In re K.M. CA4/3

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

In October 2019, mother gave birth to the child. Mother had used methamphetamine while pregnant. Father had a history of drug and alcohol abuse, and was aware of mother’s drug use during the pregnancy. The juvenile court granted a petition for protective custody. SSA placed the child in an emergency shelter home.

1 Further undesignated statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code. 2 SSA’s initial detention report noted four paternal relatives were considered for placement: paternal grandfather, appellant, and two paternal aunts, Kim M. (PA1), and Michelle C. (PA2). The paternal relatives lived in Seattle, Washington. PA1 said she was willing to fly to California to take placement of the child “tonight.” The report stated that PA1 was to be informed about the process for out-of-state dependency placements: the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC). In December 2019, the juvenile court declared the child a dependent of the court, removed him from parental custody, and ordered reunification services. Later that month, SSA placed the child in a foster home with de facto parents (where the child lived continuously…