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Case No. 20-1450

In the Interest of J.H. and K.H., Minor Children

H.O., Mother-Appellant

Attorney for Appellant Mother

Nancy L. Pietz

Attorney for Appellee State

Ellen Ramsey-Kacena, Assistant Attorney General

Guardian ad Litem

Yvonne C. Naanep

Court of Appeals

Court of Appeals Opinion

Opinion Number:
20-1450
Date Published:
Feb 03, 2021
Summary

            Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Warren County, Mark F. Schlenker, District Associate Judge.  AFFIRMED.  Considered by Doyle, P.J., and Tabor and Ahlers, JJ.  Opinion by Ahlers, J.  (9 pages)

            A mother appeals the juvenile court order terminating her parental rights to her two minor children.  On appeal, the mother argues: (1) the State did not meet its burden to show the children could not be returned to her care at the time of the termination hearing; (2) the juvenile court erred by refusing to grant her request for a six-month extension to work toward reunification; (3) termination is not in the children’s best interest; and (4) the juvenile court erred by terminating the mother’s parental rights because the children have been placed with a relative.  OPINION HOLDS: Clear and convincing evidence supports the determination that the children could not be returned to the mother’s care at the time of the termination hearing.  We cannot discern any basis for believing the need for removal will no longer exist after another six months.  Termination is in the children’s best interest.  We find the mother has not met her burden to show relative placement should preclude termination.  We affirm.

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