In re M.T., M.T., & M.T.

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA
No. 17-1329
Filed December 6, 2017
IN THE INTEREST OF M.J.H.T., M.G.T., and M.D.T.,
Minor Children,
C.T., Mother,
Appellant.
________________________________________________________________
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Pottawattamie County, Craig M.
Dreismeier, District Associate Judge.
A mother appeals the termination of her parental rights. AFFIRMED.
Anne M. Rohling of Rohling Law, P.L.L.C., Council Bluffs, for appellant.
Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General, and Ana Dixit, Assistant Attorney
General, for appellee.
Roberta Jean Penning Megal of Public Defender’s Office, Council Bluffs,
guardian ad litem for minor children.
Considered by Danilson, C.J., and Doyle and Mullins, JJ.
2
DOYLE, Judge.
A mother appeals the juvenile court decision terminating her parental rights.
We hold the mother’s parental rights were properly terminated under Iowa Code
section 232.116(1)(h) (2017) and that termination of the mother’s parental rights is
in the children’s best interests. We affirm the decision of the juvenile court.
I. Background Facts and Proceedings
C.T. is the mother of M.J.H.T. (“the oldest child”), born in 2014, and M.G.T.
and M.D.T. (“the twins”), born in May 2016. At the time of the twins’ birth, the
mother and the oldest child were living with the mother’s mother and step-father.
The twins tested positive for amphetamines and marijuana at their birth, and the
mother tested positive for methamphetamines and marijuana. Shortly after the
twins’ birth, the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) received a child
protective services referral alleging the mother used methamphetamine while
pregnant with the twins. DHS representatives met with the mother and her mother.
At the time, an application for ex-parte order of temporary removal was filed with
the juvenile court, the oldest child was at home with a safety plan in place wherein
the mother’s contact with the child was supervised by her maternal grandmother.
The twins remained in intensive care at the hospital. A form ex-parte order for the
temporary removal of all three children was entered ordering the removal of the
children from their home and placing them in the temporary care, custody, and
control of the DHS. After the order was entered, law enforcement removed the
oldest child from her maternal grandparents’ home and transported her to a
shelter, where she spent less than twenty-four hours. She was then placed with a
maternal aunt. M.D.T. was discharged from the hospital to a foster home. M.G.T.
3
remained hospitalized to address feeding issues. After a temporary removal
hearing, the juvenile court ordered “[t]hat the care, custody, and control of [the
oldest child] remain with maternal aunt, subject to the supervision of the [DHS].”
The care, custody, and control of the twins was ordered to “remain with the [DHS]
for continued placement in hospital/shelter/foster care.”
The three children were later adjudicated children in need of assistance
(CINA). It was ordered that the care, custody, and control of oldest child be placed
with her maternal grandparents. It was ordered that the care, custody, and control
of the twins remain with the DHS for continued placement in foster care. This was
the status quo at the time of the termination of parental rights hearing.
Following the removal of her children, the mother attended a drug-treatment
program. After an unsuccessful discharge, the mother twice attempted and twice
failed to complete inpatient substance-abuse treatment. When not residing in a
treatment facility, the mother lived place to place with no permanent housing.
A termination of parental rights hearing was held on July 11, 2017. Although
the mother appeared in person at the hearing, she did not testify. Subsequent to
the hearing, the juvenile court terminated the mother’s parental rights under
232.116(1)(e), (h) and (l).1
The mother now appeals that ruling.
II. Standard of Review
1
The parental rights of the father to M.G.T. and M.D.T. were terminated. The parental
rights of the alleged father to M.J.H.T. were also terminated. Neither is a party to this
appeal.
