Opinion · Court of Appeals of Iowa
In the Interest of T.S. and K.G., Minor Children, L.G., Mother, K.G., Father of K.G.
In the Int. of T.S. & K.G., Minor Child., L.G., Mother, K.G., Father of K.G., 868 N.W.2d 425 (Iowa Ct. App. 2015)
- Type
- Opinion
- Court
- Court of Appeals of Iowa
- Jurisdiction
- Iowa
- Date
- 2015-02-25
- Topic
- general
noting that, because of the intensely fact-based nature of termination cases, the decision often hinges on “a single, or seemingly minor fact or factor” | concluding the unavailability of a transcript of a prior proceeding does not inherently violate due process | noting that, because of the intensely fact-based nature of termination cases, the decision often hinges on “a single, or seemingly minor fact or factor” | noting that while both requirements are necessary for the State to prove in a termination under subsection (e), “they are considered closely interconnected” | concluding a child could not be returned to a mother when the mother had gained little insight into domestic violence and the danger it poses to children | noting that when the juvenile court terminates parental rights on multiple statutory grounds, we may affirm the termination order if clear and convincing evidence supports one of the grounds | noting that subparagraph three has two requirements: significant and meaningful contact and reasonable efforts | holding a prior CINA adjudication under Iowa Code section 232.2(6)(b), wherein a finding of physical harm to the child was made, must have occurred for the court to terminate parental rights pursuant to paragraph (d) | recognizing a “protected liberty or property interest at stake” in termination-of-parental-rights proceedings | affirming termination when the parent failed to make genuine efforts to comply with the case plan | finding a parent who “engaged in some services” and “participated in visitation” was not enough to show significant and meaningful contact | upholding termination when record disclosed mother had gained little understanding about domestic violence issues or dangers they posed to her children | finding we need to consider only one ground for termination of parental rights, even when the juvenile court has relied upon multiple grounds | noting termination cases are “intensely fact-based” and “whether to reverse or not is often based on a single, or seemingly minor fact or factor” | noting a party challenging reasonable efforts must raise the issue and demand other services prior to the termination hearing | affirming termination under paragraph (e) where parent did not address “substance abuse or mental health issues, and have not made a genuine effort to address these issues” | noting the mother engaged in some services and participated in visitation but “has not made a genuine effort to complete her 7 responsibilities as prescribed in the permanency plan” | affirming termination under paragraph (e) where parent did not address “domestic abuse, substance abuse or 7 mental health issues, and have not made a genuine effort to address these issues” | explaining evidence of attending visits cannot be the end of the significant-and- meaningful-contacts analysis | finding child could not be returned to mother’s care when mother had “gained very little insight over the course of the proceedings about her domestic violence issues and the dangers they pose to the children” | noting a mother’s ongoing contact with her abuser in violation of a no-contact order showed she had 6 “gained very little insight . . . about her domestic violence issues and the dangers they pose to the children” | “[W]e will not review a reasonable efforts claim unless it is raised prior to the termination hearing.” | “[W]e will not review a reasonable efforts claim unless it is raised prior to the termination hearing.” | “Complaints regarding services are properly raised ‘at removal, when the case permanency plan is entered, or at later review hearing.’” (citation omitted) | “[W]e will not review a reasonable efforts claim unless it is raised prior to the termination hearing.” (citation omitted) | “There is no per se due process violation inherent in the unavailability of the hearing transcript for termination appeals.” | “[W]e will not review a reasonable efforts claim unless it is raised prior to the termination hearing.
Citator
- Cited by
- 61 opinions
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA
No. 14-1517
Filed February 25, 2015
IN THE INTEREST OF T.S. and K.G.,
Minor Children,
L.G., Mother,
Appellant.
K.G., Father of K.G.,
Appellant.
________________________________________________________________
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Polk County, Rachel E. Seymour,
District Associate Judge.
A mother and father separately appeal from an order terminating their
parental rights. AFFIRMED ON BOTH APPEALS.
Jessica Maffitt of Benzoni Law Office, P.L.C., Des Moines, for appellant-
mother.
Kevin Hobbs, West Des Moines, for appellant-father.
Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General, Kathrine S. Miller-Todd, Assistant
Attorney General, John P. Sarcone, County Attorney, and Christina Gonzalez,
Assistant County Attorney, for appellee.
John Heinke of Kragnes & Associates, P.C., Des Moines, for father of T.S.
Brent Michael Pattison of Drake Legal Clinic, attorney and guardian ad
litem for T.S.
Marshall Orsini, Des Moines, attorney and guardian ad litem for K.G.
Considered by Mullins, P.J., and Bower and McDonald, JJ.
2
MULLINS, J.
The mother appeals the termination of her parental rights to two children,
K.G. and T.S. The father of K.G. appeals the termination of his parental rights to
K.G. The father of T.S. does not appeal termination of his parental rights to T.S.
The mother contends her attorneys for the child-in-need-of-assistance and
termination-of-parental-rights proceedings were ineffective. She further contends
the expedited termination appeals process creates a per se violation of
terminated parents’ rights to due process. She also challenges the sufficiency of
the evidence to support termination of her parental rights to T.S. under Iowa
Code section 232.116(1)(h) (2013) and to K.G. under section 232.116(1)(d) and
(e). The father contends there was insufficient evidence to support termination of
his parental rights to K.G. under sections 232.116(1)(b) and (e).
With respect to the mother, we find her trial and appellate attorneys were
not ineffective. We further find the expedited termination appeal process does
not create a per se violation of terminated parents’ due process rights. With
respect to the statutory grounds, we affirm termination of her parental rights to
T.S. under Iowa Code section 232.116(1) (h), and to K.G. under 232.116(1)(e).
With respect to the father of K.G., we find the evidence supported termination of
his parental rights under section 232.116(1)(e).
I. BACKGROUND FACTS & PROCEEDINGS.
K.G. was born in 2000 to her mother, Leanne, and father, Kirk, in the state
of Colorado. Leanne and Kirk divorced when Leanne became pregnant with a
child by John. Leanne and John’s child, T.S., was born 2012. For several years
3
while all the parents lived in Colorado, Kirk paid Leanne child support and had
visitation with K.G. In November 2012, Leanne and John moved to Iowa where
John’s family resides, bringing K.G. and T.S. with them.
The Department of Human Services (DHS) became involved with the
family in October 2013 when John was charged with domestic abuse assault
against Leanne. At that time, DHS discovered both Leanne and John used
methamphetamine; that Leanne frequently left the children alone with John; and
that John used drugs to the point of passing out while he was caring for the
children, and Leanne was aware of this. Leanne and John have a long history of
domestic violence and of drug use, primarily methamphetamine. They had been
together approximately seven years. K.G. had been acting as another parent to
T.S., caring for him while the parents used drugs, and K.G. tried to protect T.S.
from observing the domestic violence in the home. By temporary emergency
order, the juvenile court removed the children from Leanne and John’s home and
placed them with T.S.’s paternal grandparents.
On November 8, 2013, the juvenile court adjudicated the two children in
need of assistance (CINA) under Iowa Code section 232.2(6)(b) (parent has
physically abused or neglected the child, or is imminently likely to abuse or
neglect the child), (c)(2) (failure of parent to exercise a reasonable degree of care
in supervising the child), and (n) (parent’s drug or alcohol abuse results in the
child not receiving adequate care). Leanne stipulated to the adjudication. The
juvenile court ordered Leanne to participate in substance abuse treatment and
drug testing.
4
In late November 2013, DHS reported that Leanne obtained substance
abuse and mental health evaluations, was attending therapy with a mental health
counselor to address her substance abuse and domestic violence issues, and
was attending parenting classes. Leanne was diagnosed with adjustment
disorder. She had visitation three times per week, and DHS offered to make the
visits semi-supervised instead of fully-supervised. DHS also reported that K.G.
was diagnosed with moderate depression and that she had made some suicidal
statements. K.G. was attending weekly therapy. T.S. had no major health
concerns but had some speech delays and would be evaluated. DHS
recommended that in order for reunification to occur, Leanne would need to show
commitment to her sobriety, address her mental health in individual therapy,
continue parenting classes, attend domestic violence awareness classes, and
demonstrate she is able to be a safe and protective parent.
