In re Raymond R

In In re Raymond R. (1994) 26 Cal.App.4th 436, the parents met with a social worker shortly after their children were declared dependents of the court, and stated a desire to work toward reunification. They gave the social worker a mailing address and appeared for two court hearings. ( Raymond R., supra, 26 Cal.App.4th at p. 438.) Subsequently, they missed all of their scheduled drug tests, failed to contact the department, and continued to use drugs. ( Id. at pp. 439-440.) The department provided services at the outset including counseling, drug testing and transportation, and obtained an address to which notice could be sent. ( Id. at p. 441.) The social worker conducted a "parent search" when the parents could not be located, but was unsuccessful in finding them; the father's probation officer did not know where he was, and correspondence sent to the mailing address given was returned. ( Id. at p. 439.) Thereafter, the department did no more, as the parents had effectively dropped out of sight. On appeal, the father claimed the department had a duty to track him, but the appellate court affirmed the juvenile court's termination of reunification services. ( Id. at pp. 441-442.)