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In the Interest of D.P. and D.P., Minor Children
M.L., Mother-Appellant
Attorney for Appellant Mother
Tyler J. Alger
Attorney for Appellee State
Mackenzie Moran, Assistant Attorney General
Guardian ad Litem
Debra S. De Jong
Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Summary
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Clay County, Andrew Smith, Judge. AFFIRMED. Considered by Greer, P.J., and Buller and Langholz, JJ. Sandy, J., takes not part. Opinion by Langholz, J. (10 pages)
A mother appeals the termination of her parental rights to her two sons. She argues that the State failed to prove grounds for termination, termination was not in her sons’ best interests, and that the juvenile court should have given her six more months to work toward reunification. OPINION HOLDS: The State proved termination is warranted under paragraphs “f” and “h” of Iowa Code section 232.116(1) (2023). And the mother’s substance use, both boys’ special needs, and their twenty-two months in foster care all show that the boys are best served by the consistency and finality of terminating the mother’s parental rights.
