In re E.C. CA2/2

BACKGROUND

1. The Family Mother has two daughters, S.M. and E.C. (children), and a son A.M., who is not the subject of this appeal. J.M. is the father of S.M. and A.M., and D.O. is E.C.’s father. Mother met both when she lived in Connecticut, which is where the fathers remain. Mother suffers from psychiatric disorders and substance abuse, and has a history of domestic violence with J.M. A dependency case was opened in Connecticut based on this

1 Undesignated statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code.

2 violence, but mother absconded with her daughters to California while that case was pending. 2. Procedural Background and ICWA-related Facts In June 2021, before the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (Department) filed the section 300 petition, mother and J.M. each told the Department they had no known Indian ancestry. In July 2021, the Department filed a petition requesting the juvenile court exert dependency jurisdiction over S.M. and E.C., alleging that mother and J.M. engaged in domestic violence in the children’s presence, and that mother has substance abuse and mental health problems placing the children in danger.…