IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA
No. 23-0489 Filed August 9, 2023
IN THE INTEREST OF S.C. and T.C., Minor Children,
T.C., Father, Appellant. ________________________________________________________________
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Scott County, Michael Motto, District
Associate Judge.
A father appeals the termination of his parental rights. AFFIRMED.
Steven W. Stickle of Stickle Law Firm, P.L.C., Davenport, for appellant
father.
Brenna Bird, Attorney General, and Natalie Hedberg, Assistant Attorney
General, for appellee State.
Jennifer M. Olsen, Davenport, attorney and guardian ad litem for minor
children.
Considered by Greer, P.J., and Schumacher and Badding, JJ. 2
PER CURIAM.
In May 2021, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services
determined S.C. (born in 2017) and T.C. (born in 2019) needed to be removed
from the mother’s care.1 The department contacted the father listed on both
children’s birth certificates, Tr.C., who was living in Wisconsin—he verbally agreed
to the children being placed with his grandmother as a safety plan but then
threatened to sue the department if he could not take the children back across the
state line. With concerns the father would abscond with the children, the State
successfully filed for an ex parte removal.2 The children were adjudicated in need
of assistance (CINA) in June and placed in the paternal great-grandmother’s
custody under the department’s supervision. When the department became
involved, the mother disclosed that Tr.C. was not S.C.’s biological father, which
was confirmed by paternity testing.3 After a two-day termination trial, the juvenile
court terminated the father’s rights to both children. He appeals that ruling.
During the pendency of the case, the father was combative and belligerent,
regularly threatening to sue or kill service providers and the great-grandmother.
An in-person visit with T.C. was held in September 2022; the father arrived and,
while in front of T.C., became immediately combative and only calmed when the
service provider threatened to end the visit. Other interactions the father had with
1 The mother’s parental rights were terminated in a prior proceeding, and she is
not party to this appeal. 2 At this point, the department knew that the father had committed domestic abuse
against the mother, choking her until she passed out. A no-contact order was in place. 3 S.C. was placed with her biological father’s sister, who was also a licensed foster
parent 3
service providers or the court ended with similar outbursts. Due to concerns about
his volatility, the department began offering visits virtually. In October, the father
moved for in-person visits to occur, but following a hearing, the juvenile court
denied the motion. The order provides that the motion was denied “for all the
reasons stated on the record.” But the transcript of the recorded hearing was not
provided for our review. Virtual visits did not go smoothly either, with the father
threatening to kill providers and the great-grandmother in front of T.C. As the
father’s behaviors escalated, T.C. became fearful and worried about being apart
from his great-grandmother.
As for any progress with S.C., the department also scheduled virtual visits
with the father and S.C., who was living out of state by this point; the father was
directed not to refer to himself as “Dad” or “Daddy” in order to avoid confusing the
child.4 But, during the first virtual visit, the father was unable to follow this direction
and the visit was ended early.
Visits were eventually suspended altogether in November, as the
department noted the visits were causing “mental injury” and confusion for the
children. The department’s social work case manager testified the department had
serious concerns about the father’s control over his emotions and mental health;
but, while the father was offered solutions-based casework (SBC),5 drug testing,
and a mental-health evaluation, he insisted he would only participate in visitation
4 The caseworker testified S.C. had demonstrated severe behavioral issues that
made this type of confusion contrary to her best interests. 5 The father attended a few sessions, which often ended with vulgar language and
threats to service providers. The case manager testified the father never demonstrated that he learned anything during the sessions. 4
and refused all other services. The case manager testified she attempted to
contact the father monthly but either found him unreachable or, when she was able
to make contact, was told to go through his attorney.6
A virtual assessment of the father’s home was done in August 2022; the
provider believed the home was appropriate. But the father has a roommate
whose identity remains unknown, so the department could not determine if the
roommate was an appropriate person for the children to be around.
A termination hearing was held on December 13, 2022, and February 22,
2023. The court terminated the father’s rights to T.C. under Iowa Code
section 232.116(1)(e) and (h) (2022) and to S.C. under section 232.116(1)(e) and
(f). He now appeals, challenging whether the State made reasonable efforts toward
reunification and the evidence supporting the grounds for termination.
