In re Jay C. CA2/3

I. Background.

In July 2018, DCFS received a report that mother was suicidal and verbally and physically abused the children, then four and five years old. Father did not live with the family and his whereabout were unknown. The children were removed from mother and placed with paternal aunt Angelique R., who is the prospective adoptive parent. On August 2, 2018, DCFS filed a juvenile dependency petition alleging the children were at substantial risk of serious physical harm within the meaning of Welfare and Institutions

2 Code1 section 300, subdivisions (a) and (b) because mother and maternal uncle Jay C. had a violent physical altercation in the children’s presence (counts a-1, b-3), mother physically abused the children by pulling Ariana’s hair, striking the children with an open hand, and pulling the children’s arms (count a-2, b-4), mother had a history of drug abuse and was a current abuser of methamphetamine and alcohol (count b-1), and mother had a history of mental and emotional problems, including diagnoses of bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, and suicidal ideation (count b-2). On October 3, 2018, the court sustained the allegations of the petition,…