In re Mh. R. CA2/8

FACTS AND PROCEDURE

Mother has two older (but still quite young) children who are not the subjects of this appeal, Ds.C. and Dz.P. To a large extent, the circumstances regarding them are relevant. Dz. and Ds. do not share the same father with Mh. and Ma. There were three substantiated referrals in August and September 2010 relating to Dz. and Ds. The referrals alleged mother locked one-year-old Dz. in the bedroom, did not provide diapers for the girls or did not change their diapers, and did not feed them. The girls were suffering from failure to thrive. In December 2010, the court sustained a petition as to Dz. and Ds. alleging mother engaged in domestic violence in their presence and severely neglected them. Mother had willfully withheld and failed to provide adequate food over a prolonged period, and the home was found to be in a “filthy” condition. Dz. and Ds. suffered from malnourishment, dehydration, severe diaper rash, and environmental deprivation. The sustained petition also alleged mother suffered from mental illness and was unable to care for the children. The court ordered suitable placement for Dz. and Ds. in 2010. In October 2012, Dz. and Ds. were placed in mother’s…