In re M.J. CA2/1

BACKGROUND

At the time these dependency proceedings were filed in April 2021, custody of M.J. (then eight years old) and T.J. (then five years old) was governed by a family court order. Under the order, the children primarily resided with Mother, and the children stayed with Father two weekends per month. On May 17, 2021, the juvenile court assumed jurisdiction over M.J. and T.J. based on the following sustained findings under section 300, subdivision (b): “[Father] placed the children in a detrimental and endangering situation in that on numerous occasions the father left the children alone in the car outside of hotels for an extended period of time with no adult supervision. Further[,] the children do not feel safe in the care of the father. [Mother] failed to protect the children in that the mother knew of the detrimental and endangering situation the father established for the children and allowed the father to have contact with the children. The detrimental and endangering situation established for the children on the part of the father and the mother’s failure to protect the children endanger the children’s physical health[] and safety and place the children at risk of…