In the Interest of R.C., Minor Child
M.C., Mother-Appellant
Attorney for Appellant Mother
Ronald E. Langford
Attorney for Appellee State
Meredith L. Lamberti, Assistant Attorney General
Guardian ad Litem
Erin Romar
Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Summary
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Polk County, Romonda Belcher, District Associate Judge. AFFIRMED. Considered by Bower, C.J., and Schumacher and Ahlers, JJ. Opinion by Bower, C.J. (3 pages)
A mother appeals the termination of her parental rights pursuant to Iowa Code section 232.116(1)(h) (2020). She maintains she should be granted a six-month extension and contends the loss of her parental rights is not in the child’s best interests. OPINION HOLDS: The child has waited more than twice the statutory time frame and the mother only recently started to engage in substance-abuse and mental-health treatment. An extension is not warranted and termination of the mother’s parental rights is in the child’s best interests.