Opinion ID: 2375328
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Lucy Gives Birth To Carmen And Moves To AWARE Shelter: Fall 2005 Spring 2006.

Text: Lucy gave birth to her second child, a daughter named Carmen, on November 24, 2005 in Sitka. OCS received a report that Lucy told hospital staff that she was looking forward to coming home, and she just wanted to smoke pot when she came home. OCS investigated and requested a drug test, which came back positive for marijuana use (THC). On December 23, 2005, Day went to Lucy's residence for a home visit to see Lucy, Jack, and Carmen. Day noticed that Jack was not very communicative and did not respond to her attempts to play with him. Day was concerned by her observation and the fact that Lucy drank during her pregnancy with Carmen, so she made a referral for both children to an infant learning program. A week later, Lucy reported to Day that she was concerned that Jack may have been sexually abused by a babysitter who had been on probation for rape when he cared for Jack. Lucy told Day that Jack had been fussy and upset after the man had babysat him and that Jack was touching his genitals and had diaper rash the next morning. After discussing the matter with Reep and Jackson, Day asked Lucy to go to the AWARE shelter on December 31, 2005. Lucy eventually agreed, so Day provided Lucy with a $100 food voucher, helped her shop for groceries, and transported Lucy and the children to AWARE. On January 4, 2006, OCS filed a Petition for Adjudication of Child in Need of Aid and for Temporary Custody, requesting OCS supervision of Carmen for a period not to exceed two years, and a Petition for Extension of Supervision Not To Exceed One Year, requesting that supervision of Jack continue for an additional year. Following a hearing on January 9, 2005, the trial court issued a temporary custody order stating that there was probable cause to believe that Carmen was a child in need of aid; granting temporary physical custody to Lucy, subject to OCS supervision; and setting the date for the adjudication trial. The parties (including the Central Council, whose motion to intervene was granted with regard to both children) stipulated that Carmen was a child in need of aid based on neglect under AS 47.10.011(9) on April 19, 2006. The trial court ordered Carmen adjudicated a child in need of aid and released her into the custody of Lucy, subject to supervision by OCS. Day testified that she was willing to allow the children to stay with Lucy because they were staying at the AWARE shelter with safe people around them until Lucy could begin long-term treatment. Lucy left the AWARE shelter several times, however, and only returned after Day explained that she could either remain at AWARE or the children could go into state foster care. The staff at AWARE was concerned with Lucy's ability to respond appropriately to Jack's behavior and provided her with some basic techniques to help, such as cuddling, looking into his eyes, providing brain stimulation for him, and learning to read Jack's cues. There were also concerns that Lucy was inattentive with Jack and that she was leaving him unattended, requiring staff or other residents to watch him. These concerns were reported to David Plotnik, the OCS social worker who took over Lucy's case in March 2006.