In the Interest of R.B. and A.B., Minor Children ( 2022 )

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA
No. 22-1648
Filed December 21, 2022
IN THE INTEREST OF R.B. and A.B.,
Minor Children,
J.B., Father,
Appellant,
T.L., Mother,
Appellant.
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Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Pottawattamie County,
Eric J. Nelson, District Associate Judge.
A mother and father appeal the termination of their parental rights.
AFFIRMED ON BOTH APPEALS.
Roberta J. Megel of State Public Defender Office, Council Bluffs, for
appellant father.
Sara E. Benson of Meldrum & Benson Law, P.C., Council Bluffs, for
appellant mother.
Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General, and Ellen Ramsey-Kacena, Assistant
Attorney General, for appellee State.
Amy Elizabeth Garreans of Garreans Law L.L.C., Council Bluffs, attorney
and guardian ad litem for minor children.
Considered by Tabor, P.J., and Schumacher and Chicchelly, JJ.
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SCHUMACHER, Judge.
A mother and father separately appeal the termination of their parental
rights. They contend the State failed to establish a ground for termination. They
also allege termination was not in the best interests of the children. The father
claims his close bond with the children should preclude termination. And the
parents assert the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) failed to
provide reasonable efforts to reunite the family. We find clear and convincing
evidence supports a statutory ground for termination. Termination is in the best
interests of the children and any bond between the children and the father is
insufficient to prevent termination. Finally, the parents did not preserve their
reasonable efforts claims. We affirm.
I. Background Facts & Proceedings
This family came to the attention of DHHS in early 2021 due to concerns
over the parents’ substance abuse and the condition of the home, which was
reported to be covered in feces and urine. Two children were living in the home:
R.B., born in 2017, and A.B., born in 2016. Both were determined to have
significant special needs. When DHHS attempted to do a home visit in February
2021, the family had moved to a new residence. The children were removed from
parental custody several months later, in May 2021, due to the mother and the
children testing positive for methamphetamine, amphetamines, and THC. The
father tested positive for marijuana. Two separate child abuse assessments were
founded, the first against the mother and the second against both parents.
The children have been placed outside the home since the initial removal,
a period of over fifteen months at the time of the termination hearing. After multiple
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stays at various foster placements, the children were placed at Children’s Square
Shelter in June. While there, concerns arose that the parents were under the
influence during visits. The children were adjudicated in need of assistance (CINA)
on June 11, 2021, pursuant to Iowa Code section 232.2(6)(c)(2), (n), and (p)
(2021). The children remained at Children’s Square until March 2022, when they
moved to a foster placement equipped to handle the children’s special needs. Both
children, who are on the autism spectrum, require occupational and speech
therapy. At the time of removal, the children were non-verbal and were not toilet
trained.
Neither parent attended the children’s medical appointments since the
move in March. Additionally, the parents’ visitation become inconsistent. The
father blamed this on the distance between him and the placement, which is over
four hours away.1 The parents’ last visit with the children was in mid-July 2022,
which was their first visit in two months. The children were reportedly excited to
see their father. DHHS reported that the mother did not interact with the children
as much as the father.
DHHS’s main concerns related to the mother were her substance abuse,
mental health, and parenting skills. She completed a substance-abuse evaluation
in May 2021 that recommended intensive outpatient treatment. She was
unsuccessfully discharged from treatment. After an updated substance-abuse
evaluation in December, she began treatment again. In August, the provider
informed DHHS that they had not seen the mother in over two months. The mother
1 The father was provided gas cards but did not use the gas cards for visitation.
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tested positive for drugs in June 2022. She has never provided a negative screen
for drugs during this case and missed a multitude of testing opportunities. The
mother did not complete a psychological evaluation, nor did she complete any
parenting classes. The mother did not attend the termination hearing, and her
current whereabouts were unknown. There was an active warrant for her arrest.
DHHS had similar concerns for the father—substance abuse, mental
health, and parenting. He obtained a substance-abuse evaluation that diagnosed
him with moderate cannabis use disorder, severe stimulant disorder in sustained
remission, severe stimulant use disorder, and cocaine and alcohol use disorder.
He attempted intensive outpatient treatment but was unsuccessfully discharged.
After obtaining an updated substance-abuse evaluation, he began treatment
again. He was successfully discharged but opted to continue treatment. He
testified at trial that he does not use methamphetamine and instead only uses
marijuana to treat his PTSD, although he denies any recent use. The father
consistently missed drug tests, claiming his work schedule prevented his
attendance. He has not completed a mental-health evaluation and is not engaged
in services to treat his PTSD. He successfully completed a parenting class. At the
time of the termination hearing, the father was living in a hotel. The father tested
positive for methamphetamine in February 2022 and missed four consecutive drug
tests after that. He had test results pending at the time of the termination hearing.
The termination hearing was held September 6, 2022. Neither parent had
seen the children in two months. After hearing testimony from the DHHS
caseworker and the father, the court terminated the mother and father’s parental
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rights pursuant to Iowa Code section 232.116(1)(e), (f), and (l) (2022). The mother
and father appeal.2
II. Standard of Review
We review the termination of parental rights de novo. In re P.L., 778
N.W.2d 33, 40 (Iowa 2010). Our review follows a three-step process. Id. at 39.
First, we must examine if a ground for termination under section 232.116(1) has
been met. Id. If it has, we then consider whether termination is in the best interests
of the children. Id.; see also Iowa Code § 232.116(2). Finally, we must determine
whether an exception in section 232.116(3) applies and should prevent
termination. P.L., 778 N.W.2d at 40.
III. Discussion
The mother and father contend the State failed to present clear and
convincing evidence to support the grounds for termination. They also assert
termination is not in the best interests of the children. The father claims his close
bond with both children should prevent termination. Both parents claim DHHS
failed to provide reasonable efforts to reunite the family.
