In the Interest of S.M., Minor Child
J.M., Father-Appellant
Attorney for Appellant Father
Katherine R.J. Scott
Attorney for Appellee State
Tamara Knight, Assistant Attorney General
Guardian ad Litem
Shannon M. Leighty
Attorney for Intervenor-Paternal Grandmother Placement
Lisa M. Noble
Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Summary
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Story County, Hunter W. Thorpe, Judge. AFFIRMED. Considered by Tabor, P.J., and Greer and Schumacher, JJ. Opinion by Greer, J. (10 pages)
The father challenges the termination of his parental rights. OPINION HOLDS: Because termination is in the child’s best interests due to the father’s inability to look after her safety and need for a permanent home, the strength of the bond between the father and the child does not overcome the detriment of declining termination, the need for removal—the father’s substance use and mental health challenges—will likely still exist in six months, and a guardianship is not in the child’s best interests, we affirm the termination of the father’s parental rights.
