In the Interest of J.C. and O.C., Minor Children
J.C., Father-Appellant
Attorney for Appellant Father
Christine E. Branstad
Attorney for Appellee State
Charles K. Phillips, 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 IN PART, REVERSED IN PART, AND REMANDED. Considered by Vaitheswaran, P.J., and Tabor and Mullins, JJ. Opinion by Vaitheswaran, P.J. (7 pages)
A father appeals the juvenile court’s decision to waive the department of human services’ obligation to make reasonable efforts towards reunification. The father also argues that the court should not have declined his request to bifurcate the roles of the children’s attorney and guardian ad litem. OPINION HOLDS: We conclude the department’s obligation to make reasonable reunification efforts should not have been waived. We reverse the portion of the dispositional order granting the children’s waiver motion and remand for reinstatement of reasonable reunification services and further proceedings consistent with this opinion. We find it unnecessary to also reverse the juvenile court’s denial of the father’s request for bifurcation.
