In re Natalie T. CA2/4

BACKGROUND

Natalie T. was born in 2005 to Erika B. (Mother), who is not a party to this appeal, and respondent N.T. (Father). When Natalie came to the Department’s attention in March 2010, she was riding with Mother in a stolen car that was driven by Mother’s boyfriend, who crashed the car during a police pursuit. It is undisputed that Mother, who failed to secure Natalie in a seatbelt or child safety seat, had endangered Natalie. Mother was arrested and Natalie was released to Father’s custody.2 The record contains almost no information concerning Natalie’s relationship with Father prior to Mother’s arrest. We infer, however, that Mother was the primary custodial parent based on the fact that Father, who lived apart from Mother in another city, took several weeks to enroll Natalie in school following Mother’s arrest. One month after Natalie was released to his custody, Father tested positive for drugs and entered an agreement with the Department to receive family reunification services. Natalie was placed with relatives while Father participated in a substance abuse

Unless otherwise indicated, all further statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code.

2 The…