In re Z.G. CA2/6

Facts In mid-October 2022, respondent learned that three unsupervised children had spent hours at a Santa Barbara skateboard park. W.K., then almost 14 years old, was not watching the others; Z.G., the youngest, had wet himself. Although the children had luggage with them, Z.G. had no clean clothes to change into. All of the children were wearing dirty clothes and appeared unbathed. They had no cell phone or other means of contacting Mother, although W.K. and S.G. could describe how to walk to her workplace. When Mother returned to the skate park, she did not appear concerned about the situation, explaining that the younger children were in the care of W.K. The family had no place to stay. A child welfare worker got them a motel room for the night and made an appointment with Mother for the next morning. The child welfare worker explained that the Department might be able to offer Mother bus passes and hotel vouchers. Mother did not appear for the meeting. The next day, a bystander reported to Santa Barbara police that a young child, Z.G., was unattended and wandering on State Street. He told police that he was waiting for Mother who had walked away from him. Police then found…