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In the Interest of G.A., Minor Child
C.A., Mother-Appellant
Attorney for Appellant Mother
Lynn Vogan
Attorney for Appellee State
Tamara Knight, Assistant Attorney General
Guardian ad Litem
Felicia Bertin Rocha
Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Summary
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Polk County, Susan Cox, Judge. AFFIRMED. Considered by Greer, P.J., and Ahlers and Badding, JJ. Opinion by Greer, P.J. Partial Dissent by Ahlers, J. (13 pages)
A mother appeals the termination of her parental rights to her youngest child. OPINION HOLDS: Because we conclude the child could not be safely returned to the mother’s custody at the time of the termination trial and an additional six months would not resolve the need for the child’s removal, we affirm the termination of the mother’s parental rights. PARTIAL DISSENT ASSERTS: I agree that the child could not be safely returned to the mother at the time of the termination hearing, so I concur with the majority’s determination that the State established statutory grounds for termination. However, I would conclude termination is not in the child’s best interest and provide the mother with a six-month extension to work toward reunification given her documented progress since the permanency hearing.
