In the Interest of H.B. and Z.R., Minor Children
T.R., Mother-Appellant
Attorney for Appellant Mother
Sara Strain Linder
Attorney for Appellee State
Ellen Ramsey-Kacena
Guardian ad Litem
Christopher Foster
Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Summary
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Muscatine County, Gary P. Strausser, District Associate Judge. AFFIRMED. Considered by Doyle, P.J., and Tabor and Schumacher, JJ. Opinion by Tabor, J. (10 pages)
A mother appeals the termination of her parental rights to two children. She contends the court should have granted her request for a continuance, the State did not prove the statutory grounds, termination would be detrimental due to the parent-child bond, and the court should have given her more time to work toward reunification. OPINION HOLDS: On our independent review, we find no basis for reversal. The district court did not abuse its discretion in denying the mother a continuance. The State proved the statutory grounds for termination as to each child, and the mother did not show termination would be detrimental. Finally, given the mother’s long-standing unresolved substance abuse and instability, the record reveals no reason to conclude the problems will be resolved in six months. We affirm.