In the Interest of Z.S., A.A., and T.A., Minor Children ( 2022 )

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA
No. 21-1738
Filed April 13, 2022
IN THE INTEREST OF Z.S., A.A., and T.A.,
Minor Children,
B.W., Mother,
Appellant,
T.A., Father,
Appellant.
________________________________________________________________
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Polk County, Kimberly Ayotte Renze,
District Associate Judge.
A mother and a father separately appeal the termination of their parental
rights. AFFIRMED ON BOTH APPEALS.
Teresa M. Pope of Branstad & Olson Law Office, Des Moines, for appellant
mother.
Cathleen Siebrecht of Siebrecht Law Firm, Des Moines, for appellant father
of A.A. and T.A.
Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General, and Ellen Ramsey-Kacena, Assistant
Attorney General, for appellee State.
Kayla Stratton, Des Moines, attorney and guardian ad litem for minor
children.
Considered by Bower, C.J., and Vaitheswaran and Chicchelly, JJ.
2
BOWER, Chief Judge.
The mother of three children—Z.S., A.A., and T.A.—and the father of A.A.
and T.A. separately appeal the termination of their parental rights.1 The mother
contests the grounds for termination, asserts the court should have allowed her
additional time, termination is not in the children’s best interests, and argues the
court erred in denying her request to place all three children in a guardianship with
the maternal grandparents. The father asserts the court should have granted him
additional time to seek reunification and argues termination of his rights was not
necessary because his children are safe in their placement with the paternal
grandparents. We affirm on both appeals.
I. Background Facts.
Brooke is the mother of all three children: T.A. born in 2012, A.A. born in
2013, and Z.S. born in June 2020. Thomas is the father of the older two children.
Terrell is the putative father of Z.S. Domestic violence occurred in Brooke’s
relationships with both fathers.
On May 21, 2020, the department of human services (DHS) began
investigating concerns Brooke and Terrell were abusing opiates while caring for
A.A. and T.A. and that Terrell had physically assaulted Brooke in front of the
children. Brooke initially avoided DHS but finally agreed to provide a drug screen;
she failed to follow through with the drug screen and continued to avoid DHS.
1 Terrell, the putative father of Z.S., did not participate in scheduled paternity
testing and did not participate in any services offered to the family. He does not
appeal.
3
On May 26, Brooke completed a substance-abuse evaluation at UCS
Healthcare in which she reported she had been abusing prescription pain pills, got
pregnant, and realized she could not stop taking opioids. She reported using
opiates for six months to a year, with the longest period of abstinence being only
three days; she reported using as frequently as three times daily. A drug screen
taken that day was negative for all substances. Brooke was diagnosed with Opioid
Use Disorder, Severe, and was recommended to participate in extended outpatient
treatment and Medically Assisted Treatment (MAT).
On May 29, DHS was able to speak to Brooke, after showing up at the
house unannounced. Brooke reported she had been in treatment for a while and
agreed to provide a drug screen that day. The record does not indicate whether
Brooke actually did so.
When Z.S. was born in early June, a nurse reported Terrell had been at the
hospital with Brooke and Z.S., sleeping in her room with the baby. There was a
no-contact order in effect between Brooke and Terrell. Brooke first denied his
presence but later acknowledged he had been at the hospital. She denied using
opioids during her pregnancy and claimed a sweat patch she had put on at DHS’s
request was tampered with. Z.S. tested positive for methadone at birth.
DHS spoke with UCS to confirm Brooke’s participation in services and found
Brooke had missed an orientation session and her next appointment after her
evaluation. UCS session notes from June 17 indicate Brooke was informed she
needed to meet with her counselor by June 18 or she would be out of compliance
with the MAT program. Brooke’s treatment counselor reported to DHS Brooke
would not be able to continue dosing—obtaining dialing methadone doses—until
4
she met with the counselor. Brooke did not cooperate with DHS’s attempt to
develop a safety plan, and DHS sought temporary removal.2
Brooke and the children were located at the maternal grandparents’ home.