4
We review termination-of-parental-rights proceedings de novo. In re A.M.,
843 N.W.2d 100, 110 (Iowa 2014). We examine both the facts and law, and we
adjudicate anew those issues properly preserved and presented. See In re L.G.,
532 N.W.2d 478, 480 (Iowa Ct. App. 1995). We will uphold an order terminating
parental rights only if there is clear and convincing evidence establishing the
statutory grounds for termination of the parent’s rights. See In re C.B., 611 N.W.2d
489, 492 (Iowa 2000). Evidence is “clear and convincing” when there is no serious
or substantial doubt as to the correctness of the conclusions of law drawn from the
evidence. Id. “We are not bound by the juvenile court’s findings of fact, but we do
give them weight, especially in assessing the credibility of witnesses.” In re M.W.,
876 N.W.2d 212, 219 (Iowa 2016) (quoting In re D.W., 791 N.W.2d 703, 706 (Iowa
2010)).
II. Discussion
Termination of parental rights under Iowa Code chapter 232 follows a now
familiar three-step analysis. See In re P.L., 778 N.W.2d 33, 40–41 (Iowa 2010).
First, the court must determine if a ground authorizing the termination of parental
rights under section 232.116(1) has been established. See id. at 40. Second, if a
ground for termination is established, the court must apply the framework set forth
in section 232.116(2) to decide if proceeding with termination is in the best
interests of the child. See id. Third, if the statutory best-interests framework
supports termination of parental rights, the court must consider if any statutory
exceptions set forth in section 232.116(3) should serve to preclude termination.
See id. at 41. The exceptions set forth in subsection three are permissive and not
mandatory. See A.M., 843 N.W.2d at 113.
5
Before the court may affirm the termination of parental rights, we must find
clear and convincing evidence supporting one of the grounds for termination under
232.116(1). See In re A.B., 815 N.W.2d 764, 774 (Iowa 2012) (“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.”). We
consider section 232.116(1)(h).
Section 232.116(1)(h) provides a parent’s right may be terminated if:
The court finds that all of the following have occurred:
(1) The child is three years of age or younger.
(2) The child has been adjudicated a child in need of
assistance pursuant to section 232.96.
(3) The child has been removed from the physical custody of
the child’s parents for at least six months of the last twelve months,
or for the last six consecutive months and any trial period at home
has been less than thirty days.
(4) There is clear and convincing evidence that the child
cannot be returned to the custody of the child’s parents as provided
in section 232.102 at the present time.
On appeal, the mother makes a general statement that the State did not
prove the elements for this ground. There can be no dispute that elements (1) and
(2) were met since all three children were under the age of three at the time of the
hearing, and all three had been adjudicated CINA. The mother states that
“[t]echnically, the oldest child was never removed from her home,” and when a
relapse in substance abuse took place, she returned to the help she needed—
thereby claiming evidence of “such a positive transfiguration for [the mother
means] she deserves the right to have her children with her and continue her sober
life.” So, we presume it is the third (as to the oldest child only) and fourth elements
of paragraph (h) the mother challenges on appeal.
6
Following the birth of the twins, the court ordered a temporary removal of
all three children. At the time of removal, the oldest child lived with her mother and
maternal grandparents. Contrary to the mother’s assertions, the oldest child was
indeed removed from the mother’s physical custody and the maternal
grandparents’ home. After the court granted an ex-parte temporary removal order
placing custody of the oldest child with the DHS, law enforcement removed the
child from her maternal grandparent’s home and transported her to a shelter. After
spending less than twenty-four hours in the shelter, she was placed with a maternal
aunt subject to the supervision of the DHS.2 She was then later placed in the
custody of her maternal grandparents and was never returned to the custody of
her mother.
In June 2016, the mother entered a residential drug-treatment program and
the juvenile court ordered that the care, custody, and control of the twins be placed
with the mother. But the order also provided that if she exited the program before
successfully completing the program, the twins’ care, custody, and control would
be immediately removed from her custody and placed in the care, custody, and
control of the DHS for shelter care/foster care placement. By July 5, the mother
failed to comply with the rules of the facility and was prematurely discharged from
2
We are unable to find an order in the file placing the child’s care, custody, and control
with the maternal aunt, but a later temporary order ordered “[t]hat the care, custody, and
control of [the oldest child] remain with maternal aunt, subject to the supervision of the
[DHS].” Although custody of the child was placed with the aunt, the child stayed primarily
with her maternal grandparents. In any event, the record is clear that the oldest child was
in fact removed from the mother’s physical care and was removed from the grandparents’
home.
