The Six-Month Review Hearing at Edelman Children’s Court

After a Los Angeles County dependency court sustains a petition and orders reunification services, the next major milestone is the six-month review hearing under Welfare and Institutions Code section 366.21(e). It takes place at the Edmund D. Edelman Children’s Court in Monterey Park, or the court where your case is assigned. For many families it is the hearing that decides whether the case is headed toward reunification or toward a longer fight.

What the judge decides

The court reviews your progress on the case plan and decides whether your child can be returned home. The law presumes return. The child must be returned unless the court finds, by a preponderance of the evidence, that return would create a substantial risk of detriment to the child’s safety or physical or emotional well-being.

The judge also decides whether DCFS provided reasonable services.

Higher stakes for young children

If your child was under three when removed, the court may end services and set a hearing to select a permanent plan at the six-month review if you have not participated regularly and made substantive progress in your plan (WIC 361.5(a)(1)(B) and 366.21(e)). That makes early, consistent participation critical for parents of infants and toddlers.

What the court looks at

• Completion and participation in court-ordered programs
• Drug and alcohol test results, if ordered
• Visitation history and quality
• Reports from therapists, counselors and service providers
• The DCFS status review report and recommendation

How to prepare

• Gather proof of every program you attended, not just completions
• Request visitation increases early, so the record shows unsupervised or extended visits before the hearing
• Review the DCFS report as soon as it is filed and identify errors
• Consider a contested hearing if the recommendation does not match the evidence

Challenging inadequate services

If DCFS delayed referrals, failed to arrange visitation, or did not help you access services, a finding that services were not reasonable can extend your time to reunify.

Prepare with experienced counsel

ALL Trial Lawyers and lead attorney Mohammad Abuershaid represent Los Angeles parents at Edelman Children’s Court review hearings. Call 866-811-4255.

About the author: Mohammad Abuershaid is the founding attorney of ALL Trial Lawyers. He is a top-rated juvenile dependency attorney and has received numerous awards recognizing him as one of the best attorneys in Los Angeles.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Every case depends on its facts.