In re Francisco O. CA1/3

Statement of Facts and Procedural History Mother is 29 years old and has seven children; two from her first marriage, four from her second marriage, and one from her latest relationship. The two eldest children live with their father and the youngest child is the subject of a separate dependency proceeding. At issue here are the four children from her second marriage who were born between 2005 and 2010.

1 All further section references are to this code.

1 In April 2012, the children’s paternal grandmother filed a petition in probate court seeking guardianship of the children. The grandmother said the children were living with her, as they had for most of their lives, but mother threatened to remove the children. The grandmother asserted that mother was incapable of caring for the children and had, on more than one visit, brought the children back to grandmother’s house “dirty, hungry and inappropriately dressed for the weather.” Mother opposed the guardianship petition. The San Mateo County Human Services Agency (agency) investigated the family and, in June 2012, filed a petition alleging that mother’s neglect placed the children at substantial risk of harm. (§ 300, subd. (b).)…