In re V.C. CA4/2

I.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

A. Detention.

The day after mother gave birth to V.C.,1 CFS responded to the hospital to

investigate an allegation that mother had consumed alcohol and drugs during her

pregnancy. The referral also indicated mother had mental health issues, father (who is

not a party to this appeal) suffered from schizophrenia, and the parents resided in a motel

room and lacked proper provisions to care for the newborn. Although she and the child

tested negative for alcohol and drugs, mother admitted to the social worker that she had

an outstanding arrest warrant for driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI), she had a

history of substance abuse and had “‘done every drug under the sun,’” and she had “used

THC during her pregnancy,” as recently as “‘four days ago’” (i.e., two days before giving

birth to the child). Mother said she had been attending Narcotics Anonymous meetings

1 In the petition and during most of this proceeding, the child was named R.C. Sometime later, the child’s name was changed to V.C.

2 and a mental health clinic to address her substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder

(PTSD), and anxiety. She declined the social…