In re D.W. CA2/8

FACTS

Mother and Michael S. (Father) have a child together, M.S. Mother also has a daughter, D.W., from a prior relationship. M.S. and D.W. lived with Mother while Father lived separately. The family came to the attention of the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) when it received a referral on June 6, 2014, alleging Mother and Father engaged in a physical altercation on March 30, 2014, which resulted in a half-inch laceration on Mother’s lip and the nail on her right index finger being torn off. In several interviews with the children’s social worker, Mother was reluctant to cooperate with the investigation, refusing to allow the social worker into her home. She denied either of the children were present at the time of the incident, stating 13-year-old D.W. was at a friend’s house and 9-month-old M.S. was being cared for by Father’s relative. She admitted she called the police on March 30, 2014, but adamantly denied Father hit her. She said she merely wanted the police to escort Father out of the house. She and Father had been drinking and she became upset that day. She yelled and screamed in Father’s face and he put his hands up to prevent her…