In re I.M. CA4/1

BACKGROUND

Jessica began using marijuana when she was nine years old, around the time that

her stepfather began sexually abusing her. She began using methamphetamine when she

was 11 years old. Jessica became a dependent of the juvenile court in 2007, when she

was 15 years old, as a result of physical and sexual abuse and neglect. She received

services as a dependent child but did not cooperate with the Agency. She ran away from

her foster placement in 2007, when she was in the 10th grade, and dropped out of high

school. In 2008, while still absent from her placement, Jessica gave birth to her daughter

E.J.

In July 2010, the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency (the

Agency) filed a petition on behalf of one-year-old E.J. The petition alleged that E.J. had

bruises on her ears, consistent with slapping; bruises on her right thigh, arms, left hand

and left shoulder; diffuse bruising on her buttocks; and patterned bruises on her right arm

consistent with a finger mark.

Jessica admitted that she had caused E.J.'s injuries and that she had physically

abused E.J. for approximately one month. Jessica said that she had heard her stepfather's

voice and…