In re E.L. CA5

BACKGROUND

E.L. was born prematurely in January 2024,2 and placed in the neonatal intensive care unit. On January 29, while E.L. remained hospitalized, a referral was made to the Tulare County Health and Human Services Agency (“Agency”) due to concerns about M.L.’s (“mother”) inability to care for E.L. because of untreated mental health issues. Mother was visiting E.L. four times a week but was observed falling asleep during visits and handling E.L. in an unsafe manner. Social workers contacted mother at her home on January 31. On that date, mother still did not know who E.L.’s father was. She reported living with E.L.’s maternal grandmother, but the grandmother reported that mother lives alone. Mother said she experienced postpartum depression with all four of her children and takes psychotropic medication. She disclosed having been diagnosed with anxiety and depression. During the visit with social workers, she displayed a flat affect and appeared disoriented. Mother’s other three children lived with their father (not J.P.), who has full custody of all three. The father filed for an emergency protective order in 2022 after mother was placed on an involuntary psychiatric…