In re D.M.

STROUD, Judge.

Respondent-father appeals from a permanency planning order which granted permanent custody of his daughter to her maternal grandmother. For the following reasons, we reverse.

I. Background

On 9 April 2009, Orange County Department of Social Services (“DSS”) filed a juvenile petition alleging eight-year-old Dana1 was neglected and dependent. Prior to the filing of the juvenile petition, Dana was living with her mother and her half-brother, Bob.2 The trial court entered a non-secure custody order placing custody of Dana and Bob with DSS. DSS placed Dana in her maternal grandmother’s…