IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA
No. 14-1943 Filed January 14, 2015
IN THE INTEREST OF E.D. AND A.G., Minor Children,
F.D., Mother, Appellant. ________________________________________________________________
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Woodbury County, Julie A.
Schumacher, District Associate Judge.
A mother appeals from the termination of her parental rights. AFFIRMED.
Jessica R. Noll of Deck Law LLP, Sioux City, for appellant mother.
Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General, Kathryn K. Lang, Assistant Attorney
General, Patrick Jennings, County Attorney, and Diane M. Murphy, Assistant
County Attorney, for appellee State.
Hannah Vellinga or Corbett, Anderson, Corbett, Vellinga & Irvin, L.L.P.,
Sioux City, attorney and guardian ad litem for minor children.
Considered by Danilson, C.J., and Doyle and Tabor, JJ. 2
DOYLE, J.
A mother appeals the termination of her parental rights. She asserts the
children’s best interests weigh against termination, and she requests a
guardianship be established instead. She also contends the State failed to prove
the grounds for termination. Upon our de novo review, we affirm.
I. Background Facts and Proceedings.
F.D. is the mother of A.G., born in 2007, and E.D., born in 2011. The
mother has a history of instability, mental health issues, and substance abuse.
She also has a history of involvement with the Iowa Department of Human
Services (Department), including termination of her parental rights to a child in
2008 and investigations by the Department in 2011 and 2012.
In early 2013, the mother voluntarily agreed to participate in services
because she was homeless and unemployed. At that time, A.G. and E.D. were
living with their paternal aunt. In June 2013, the children were left with the
mother’s cousin, where they have since remained. The children were
subsequently adjudicated children in need of assistance (CINA).
The mother was again offered services by the Department, but her initial
participation was minimal. She declined substance abuse treatment in October
2013, stating she had tried treatment before and it did not work. Her visits with
the children were sporadic, and the children exhibited negative behaviors
following the visits, including severe tantrums and speech regression. The
mother was admitted to outpatient substance abuse treatment at the end of
December 2013, but she only attended two group sessions. 3
In January 2014, the mother was advised she needed to make progress
towards getting the children back, and she was provided a list of actions she
needed to accomplish to continue visitation with the children, such as following
through with treatment and managing her mental health medication. She then
stopped contacting the Department and participating in services altogether. She
also stopped all contact with the children at that time.
On April 2, 2014, the Department filed its report to the court detailing the
mother’s lack of progress and recommending a termination-of-parental-rights
hearing be set. The mother subsequently requested she be allowed to resume
visits and phone calls with the children. On April 25, the State filed its petition for
termination of the mother’s parental rights, and it resisted her request for contact
with the children.
Following a hearing in June 2014, the court entered its order denying the
mother’s request for restarting visits and phone calls, noting the children had not
seen the mother for five months and had progressed in their behaviors since the
visits ceased. The mother subsequently met with the Department case manager,
and she reported she had been participating in mental health therapy but not
substance abuse treatment. The case plan was reviewed with the mother, and
she was advised of the things she needed to do to restart visits.
A hearing on the State’s termination-of-parental-rights petition was held in
August 2014. The mother provided attendance slips showing she had been
attending AA and NA meetings regularly since June 27, 2014, but she did not
testify. She requested the court place the children in a guardianship with
relatives, arguing termination of her parental rights was not in the children’s best 4
interests. She acknowledged “she might not be able to be a placement today for
the children, which is why she thinks that guardianship would be more important.”
Following the hearing, the juvenile court entered its order terminating the
mother’s parental rights.
The mother now appeals.
II. Discussion.
In determining whether parental rights should be terminated under chapter
232, the juvenile court “follows a three-step analysis.” In re D.W., 791 N.W.2d
703, 706 (Iowa 2010). Step one requires the court to “determine if a ground for
termination under section 232.116(1) has been established” by the State. Id. If
the court finds grounds for termination, the court moves to the second step of the
analysis: deciding if the grounds for termination should result in a termination of
parental rights under the best-interest framework set out in section 232.116(2).
Id. at 706-07. Even if the court finds “the statutory best-interest framework
supports termination of parental rights,” the court must proceed to the third and
final step: considering “if any statutory exceptions set out in section 232.116(3)
should serve to preclude termination of parental rights.” Id. at 707. We review
the mother’s claims on appeal de novo. See In re A.M., 843 N.W.2d 100, 113
(Iowa 2014).
A. Grounds for Termination.
The grounds for termination must be proved by clear and convincing
evidence. Iowa Code § 232.116(1) (2013); see also D.W., 791 N.W.2d at 706.
