In the Interest of T.J.

While I concur in the decision to reverse the summary denial of the instant dependency petition for further proceedings below, I cannot agree with the conclusion that because T.J. has conducted a diligent search for her father and failed to locate him that we may presume that he is unable to care for her thereby mandating an adjudication of dependency.

This appeal stems from a dependency petition filed by the Immigrant Children’s Justice Clinic at Florida International University College of Law seeking to have seventeen year old T.J. declared dependent for the express purpose of permitting her…