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In re J.A.

Court of Appeals of Iowa
Feb 20, 2002
No. 1-1055 / 01-1051 (Iowa Ct. App. Feb. 20, 2002)

Opinion

No. 1-1055 / 01-1051

Filed February 20, 2002

Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Polk County, Donna L. Paulsen, Judge.

Eric A. appeals the termination of his parental rights to his three-year-old daughter, J.A. AFFIRMED.

Samuel Marks, Urbandale, for appellant-father.

Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General, M. Elise Pippin, Assistant Attorney General, and Celene Coffman, Assistant County Attorney, for appellee-State.

Marla Suddreth, Altoona, for appellee-mother.

Pamela Vandel, Des Moines, for minor child.

Considered by Huitink, P.J., and Vogel and Eisenhauer, JJ.


Eric A. appeals the termination of his parental rights to his three-year-old daughter, J.A. Eric does not challenge the existence of statutory grounds for termination, but claims the State failed to prove that termination was in J.A.'s best interests.

Eric properly asserts that even if the statutory requirements for termination are met, the decision to terminate must still be in the best interests of the child. In re N.H., 383 N.W.2d 570, 574 (Iowa 1986). In evaluating J.A.'s best interest, we give primary consideration to her physical, mental, and emotional condition and needs. In re J.W.D., 456 N.W.2d 214, 217 (Iowa 1990). With regard to those primary considerations, a child should not be forced to endlessly await the maturity of a natural parent. In re T.D.C., 336 N.W.2d 738, 744 (Iowa 1983). The court must reasonably limit the time parents are allowed to put their lives together because "patience with parents can soon translate into intolerable hardship for their children." In re A.C., 415 N.W.2d 609, 613 (Iowa 1987). The parent's past performance may indicate the quality of care the parent is capable of providing in the future. In re C.K., 558 N.W.2d 170, 172 (Iowa 1997).

Despite the asserted economic benefits to J.A. of continuing Eric's parental rights, we find termination to be in J.A.'s best interests. Eric has been incarcerated since J.A.'s birth and has had little opportunity to establish a bond with his daughter. Eric has a substantial history of substance abuse, and his parenting skills have been negatively assessed. Although Eric was offered an opportunity to attend parenting classes and complete a psychosocial evaluation, he declined to take advantage of either. J.A. has the right to a stable home, permanency and security, and should not be made to wait any longer for her father to provide these essentials. We see no indication that Eric has or is interested in addressing those issues necessary to accomplish these objectives. The juvenile court decision is affirmed.

AFFIRMED.


Summaries of

In re J.A.

Court of Appeals of Iowa
Feb 20, 2002
No. 1-1055 / 01-1051 (Iowa Ct. App. Feb. 20, 2002)
Case details for

In re J.A.

Case Details

Full title:IN RE J.A., N.R., and N.R., Jr., Minor Children, E.A., Father of J.A.…

Court:Court of Appeals of Iowa

Date published: Feb 20, 2002

Citations

No. 1-1055 / 01-1051 (Iowa Ct. App. Feb. 20, 2002)