In re Zoe H.

BACKGROUND

I. Family background and dependency history

Mother and J.I. (father) have three children—Zoe H. (born 2012), Zechariah I.

(born 2018), and Zuri H. (born 2019). In 2023, the children lived with mother and her

fiancé (not father) in California. Mother worked as a social worker for the Riverside

County Department of Public Social Services (DPSS). Father lived in Texas.

3 In 2018, Zoe and Zechariah were removed from both parents in Texas because of

domestic violence by father. Zoe and Zechariah were placed with the paternal

grandmother for three months to one year (accounts varied). Mother was unsure whether

“allegations against her were found to be untrue.”

In 2020, DPSS received two referrals alleging general neglect and abuse by

mother. In February, it was reported that mother hit Zechariah “really hard” with a shoe

or a belt every morning. Mother reportedly yelled all of the time and was mean to Zoe,

who appeared depressed. In March, DPSS received a referral alleging that Zoe cried

uncontrollably because mother yelled at her while driving her to school. Mother

reportedly called Zoe “evil” and told Zoe that she would allow DPSS to take her if…