In the Interest of D.W. and G.W., Minor Children
B.B., Mother-Appellant
Attorney for Appellant Mother
Teresa M. Pope
Attorney for Appellee State
Mackenzie Moran, Assistant Attorney General
Attorney and Guardian ad Litem for Appellee Minor Children
Jami J. Hagemeier
Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Summary
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Polk County, Brent Pattison, Judge. AFFIRMED. Considered without oral argument by Tabor, C.J., and Greer and Buller, JJ. Opinion by Greer, J. (3 pages)
The juvenile court terminated the mother’s parental rights to G.W. (born in 2019) and D.W. (born in 2023) pursuant to Iowa Code section 232.116(1)(f) and (h) (2024), respectively. The mother appeals, arguing (1) the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services failed to make reasonable efforts to reunify her with the children; (2) the State did not prove the statutory grounds for termination because the children could have been returned to her custody at the time of the termination trial; (3) alternatively, she should be given more time to work toward reunification; (4) termination of her parental rights is not in the children’s best interests; and (5) the juvenile court should have applied a permissive exception to save the parent-child relationships. OPINION HOLDS: We affirm the termination of the mother’s parental rights to both children.
