In re A.J. CA2/5

INTRODUCTION

K.K. (mother), the mother of minor A.J., appeals from the juvenile court’s order refusing to return custody of A.J. to her at the six-month review hearing. According to mother, there was insufficient evidence to support the juvenile court’s finding that returning A.J. to mother’s custody would create a substantial risk of detriment to him. We hold that there was sufficient evidence to support a finding of detriment to A.J. if he was returned to mother’s care. We therefore affirm the order not returning him to her custody.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

A.J. and mother came to the attention of the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) based on a referral from a mandated reporter. The reporter advised DCFS that police officers picked up A.J. at his school so a bruise on the side of his face could be photographed. According to a police officer, A.J. told him that mother had hit his face eight times, and that mother had hit him often before. When a childrens social worker (CSW) interviewed A.J., he told her “‘mom slapped me . . . she slapped me like eight times.’” A.J. also told the CSW that “‘it’s happened a lot of times, but not with a bruise like this…