A law enforcement officer accompanied DHS workers to the residence. The officer
called for backup assistance. The juvenile court describes the removal process:
Brooke and her parents . . . were not cooperative with DHS in
executing the removal. The police body cam video demonstrates
that Brooke and her family were extremely belligerent and highly
agitated. The body camera footage was offered as an exhibit at the
termination hearing and is extremely disturbing. The children were
present and were clearly distraught by the screaming and yelling that
was occurring. DHS remained calm throughout the process, despite
the reactions of Brooke and her family. A police officer can be heard
saying that the family was telling the children they would be abused
in foster care.
2 The June 18, 2020 affidavit submitted in support of temporary removal states:
The circumstances surrounding the need for removal are: The
mother is involved in a violent relationship . . . . The couple have a
no-contact order because of domestic violence related reasons but
the couple knowingly violate that order. On or about May 21, 2020,
the DHS received allegations that the couple were abusing opiates
while they cared for [T.A. and A.A.]. The DHS met with the mother
on May 20, 2020, but she refused to provide a drug screen. It would
be later learned that on May 26, 2020, the mother sought treatment
at UCS and was prescribed methadone. On May 29, 2020, the
mother agreed to a drug screen patch. Then, [in June], [Z.S.] was
born positive for methadone. It’s reported that the mother’s doctor
was unaware of the mother’s methadone treatment; and soon after,
the mother said that her drug screen patch fell off. Records indicate
that [Terrell] visited the mother at the hospital, although the mother
was not forthright with that information. Since [Z.S.] was discharged
from the hospital, the mother missed the follow up appointment with
his pediatrician, the mother missed appointments with UCS and the
mother refuses to communicate or cooperate with the DHS regarding
the welfare of these children. The mother and relatives will not
coordinate a safety plan for these children and it’s reported that the
mother may be dropped from the UCS treatment program for failure
to meet. Also, when evaluated at UCS, the mother reported that
[she] abused prescription pain killers multiple times a day for
approximately six months before she learned she was pregnant with
[Z.S.]
5
A contested removal hearing was held on June 29 and July 7. The court
confirmed the removal and continued the children in foster care with custody with
DHS. The court found issues of domestic violence and Brooke’s minimization of
her substance abuse created risks of inadequate supervision of the children.
Adjudication and Disposition. After an August 4 contested adjudication
hearing, the court found T.A. reported witnessing domestic violence between
Brooke and Terrell on a number of occasions. One time, T.A. called 911, but
Brooke got on the line and reported everything was fine. Brooke denied ever
exposing the children to domestic violence or violating the no-contact order. The
court found Brooke was not credible regarding her relationship with Terrell or the
domestic violence, which placed the children at imminent risk of suffering physical
abuse and neglect. The court also found Brooke continued to minimize her
substance-use disorder and was not in full compliance with MAT, placing her at
greater risk of relapse. The children were adjudicated children in need of
assistance (CINA). The court ordered Brooke to provide drug screens at the
request of DHS and participate fully in her MAT. Brooke and Terrell were ordered
to participate in domestic-violence services. DHS was to assess family members
for potential placement of the children.
On August 13, the court modified T.A. and A.A.’s placement from DHS
foster care into the custody of their paternal grandparents.3 They have remained
3T.A. and A.A. were initially placed in the same home with Z.S. but the foster family
expressed concerns because A.A.’s behaviors endangered their four-year-old
child.
6
in the paternal grandparents’ care and Z.S. has remained in the care of the foster
family.
Review. A review hearing was held on November 6. Neither father
appeared or was participating in services. Brooke was participating in MAT but
was not attending all required programing. The court also ruled Brooke needed to
engage in Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) with the children, sign necessary
releases so the children could participate in services, and consistently attend her
family interactions.
The maternal grandparents filed a motion to intervene and sought to have
the children placed with them. The court set the motions for consideration at the
next review hearing.
