In re L.J. CA1/5

BACKGROUND

In April 2024, the San Francisco Human Services Agency (Agency) filed section 300 petitions seeking to detain then-11-month-old L.J. and newborn M.B. from Mother and Minors’ respective fathers. As relevant here, the petitions alleged Mother had substance abuse issues impeding her ability to care for Minors.2 Amended petitions later added an allegation that Minors were also at risk due to a history of domestic violence between Mother and M.B.’s father (Father). According to the Agency’s detention report, Minors both tested positive for methamphetamine at birth. Mother had been investigated by a different county after L.J.’s birth; the county closed that referral but noted Mother “ ‘has a history of drug use’ ” and “ ‘continues to minimize it.’ ” Nurses observed that Mother was not attentive to M.B. while in the hospital after his birth. Mother told the Agency she used methamphetamine when she was homeless in 2022, but stopped after she got housing. Mother also said she drank excessively before her pregnancy with L.J. but stopped because she did not like the way it made her feel. Mother denied any current drug use, said her last use was in 2022, and said she had no idea…