CA2/2

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

In 2012, the juvenile court sustained the petition filed by the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (Department) with respect to Jordan, a son born to mother and Juan V. (father) in November 2010. In its ruling, the court found that mother and father had (1) a history of “engaging in violent physical altercations in the presence of” Jaden (and Jaden’s half-brother), (2) a history of drug abuse, including being under the influence while the children were in their care, and (3) violated protective orders. The first finding rested on four prior instances of domestic violence between mother and father: (1) in June 2010, father threatened to stab then-pregnant mother and Jaden’s half brother; (2) in January 2011, father punched mother approximately 15 times in the face, back and left arm; (3) in May 2011, father punched mother in the face and broke her sunglasses; and (4) in August 2011, father hit mother in the face (and bruised her lip) while violating a protective order. Some of these incidents occurred in front of one or more of mother’s children. Following its ruling, the juvenile court provided mother with reunification…