In re Isabel C. CA2/2

BACKGROUND

Detention and section 300 petition In May 2010, the Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services (the Department) received a referral indicating that mother and newborn Raymond had both tested positive for methamphetamine. Raymond was in the hospital’s intensive care unit and was displaying withdrawal symptoms. According to the hospital social worker, mother admitted using methamphetamine for the past 17 years, including the day she gave birth to Raymond. Mother also admitted suffering from bipolar disorder but was no longer seeing a psychiatrist for treatment. Mother told the Department’s social worker that she had two children in addition to Raymond -- two-year-old Isabel and 13-year-old Helena.2 Helena’s maternal uncle

All further statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code. Helena was not a subject of the juvenile court proceedings in this case. 2 had been the child’s legal guardian for approximately 10 years. Isabel was currently being cared for by a maternal cousin. Mother identified father as the biological father of both Isabel and Raymond and said he was currently incarcerated for possession of controlled substances.…