In re Monica G. CA2/2

BACKGROUND

Monica was detained after she suffered serious head injuries that appeared to be inconsistent with mother’s explanation that she had accidentally fallen in the bathtub. In December 2011, the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS or the Department) filed a petition under Welfare and Institutions Code section 300 to bring Monica within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court (section 300 petition).1 The section 300 petition alleged that Monica had been medically examined on November 14, 2011, and found to be suffering from severe physical abuse which included bruising to her face and ears, left intraparenchymal hemorrhage, a basal ganglia hemorrhage, edema, and inflammation in the temporal lobe; and that such injuries were consistent with non- accidental trauma. In the detention report, the DCFS social worker (CSW) reported that after Monica was hospitalized she interviewed mother who told CSW that while giving Monica a bath at approximately 9:30 p.m., she turned to get a towel, when Monica stood, slipped, and fell, hitting the left side of her face. Father told CSW that he was not home at the time of the incident and that mother telephoned him about Monica’s…