Opinion ID: 2555358
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Daniel Is Placed In DFS's Care

Text: On January 14, 2008, Brown gave birth to her son, Daniel. Two days after Daniel's birth, DFS received a referral, based on a report that Brown was physically neglecting her child. The referral also reported that Brown had tested positive for cocaine and marijuana early in her pregnancy, had behaved erratically at the hospital following her delivery, had few baby supplies, and was living in a home with no electricity or heat. That same day, DFS sent Rachel Mullens, an investigation worker, to visit Brown at the hospital. Initially, Brown was uncooperative and refused to tell Mullens where she and the child would be living after she was discharged from the hospital. Based on Brown's response, the Family Court granted an emergency ex parte custody order giving DFS temporary custody of Daniel. [2] DFS then placed Daniel in foster care with Theresa Smith on January 17, 2008. [3] Brown eventually furnished Mullens the name and address of Sharon Klein, who was the aunt of the putative father, Matthew Thompson. [4] Brown and Thompson had been living with Klein. With the goal of placing Daniel in the same home as Brown, DFS began investigating whether Klein was a viable placement option, assuming that Klein would agree to sign a safety plan. DFS learned, however, that although Klein was able to provide Brown and Daniel with suitable housing, Klein was receiving disability benefits resulting from a mental health diagnosis. Moreover, Klein refused to sign a release allowing DFS to investigate whether her mental health diagnosis would pose a danger to Daniel. The Family Court was left unable to determine if placing Daniel with Klein would be safe. As a result Daniel remained in foster care with Smith, because neither Brown nor Thompson gave DFS the names of any other relatives. At an April 4, 2008 Adjudicatory Hearing, the Family Court concluded that DFS would continue to have custody over Daniel, based in part on Klein's refusal to sign the medical release or safety plan. The court also found that Brown's mental health diagnosis of mild adjustment disorder supported a finding of dependency; in addition, Brown had criminal charges pending against her in Connecticut.