In re Mason M. CA2/2

BACKGROUND

1. The Family and Previous Referrals Mother and A.M. (father) are the parents of son. Although mother and father lived together for approximately one year, they are no longer in a relationship and father has had little contact with son. Father is not a party to this appeal. Prior to the underlying proceedings, the family had been the subject of three earlier referrals to the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (Department). In 2017, soon after son was born, the Department filed a Welfare and Institutions Code section 300 petition on behalf of son alleging son was at risk due to mother and father’s domestic violence and father’s substance abuse.1 Those proceedings

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

2 resulted in a January 2018 custody order granting mother sole legal and physical custody of son. In September 2022, a referral was made alleging mother behaved strangely, as if she was using drugs or had a mental health issue, and hit and pushed son. Again, in late January 2023, a referral was made claiming mother physically abused son. The Department closed both of those referrals as inconclusive. 2.…