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Case No. 20-0953

For summaries from opinions prior to August, 2018, view PDF versions here

In the Interest of A.K. and A.K., Minor Children

W.K., Father-Appellant

Attorney for Appellant Father

Mark D. Reed

Attorney for Appellee State

Meredith L. Lamberti, Assistant Attorney General

Guardian ad Litem

Will E. Sales III

Court of Appeals

Court of Appeals Opinion

Opinion Number:
20-0953
Date Published:
Oct 07, 2020
Summary

            Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Polk County, Kimberly Ayotte, District Associate Judge.  AFFIRMED.  Considered by Vaitheswaran, P.J., and Tabor and Schumacher, JJ.  Opinion by Tabor, J.  (8 pages)

            A father appeals the juvenile court order terminating his parental rights to two children.  He argues the State failed to offer clear and convincing evidence to establish a statutory ground for termination.  He also argues termination is not in the children’s best interests.  OPINION HOLDS: Because the father showed little to no progress in addressing his severe mental-health and substance-abuse issues, we find clear and convincing that the children could not be safely returned to his care.  We also conclude termination is in the children’s best interests because the father remained unemployed and had unstable housing at the time of the termination hearing.  We affirm.

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