In the Interest of A.D., C.D., and J.D., Minor Children, J.M.-d., Mother

• Court: Court of Appeals of Iowa
• Decided: April 6, 2016
• Docket: 15-2209
• Status: Published

Opinion

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA

No. 15-2209 Filed April 6, 2016

IN THE INTEREST OF A.D., C.D., and J.D., Minor Children,

J.M.-D., Mother, Appellant. ________________________________________________________________

Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Ida County, Mary L. Timko,

Associate Juvenile Judge.

A mother appeals the modification of a dispositional order removing her

children from her care. AFFIRMED.

Elizabeth D. Specketer of Specketer Law Firm, Rembrandt, for appellant

mother.

Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General, and Bruce Kempkes, Janet L.

Hoffman, and Mary A. Triick, Assistant Attorneys General, for appellee.

Lesley D. Rynell of the Juvenile Law Center, Sioux City, for minor children.

Considered by Tabor, P.J., and Bower and McDonald, JJ. 2

BOWER, Judge.

A mother appeals the modification of a dispositional order removing her

children from her care. We find there was a substantial change of circumstances

warranting modification of the placement of the children, and the evidence

established continuation of the children in the mother’s care would be contrary to

their welfare. We affirm the decision of the juvenile court.

I. Background Facts & Proceedings

J.M.-D. is the mother of J.D., born in 2004; C.D., born in 2006, and A.D.,

born in 2008.1 The Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) most recently

became involved with the family in January 2015,2 when J.D. and C.D. started

arguing in the kitchen and J.D. threw a knife at C.D., hitting him in the back. C.D.

required stitches for the injury. The mother was charged with child

endangerment because she did not immediately take C.D. to the hospital.

The State filed a petition alleging the children were in need of assistance

(CINA). The juvenile court entered a CINA adjudication order on March 25,

2015, based on Iowa Code section 232.2(6)(c)(1) and (c)(2) (2015). The court

noted the mother “reports struggling to gain and maintain control over the

children’s behaviors.” The dispositional order, filed on May 29, 2015, continued

the placement of the children in the mother’s home, with DHS providing

protective supervision.

1 The children’s father was deported and his whereabouts were unknown. He has no contact with the children. 2 The family was voluntarily involved in services from March to August 2014. Also, the mother’s parental rights to three older children were previously terminated. 3

The mother and children participated in services. The mother had a

psychological evaluation in which she was diagnosed with major depressive

disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. The report noted the mother has low

intellectual functioning. In addition, she has been diagnosed with multiple

sclerosis.

On September 24, 2015, the guardian ad litem (GAL) filed a motion to

modify the placement of the children. The GAL claimed that despite the receipt

of services, the mother was unable to improve her parenting skills. Because the

mother did not follow through with consequences for the children’s negative

behavior, the children were disrespectful to her, including engaging in physical

aggression against her. The mother often did not know where the children were.

The children ate, slept, and came home when and if they wanted, ignoring the

requests of their mother. The State agreed with the GAL’s recommendation to

remove the children from the mother’s care.

After a hearing, the juvenile court entered an order on December 11,

2015, modifying the dispositional order to remove the children from the mother’s

care and place them in suitable foster care. The court found there had

historically been problems with supervision in the home. The court stated:

As the case continued, other issues rose to the surface. Those issues included the children’s hygiene, the children assaulting each other, as well as the children assaulting [the mother]. The children have demonstrated by their actions and words that they have no respect for their mother or her rules.

The court noted services had been offered to the mother, but she “has been

unable to take advantage of the same and her inability to perform the most basic

parenting tasks puts her children at risk in her care.” The court determined there 4

had been a substantial change in circumstances warranting a modification of the

dispositional order. The mother appeals the decision of the juvenile court.

II. Standard of Review

Our review in CINA proceedings is de novo. In re J.S., 846 N.W.2d 36, 40

(Iowa 2014). “In reviewing the proceedings, we are not bound by the juvenile

court’s fact findings; however, we do give them weight.” Id. “As in all juvenile

proceedings, our fundamental concern is the best interests of the child.” In re

K.N., 625 N.W.2d 731, 733 (Iowa 2001). Allegations in CINA proceedings must

be proven by clear and convincing evidence. Iowa Code § 232.96(2).

III. Substantial Change in Circumstances

Section 232.103 provides for the modification of dispositional orders. In re

D.S., 563 N.W.2d 12, 14 (Iowa Ct. App. 1997). “Before a dispositional order in a

juvenile proceeding can be modified, the party seeking modification must first

prove a substantial change in material circumstances, and that under the new

conditions, a change is in the best interests of the child or children.” In re D.G.,

704 N.W.2d 454, 458 (Iowa Ct. App. 2005).

The mother claims there is not sufficient evidence in the record to show

there had been a substantial change in circumstances. On our de novo review,

we conclude there was a substantial change in circumstances. At the time of the

dispositional order on May 29, 2015, the expectation was the mother would be

able to care for the children with the receipt of services. Although the mother

received services, due to her mental health and intellectual problems, she was

unable to improve her parenting skills to the extent needed to meet the children’s

needs. We agree with the juvenile court’s statement, “[T]here has been a 5

substantial change in circumstances warranting a modification of disposition and

that the situation has grown much worse placing the children at an extreme risk

to their health, safety, and well-being.”

IV. Removal of Children

The mother claims there is insufficient evidence in the record to show it

was in the children’s best interests to remove them from her care. She states

while there were concerns that needed to be addressed, the children were not at

risk of harm in her care. She states she accepted services and was working to

improve her parenting skills. The mother claims the children’s behavior was

improving, rather than getting worse.

Whenever possible, children should be permitted to remain at home with

the children’s parents. Iowa Code § 232.102(5)(a). Children may be removed

from a parent’s care based upon clear and convincing evidence the children

cannot be protected from some harm which would justify a CINA adjudication.

Id. There must also be clear and convincing evidence “continuation of the

child[ren] in the child[ren]’s home would be contrary to the welfare of the

child[ren],” and reasonable efforts have been made to keep the children in the

home. Id. § 232.102(5)(b); see also In re D.T., 435 N.W.2d 323, 329 (Iowa

1989).

The children are subject to a CINA adjudication due to a finding they were

likely to be harmed based on the mother’s failure to exercise a reasonable

degree of care in supervising them. See Iowa Code § 232.2(6)(c)(2). There was

clear and convincing evidence in the record to show continuation of the children

in the mother’s care would be contrary to the welfare of the children. As the 6

juvenile court noted, the mother’s “inability to perform the most basic parenting

tasks puts her children at risk in her care.” Additionally, the State engaged in

reasonable efforts to keep the children in the home by providing services to the

mother and the children. We conclude the juvenile court properly determined the

children should be removed from the mother’s care.

We affirm the decision of the juvenile court.

AFFIRMED.