In re K.J. CA1/1

BACKGROUND

In April 2011, the county filed a dependency petition alleging jurisdiction over K.J., then six months old, and her half brother J.H., then age 13. As later found true by

1 the juvenile court, the siblings’ mother, S.H., had been arrested for use of a controlled substance and child endangerment. She admitted to periodic and long-standing use of methamphetamine. K.J.’s father, meanwhile, had been arrested for injuring a spouse and violating a domestic violence court order. During this incident, which was one of a dozen or so reported incidents in the preceding two years, K.J.’s forehead was injured. As a result of the arrests, both of K.J.’s parents were incarcerated and unable to support her. Although there had not been a prior dependency case involving this family, there had been 11 previous referrals, many involving allegations of drug use and domestic violence. Upon filing of the petition, the children were first placed, briefly, in shelter care and then with the maternal grandparents. At a disposition hearing, the court approved continued placement with the grandparents and ordered reunification services for the mother. After six months of services, mother made…