In re S.M. CA4/2

BACKGROUND

A. Referral and Detention

San Bernardino County Children and Family Services (CFS) received an

anonymous referral on August 22, 2020, alleging general neglect by both parents and that

Father was selling drugs out of the home while nine-year-old S.M. was present. CFS

dispatched a social worker to the home, but she was denied access to the residence and

the child. Parents scheduled two subsequent home visits with the social worker but failed

to open the door at the appointed times and texted the social worker saying they were out

of town. CFS requested that law enforcement conduct a welfare check on S.M., but she

was not at the home, and parents refused to divulge her whereabouts. S.M.’s school

reported that she was enrolled but had not attended in two or three days. CFS contacted

2 S.M.’s maternal great-grandfather and other family members,1 who said the child had not

been seen in about a month.

CFS obtained records showing law enforcement received several recent calls for

service regarding domestic disturbances at the family’s residence, including a report of

firearm storage at the home on August 21, a verbal altercation six days later, and a report

of…