7
the drug treatment program.3 The physical custody of the twins was immediately
transferred back to the DHS, and they were placed into foster care.
We agree with the juvenile court that the State proved by clear and
convincing evidence the children had been removed from the physical custody of
the mother. Furthermore, we find the State established that at the time of the
termination hearing, the children had been out of the mother’s custody for at least
six months of the last twelve months, or for the last six consecutive months and
any trial period at home has been less than thirty days. We conclude the
requirements of section 232.116(1)(h)(3) were met.
The record also demonstrates clear and convincing evidence the children
could not be safely returned to the mother’s care at the time of the termination
hearing. See Iowa Code § 232.116(1)(h)(4). Since the removal of her children in
2016, the mother has struggled to maintain stable housing—often living from place
to place. In addition to the lack of stability, the mother has failed to complete drug-
treatment programs; she was discharged unsuccessfully on three separate
occasions. The juvenile court noted at the time of termination:
[The mother] was unsuccessfully discharged from treatment in July
2016. She did not reenter treatment until April 2017. Upon being
discharged in June 2017, she relapsed one week later on
methamphetamine use. She went back to inpatient treatment only
to be unsuccessfully discharged two weeks later. [The mother] has
unresolved issues with substance abuse. She has unresolved
issues with her mental health. This [c]ourt has seen very little
evidence to support the idea that the children can be returned to the
care of their mother in the near future.
3
The treatment facility alleged the mother stole from staff members.
8
Upon our de novo review of the record, we agree that clear and convincing
evidence supports termination of the mother’s parental rights under section
232.116(1)(h).
The mother’s petition on appeal implicates that termination of her parental
rights is not in the children’s best interests. Even though we determined statutory
grounds for termination existed under section 232.116(1)(h), we must still ensure
termination is in the children’s best interests. See In re A.B., 815 N.W.2d at 776.
In considering the children’s best interests, we 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.” Iowa Code § 232.116(2); P.L., 778 N.W.2d at 40.
The twins were born prematurely—testing positive for amphetamine and
marijuana. Throughout the life of these proceedings, the mother was offered a
plethora of services. Nevertheless, the mother’s participation in services was
inconsistent, and she was slow to progress. At the time of the termination hearing
she had not successfully completed substance-abuse treatment and was not then
participating in substance-abuse treatment. The mother was a no-show for thirty
of the past thirty-four drug tests; at the time of termination, the mother’s most recent
drug test was positive for methamphetamines. She had not yet addressed her
mental-health issues. She had no stable employment or permanent living
arrangements. At the time of the termination hearing, the mother was not in a
position to successfully care for her children’s needs. We therefore conclude,
termination of the mother’s rights is in the children’s best interests.
9
The mother’s petition on appeal also implicates one of the permissive
exceptions under section 232.116(3)—at least as to the oldest child—because she
was in the custody of her maternal grandparents. Under section 232.116(3)(a),
the court need not terminate the relationship between the parent and child if a
relative has legal custody of the child. Here, the juvenile court noted that at the
time of the termination hearing, there was testimony that the grandparents were
unable to continue caring for the child and had asked to be relieved of her care.
The child had spent time with the twins’ foster family, and it was the DHS’s plan to
place the child with the foster parents, who were willing to be a permanent
placement for all three children. The juvenile court concluded, “Given the
[un]expected change of events, this court does not believe the provision within the
code related to relative placement applies.” We agree.4
The mother’s petition on appeal also suggests she should be given more
time. The juvenile court noted, “These children can’t continue to wait for
permanency. . . . These children are very young and vulnerable. Additional time
will not alleviate this problem.” Again, we agree.
