In re S.O. CA2/6

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

Mother was diagnosed with schizophrenia at the age of 17, and was subsequently diagnosed with schizoaffective and bipolar disorders. Shortly after S.O.'s birth in June 2011, mother began behaving erratically and barricaded herself in her hospital room with S.O. Although hospital staff were able to remove S.O. for tests the following morning, mother's condition worsened after the child was returned to her. After a 30-minute standoff with the police, mother was restrained while S.O. was taken into custody. On June 23, 2011, Ventura County Human Services Agency (HSA) filed a section 300 petition alleging that mother's mental illness impaired her ability to care for S.O. and created a significant risk of future abuse or neglect.2 The following day, the court ordered S.O. detained and set a jurisdiction and disposition hearing for July 19, 2011. Mother was prohibited from having further contact with S.O. until her condition had stabilized and she was able to comply with her treatment.

2 The petition alleged that the identity of S.O.'s father was unknown. Although mother subsequently identified him, he did not appear in the proceedings…