In re Z.S. CA2/5

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

I. Facts

Father and Ana S. (mother) are unmarried and have one child together, Z.S.1 (born January 2024).2 At the time of Z.S.’s

The briefing on appeal is inconsistent as to Z.’s last initial. In the juvenile court, her parents listed her initials as Z.S.D., reflecting both mother’s (S.) and father’s (D.) last names. Father’s briefing refers to her as Z.S., while the Department’s brief refers to her as Z.D. We will stick with father’s usage.

Mother has four older children, none of whom are in her care or subject to this appeal. Father has one older biological child, but his parental rights over that child were terminated by the juvenile court in a separate proceeding in February 2024.

2 birth, father was incarcerated and has since remained incarcerated. When born, Z.S. tested positive for methamphetamine, amphetamine, opiates and morphine, indicating exposure to those drugs sometime in the final trimester of pregnancy. Mother admitted that she had a history of substance abuse, including the use of methamphetamine, but she claimed to have stopped using when she realized she was pregnant just weeks before Z.S. was born. Mother…