In re B.T. CA2/5

I. BACKGROUND

Mother and Father separated when she was six months pregnant with B.T., in the fall of 2013. They were no longer living together when B.T. was born in January 2014. Mother was living in a shelter for pregnant women and Father was living with his parents in Perris, California. Just over two months after B.T.’s birth, DCFS received a referral alleging Mother was neglecting and abusing B.T. by, among other things, hitting him and screaming at him. Ultimately, at DCFS’s recommendation, Mother enrolled in Heritage House’s

1 Undesignated statutory references that follow are to the Welfare and Institutions Code.

2 inpatient alcohol and drug treatment program, which permitted children to live with the parent while the parent was undergoing treatment. At about the same time, Father was taken into custody (after a revocation of bail) on a 2013 charge of domestic violence against Mother. Father was convicted and sent to Wasco state prison. During Mother’s first six weeks at Heritage House, staff members expressed concern to DCFS about Mother’s ability to care for B.T. A medical social worker from Children’s Hospital called DCFS and expressed concern for B.T.’s safety. This…