In re Matthew S. CA2/3

BACKGROUND

I. Family history.

Mother first came to the attention of the Department in September 2017, due to a report that she was neglecting M.S. The report was closed as inconclusive because M.S. was observed to be healthy and bonded to mother, and mother agreed to a drug test, which was positive only for marijuana. The Department received another report in November 2017, due to a domestic violence incident in which D.M., the father of the two younger children, hit mother while she was holding M.S. in her arms and while she was pregnant with J.M. D.M. was arrested and convicted of a misdemeanor, placed on probation, and ordered to complete a 52-week domestic violence program. A criminal protective order was issued, prohibiting D.M. from having contact with mother. This incident led the Department to offer voluntary services to mother and D.M., including family preservation services, parenting classes, and counseling. Mother and D.M. did not participate in these services, mother moved to San Bernardino County, and so the Department closed the voluntary services case in February 2018 due to loss of contact with the family. Mother and D.M. remained in a relationship “on and…