In re Grace H. CA2/2

BACKGROUND

Detention and Welfare and Institutions Code section 300 petition While investigating a related case in March 2019, the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (the Department) received information concerning possible substance abuse by father. Mother told the Department’s social worker that father was Grace’s biological father, and that she had separated from him in January 2019. Father went to visit Grace at mother’s home on March 21, 2019, and took the child from the home without mother’s consent. Father appeared to mother to be under the influence of drugs at the time because his eyes were red and he was sweaty. Mother disclosed that she had mental and emotional health issues as well. Mother told the social worker that she was currently suffering from postpartum depression and that she had been similarly depressed after giving birth to Grace’s older half-

2 sibling, Anthony.1 Mother sought treatment for her depression in January 2019 and was prescribed medication. The social worker spoke by telephone with mother’s psychiatrist on March 27, 2019. The psychiatrist reported that mother was assessed in January 2019 after an attempted suicide.…