We review a termination of parental rights de novo. In re P.L., 778 N.W.2d
33, 40 (Iowa 2010). We begin with the father’s challenge of the State’s efforts
toward reunification. See In re C.B., 611 N.W.2d 489, 493 (Iowa 2000) (“The State
must show reasonable efforts as a part of its ultimate proof the child cannot be
safely returned to the care of a parent.”). While the father did challenge the
department’s efforts to the court before the termination hearing, we are unable to
6 A few of the father’s responses to the caseworker’s emails were entered into
evidence. In December 2022, when the caseworker asked the father if he would sign a release for his mental-health records, he responded, “[M]y mental health is not of your concern because that’s confidentiality.” In February 2023, when the caseworker asked when the father would be available for a monthly contact, the father stated he was “suing Scott County and [the department]” and told her to “[l]eave [him] the fuck alone.” The juvenile court observed first-hand similar belligerent behaviors demonstrated by the father during his termination trial testimony. 5
review the decision because the reasoning was given orally at a hearing and a
transcript of that hearing was not provided for our review. See In re F.W.S., 698
N.W.2d 134, 135–36 (Iowa Ct. App. 2005) (“Without the benefit of a full record of
the lower courts’ proceedings, it is improvident for us to exercise appellate
review.”). Moreover, the father did not use the services offered to him, including
SBC and a mental-health evaluation. See In re M.P., No. 19-0995, 2019 WL
5063337, at *4 (Iowa Ct. App. Oct. 9, 2019) (“[T]he reasonable-efforts mandate
does not create a menu from which discerning parents may order specific services.
Rather, it is intended to provide services that facilitate reunification given the
parent’s circumstances.”); In re C.P., No. 18-1536, 2018 WL 6131214, at *3 (Iowa
Ct. App. Nov. 21, 2018) (“The issue in this case was not the failure to provide
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IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA
No. 23-0489 Filed August 9, 2023
IN THE INTEREST OF S.C. and T.C., Minor Children,
T.C., Father, Appellant. ________________________________________________________________
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Scott County, Michael Motto, District
Associate Judge.
A father appeals the termination of his parental rights. AFFIRMED.
Steven W. Stickle of Stickle Law Firm, P.L.C., Davenport, for appellant
father.
Brenna Bird, Attorney General, and Natalie Hedberg, Assistant Attorney
General, for appellee State.
Jennifer M. Olsen, Davenport, attorney and guardian ad litem for minor
children.
Considered by Greer, P.J., and Schumacher and Badding, JJ. 2
PER CURIAM.
In May 2021, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services
determined S.C. (born in 2017) and T.C. (born in 2019) needed to be removed
from the mother’s care.1 The department contacted the father listed on both
children’s birth certificates, Tr.C., who was living in Wisconsin—he verbally agreed
to the children being placed with his grandmother as a safety plan but then
threatened to sue the department if he could not take the children back across the
state line. With concerns the father would abscond with the children, the State
successfully filed for an ex parte removal.2 The children were adjudicated in need
of assistance (CINA) in June and placed in the paternal great-grandmother’s
custody under the department’s supervision. When the department became
involved, the mother disclosed that Tr.C. was not S.C.’s biological father, which
was confirmed by paternity testing.3 After a two-day termination trial, the juvenile
court terminated the father’s rights to both children. He appeals that ruling.
During the pendency of the case, the father was combative and belligerent,
regularly threatening to sue or kill service providers and the great-grandmother.
An in-person visit with T.C. was held in September 2022; the father arrived and,
while in front of T.C., became immediately combative and only calmed when the
service provider threatened to end the visit. Other interactions the father had with
1 The mother’s parental rights were terminated in a prior proceeding, and she is
not party to this appeal. 2 At this point, the department knew that the father had committed domestic abuse
against the mother, choking her until she passed out. A no-contact order was in place. 3 S.C. was placed with her biological father’s sister, who was also a licensed foster
parent 3
service providers or the court ended with similar outbursts. Due to concerns about
his volatility, the department began offering visits virtually. In October, the father
moved for in-person visits to occur, but following a hearing, the juvenile court
denied the motion. The order provides that the motion was denied “for all the
reasons stated on the record.” But the transcript of the recorded hearing was not
provided for our review. Virtual visits did not go smoothly either, with the father
threatening to kill providers and the great-grandmother in front of T.C. As the
father’s behaviors escalated, T.C. became fearful and worried about being apart
from his great-grandmother.
As for any progress with S.C., the department also scheduled virtual visits
with the father and S.C., who was living out of state by this point; the father was
directed not to refer to himself as “Dad” or “Daddy” in order to avoid confusing the
child.4 But, during the first virtual visit, the father was unable to follow this direction
and the visit was ended early.
