CA2/1

BACKGROUND

In May 2010, mother, age 19, lived with her father, Stephan M., Iris V., her one- year-old daughter, and Bryce and William, her boyfriend and ex-boyfriend, respectively, 2 in Stephan M.’s house. Mother’s mother had died in September 2009. Mother had few parenting skills and no source of income, and was dependent on Stephan M. for food and clothing both for herself and Iris V. A licensed marriage and family therapist assessed mother as suffering from depression, panic attacks, “problems in all areas of functioning,” and impaired intellectual functioning that the therapist labeled as mild “mental retardation.” Mother had terminated her relationship with William some months prior and had obtained a restraining order against him, but Stephan M. approved of William and disapproved of Bryce. He permitted William to live in the home (as well as Bryce), and told mother she would not be permitted to take any food or clothing with her if she moved out.

1 Statutory references will be to the Welfare and Institutions Code. 2 Abel V., Iris V.’s father, does not appeal.

2 During a DCFS assessment, mother demonstrated inappropriate care of Iris V. She let the child crawl away…