In re A.G. CA1/3

BACKGROUND

A. was seven years old and Max was five when they were removed from Mother’s home in July 2011. Mother, who was on probation for child endangerment at the time, turned up at the police station intoxicated and told officers she had violated her probation conditions by having contact with her children. She said she had been caring for A. and Max since Father was deported and that the children were at home without adult supervision. An officer went to the home and found the children unattended but otherwise fine. They were placed in protective custody in a foster home and Mother was jailed. The next day, Mother told a social worker that the police told her A. and Max were dead and that she was facing manslaughter charges. She seemed confused, was unable to understand or answer the social worker’s questions, and displayed little affect, even when told her children were safe. Mother explained she had been granted full custody of the children a month earlier, but it took her a great deal of effort to remember and provide this information. She did not know when Father had been deported or how long the children had been with her. She said someone was watching her children but…