When the juvenile court terminates parental rights on more than one statutory 5
ground, we may affirm on any ground we find supported by the record. D.W.,
791 N.W.2d at 707; In re R.R.K., 544 N.W.2d 274, 276 (Iowa Ct. App. 1995).
The mother does not contest any particular statutory ground found by the
juvenile court, arguing only that there is not clear and convincing evidence to
support termination and citing Iowa Code section 232.116. Generally, failure to
cite authority in support of an issue may be deemed a waiver of that issue. See
Iowa R. App. P. 6.903(2)(g)(3) (“Failure to cite authority in support of an issue
may be deemed waiver of that issue.”).
Nevertheless, even if we were to reach the general argument the mother
makes, we find clear and convincing evidence to support termination under
section 232.116(1) subsection (f) as to A.G., and subsection (h) as to E.D.
These two grounds for termination are essentially the same but for the applicable
age of the child and the amount of time the child has been out of the home. See
Iowa Code § 232.116(1)(f) (“The child is four years of age or older” and “has
been removed . . . for at least twelve of the last eighteen months”), (h) (“The child
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IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA
No. 14-1943 Filed January 14, 2015
IN THE INTEREST OF E.D. AND A.G., Minor Children,
F.D., Mother, Appellant. ________________________________________________________________
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Woodbury County, Julie A.
Schumacher, District Associate Judge.
A mother appeals from the termination of her parental rights. AFFIRMED.
Jessica R. Noll of Deck Law LLP, Sioux City, for appellant mother.
Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General, Kathryn K. Lang, Assistant Attorney
General, Patrick Jennings, County Attorney, and Diane M. Murphy, Assistant
County Attorney, for appellee State.
Hannah Vellinga or Corbett, Anderson, Corbett, Vellinga & Irvin, L.L.P.,
Sioux City, attorney and guardian ad litem for minor children.
Considered by Danilson, C.J., and Doyle and Tabor, JJ. 2
DOYLE, J.
A mother appeals the termination of her parental rights. She asserts the
children’s best interests weigh against termination, and she requests a
guardianship be established instead. She also contends the State failed to prove
the grounds for termination. Upon our de novo review, we affirm.
I. Background Facts and Proceedings.
F.D. is the mother of A.G., born in 2007, and E.D., born in 2011. The
mother has a history of instability, mental health issues, and substance abuse.
She also has a history of involvement with the Iowa Department of Human
Services (Department), including termination of her parental rights to a child in
2008 and investigations by the Department in 2011 and 2012.
In early 2013, the mother voluntarily agreed to participate in services
because she was homeless and unemployed. At that time, A.G. and E.D. were
living with their paternal aunt. In June 2013, the children were left with the
mother’s cousin, where they have since remained. The children were
subsequently adjudicated children in need of assistance (CINA).
The mother was again offered services by the Department, but her initial
participation was minimal. She declined substance abuse treatment in October
2013, stating she had tried treatment before and it did not work. Her visits with
the children were sporadic, and the children exhibited negative behaviors
following the visits, including severe tantrums and speech regression. The
mother was admitted to outpatient substance abuse treatment at the end of
December 2013, but she only attended two group sessions. 3
In January 2014, the mother was advised she needed to make progress
towards getting the children back, and she was provided a list of actions she
needed to accomplish to continue visitation with the children, such as following
through with treatment and managing her mental health medication. She then
stopped contacting the Department and participating in services altogether. She
also stopped all contact with the children at that time.
On April 2, 2014, the Department filed its report to the court detailing the
mother’s lack of progress and recommending a termination-of-parental-rights
hearing be set. The mother subsequently requested she be allowed to resume
visits and phone calls with the children. On April 25, the State filed its petition for
termination of the mother’s parental rights, and it resisted her request for contact
with the children.
Following a hearing in June 2014, the court entered its order denying the
mother’s request for restarting visits and phone calls, noting the children had not
seen the mother for five months and had progressed in their behaviors since the
visits ceased. The mother subsequently met with the Department case manager,
and she reported she had been participating in mental health therapy but not
substance abuse treatment. The case plan was reviewed with the mother, and
she was advised of the things she needed to do to restart visits.
A hearing on the State’s termination-of-parental-rights petition was held in
August 2014. The mother provided attendance slips showing she had been
attending AA and NA meetings regularly since June 27, 2014, but she did not
testify. She requested the court place the children in a guardianship with
relatives, arguing termination of her parental rights was not in the children’s best 4
interests. She acknowledged “she might not be able to be a placement today for
the children, which is why she thinks that guardianship would be more important.”
Following the hearing, the juvenile court entered its order terminating the
mother’s parental rights.
The mother now appeals.
II. Discussion.
In determining whether parental rights should be terminated under chapter
232, the juvenile court “follows a three-step analysis.” In re D.W., 791 N.W.2d
703, 706 (Iowa 2010). Step one requires the court to “determine if a ground for
termination under section 232.116(1) has been established” by the State. Id. If
the court finds grounds for termination, the court moves to the second step of the
analysis: deciding if the grounds for termination should result in a termination of
parental rights under the best-interest framework set out in section 232.116(2).