On March 22, 2021, the court issued its review order. The court noted
“Thomas believes his children should be placed with his father until he moves into
his own place.” The court made these findings:
8. There is a little progress being made. In January 2021,
there were positive drug screens without admission of use by
Brooke. The mother had missed some dosing, and Brooke was not
fully compliant with MAT expectations. Brooke has been slow to
engage with CPP services with the children. As of March 2021,
Brooke was not consistently attending CPP with [Z.S.] due to her lack
of consistency in her own individual therapy. [A.A.]’s therapist
recommends that Brooke participate in a parent only session with
her, only after she has attended two session of her own mental health
therapy. Brooke has not engaged with Drake Early Head Start
consistently. Brooke is attending substance abuse treatment. She
is providing drug screens for treatment. She has not provided drug
screens for DHS as asked. [She] lacks insight as to why she and the
children are court involved. Brooke is not consistently engaged in
therapy services to help gain that insight, process her feelings of
anger and frustrations, and address the reasons that the children
were removed. Today Brooke reports that she does not [have] a
good rapport with her individual therapist and that she is looking into
a new one. It is important that Brooke is able to have open and
7
honest communication with her therapist. It is also important that
Brooke address domestic violence with her advocate. Moving
forward, Brooke will need to find a therapist to work with so that she
can beg[i]n making therapeutic progress. Brooke needs to
consistently attend her visits with the children. The children are in
need of consistent ongoing therapy. The [guardian ad litem (GAL)]
reports that the older children are doing well in the home of the
paternal grandparents. [Thomas] has disengaged with services
including visitation. [Terrell] is not involved with any services.
9. Brooke is consistent in her substance abuse treatment,
including MAT, group and individual sessions, and her drug screens
for treatment. The court is pleased to see that engagement.
10. Brooke clearly has a lot of anger and frustration with DHS
and with the removal of her children. There is a lack of trust between
her and any of the professional team members attempting to work
with her. Brooke has expressed feeling that DHS has lied to the
court, and does not recognize any positive work on her part. Her
focus on her anger towards DHS is a barrier to her addressing the
areas in her life that this court believes is necessary for reunification.
Brooke and this team are encouraged to continue to work on building
a relationship that facilitates trust and progress.
The court determined that placement with the intervenor was not in the
children’s best interest:
12. Brooke’s mother has requested placement of all three
children. . . . At the time of the children’s initial removal, DHS did not
recommend placement with [the maternal grandparents] due to their
inappropriate behavior at the time that DHS was executing the
removal. They were verbally aggressive with the worker,
uncooperative, and told the children that children are molested in
foster care. This is particularly concerning given that the maternal
grandparents [are] licensed foster parents. The court agreed with
the assessment the children should not be placed in their care, and
confirmed that order at the Adjudication hearing and the Disposition
hearing. Much like Brooke, [grandmother] has animosity towards
DHS that creates difficulty in building a working relationship. [She]
reports that she has a brain injury that affects her ability to
emotionally regulate. As a result, [maternal grandmother] has been
inappropriate with DHS and with providers. DHS reports that [she]
frequently texts about placement of the children and visitation. When
[she] does not get the response she wants, she becomes upset and
the children are placed in the middle of it. For example, the maternal
grandparents were not appropriate during a [family team meeting]
and the facilitator had to direct them to stop talking. There is some
question about whether this home will be able to maintain their foster
8
care/adoptive license. Four Oaks is requiring additional information
from them before a determination can be made. In addition, DHS
has concerns regarding whether [maternal grandmother] has the
ability to provide care for the children. Both grandparents are on
disability. [Grandmother] reports that she is paralyzed in her arm and
hand. She also reports suffering negative [e]ffects from a brain injury
she suffered. The children have expressed concerns regarding their
grandfather’s vision and ability to drive. DHS has asked for further
medical documentation to determine whether there are any medical
reasons that would prevent the maternal grandparents from
providing care to the children. This court has ordered supervised
visitation with the grandparents in the past because of the
inappropriate conversations they have had with or in front of the
children. To the grandmother’s credit, she acknowledged and
apologized for her behavior. However, she still lacks insight and
understanding as to why the children were removed from her
daughter, or why they have not been placed in her care. The court
has responsibility to engage in concurrent planning as well as to
minimize the number of moves these children experience. They are
in concurrent homes at this time, although the youngest is separated
from the older two. There is not current evidence that the
grandparents will be able to be licensed to adopt these, nor that it
would be in the children’s best interest to be placed with them at this
time.
