In re S.R. CA3

I. BACKGROUND

A. The Proceedings Through the Termination of Reunification Services S.R. and her half brother C.R. (collectively the “children”) came to the attention of the Sutter County Health and Human Services Department (Department) in April 2021 after C.R. found a loaded syringe in mother’s car leading to an investigation wherein mother admitted her addiction to methamphetamine and unaddressed mental health problems. The Department filed a juvenile dependency petition alleging S.R. and C.R. were dependent children under section 300, subdivisions (a), (b), and (g). Mother was represented by attorney Philippa Lauben at the detention hearing. The juvenile court detained the children and provided supervised, in-person visitation for one hour, three times weekly between children and mother. Mother was represented by attorney Kelsi Wheeler at the May 18, 2021, jurisdictional hearing at which mother submitted on the Department’s jurisdictional report. The juvenile court determined the allegations in the jurisdiction petition were true and increased visitation between mother and children to two hours, three times a week with the second hour being open to extended family. Mother…