In re A.F. CA4/2

BACKGROUND

In July 2019, mother and father were shopping in Walmart with mother’s child

from a previous relationship, L.T., age 5, and A.F., the two-month-old child of mother

and father, who was placed in a shopping cart in her car seat. The father punched mother

multiple times in the face and kicked her in the children’s presence (as well as the

1All further statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code except where otherwise indicated.

2 presence of bystanders), causing A.F. to fall out of the shopping cart while still in her car

seat. Bystanders called police and father was arrested.

While investigating the referral, the social worker interviewed mother who

appeared to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, because she appeared lethargic,

was disheveled, seemed depressed, and had slurred speech. Mother was granted a

temporary restraining order against father, and she promised CFS that she would file for

Family Court orders for custody of A.F. and have no contact with father. CFS therefore

intended to maintain A.F. with mother, while maintaining L.T. in the home of his

custodial father.

Despite her initially stated intention of separating from…