Permanency hearing. The court scheduled a permanency hearing, which
was held on May 20 and July 8. The court entered its order on July 8. In denying
Brooke’s request for a six-month extension, the court found:
Brooke has struggled to engage in services, to be open an[d] honest
about her substance use disorder, and her mental health needs. She
is resistive to DHS and her [Family-Centered Service (FCS)]
provider. Brooke has been expected to engage in mental health
services but testified on July 8, 2021[,] that prior to June 2021, she
had only attended therapy a handful of times. Since June, she has
seen her mental health provider only about [three] times. Her mental
health provider also provides substance abuse counseling and she
sees her once a month for substance abuse. In addition to taking
her medication, Brooke is expected to attend multiple groups a week
at UCS. Brooke has not consistently done so. Brooke tested positive
for cocaine in March 2021. Brooke is unwilling to provide information
about who she was with when using. She is also unwilling to share
information about her romantic partners. Brooke isn’t able to
recognize why it is important for the court to know that she is around
safe, stable individuals to help support her long term recovery.
9
Based on the progress that has been made, coupled with Brooke’s
resistance to working with providers, the court does not find an
extension to be appropriate.
The court noted again that neither father had engaged in services. The
court modified the permanency goal to termination of parental rights.
Termination. The permanency review and termination-of-parental-rights
hearing was held on August 27 and 31, September 20 and 23, and October 18.
The record indicates Thomas attended a few hours of the August 27 hearing but
did not return after a break. He did not participate further. Thomas had provided
no support for his children and had ceased all communication with DHS.
In her testimony Brooke acknowledged she had missed visits and
appointments “in the past” but testified she was currently “doing what I’m supposed
to be doing right now.” Her individual USC counselor was providing co-occurring
mental-health and substance-abuse sessions and she had attended six sessions
in ten weeks. The individual sessions were conducted virtually. Her group
sessions had returned to an in-person format in June; she attended five group
sessions in June, four group sessions in July, and two in August. She was also
speaking with a domestic violence advocate, had suitable housing, and
employment. Brooke asked that the children be returned to her or that she be
given more time to work toward reunification.
Brooke denied the children had ever witnessed the domestic violence
between her and Terrell. She did not remember T.A. calling 911 and Brooke
interrupting the call to state everything was fine. Brooke testified she did not think
arguments and fights behind closed doors with her significant other were wrong;
rather, it was “normal.” She did not believe her abuse of prescription opiates was
10
a reason for removing the children because she “was taking care of that on my
own.” When asked about the reports she did not take feedback from service
providers well, Brooke stated, “I have not been any—against them or anything they
said to me. Since I was told take the feedback without fighting about it, without
saying anything about it, I have not went against [Sarah] Swinton or anything she’s
stated.” Brooke then called the State’s attorney a “Dumb ass.” And when asked
if Brooke thought there was still work for her to do about her defensiveness, she
responded: “No. . . . I simply don’t like you.”
Brooke continued to be angry with DHS. She stressed the affidavit
supporting removal contained a lie—that she was going to be kicked out of MAT.4
And she stated she believed DHS social worker Whitney Gamm was going to make
money by adopting her three children out.
Amy Winters, Brooke’s UCS Healthcare therapist, testified “from what she’s
shared with me, it would appear she has made progress.” Winters stated, “I don’t
know enough about Brooke to give a professional opinion about [MAT] a program
that I don’t run.” Winters also stated a number of times that she had only been
working with Brooke since June. When asked about Brooke’s apparent readiness
to change, Winters stated Brooke was in the “accent stage.” Winters could not
remember Brooke’s relapse risk. And, when asked what Brooke’s prognosis was,
Winters stated, “We’re making progress.”