A. Grounds for Termination
Both parents’ parental rights were terminated under
section 232.116(1)(e), (f), and (l). When parental rights are terminated under
2 We note the mother’s petition on appeal fails to identify support in the record for
the claims she raises. On appeal “we will not speculate on the arguments [the
appellant] might have made and then . . . comb the record for facts to support such
arguments.” Hyler v. Garner, 548 N.W.2d 864, 876 (Iowa 1996); see also Iowa R.
App. P. 6.903(2)(g)(2) (requiring appellant’s briefs include appropriate “references
to the pertinent parts of the record”). We recognize the challenges presented when
the mother has been absent from the proceedings for some time. However, parties
must still comply with the appellate rules.
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multiple statutory grounds, we need only find clear and convincing evidence on
one ground to affirm. In re S.R., 600 N.W.2d 63, 64 (Iowa Ct. App. 1999). We
choose to examine 232.116(1)(f).3 The only element the parents contest is
whether the children could be returned to their parents’ custody at the present time.
“[A]t the present time” means at the time of the termination hearing. In re D.W., 791
N.W.2d 703, 707 (Iowa 2010).
Clear and convincing evidence supports the juvenile court’s determination
that the children could not be safely returned to the mother.4 She has not
completed substance-abuse treatment or demonstrated her sobriety through drug
testing. The treatment provider had not seen her in the months leading up to the
termination hearing. She has not addressed her mental health or parenting skills.
And because DHHS has not had contact with her in some time, it is unclear if she
is in a safe environment for the children. Moreover, the mother’s petition on appeal
acknowledges she could not safely regain custody of the children at the present
time, instead claiming the children “could eventually be returned to her care.” We
3 Section 232.116(1)(f) is met when the court finds:
(1) The child is four years of age or older.
(2) The child has been adjudicated a child in need of
assistance pursuant to section 232.96.
(3) The child has been removed from the physical custody of
the child’s parents for at least twelve of the last eighteen months, or
for the last twelve consecutive months and any trial period at home
has been less than thirty days.
(4) There is clear and convincing evidence that at the present
time the child cannot be returned to the custody of the child’s parents
as provided in section 232.102.
4 The mother also claims the children could be immediately returned pursuant to
Iowa Code section 232.102. Because we determine the children could not safely
return home at the present time, we reject this claim.
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will not make the children wait for the mother to decide to be a parent. See In re
A.S., 906 N.W.2d 467, 474 (Iowa 2018).
The father similarly could not safely regain custody at the present time.
While he was successfully discharged from outpatient treatment and opted to
continue attending, he has never submitted a drug test negative for substances.
He has denied using any substance except for marijuana despite his first
substance-abuse evaluation diagnosing him with a litany of substance-abuse
disorders. And he has not attempted to treat his mental illness despite his own
admission that he self-medicates with marijuana because of his PTSD. The father
lacks stable housing, residing in a hotel at the time of termination. By his own
admission, “an immediate reintegration with my children at this point in time would
be a disaster.” Due to his unresolved substance-abuse issues, lack of mental-
health treatment, and lack of stable housing, termination of his parental rights is
supported by clear and convincing evidence.
B. Best Interests of the Children
Both parents contend termination of their parental rights is not in the best
interests of the children. When considering the best interests of children, we “give
primary consideration to the child[ren]’s safety, to the best placement for furthering
the long-term nurturing and growth of the child[ren], and to the physical, mental,
and emotional condition and needs of the child[ren].” Iowa Code § 232.116(2).
As explained above, neither parent has addressed the dangers that led to
the children’s removal and CINA adjudication. While visitation was understandably
more difficult due to the distance between the parents and children, DHHS
reorganized the frequency and duration of visits and provided gas cards to facilitate
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them. And even before the children were moved in March, the parents were
attending visits under the influence. Neither parent attended medical
appointments for the children since March. Because of the children’s
developmental delays, attendance at such appointments is vital.
Both children have made great strides since placement out of parental
custody. The children are integrated in their current foster placement, which is
willing to adopt. See Iowa Code § 232.116(2)(b). Termination is in the children’s
best interests.
C. Close Bond
The father claims his close bond with the children should preclude
termination. Under Iowa Code section 232.116(3)(c), a juvenile court may decline
to terminate parental rights when “[t]here is clear and convincing evidence that the
termination would be detrimental to the child at the time due to the closeness of
the parent-child relationship.”
The father testified he shares a close bond with the children, evidenced by
their excitement upon seeing him for visits. But he missed many visits, particularly
since March, with the last visit in mid-July. In any event, whatever bond he shares
with the children is insufficient to prevent termination of his parental rights. As
explained above, the father has not adequately addressed his substance abuse,
mental health, or obtained stable housing. The record lacks evidence that
termination will be detrimental to the children. We decline, like the district court, to
apply this exception to preclude termination.
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D. Reasonable Efforts
The parents claim DHHS did not provide reasonable efforts to reunite the
family. However, neither parent raised this issue before the termination hearing.
“[P]arents have a responsibility to object when they claim the nature or extent of
services is inadequate.” In re L.M., 904 N.W.2d 835, 839–40 (Iowa 2017). “In
general, if a parent fails to request other services at the proper time, the parent
waives the issue and may not later challenge it at the termination proceeding.” Id.
at 840 (citation omitted). The proper time to object to the services offered by the
department is “at the removal, when the case permanency plan is entered, or at
later review hearings.” In re C.H., 652 N.W.2d 144, 148 (Iowa 2002). Because
neither parent objected to the adequacy of the services in a timely manner, the
matter is waived.
AFFIRMED ON BOTH APPEALS.