Id. at 706-07. Even if the court finds “the statutory best-interest framework
supports termination of parental rights,” the court must proceed to the third and
final step: considering “if any statutory exceptions set out in section 232.116(3)
should serve to preclude termination of parental rights.” Id. at 707. We review
the mother’s claims on appeal de novo. See In re A.M., 843 N.W.2d 100, 113
(Iowa 2014).
A. Grounds for Termination.
The grounds for termination must be proved by clear and convincing
evidence. Iowa Code § 232.116(1) (2013); see also D.W., 791 N.W.2d at 706.
When the juvenile court terminates parental rights on more than one statutory 5
ground, we may affirm on any ground we find supported by the record. D.W.,
791 N.W.2d at 707; In re R.R.K., 544 N.W.2d 274, 276 (Iowa Ct. App. 1995).
The mother does not contest any particular statutory ground found by the
juvenile court, arguing only that there is not clear and convincing evidence to
support termination and citing Iowa Code section 232.116. Generally, failure to
cite authority in support of an issue may be deemed a waiver of that issue. See
Iowa R. App. P. 6.903(2)(g)(3) (“Failure to cite authority in support of an issue
may be deemed waiver of that issue.”).
Nevertheless, even if we were to reach the general argument the mother
makes, we find clear and convincing evidence to support termination under
section 232.116(1) subsection (f) as to A.G., and subsection (h) as to E.D.
These two grounds for termination are essentially the same but for the applicable
age of the child and the amount of time the child has been out of the home. See
Iowa Code § 232.116(1)(f) (“The child is four years of age or older” and “has
been removed . . . for at least twelve of the last eighteen months”), (h) (“The child
is three years of age or younger” and “has been removed . . . for at least six
months of the last twelve months”). Both paragraphs (f) and (h) require the State
to prove, by clear and convincing evidence, “the child cannot be returned to the
custody of the child’s parents . . . at the present time.” See id. § 232.116(1)(f)(4),
(h)(4).
Here, each child has been adjudicated a CINA and meets the age and
removal requirements set forth in the applicable statutory ground. Additionally,
the mother admitted at the time of the hearing and again in her appellate brief the
children could not be returned to her care at the time of the hearing. The State 6
clearly met its burden, and we therefore agree with the juvenile court that
termination of the mother’s parental rights was proper under Iowa Code section
232.116(1) paragraphs (f) and (h).
B. Best Interests and Other Considerations.
The mother asserts placing the children in a guardianship rather than
terminating her parental rights was in the children’s best interests. She contends
a guardianship would be a more suitable permanency option for the children,
stating that because of the closeness of the parent-child relationship, termination
of her parental rights would be detrimental to the children. Upon our de novo
review of the record, we disagree.
Our legislature has constructed a time frame to balance a parent’s efforts
against the children’s long-term best interests. In re C.B., 611 N.W.2d 489, 494
(Iowa 2000). We measure best interests by the statutory language, giving
primary consideration to the children’s safety, and to the best placement for
promoting their long-term nurturing and growth and their physical, mental, and
emotional conditions and needs. Iowa Code § 232.116(2). “[W]e cannot deprive
[children] of permanency after the State has proved a ground for termination
under section 232.116(1) by hoping someday a parent will learn to be a parent
and be able to provide a stable home.” A.M., 843 N.W.2d at 113. We note that a
guardianship is not a legally preferable alternative to termination of parental
rights and adoption, see In re L.M.F., 490 N.W.2d 66, 67-68 (Iowa Ct. App.
1992), and termination is the appropriate solution when a parent is unable to
regain custody within the time frames of chapter 232. See In re C.K., 558
N.W.2d 170, 174 (Iowa 1997) (“An appropriate determination to terminate a 7
parent-child relationship is not to be countermanded by the ability and willingness
of a family relative to take the child.”).
Here, the mother has long-standing issues with substance abuse, mental
illness, and instability. Despite ongoing services from the Department, the
mother failed to show the kind of progress during this case while the children
have been out of her care to merit prolonging the uncertainty. In this case, the
balance has reached the tipping point toward providing these children
permanency.
There was no evidence that termination of the mother’s parental rights
would be detrimental to the children. Rather, the evidence indicated the children
had improved substantially since their contact with the mother ended. The
children are doing well in their relative placement, and all evidence suggests the
children will continue to thrive in the family’s care. The family wishes to adopt the
children. Taking into account the relevant factors, we agree with the juvenile
court that the children’s best interests are served by severing their legal tie with
the mother, and we see no evidence the bonds are so strong as to outweigh the
children’s need for permanency. In this case, the juvenile court appropriately
declined the guardianship option in favor of termination.
IV. Conclusion.
Upon our de novo review, we conclude the State proved a statutory
ground for termination of the mother’s parental rights. Additionally, we find it is in
the children’s best interest to terminate her parental rights and no statutory
exception applies to avoid termination. We therefore affirm the juvenile court.
AFFIRMED.