4As noted in footnote 3, the affidavit notes only that “it’s reported that the mother
may be dropped from the UCS treatment program for failure to meet.” (Emphasis
added.)
11
On September 20, Gamm testified and acknowledged Brooke was
participating in recommended interactions with a domestic violence advocate,
mental-health therapy, and substance-abuse treatment. Reports of Brooke’s
interactions during visits were generally positive.
Gamm, however, expressed concern because both Brooke’s UCS
treatment and diagnoses were unclear. She did not understand how Brooke was
progressing through MAT programming and having her expectations lowered even
though Brooke was not compliant with program expectations. Gamm was
concerned because Brooke was asked by DHS to get drug screens on August 14
and December 21, 2020, and on February 17, 2021, but Brooke failed to show.5
Gamm testified that when she met with Brooke in late March or early April, she
was not aware Brooke had tested positive for cocaine at UCS because Brooke did
not disclose that test result. She stated that while Brooke appeared to be refraining
from opiates, she was experimenting with a new substance and the “cocaine
positive wasn’t found until she was ordered to re-sign a release because she had
revoked [MAT’s] release from the department.” Consequently, in April when
Brooke agreed to wear the sweat patch, which tested negative for all but
methadone, DHS did not have a full picture. Then, on August 2, Brooke was again
a no- show when DHS requested a drug screen. Gamm was questioned about
Brooke’s stated reason for not attending the August 2 drug screen—that she would
have been late for work. Gamm responded she was offered a ride to the testing
and:
5Brooke submitted a drug screen for MAT in March and the April 1 result indicated
positive for cocaine. Brooke did not share this information with DHS.
12
[Brooke] had indicated that her job was rather flexible, and in
following up—when I followed up with her manager, they had
indicated to me that they would have allowed her to go and be late,
that they have a number of employees in similar situations, and they
would have allowed her to be late to work had she dropped—or done
a drug screen.
Gamm also expressed concern because UCS’s drug screens were not completely
random. Though drug screens did not occur every Thursday, Brooke knew she
could be tested on Thursdays when she arrived to pick up her weekly doses.
Gamm testified Brooke had not yet taken accountability for DHS’s
involvement with the family and lacked insight about the effects of substance
abuse and domestic violence on the children. Gamm testified insight and
accountability are important: “For [a parent] to understand that the reason the
department became involved were the safety concerns and helping them fix those
issues and be supportive to them so that we return children to never have to
become involved or re-remove children again.”
With respect to Brooke’s request the maternal grandmother and her
significant other be allowed to be a placement for all three children, Gamm testified
the maternal grandmother had failed to provide requested information concerning
the brain injury she had suffered, resulting in her inability to regulate her emotions
as well as physical disability, both of which countermanded safe placement of the
children in her and her significant other’s care.
DHS, the FCS provider, and the children’s GAL all recommended
termination of parental rights. The court terminated Thomas’s rights under Iowa
Code section 232.116(1)(b), (e), and (f) (2021). Brooke’s rights were terminated
13
under paragraphs (d) and (l) as to all three children, (f) as to A.A. and T.A., and (h)
as to Z.S.
Brooke and Thomas appeal. Brooke contests the grounds for termination,
asserts the court should have allowed her additional time, claims termination is not
in the children’s best interests, and argues the court erred in denying her request
to place all three children in a guardianship with the maternal grandparents. The
father asserts the court should have granted him additional time to seek
reunification and argues termination of his rights was not necessary because his
children are safe in their placement with the paternal grandparents.
