In re Walter R. CA2/2

BACKGROUND

Detention and section 300 petition On September 3, 2009, the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (the Department) filed a petition under Welfare and Institutions Code section 3002 on behalf of then three-year-old Walter, two-year-old Faith, and their older half siblings, Casey and Camryn.3 The petition alleged that there was domestic violence between mother and the father of Casey and Camryn; that mother had a history of substance abuse, including amphetamine, methamphetamine, prescription medication, and alcohol, as well as a history of mental and emotional health problems; and that the family home was filthy and unsanitary. At the detention hearing held on September 3, 2009, the juvenile court found father, who was incarcerated at the time, to be the presumed father of Walter and Faith and further found prima facie evidence for detaining all of the children. Mother was accorded monitored visits. Jurisdiction and disposition In October 2009, the Department reported that the family had multiple referrals between 2005 and 2009, including a voluntary family maintenance case from January to August 2006, and a 2008 dependency case based on…