In re Z.S. CA3

FACTS AND HISTORY OF THE PROCEEDINGS

In early 2019, the Department of Child, Family and Adult Services (Department) filed a section 300 petition alleging the children, Z.S. and P.N., were at substantial risk of harm due to mother’s untreated mental health condition and substance abuse problems. The children were placed into protective custody and removed from mother’s home. Almost six-year-old P.N. was placed with mother’s stepaunt and two-year-old Z.S. was placed with his father, Dennis S. In the February 2019 jurisdiction and disposition report, the social worker noted Z.S. was fully acclimated and bonded with father, and that father had provided care and lived with Z.S. since his birth. Father had also provided Z.S. stable housing since the initial hearing in these proceedings. Initially P.N.’s father was unknown. Later in the proceedings, the juvenile court found Dennis S. to be P.N.’s presumed father. P.N. and Dennis S. also identified as father and son. The juvenile court found the allegations of the section 300 petition true. In April 2019, the Department filed a section 342 petition alleging father had left Z.S. with an inappropriate caregiver, failed to provide…