“It is well-settled law that we cannot deprive a child 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
for the child.” P.L., 778 N.W.2d at 41. Children require permanency. See In re
4
In a placement order entered after the termination hearing, but before entry of the
termination of parental rights order, the juvenile court ordered custody of the oldest child
be with the DHS for placement in family foster care. In the termination of parental rights
order, the juvenile court ordered that the children be placed in the custody of the DHS for
preadoptive placement.
10
J.E., 723 N.W.2d 793, 802 (Iowa 2006) (Cady, J., concurring specially) (noting the
“defining elements in a child’s best interest” are the child’s safety and “need for a
permanent home”). Delaying permanency any further is not in the children’s best
interests. As we have stated numerous times, children are not equipped with
pause buttons. “The crucial days of childhood cannot be suspended while parents
experiment with ways to face up to their own problems.” In re A.C., 415 N.W.2d
609, 613 (Iowa 1987); see also In re D.J.R., 454 N.W.2d 838, 845 (Iowa 1990)
(“We have long recognized that the best interests of a child are often not served
by requiring the child to stay in ‘parentless limbo.’” (citation omitted)); In re Kester,
228 N.W.2d 107, 110-11 (Iowa 1975) (refusing to “gamble with the children’s
future” or force the children to “await their [parent]’s maturity” where the parent’s
history shows “good intentions, but feeble resistance to temptation and
wrongdoing”). While the law requires a “full measure of patience with troubled
parents who attempt to remedy a lack of parenting skills,” this patience has been
built into the statutory scheme of chapter 232. In re C.B., 611 N.W.2d 489, 494
(Iowa 2000). Our supreme court has explained that “the legislature, in cases
meeting the conditions of [the Iowa Code], has made a categorical determination
that the needs of a child are promoted by termination of parental rights.” In re
M.W., 458 N.W.2d 847, 850 (Iowa 1990) (discussing then Iowa Code section
232.116(1)(e)). Consequently, “[t]ime is a critical element,” and parents simply
“cannot wait until the eve of termination, after the statutory time periods for
reunification have expired, to begin to express an interest in parenting.” C.B., 611
N.W.2d at 495. At some point, as is the case here, the rights and needs of the
children must rise above the rights and needs of the parent. See In re C.S., 776
11
N.W.2d 297, 300 (Iowa Ct. App. 2009). The public policy of the state having been
legislatively set, we are obligated to heed the statutory time periods for
reunification. The mother has been given more than ample time to address her
adult issues and demonstrate that she could provide a safe, stable, drug-free home
for the children, and she was not able to do so. Any additional time in limbo would
not be in the children’s best interests.
The mother’s petition on appeal also suggests the State failed to make
reasonable efforts to reunify the children with her because they were not placed
with her at a residential treatment facility. The State must extend reasonable
efforts to reunify a parent and child consistent with a child’s best interests. C.B.,
611 N.W.2d at 493. If a service has not been offered, it is the parent’s job to
demand it. In re H.L.B.R., 567 N.W.2d 675, 679 (Iowa Ct. App. 1997). We find
nothing in the record showing the mother made such a request. Even had she
made a specific request that the children be placed with her at the treatment facility,
the DHS had good reason to deny such a request. Due to payment issues, the
mother was only going to be allowed to stay thirty to forty-five days. The juvenile
court noted the DHS “did not feel comfortable with the children being placed with
[the mother] in treatment only for them to be discharged very soon afterwards with
no transition plan in place.” Upon the mother’s discharge, she entered a half-way
house where children were not allowed. She was at the half-way house for a week
before she relapsed and was kicked out. She returned to the treatment facility but
left a short time later. Under our de novo review of the record, we conclude the
State met its reasonable-efforts obligation.
IV. Conclusion
12
We find the grounds for termination under Iowa Code 232.116(1)(h) have
been established by clear and convincing evidence. The termination is in the best
interests of the children. We decline to apply any exception under section
232.116(3). Accordingly, we affirm.
AFFIRMED.