In re E.F. CA6

I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND3

A. Events Leading to Dependency

E.F. was born prematurely at 26 weeks of gestation with methamphetamine in her system, necessitating around-the-clock care. E.F. was in the neonatal intensive care unit for the first 90 days of her life and was discharged to Mother’s care at a sober living facility. When E.F. was three months old, the Department obtained a protective custody warrant to place her in protective custody because Mother’s untreated substance abuse issues put E.F. in an imminent risk to her health and safety. The next day, on November 2, 2022, the Department filed a section 300 petition to initiate dependency proceedings. The Department alleged that E.F. had suffered or was at substantial risk of suffering serious physical harm as a result of Mother’s inability to provide care for E.F. due to Mother’s substance abuse issues, and because Mother left E.F. at the hospital without any provision for support. The whereabouts of E.F.’s alleged father is unknown, and he has not participated in the underlying proceedings. B. The Dependency Proceedings and ICWA Findings

Initially, Mother informed the Department social worker…