In re A.W. CA3

I. BACKGROUND

On April 30, 2021, the Sacramento County Department of Child, Family and Adult Services (Department) filed a dependency petition on behalf of the minor (then age nine) and her siblings2 pursuant to section 300, subdivisions (b) and (c), alleging failure to protect and serious emotional harm to the children due to physical abuse resulting from mother’s untreated mental health issues and failure to meet the minor’s mental health needs. It was alleged mother used excessive physical punishment, hit the minor and her siblings with a belt, threw a can at the minor hitting her in the head, and threw a cell phone at the minor chipping her front tooth. It was further alleged that the minor and her siblings did not feel safe at home with mother due to her behavior. The minor had been diagnosed with adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood and mother neither supported the minor’s use of medication nor met the minor’s behavioral needs. There were no allegations in the petition with respect to the minor’s father. On May 7, 2021, the juvenile court ordered the minor and her siblings detained. The minor, who was herself in need of specialized mental health…