Visits were eventually suspended altogether in November, as the
department noted the visits were causing “mental injury” and confusion for the
children. The department’s social work case manager testified the department had
serious concerns about the father’s control over his emotions and mental health;
but, while the father was offered solutions-based casework (SBC),5 drug testing,
and a mental-health evaluation, he insisted he would only participate in visitation
4 The caseworker testified S.C. had demonstrated severe behavioral issues that
made this type of confusion contrary to her best interests. 5 The father attended a few sessions, which often ended with vulgar language and
threats to service providers. The case manager testified the father never demonstrated that he learned anything during the sessions. 4
and refused all other services. The case manager testified she attempted to
contact the father monthly but either found him unreachable or, when she was able
to make contact, was told to go through his attorney.6
A virtual assessment of the father’s home was done in August 2022; the
provider believed the home was appropriate. But the father has a roommate
whose identity remains unknown, so the department could not determine if the
roommate was an appropriate person for the children to be around.
A termination hearing was held on December 13, 2022, and February 22,
2023. The court terminated the father’s rights to T.C. under Iowa Code
section 232.116(1)(e) and (h) (2022) and to S.C. under section 232.116(1)(e) and
(f). He now appeals, challenging whether the State made reasonable efforts toward
reunification and the evidence supporting the grounds for termination.
We review a termination of parental rights de novo. In re P.L., 778 N.W.2d
33, 40 (Iowa 2010). We begin with the father’s challenge of the State’s efforts
toward reunification. See In re C.B., 611 N.W.2d 489, 493 (Iowa 2000) (“The State
must show reasonable efforts as a part of its ultimate proof the child cannot be
safely returned to the care of a parent.”). While the father did challenge the
department’s efforts to the court before the termination hearing, we are unable to
6 A few of the father’s responses to the caseworker’s emails were entered into
evidence. In December 2022, when the caseworker asked the father if he would sign a release for his mental-health records, he responded, “[M]y mental health is not of your concern because that’s confidentiality.” In February 2023, when the caseworker asked when the father would be available for a monthly contact, the father stated he was “suing Scott County and [the department]” and told her to “[l]eave [him] the fuck alone.” The juvenile court observed first-hand similar belligerent behaviors demonstrated by the father during his termination trial testimony. 5
review the decision because the reasoning was given orally at a hearing and a
transcript of that hearing was not provided for our review. See In re F.W.S., 698
N.W.2d 134, 135–36 (Iowa Ct. App. 2005) (“Without the benefit of a full record of
the lower courts’ proceedings, it is improvident for us to exercise appellate
review.”). Moreover, the father did not use the services offered to him, including
SBC and a mental-health evaluation. See In re M.P., No. 19-0995, 2019 WL
5063337, at *4 (Iowa Ct. App. Oct. 9, 2019) (“[T]he reasonable-efforts mandate
does not create a menu from which discerning parents may order specific services.
Rather, it is intended to provide services that facilitate reunification given the
parent’s circumstances.”); In re C.P., No. 18-1536, 2018 WL 6131214, at *3 (Iowa
Ct. App. Nov. 21, 2018) (“The issue in this case was not the failure to provide
appropriately tailored communications and services, it was [the parent’s] failure to
avail herself of the services provided. [The parent’s] failure to use the services
provided defeats her reasonable-efforts claim.”). The father’s challenge to the
State’s reasonable efforts toward reunification, then, must fail.
We turn next to the statutory grounds for termination. When the juvenile
court terminates parental rights on more than one statutory ground, we may affirm
the juvenile court’s order on any ground we find supported by the record. In re
A.B., 815 N.W.2d 764, 774 (Iowa 2012). So, we narrow our review to the common
fourth element of Iowa Code section 232.116(1)(h) and (f),7 the only element of
these grounds the father challenges on appeal—whether or not the children could
7 The two sections are largely similar, but section 232.116(1)(h) applies to children
three years of age or younger and 232.116(1)(f) to children four years of age or older. 6
be returned to the father’s care at the time of the termination hearing. See In re
D.W., 791 N.W.2d 703, 707 (Iowa 2010) (interpreting “at the present time” as “at
the time of the termination hearing”). Given the father’s unwillingness to speak
with providers, they were unable to determine basic things such as if his living
situation was appropriate for the children. See In re T.N., No. 23-0578, 2023 WL
4103955, at *2 (Iowa Ct. App. June 21, 2023) (recognizing that “‘we do not require
compliance for compliance’s sake’ from parents seeking reunification,” but
noncompliance can create roadblocks preventing safe reunification (citation
omitted)). More troubling, his uncontrollable anger and mental-health concerns
remain unresolved with the father showing no insight into how those behaviors
impacted the children. With that lack of insight, the father refused to engage in
any testing or submit to a mental health evaluation to address his “severe
behaviors.” As the children could not be returned to the father’s care at the time
of the termination hearing, we find the State proved the grounds for termination.
On our de novo review, we affirm the termination of the father’s parental
rights.
AFFIRMED.