The court entered a dispositional order December 9, 2013, wherein it
stated:
The Court finds Mother has made progress but the length of time
Mother placed these children at risk justified Mother demonstrating
safe choices for a longer period of time before the children are
returned . . . . Placement outside the parental home is necessary
because continued placement in or a return to the home would be
contrary to the children’s welfare due to parent’s unresolved
domestic violence, substance abuse issues and mental health and
lack of supervision issues.
The court ordered Leanne to continue participating in individual therapy and
follow recommendations of the therapist regarding substance abuse, mental
health, and domestic violence.
5
In February 2014, Leanne tested positive for methamphetamine. In April,
she tested positive again. Following the April 2014 permanency hearing, the
court changed the permanency goal to termination. DHS resumed fully-
supervised visitations. At the time of the positive tests, Leanne continued to
deny using, stating the drug screens were inaccurate. Throughout the case,
Leanne changed her story about her past drug use. At the adjudication hearing,
she stated she had last used drugs four to six months prior. In a substance
abuse evaluation in March 2014, she reported she had not used in two years. In
another evaluation done at the beginning of May 2014, she reported she had not
used in three years. At yet another evaluation at the end of May, she admitted to
a recent relapse and to smoking methamphetamine four times per week. The
counselor recommended she receive residential treatment. Leanne reported to
the counselor she did not believe she needed residential treatment and would
look for outpatient services.
On May 9, 2014, the State filed a petition to terminate the parental rights
of Leanne to K.G. and T.S.; Kirk to K.G.; and John to T.S. DHS, the Court-
Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), and the guardian ad litem all recommended
termination of the three parents’ rights. Prior to the termination hearing, DHS
reported Leanne sent texts to K.G. asking K.G. to lie to the grandparents and to
contact Leanne without DHS authorization. Leanne also asked K.G. to delete the
texts after reading them. Leanne reported to DHS that she was taking online
domestic violence classes, but also stated she wishes she had not called police
the night the children were removed. DHS averred this was a safety concern if
6
the children were returned to Leanne because if another domestic violence
incident were to occur, Leanne might not be willing to protect her children by
calling police.
In April, John was arrested for a violation of his probation. Although there
was a no-contact order in place between John and Leanne stemming from the
October 2013 domestic abuse assault charges, Leanne called John in jail and
visited him there. John stated that prior to his arrest he had been seeing Leanne
regularly and staying at her home in violation of the no-contact order. He also
stated they had been using methamphetamine together regularly. During one
visitation in Leanne’s home, John unexpectedly walked into the apartment while
a DHS worker was supervising. At Leanne’s request the district court later
vacated the no-contact order.
Prior to Leanne and John moving to Iowa in November 2012, Kirk had
been paying child support to Leanne for K.G. and exercising visitation each
weekend. After moving to Iowa, Kirk continued paying child support but did not
see K.G. regularly. He was in contact with her over the phone or by text. He did
not inquire into K.G.’s new living environment. She did, however, spend three
months in the summer of 2013 with Kirk in Colorado. Although notified of all the
CINA and termination proceedings, Kirk has had minimal participation in this
case on behalf of K.G. He stated he could not afford to travel to Iowa to do so,
could not take time off work, and was caring for his elderly father. He attended
the adjudication hearing in November 2013, but did not request appointment of
counsel. He attended only one of the two days of the termination hearing, but did
7
not attend any other court proceedings or meetings with service providers. Prior
to the termination hearing he requested and obtained appointment of counsel. At
no time did he request custody of K.G., participate in any services, inquire into
any of the services K.G. was receiving, or ask for a home study for placement of
K.G. with him.
The court held the termination hearing on June 6 and 9, 2014. At that
time, Leanne had started but had not completed outpatient substance abuse
treatment. She admitted to lying about being pregnant in an attempt to get into a
residential treatment facility. She continued to see a therapist, but the therapist
did not provide substance abuse counseling, only mental health counseling. She
had attended some domestic violence classes. She admitted she told John she
would marry him when he is released from jail. She later said she was just trying
to manipulate him. John was still in jail on drug-related charges and continued to
use drugs. The juvenile court terminated Leanne’s parental rights to T.S. under
Iowa Code section 232.116(1)(d), (e), and (h). It terminated Leanne’s parental
rights to K.G. under paragraphs (d) and (e). It terminated Kirk’s parental rights to
K.G. under paragraphs (b) and (e). Finally, it terminated John’s parental rights to
T.S. under paragraphs (b), (d), (e), and (h). Leanne and Kirk appeal.
