A.W.

BACKGROUND

In February 2019, the Contra Costa County Children and Family Services Bureau (Bureau) filed a petition alleging Mother was unable to provide regular care for the minor, then 21 days old, due to her history of substance abuse and failure to take minor for follow-up care, and because minor’s umbilical cord tested positive for methamphetamines. The petition further alleged mother’s parental rights had been terminated as to minor’s half-sibling, C.W. At the detention hearing, the court, with mother’s consent, appointed a guardian ad litem for mother, ordered minor detained, ordered supervised visitation for mother, and ordered services for mother pending further proceedings. Those services included a psychological evaluation and substance abuse treatment. After mother refused to surrender minor or disclose his whereabouts, the court issued a protective custody warrant for minor and an arrest warrant for mother. Over the course of the next several months, Santa Cruz Sheriff’s officers went to maternal grandmother’s home several times, but neither mother nor minor was present. On April 1, the Concord Police Department notified the Bureau they had Mother in custody. Mother…