II. Scope and Standard of review.
We review the termination of parental rights de novo, giving weight to the
juvenile court’s finding of facts. In re A.M., 843 N.W.2d 100, 110 (Iowa 2014). We
give weight to the juvenile court’s findings as to witness credibility because of its
superior position to observe the witnesses and their demeanor. See In re K.P.,
No. 13-0100, 2013 WL 1457845, at *4 (Iowa Ct. App. Apr. 10, 2013).
III. Discussion.
A. Three-step analysis and burden of proof: When reviewing a termination
of parental rights, we consider the three steps outlined in Iowa Code section
232.116: (1) whether the State’s evidence supports a ground for termination;
(2) whether termination is in the children’s best interests; and (3) whether any
exceptions to termination apply. In re M.W., 876 N.W.2d 212, 219–20 (Iowa 2016).
We look for clear and convincing evidence, that is, whether the State’s proof leaves
us with no “serious or substantial doubts” about the correctness of the juvenile
court’s conclusions of law. Id. at 219 (citation omitted).
14
It is the State’s burden to prove grounds for termination exist by clear and
convincing evidence; “the parent resisting termination bears the burden to
establish an exception” under Iowa Code section 232.116(3). In re A.S., 906
N.W.2d 467, 476 (Iowa 2018).
B. The mother’s appeal.
Grounds exist. Brooke contends the State did not prove the statutory
grounds for termination. When, as here, the court rests its decision on more than
one paragraph under section 232.116(1), we may affirm on any supported ground.
In re D.W., 791 N.W.2d 703, 707 (Iowa 2010). We will address paragraphs (f) and
(h) as both require the State to prove a child has been adjudicated CINA, been out
of the parent’s custody for a specified statutory period, and cannot be returned to
the parent “at the present time.”6 The mother contests only the issue of whether
the children could safely be returned to her at the present time, meaning “at the
time of the termination hearing.” See id.Brooke asserts that because she has a “proven commitment” to her children
and has engaged with the provided services, she is in the same position as a
parent whose termination was reversed in In re C.Z., 956 N.W.2d 113 (Iowa 2021).
In C.Z., the supreme court found clear and convincing evidence was lacking that
6 Iowa Code section 232.116(1)(f) is applicable to children (1) “four years of age or
older” (2) who have been adjudicated CINA, (3) have been removed from the
parent’s physical custody “for at least twelve of the last eighteen months, or for the
last twelve consecutive months,” and (4) cannot be returned to the parent’s
custody “at the present time” without risk of adjudicatory harm.
Section 232.116(1)(h) is applicable to children (1) “three years of age or
younger” (2) who have been adjudicated CINA, (3) have been removed “for at least
six months of the last twelve months, or for the last six consecutive months,” and
(4) cannot be returned to the parent’s custody “at the present time” without risk of
adjudicatory harm.
15
the child could not have been safely returned to her father’s custody, noting the
father’s consistent engagement with services and the testimony of “key witnesses”
who recommended return of the child to the father. 956 N.W.2d at 123. The court
wrote:
The testimony of the therapist, counselor, and Early Access social
worker showed the father’s responsiveness to these services. The
[court appointed special advocate] and [Family Safety, Risk, and
Permanency (FSRP)] worker stated his visits with C.Z. were positive;
he demonstrated an eagerness to learn how to care for his daughter
and a concern with her well-being. The father attended most of the
offered visits, while a few were cancelled due to C.Z. or her father
not feeling well. Three DHS workers and the FSRP worker testified
as to the father’s responsiveness to services. Their testimony
demonstrated the father’s cooperation throughout the case and
ultimately, all agreed that he was capable of caring for C.Z.
The father violated a court order, drank alcohol after his
relapse, and provided one tampered drug screen and a positive drug
test. However, he showed remorse, admitted his alcohol use at the
termination hearing, and provided negative drug screens after the
tampered drug screen. He testified he had completely abstained
from alcohol in the past few months and he understood that he
should not have alcohol, as it had been a proven trigger.
The father at times was less than forthcoming and showed
poor judgment when he insulted the judge on a recorded line and
when he delayed reporting his relapse. His relapse prompted DHS
to seek termination. But he made amends and got back on track.
