NA v. State

19 P.3d 597, 2001 Alas. LEXIS 25, 2001 WL 283452
CourtAlaska Supreme Court
DecidedMarch 23, 2001
DocketS-9578
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 19 P.3d 597 (NA v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Alaska Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
NA v. State, 19 P.3d 597, 2001 Alas. LEXIS 25, 2001 WL 283452 (Ala. 2001).

Opinion

19 P.3d 597 (2001)

N.A., Appellant,
v.
STATE of Alaska, DFYS, Appellee.

No. S-9578.

Supreme Court of Alaska.

March 23, 2001.

*598 Robert S. Noreen, Law Office of Robert S. Noreen, Fairbanks, for Appellant.

Susan Paterson, Assistant Attorney General, Fairbanks, and Bruce M. Botelho, Attorney General, Juneau, for Appellee.

Before FABE, Chief Justice, MATTHEWS, EASTAUGH, BRYNER, and CARPENETI, Justices.

OPINION

CARPENETI, Justice.

I. INTRODUCTION

The superior court terminated N.A.'s parental rights to her two daughters because of N.A.'s alcohol dependency, her mental impairment causing an inability to control her rage, and her continuing choice to live with a convicted sex offender. N.A. appeals, arguing that the superior court's failure to hold a permanency hearing violated due process and that the court erred in concluding that the state made active efforts to provide remedial services and rehabilitative programs designed to prevent the termination of her parental rights. We affirm.

II. FACTS AND PROCEEDINGS

A. N.A.'s General Background

N.A. is the biological mother of five children: three girls, currently ages thirteen, seven, and five; and two boys, ages eleven and ten.

At various times between 1988 and 1997, doctors have diagnosed N.A. with alcohol dependency, borderline personality disorder, organic brain disorder, and alcohol amnestic disorder. Paul Craig, Ph.D., a neuropsychologist who diagnosed N.A. with alcohol amnestic disorder, stated that N.A. "may not be capable of learning the skills necessary to function adequately as a parent." At least *599 once, N.A. admitted to physically and verbally assaulting her sons.

In the past ten years, N.A. has entered substance abuse treatment programs three times. She completed the first program successfully, staying sober during her 1993 pregnancy. The last two attempts were unsuccessful: one program discharged her for disruptive behavior, and N.A. left the other. While N.A. had some periods of sobriety, she had at least three relapses between May 1998 and the termination hearing in November 1999.

N.A. lived with Reginald Smith, a convicted sex offender. Their relationship began in 1988. At that time, Smith was on probation after serving a year in jail on the felony charge of second degree sexual abuse of a minor. One condition of Smith's probation prohibited him from being alone with children. Smith is the father of N.A.'s last four children. At one time, N.A. alleged that Smith sexually abused her youngest daughter, but N.A. has since recanted that statement.

N.A. and Smith's relationship has been marked by violent episodes. N.A. alleged that Smith struck her with his fist and broke her jaw in 1990. In 1992 N.A. stabbed Smith in the chest; Smith was hospitalized for several weeks but recovered. In a later argument with Smith, N.A. broke the windshield of Smith's car and tried to slash his tires.

B. State Involvement with N.A. and Her Children

The Division of Family and Youth Services has been involved with N.A. since the birth of her first child, a daughter, in 1987. After several reports of parental neglect, this child was placed with her biological father.

In 1989 N.A. and Smith had their first child, a boy. In 1990 N.A. gave birth to their second son.

In 1991 N.A. left her home intoxicated, leaving her two infant sons alone with Smith, a violation of Smith's parole conditions. The state took temporary custody of the boys. While in state custody, doctors examined the boys and diagnosed them as being at high risk for developmental problems. The court found the boys to be children in need of aid and committed the boys to state custody.

In August 1992 N.A. was convicted of felony assault. She thereafter violated her probation and was court-ordered into a residential alcohol treatment program. From late 1992 through mid-1993, she successfully completed the Dena A Coy residential alcohol program for pregnant women in the Northstar Center in Anchorage. In May 1993 she gave birth to a girl. N.A. completed an alcohol treatment aftercare program in Fairbanks with the Regional Center for Alcohol and Other Addictions.

In 1994 the superior court terminated N.A.'s parental rights to the boys because her alcohol dependency and mental impairment caused her sons to be severely developmentally delayed and to require special care that she was incapable of giving. While the appeal of the termination decision was pending, N.A. gave birth to a second baby girl in June 1995.

In early 1996 this court reversed the termination of N.A.'s parental rights to the boys. We interpreted former AS 47.10.010(a)(2)(A) to require the state to show that a child had no parent able and willing to provide care.[1] Because N.A., though unable to provide care, was willing to do so, we reversed the termination of her parental rights.[2] We also held that the evidence did not support the finding that the boys would face "an imminent risk of substantial physical harm."[3] In June the boys were placed back in N.A.'s care.

In April 1997 a division social worker found N.A. intoxicated while attempting to care for a child. The police arrested N.A. for *600 probation violation, and the division petitioned for temporary custody of all four children. N.A. agreed to enter residential alcohol treatment; pending an opening in such a program, N.A. was released from jail. The girls were returned to N.A. shortly thereafter, but the state retained temporary custody of the boys.

In October of the same year, N.A. agreed to state custody for her boys for two years or until she would be permitted to take physical custody of them again in a residential alcohol treatment program. In November, when N.A. entered the Women's and Children's Residential Program (WCRP), N.A.'s daughters were placed in state custody while N.A. began the alcohol treatment program.

Within two months, N.A.'s placement at WCRP ended. Program counselors transported her to the Fairbanks Memorial Hospital mental health ward after she confronted another patient, threatened to hit a patient with a coffee pot, and used profane language toward another patient and staff in front of children. Three days later, WCRP discharged N.A. and recommended a dual treatment center—a center that could provide treatment for both alcoholism and mental health problems—in Anchorage. N.A. preferred to stay in Fairbanks. Her case worker agreed and had N.A. placed at the Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC) Paul Williams House. N.A.'s children remained in state custody.

In late January 1998 N.A. entered the Fairbanks Rescue Mission Fresh Start Program, which had experience working with dual-diagnosis patients. She left the program without completion in mid-April 1998. The Fairbanks Rescue Mission concluded that N.A. did not benefit from group living situations and recommended individual assisted living and an adult conservator. N.A. was placed back at the TCC Paul Williams House. N.A.'s children remained in state custody.

On May 8 N.A. began a weekend drinking binge. On May 10 N.A. arrived at the Paul Williams House intoxicated. After assaulting another client, N.A. was told to leave, and to return when sober. N.A.'s parole officer and police located her the following day, found her intoxicated, and arrested her for violating probation. N.A. was placed in the Fairbanks Correctional Center. N.A. was released from jail on August 3.

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Bluebook (online)
19 P.3d 597, 2001 Alas. LEXIS 25, 2001 WL 283452, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/na-v-state-alaska-2001.