In re K.B. CA4/1

INTRODUCTION

Appellant K.Z. is the 17-year-old mother of two-and-a-half-year-old K.B. In March 2023, K.Z was in high school and K.B. was five months old. When K.Z. arrived at her high school on March 10, 2023, she left K.B. at the school’s daycare facility. There, workers noticed extensive bruising to K.B. The daycare employees called 911, after which an ambulance transported K.B. to Rady Children’s Hospital. There, doctors examined K.B. finding “extensive bruising to her face, legs, and body including . . . loop and linear marks to her legs” and “subconjunctival hemorrhage to both [of her] eyes.” Doctors concluded K.B.’s injuries were “diagnostic of physical abuse.” On March 14, 2023, social workers filed a petition in juvenile court to detain K.B. On March 15, 2023, the trial court asserted its jurisdiction over K.B. The court later ordered reunification services for K.Z., but those proved unsuccessful, resulting in their termination after a year. Social workers reported “[K.Z.] has a history of substance abuse, has engaged in criminal activities, and unsafe behaviors. Such factors have impacted her ability to parent and form a relationship with [K.B.].” Also undermining K.Z.’s…