A.L.

Minors M.L. (bom September 2008) and E.L. (bom December 2005) (collectively, minors) came to the attention of San Bernardino County Children and Family Services (the department) on April 5, 2011, when the father (father) reported allegations of the mother’s (mother) mental incapacity and general neglect of minors. Father reported mother had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. He reported mother had been taken off her medication. Mother had been placed on an involuntary psychiatric hold on January 9, 2011, when mother was found walking with minors in 40-degree, wet weather; mother and minors were wearing only pajamas and socks without shoes; minors were wet from the knees down; mother reportedly stated that M.L. was pregnant and purportedly requested scissors to extricate the fetus. Father had retained custody of minors since mother’s psychiatric hold, but allowed her supervised visitation after she was released; however, on April 4, 2011, mother refused to return minors to him. Mother reported incidents of domestic violence at the hands of father.

On April 18, 2011, minors were placed in protective custody with the maternal aunt. On April 20, 2011,…