Care and Protection of Ian

The mother of two minor children has appealed

from an order of the District Court adjudicating both children to be in need of care and protection and awarding temporary legal custody of them to the Department of Social Services (department) pursuant to G. L. c. 119, § 26. The children are placed in separate foster homes. The mother contends that the judge’s findings in support of the order do not clearly and convincingly show her to be currently unfit as a parent.2 She also claims that the judge impermissibly shifted the burden of proof from the *616petitioner (the department) to her on the issue…