In re K.O. CA2/2

BACKGROUND

1. The Family Mother and her ex-wife Elizabeth O. are the parents of twin children, a boy (son) and a girl (daughter) (collectively children), who were 14 years old when these proceedings began. Mother and Elizabeth legally separated in 2016. As part of their separation, mother and Elizabeth stipulated mother would have primary care and custody of the children and Elizabeth would have visitation rights. Elizabeth now lives in Illinois and, until recently, had not stayed in contact with the children. Mother and the children previously had lived in Santa Barbara County, however, when the underlying proceedings began, mother and children were staying in the Los Angeles area visiting relatives. Mother did not have a permanent address and planned to relocate to Los Angeles County. 2. Events Preceding Petition In December 2020, the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (Department) received a referral regarding the children. The referral was generated after police responded to a domestic dispute at the home of mother’s sister (aunt) and her husband (uncle). At the time, mother and the children were staying at a hotel in the area for the…