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In the Interest of S.W., Minor Child
M.W., Mother-Appellant
Attorney for Appellant Mother
Sonia M. Elossais
Attorney for Appellee State
Mackenzie Moran, Assistant Attorney General
Guardian ad Litem
Erin Roman
Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Summary
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Polk County, Brent Pattison, District Associate Judge. AFFIRMED. Considered by Greer, P.J., and Schumacher and Ahlers, JJ. Opinion by Ahlers, J. (5 pages)
A mother appeals the termination of her parental rights. She challenges the statutory grounds authorizing termination and contends that termination is not in the child’s best interests, citing her bond with the child and preference for establishment of a guardianship over termination. OPINION HOLDS: The State established the child could not be safely returned to the mother’s custody at the time of the termination hearing, satisfying a statutory ground for termination. Termination rather than a guardianship best serves the child’s best interests. And the parent-child bond is not so strong to preclude termination on that basis.
