In re K.M. CA2/5

I. BACKGROUND

In February 2016, one month before Minor was born, the Department filed a petition alleging Minor’s four siblings were at risk of harm due to physical abuse by S.A. (the father of one of Minor’s siblings), Mother’s failure to protect her children from S.A., and a history of domestic violence between Mother and S.A. A month and a half after Minor’s birth, the Department filed another petition, this one alleging Minor was at risk of physical harm because of the abuse and neglect suffered by her siblings, among other things. The juvenile court sustained the allegation that Minor was at substantial risk because her siblings had been abused, declared her a dependent of the court, and removed her from Mother’s custody.

A. Mother’s Visitation and Relationship with Minor During Reunification From September 2016 to May 2018, Mother was provided with reunification services. During this period, Mother was consistent in her visitation with Minor, both when the visits were

3 monitored and later after she was granted unmonitored visitation. As reported by the foster family agency that initially served as the monitor, Mother’s visits with Minor were “pleasant,” with Mother…