In re J.S. CA2/5

I. BACKGROUND

A. Overview of Dependency Proceedings Through This Court’s Resolution of a Prior Appeal Mother and Father have four children together: J.S. (born in 2011), D.S. (born in 2013), S.S. (born in 2015), and R.S., Jr. (born in 2016). Mother’s fifth child, J.D. (born in 2007), has a different father. This appeal concerns only the Minors (J.S., D.S., and S.S.). In November 2014, the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (the Department) received a referral alleging Mother and Father use drugs, their home was unsanitary and lacked utilities, and the children were “filthy” and begged neighbors for food. The Department filed a petition alleging J.S. and D.S. were at substantial risk of suffering physical harm attributable to Mother and Father’s substance abuse (cocaine), which rendered them incapable of providing regular care for the children.

3 The juvenile court removed J.S. and D.S. from Mother and Father’s custody. When S.S. was born a few months later, the Department filed a petition based on the same allegations of substance abuse. S.S. was also detained. At a combined jurisdiction and disposition hearing in December 2015, the juvenile court…