was neither a sibling or half-sibling of the adult former foster child who had reported the abuse, reunification services must be provided the guardians/parents. The County appealed, but the Court of Appeal agreed that the term “sibling” does not include foster brothers and sisters and that half-siblings are individuals having one common parent.
Case Summaries