In re L.L. CA3

BACKGROUND

On September 2, 2013, the five-year-old minor (born October 2007) and his two- month-old half sibling N. L. (born July 2013) were placed in protective custody after mother was admitted to the hospital for a mental health assessment and no one was available to take care of them. Two days later, the Sacramento County Department of Health and Human Services (department) filed a dependency petition for the minor alleging jurisdiction based on mother’s current and prior mental health problems. The September 2013 detention report related that mother’s home was unkempt with soiled diapers, garbage, bags, and clothing strewn about and three-foot-high piles of clothing in the playroom/laundry room area. The children’s toys were pushed against the walls with other bags and boxes. N. L.’s bassinet held folded laundry. The kitchen was disorganized and there did not appear to be any formula for N. L. The refrigerator held uncovered food and a significant amount of alcohol, which mother said belonged to her roommate. Mother told the social worker she had gone to the emergency room to be assessed for postpartum depression. N. L.’s father J. B. was supposed to meet her and pick up…