In the Interest of D.W. and N.W., Minor Children

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA
No. 21-0743
Filed August 4, 2021
IN THE INTEREST OF D.W. and N.W.,
Minor Children,
D.W., Father,
Appellant.
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Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Scott County, Cheryl Traum, District
Associate Judge.
A father appeals the termination of his parental rights. AFFIRMED.
Timothy J. Tupper, Davenport, for appellant father.
Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General, and Ellen Ramsey-Kacena, Assistant
Attorney General, for appellee State.
Jennifer Olsen, Davenport, attorney and guardian ad litem for minor
children.
Considered by Vaitheswaran, P.J., and Mullins and May, JJ.
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MAY, Judge.
A father appeals the termination of his parental rights to his children, D.W.
and N.W. We affirm.
We review termination proceedings de novo. In re Z.P., 948 N.W.2d 518,
522 (Iowa 2020). We generally use a three-step analysis to review the termination
of a parent’s rights. In re A.S., 906 N.W.2d 467, 472 (Iowa 2018). Those steps
include: (1) whether grounds for termination have been established, (2) whether
termination is in the children’s best interests, and (3) whether we should exercise
any of the permissive exceptions to termination. Id. at 472–73. “However, if a
parent does not challenge a step in our analysis, we need not address it.” In re
J.P., No. 19-1633, 2020 WL 110425, at *1 (Iowa Ct. App. Jan. 9, 2020).
The father only appeals the juvenile court’s best-interest determination, so
we limit our review to that step. When making a best-interest determination, we
“give primary consideration to the child[ren]’s safety, to the best placement for
furthering the long-term nurturing and growth of the child[ren], and to the physical,
mental, and emotional condition and needs of the child.” In re P.L., 778 N.W.2d
33, 40 (Iowa 2010) (quoting Iowa Code § 232.116(2) (2009)). “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.” Id. at 41.
The father argues termination is not in the children’s best interest due to
their close bond with him. We disagree. The social worker assigned to this family
described the bond between the father and children as “minimal.” Conversely, the
children are bonded to the foster parent and fully incorporated into her family. See
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Iowa Code § 232.116(2)(b) (2020). They refer to her as “mom.” The foster parent
is interested in adopting the children and has completed adoption classes. And
caseworkers believe the foster parent will be able to meet the children’s
developmental needs in the future. Termination is the next logical step toward the
permanency these children need and deserve. It is in their best interests.
We affirm without further opinion. Iowa Ct. R. 21.26(1)(a), (d), (e).
AFFIRMED.