In re Roman P. CA1/2

BACKGROUND

Minor was born in October 2005, the child of mother and Stephen P. (father). Mother later became romantically involved with James H., with whom she had a child, Robert H., who was born in January 2013. Thereafter, minor, mother, James H., and Robert H. resided together in Crescent City, California. Father resided in Texas.

The Dependency Petition On February 11, 2013, the Del Norte County Department of Health and Human Services (Department) filed a juvenile dependency petition regarding minor pursuant to section 300. It alleged pursuant to section 300, subdivision (b) that minor suffered, or there was a substantial risk that he would suffer, serious physical harm or illness as a result of his parents’ failure to protect him. Mother and James H. allegedly had a substance abuse problem that impaired their ability to care for minor, had a “domestically volatile relationship,” and had made death threats to James H.’s mother; James H. had slapped minor in the face and hit him in the arm; and father did not have an existing relationship with minor. The Department also alleged pursuant to section 300, subdivision (j) that there was a substantial risk that minor would be…