This case calls upon us to construe Welfare and Institutions Code section 361.5, *fn1 which governs orders for reunification services in child dependency proceedings. Pursuant to subdivision (a) of that statute, whenever a child is removed from a parent's or guardian's custody, with certain exceptions not applicable here, the juvenile court shall order the social worker to provide services to the child and the child's parent or guardian. Subdivision (b) of the statute, however, provides that reunification services need not be offered when the court finds, by clear and convincing evidence, that any of a number of conditions exists. Subdivision (b)(10) of section 361.5 provides that services may be denied on a finding "[t]hat (A) the court ordered termination of reunification services for any siblings or half-siblings of the child because the parent or guardian failed to reunify with the sibling or half-sibling after the sibling or half-sibling had been removed from that parent or guardian pursuant to Section 361 and that parent or guardian is the same parent or guardian described in subdivision (a), or (B) the parental rights of a parent or guardian over any sibling or half-sibling of the child had been permanently severed, and that, according to the findings of the court, this parent or guardian has not subsequently made a reasonable effort to treat the problems that led to removal of the sibling or half-sibling of that child from that parent or guardian." (Italics added.)
