In re J.C. CA4/2

BACKGROUND

I. Detention, Jurisdiction and Disposition, and Termination of Parental Rights

Mother has seven children. J.I.C., J.L.C., and J.M.C. are the subjects of this

appeal. In November 2021, DPSS received a referral alleging physical abuse of the

oldest sibling, 15-year-old Ja.C. Ja.C. was at the hospital, where a forensic medical exam

revealed significant injuries reportedly caused by Mother. The child had six to seven

fractured ribs, fractures on his sternum, and fresh wounds on his back and arms inflicted

by a vacuum cord.

A law enforcement officer at the hospital advised the social worker that he would

be arresting Mother. The social worker accompanied the officer to Mother’s home,

where the officer arrested Mother for physical abuse of Ja.C. Mother could not identify

any temporary caregivers for the children, and the social worker took temporary custody

of all seven of them.

DPSS filed a petition alleging that the children fell within subdivisions (a), (b),

(g), and (j) of Welfare and Institutions Code section 300. (Unlabeled statutory citations

2 refer to this code.) A few days later, the court detained the children from Mother. At the

time, J.I.C. was…