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In the Interest of A.F

Court of Appeals of Iowa
Feb 12, 2003
662 N.W.2d 375 (Iowa Ct. App. 2003)

Opinion

No. 3-076 / 02-1959

Filed February 12, 2003

Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Polk County, Constance Cohen, Judge.

Mother appeals an order terminating her parental rights to three children. AFFIRMED.

Matthew Sheeley of the Sheeley Law Office, West Des Moines, for appellant mother.

Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General, Tabitha Gardner, Assistant Attorney General, John Sarcone, County Attorney, and Corey McClure, Assistant County Attorney, for appellee State.

Nicole Garbis Nolan of Youth Law Center, Des Moines, guardian ad litem for child.

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


Margaret is the mother of Amanda, born February 27, 1991, Harold, born November 2, 2000, and Christopher, born January 8, 2002. Amanda and Harold first came to the attention of the juvenile court after Leonard, Margaret's husband at the time, assaulted her while she was holding Harold and presented other risks to the children. On March 26, 2001, the court removed Amanda and Harold from Margaret and placed them in foster care. The court subsequently entered an order adjudicating the children in need of assistance (CINA) pursuant to Iowa Code sections 232.2(6)(c)(2) and (n) (1999). Christopher was removed from Margaret's care shortly after his birth, and he was adjudicated CINA, pursuant to sections 232.2(6)(c)(2) and (n) (2001), based on Margaret's inability to provide the structure, supervision, and safety required for an infant. Following a subsequent hearing on the State's petition, the juvenile court terminated Margaret's parental rights to all three children under sections 232.116(1)(f), (d), and (h) (Supp. 2001), respectively. Margaret appeals this order.

We review termination orders de novo. In re R.F., 471 N.W.2d 821, 824 (Iowa 1991). Our primary concern is the best interests of the children . In re C.B., 611 N.W.2d 489, 492 (Iowa 2000).

On appeal, Margaret asserts the court erred by concluding the circumstances which led to the CINA adjudication continued to exist at the time of the termination hearing. Based on our de novo of the record, we disagree. Margaret received a wide variety of services in order to facilitate the reunification of her family, including DHS child protective treatment services, in-home parent skill building services, psycho-social and psychiatric evaluations, individual therapy, bus tokens, daycare, visiting nurse services, and parenting classes. Despite these and other services, Margaret's behavior deteriorated, her stability lessened, and her anger control problems persisted. Moreover, her continuing mental health issues remained troubling, and her mastery of parenting skills remained lacking. Accordingly, we affirm the termination of her parental rights to Amanda, Harold, and Christopher.

AFFIRMED.


Summaries of

In the Interest of A.F

Court of Appeals of Iowa
Feb 12, 2003
662 N.W.2d 375 (Iowa Ct. App. 2003)
Case details for

In the Interest of A.F

Case Details

Full title:IN THE INTEREST OF A.F., H.E., and C.F., Minor Children, M.F., Mother…

Court:Court of Appeals of Iowa

Date published: Feb 12, 2003

Citations

662 N.W.2d 375 (Iowa Ct. App. 2003)