In re C.R. CA3

I. BACKGROUND

Given the limited scope of this appeal, we set forth only the facts necessary for the disposition of the briefed arguments and to inform the necessary actions on remand. A hospital hold was placed on newborn minor C.R. on January 12, 2023, after the Agency obtained a protective custody order, and the Agency then filed a section 300 petition on behalf of minor. The detention report noted that the social worker asked mother and father about possible Native American ancestry. Father denied having any Native American ancestry and mother was uncooperative. The social worker further noted mother had earlier reported Cherokee ancestry in connection with a sibling’s case.2 The parents made their first appearance at the January 31, 2023, jurisdiction hearing. Father denied Native American ancestry at the hearing. Mother said she had

1 Undesignated statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code.

2 The sibling was found not to be an Indian child in her dependency case. The juvenile court was provided with this information but not information as to what inquiry and notice was undertaken in the sibling’s case.

2 Cherokee, Apache, Blackfoot, and Navajo ancestry.…