In re J.M. CA1/5

I. BACKGROUND

Mother grew up in foster care, and from age five until 18 she lived mostly with a foster mother (Foster Mother) and at times also with Foster Mother’s sister (Foster Aunt). When she was 21, she gave birth to J.M. At the time, Mother and J.M.’s father (Father)2 were living with Mother’s biological mother in a crowded three-bedroom apartment in the Bay Area. Foster Aunt was in the Bay Area. Foster Mother was living in Germany and called Mother about once a month. About a week after J.M.’s delivery in January 2013, the family began receiving public health services. The Alameda County Social Services Agency (Agency) reported that Mother “handle[d] [J.M.] as she would handle a toy. She throws him up and catches him. During the first few weeks following [his] birth [Mother] needed reminders to support his neck. [She] attempts to make [him] stand. [She] seems disconnected from [him] at times. She does not respond to his cues and does not hold him properly. [On March 26, 2013, she] had him on her lap and was hitting his back really hard. When it was pointed out to her that she was hitting [him] rather than patting him, she continued to hit him.” J.M. also lost weight…