In the Interest of M.H. and C.H., Minor Children
D.L., Mother-Appellant
M.H., Father-Appellant
Attorney for Appellant Mother
Cole J. Mayer
Attorney for Appellant Father
David Barajas
Attorney for Appellee State
Tamara Knight, 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, Lynn Poschner, Judge. AFFIRMED ON BOTH APPEALS. Considered without oral argument by Buller, P.J., Sandy, J., and Potterfield, S.J. Opinion by Potterfield, S.J. (6 pages)
The juvenile court terminated the mother’s and father’s parental rights to C.H. and M.H. pursuant to Iowa Code section 232.116(1)(f) and (h) (2024), respectively. The parents separately appeal, but both argue giving them additional time to work toward reunification or, alternatively, establishing a guardianship is in the children’s best interests rather than termination of their parental rights. OPINION HOLDS: We cannot say an additional six months will remedy the issues preventing reunification, so we agree with the juvenile court that additional time is not warranted. And because there is not a viable option for guardian and a guardianship is not in the children’s best interests, we affirm the termination of the mother’s and the father’s parental rights.