DHS ultimately changed its position and recommended C.Z. be
returned to her father.
Id.
There are some similarities between Brooke’s position and C.Z.’s father—
both relapsed and had bad judgment in insulting others.
There are notable differences as well. In C.Z., the father had moved to four
overnight visits per week, which continued for about thirty days. Id. at 116. He
transported the child “to and from daycare, handled her medical appointments, and
took care of her daily needs.” Id. He continued working at the workplace where
16
he had been employed through the duration of the case. Id. In contrast, Brooke
had not moved beyond supervised visits, had not attended the majority of her
children’s medical and mental-health appointments, and had changed employment
during the course of the termination hearings. Brooke did not delay reporting her
positive test for cocaine—she did not report it at all to DHS. Brooke has not shown
a responsiveness to services or shown cooperation throughout the case. Rather,
the testimony of Brooke’s service providers was that Brooke had become more
consistent after the permanency hearing, i.e. after the court changed the
permanency goal to termination of parental rights and adoption.
On our de novo review, we concur in the juvenile court’s assessment:
Since the children’s removal, Brooke has struggled with
attending all her offered family interactions. She had to sign a
visitation contract with her FCS worker to address visitation
expectations. Those expectations included confirming visits,
participating in CPP, and following FCS recommendations regarding
parenting. Brooke has trouble accepting parenting direction from
FCS. She becomes escalated and agitated in her communications
with FCS and DHS. When attentive and focused, Brooke shows
good parenting skills. However, when distracted, she misses her
children’s cues. Brooke provides consistent affection, but
sometimes intrusive affection.
Brooke is now seeing a therapist who provides both her
substance abuse counseling and her mental health therapy. . . . Ms.
Winters showed little awareness of Brooke’s prior treatment history,
substance abuse history, and current engagement with MAT. The
therapist was unable to provide clear goals of what was being
addressed in therapy. Ms. Winters was not aware of the
recommendations for accountability by Brooke’s prior therapist. Ms.
Winters was defensive in her testimony, and the court was unable to
gain useful information about Brooke’s progress in addressing both
her substance use and her mental health needs.
Brooke’s own testimony highlights the lack of progress she
has made since the children’s removal. Brooke still does not
understand why her children were removed. She cannot see how
her report to UCS regarding a daily opioid use would impact her
ability to care for the children safely. Brooke testified that she lied
about daily use in order to be admitted into the MAT. Even if the
17
court found that credible, it still demonstrates significant thinking
errors on Brooke’s part. Brooke is able to provide negative drug
screens for her treatment provider, but those drug screens are not
truly random. Brooke does not provide random drug screens when
asked by DHS, even knowing that the court considers missed drug
screens to be positive.
Brooke takes little accountability in how this case has
progressed.
We are also concerned with Brooke’s rejection of T.A.’s statements she
witnessed domestic violence.
We acknowledge Brooke had begun to identify unhealthy behaviors and
setting boundaries with others. And she has belatedly engaged with Early Head
Start and CPP. It remains to be seen if Brooke can internalize the concepts she
is learning. There is clear and convincing evidence the children could not be
returned to Brooke’s custody at the time of the hearing.
Additional time is not warranted. The juvenile court denied Brooke’s request
for additional time after the permanency hearing in July. We have set out the
court’s reasons above. After another four months, the mother only recently
engaged with services on a more consistent basis. Therefore, we are not confident
the need for removal will no longer exist after an additional six months. See Iowa
Code § 232.104(2)(b).
Best interests. We next address Brooke’s claim that termination of her
parental rights is not the children’s best interests. In determining a child’s best
interests, we are required to “give primary consideration to the child’s safety, to the
best placement for furthering the long-term nurturing and growth of the child, and
to the physical, mental, and emotional condition and needs of the child.” Id.§ 232.116(2). “[T]he legislature ‘has significantly, and not too subtly, identified a
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child’s safety and his or her need for a permanent home as the defining elements
in a child’s best interests.’” In re H.S., 805 N.W.2d 737, 748 (Iowa 2011) (citation
omitted).
