A.T.

I. BACKGROUND

Mother gave birth to her daughter, G.T., in February 2009. The Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services (Department) received a referral for general neglect of the newborn baby, based on a report that mother was belligerent and mentally unstable while in the hospital to give birth and that she lacked adequate baby supplies. Mother utilized community resources and the report was deemed inconclusive. In January 2011, when G.T. was almost two years old, the Department again received a referral for G.T. alleging that she had suffered emotional abuse at the hands of her stepfather, Gary T., due to severe domestic violence that he inflicted on mother. Mother was hospitalized as a result of one such episode. On March 16, 2011, G.T. was admitted to the hospital emergency room with injuries that included a swollen left eye, two cuts above the eye, and bruising behind her right ear. A CT scan revealed fluid, most likely blood, in her maxillary sinus. Mother told a Department social worker that G.T. had awakened her at 2:30 a.m. She was fussy, so mother put her on a bean bag chair and turned on a movie. Mother went back to sleep and when she awakened again at…