In re A.O. CA2/2

BACKGROUND

1. The Family Mother has six children with E.O. (father). Although in late 2016 when the underlying proceedings began, all six children were involved in the case, this appeal involves only the three youngest children—two sons, one of whom was 10 years old when the case began (older son) while the other was eight years old (youngest son), and one daughter, who was nine years old when the case began (daughter). 2. Previous Dependency Proceedings The family is no stranger to the dependency system. Prior to the current proceedings, and dating back to 2004, over 50 referrals regarding the family had been made to the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (Department). During that time, the juvenile court sustained two separate Welfare and Institutions Code section 300 petitions

2 involving the family.1 In 2006, the juvenile court sustained a section 300 petition as to the children’s half sister (finding mother had physically abused her) but dismissed the petition as to mother and father’s four oldest children (their younger children had not yet been born). The family received reunification services and although mother and father eventually…