For summaries from opinions prior to August, 2018, view PDF versions here.
In the Interest of D.W. and T.W., Minor Children
M.W., Father-Appellant
Attorney for Appellant Mother
Trent A. Henkelvig
Attorney for Appellee State
Meredith L. Lamberti, Assistant Attorney General
Guardian ad Litem
Joshua P. Schier
Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Summary
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Des Moines County, Jennifer S. Bailey, District Associate Judge. AFFIRMED. Considered by Tabor, P.J., and May and Greer, JJ. Opinion by Tabor, P.J. (6 pages)
A father appeals the juvenile court’s decision to terminate his parental rights to his two sons after four years of the involvement of the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS). He contends 1) the children could have returned to his care in six months, 2) the State failed to make reasonable efforts to reunite his family, and 3) a guardianship is the better alternative. OPINION HOLDS: Because the DHS has been involved with his family for over four years and has already made numerous efforts for reunification, we find no merit to his claims now. And because of the children’s need for permanency, we do not prefer placing them in a guardianship. We affirm.
