Dept. of Human Services v. K. N. W.

330 Or. App. 536

• Court: Court of Appeals of Oregon
• Decided: January 31, 2024
• Docket: A181750
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

536 January 31, 2024 No. 69

This is a nonprecedential memorandum opinion pursuant to ORAP 10.30 and may not be cited except as provided in ORAP 10.30(1).

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF OREGON

In the Matter of L. K. W., a Child. DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, Petitioner-Respondent, v. K. N. W., Appellant. Jackson County Circuit Court 21JU04120; A181750 (Control) In the Matter of V. M L., a Child. DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, Petitioner-Respondent, v. K. N. W., Appellant. Jackson County Circuit Court 21JU04122; A181751

Timothy C. Gerking, Judge. Submitted December 13, 2023. Aron Perez-Selsky and Michael J. Wallace filed the brief for appellant. Ellen F. Rosenblum, Attorney General, Benjamin Gutman, Solicitor General, and Jon Zunkel-deCoursey filed the brief for respondent. Before Aoyagi, Presiding Judge, Joyce, Judge, and Jacquot, Judge. Nonprecedential Memo Op: 330 Or App 536 (2024) 537

JOYCE, J. Affirmed. 538 Dept. of Human Services v. K. N. W.

JOYCE, J. Mother appeals judgments terminating her paren- tal rights to her two children, V and L. On appeal, mother assigns error to the juvenile court’s determination that ter- minating mother’s parental rights is in the children’s best interests. We review de novo, ORS 419A.200(6), and affirm. A parent’s rights can be terminated only if the court finds that termination is in the child’s best interests. ORS 419B.500(1) (“The parental rights of the parents of a ward may be terminated * * * only upon a petition filed * * * for the purpose of freeing the ward for adoption if the court finds it is in the best interests of the ward[.]”). We do not presume that adoption is the best outcome for every child who lacks fit parents; rather, the court must consider the needs and cir- cumstances of the child. Dept. of Human Services v. T. M. D., 365 Or 143, 161-63, 166, 442 P3d 1100 (2019). Termination is appropriate only if the court determines that “the benefits to the child of ending the child’s legal relationship with a par- ent outweigh the risk of harm posed to the child by severing that legal relationship.” Dept. of Human Services v. L. M. B., 321 Or App 50, 53, 515 P3d 927 (2022). Mother argues that termination is not in the chil- dren’s best interests because the children are bonded to her and adoption is not necessary to achieve permanency. Having reviewed the record, we agree with the juvenile court that termination of mother’s parental rights is in V’s and L’s best interests.1 We are particularly persuaded by the evidence that the children—both of whom have high needs—need permanency after being in temporary care for four years and the significant risk of interference with the guardian if guardianship were to be the permanent plan. Affirmed.

1 We also have affirmed the judgments terminating father’s parental rights. See Dept. of Human Services v. R. L., 330 Or App 539 (2024) (nonprecedential memorandum opinion). The parents’ cases were tried together and, thus, both parents’ appeals are based on the same record. That said, each parent has raised different arguments on appeal and we have considered the evidence individually as to each parent.