In the Interest of T.M., Minor Child
B.M., Father-Appellant
Attorney for Appellant Father
Aaron H. Ginkens
Attorney for Appellee State
Anagha Dixit, Assistant Attorney General
Guardian ad litem
Nicole Garbis Nolan
Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Summary
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Polk County, Rachael E. Seymour, District Associate Judge. AFFIRMED. Considered by Potterfield, P.J., and Tabor and Bower, JJ. Opinion by Tabor, J. (9 pages)
A father appeals the termination of his parental rights to a one-year-old child. He contests the statutory grounds for termination, the best-interests determination, and the court’s refusal to forego termination due to the parent-child bond. He also asserts testimony from his substance abuse and mental health counselors violated confidentiality. He requests an additional six months to work toward reunification and in the alternative asks us to find it was error not to place the child with his relatives and to find the department of human services provided reasonable visitation services. OPINION HOLDS: The State established the father is not a safe custodian for the child. He has unresolved substance abuse, mental health, and “anger issues” that preclude placing the child with him or delaying termination and permanency further. His other claims lack merit or were not preserved for our review. We affirm the termination of his parental rights.
