In the Interest of L.R., Minor Child
C.R., Father-Appellant
J.D., Mother-Appellant
Attorney for Appellant Father
Elizabeth K. Elsten
Attorney for Appellant Mother
Bethany Brands
Attorney for Appellee State
Ellen Ramsey-Kacena, Assistant Attorney General
Guardian ad Litem
Shannon Lee Sandy
Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Summary
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Dickinson County, Shawna L. Ditsworth, District Associate Judge. AFFIRMED ON BOTH APPEALS. Considered by Ahlers, P.J., and Badding and Chicchelly, JJ. Opinion by Ahlers, P.J. (9 pages)
A mother and father separately appeal the termination of their respective parental rights. They both argue (1) the statutory grounds relied upon for termination were not satisfied, in part because the State failed to make reasonable efforts towards reunification; (2) termination is not in the child’s best interests; (3) their respective bonds with the child should preclude termination, and (4) they should be given additional time to work toward reunification. OPINION HOLDS: Statutory grounds authorizing termination were satisfied, and the parents’ reasonable-efforts challenges were not preserved. Termination is in the child’s best interests. The parent-child bonds are not so strong to preclude termination. And we decline to award either parent additional time to work toward reunification.
