In re S.O. CA2/6

Facts and Procedural Background In February 2024, San Luis Obispo Department of Social Services secured a protective custody warrant and detained S.O. after mother and S.O. tested positive for methamphetamine and amphetamine at S.O.’s birth. The department filed a dependency petition alleging, among other things, S.O.’s positive drug test, mother’s refusal to stop breastfeeding S.O. even after being informed of the risks given her positive drug test, mother’s admission to using substances throughout her pregnancy, and mother’s prior child welfare history. The department also alleged S.O. was without provision for support because father was unknown. At the time of S.O.’s birth, father was incarcerated. He sent four letters to the department claiming to be the biological father of S.O., requesting a DNA test to establish his paternity, and asserting his desire to have custody of S.O. After DNA test results established that father was S.O.’s biological father, the department filed an amended petition and included new allegations related to father, including that he had been incarcerated for the duration of the case, was unavailable to be protective of the child, and had left S.O.…