In re John A. CA2/2

BACKGROUND

I. The Family

Father and W.C. (mother) are minor’s parents. 1 Mother is not a party to this appeal. Mother has two older children, K.H. (born 2014) and S.H. (born 2017) (collectively half-siblings). Father is not the father of half-siblings.

II. Referral; Initial Investigation; Removal

A few days after minor’s birth in October 2019, the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) received a referral alleging general neglect of minor.

On December 8, 2020, the juvenile court found father to be minor’s biological father.

2 Mother had an open dependency matter regarding half-siblings. Mother had missed two drug tests. During an interview with a DCFS social worker, mother said that marijuana and methamphetamine were her drugs of choice but that she had been sober for six months. Mother reported having a good relationship with father and described him as “a ‘good guy.’” Father had been arrested for having guns and selling drugs in the home while half-siblings were present. He would not be released from custody until 2027 and, due to her own felony conviction, mother could not visit him. In November 2019, DCFS decided to initiate removal…