Two quotes from service providers sum up the children’s need for safety
and permanency. T.A. and A.A.’s Family Support Specialist noted in a May 17,
2021 report: “The uncertainty of not knowing their permanent placement has been
taking a huge toll on the older children.” And in June 2021, “Given [Z.S.’s]
A[dverse] C[hildhood] E[xperiences] score, developmental stage, and his
attachment needs it is imperative that a plan be developed to provide [Z.S.] with a
long-term option for a safe and nurturing home.” When written, the children had
been out of the mother’s custody for about a year.
Only after the permanency hearing did Brooke begin to more consistently
engage in mental-health counseling and domestic-abuse services. Her therapist’s
notes indicate Brooke spent a great deal of time in her therapy sessions airing her
grievances about DHS rather than addressing her own issues and needs. And, at
the termination hearing, Brooke minimized the effects of domestic abuse on the
children’s well-being and minimized her mental-health needs and her own
accountability in failing to engage in services. “Time is a critical element. A parent
cannot wait until the eve of termination, after the statutory time periods for
reunification have expired, to begin to express an interest in parenting.” In re C.B.,
611 N.W.2d 489, 495 (Iowa 2000).
The children have been removed from parental care since June 2020.
Despite having more than the statutory period to do so, Brooke has not
successfully addressed her substance abuse or mental health or taken
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accountability for the removal. A.A. and T.A. are placed together with their paternal
grandparents who are willing to adopt if rights are terminated. A.A. and T.A. have
been doing well in this home. Z.S., too, is placed in a home willing to adopt if rights
are terminated. Both DHS and the GAL indicated that termination was in the best
interests of these children. These children need and deserve permanency. We
find termination of parental rights and adoption are in the children’s best interests.
No permissive factor precludes termination. Brooke asserts the court need
not terminate her rights because her mother is willing to be a guardian for the
children. “[A] guardianship is not a legally preferable alternative to termination.”
A.S., 906 N.W.2d at 477 (citation omitted). Guardianships do not provide true
permanency because, “[b]y their very nature, guardianships can be modified
or terminated.” In re E.A., No. 20-0849, 2020 WL 4498164, at *2 (Iowa Ct. App.
Aug. 5, 2020) (citing A.S., 906 N.W.2d at 477–78). We conclude the exceptions
to termination do not apply. We affirm the mother’s appeal.
C. The father’s appeal. Thomas asserts in his appeal, “The juvenile court
erred in terminating the Father’s parental rights and in not granting additional time
for reunification when Iowa Code [section] 232.116(3) applied as the child was
placed with relatives.” We first note the father did not seek additional time for
reunification during the termination hearings. Consequently, that claim is not
preserved for our review. See In re A.B., 815 N.W.2d 764, 773 (Iowa 2012) (“[T]he
general rule that appellate arguments must first be raised in the trial court applies
to CINA and termination of parental rights cases.”).
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The father does not contest grounds for termination exist 7 but asserts,
“There was no need to terminate his legal relationship with his children when the
status quo could have been maintained in his own parents’ home.” We cannot
agree.
“[O]nce the State has proven a ground for termination, the parent resisting
termination bears the burden to establish an exception to termination.” A.S., 906
N.W.2d at 476. The father has not carried his burden. We have already noted “a
guardianship is not a legally preferable alternative to termination.” Id. at 477
(citation omitted). We will not keep T.A. and A.A. in limbo any longer. The paternal
grandparents are ready and willing to adopt and provide the children with
permanence. We affirm the termination of Thomas’s parental rights to T.A. and
A.A.
AFFIRMED ON BOTH APPEALS.
7 Because the father does not contest the grounds for termination or the best-
interests framework, we need not discuss the first two steps of the three-step
analysis. See In re P.L., 778 N.W.2d 33, 40 (Iowa 2010).