When Beth gave birth to her daughter, Mia, both tested positive for marijuana. The hospital contacted the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP), and Beth told her caseworker that she would cooperate and accept DCPP's offered services. Beth discussed her plan for Mia's pediatric care and professed to have the essentials to care for Mia, including appropriate living arrangements and familial support.

But when Beth was discharged from the hospital, she left Mia behind and did not return. Beth had also given DCPP false names and false contact information for both herself and Mia's father. As a result, DCPP was unable to locate Beth. For the next two or three days, the hospital cared for Mia, at which point DCPP took custody and placed her in a resource home. DCPP filed an "abuse or neglect" action under N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.21(c).