II. STANDARD OF REVIEW.
We review termination of parental rights de novo. In re A.M., 843 N.W.2d 100, 110
(Iowa 2014). We will uphold an order terminating parental rights where there is clear and convincing evidence of the statutory grounds for termination. In re D.W.,791 N.W.2d 703, 706
(Iowa 2010). Evidence is clear and convincing
8
when there is no serious or substantial doubt as to the correctness of the
conclusions of law drawn from the evidence. Id.
III. ANALYSIS.
A. Constitutional Claims.
1. Ineffective assistance of CINA counsel.
We review constitutional claims de novo. In re C.M., 652 N.W.2d 204, 209
(Iowa 2002). The test for ineffective assistance of counsel in termination proceedings is the same as that used in criminal proceedings. In re A.R.S.,480 N.W.2d 888, 891
(Iowa 1992). The parent must show (1) counsel’s performance was deficient, and (2) actual prejudice resulted. C.M.,652 N.W.2d at 207
. Counsel has no obligation to raise a meritless issue.Id.
Leanne contends she was denied effective assistance of counsel in the
CINA case because counsel failed to appeal the court’s adjudication of the
children under Iowa Code section 232.2(6)(b). She argues she was prejudiced
because a CINA determination under subsection (6)(b) can lead to a termination
of parental rights under Iowa Code section 232.116(1)(d). Subsection (6)(b)
provides a child in need of assistance is one “[w]hose parent, guardian, other
custodian, or other member of the household in which the child resides has
physically abused or neglected the child, or is imminently likely to abuse or
neglect the child.”
We note first that Leanne stipulated to adjudication of the two children
under Iowa Code sections 232.2(6)(b), (c)(2), and (n). Second, we find
adjudication of the children under subsection (6)(b) was appropriate. The
9
juvenile court found the children were in the home during a domestic abuse
assault on October 3; that John passed out from drug use while alone with the
children in the home; and that Leanne was aware his drug and alcohol use but
left the children with him anyway. The court concluded there was clear and
convincing evidence to support adjudication of the children on the alleged
grounds. On our review of the record, we agree that the evidence supports a
finding that John and Leanne were imminently likely to abuse or neglect the
children, and adjudication was proper under subsection (6)(b). Because it would
have been a meritless appeal, trial counsel had no duty to raise it and, thus, was
not ineffective.
Leanne also contends trial counsel was ineffective for failing to appeal the
court’s rulings following the adjudication and disposition hearings not to return
the children to her care. She asserts she was prejudiced because, had the
children been returned to her earlier, her rights would not have been terminated
under termination sections 232.116(1)(e) or (h). At the adjudication, the court
found it would be contrary to the children’s welfare to return them to Leanne’s
home because of “unresolved domestic violence issues and substance abuse
issues.”1 The court also found the State had made reasonable efforts to prevent
1
Iowa Code section 232.96(10)(a) provides:
If the court enters an order adjudicating the child to be a child in need of
assistance, the court . . . may issue an order authorizing temporary
removal of the child . . . . The order shall include . . . :
a. A determination that continuation of the child in the child’s
home would be contrary to the welfare of the child, and that reasonable
efforts, as defined in section 232.102, have been made to prevent or
eliminate the need for removal of the child from the child’s home . . . .
[P]reserving the safety of the child is the paramount consideration.
10
the need for removal. At that time, Leanne had received little substance abuse
treatment and had not engaged in any domestic violence classes or therapy.
The juvenile court correctly determined returning the children to the home would
have been contrary to their welfare. As it would have been a meritless claim,
CINA counsel had no duty to raise it and, therefore, was not ineffective.
2. Violation of due process rights and ineffective
assistance of termination-appeal counsel.
Leanne contends that the termination appeals process creates a per se
violation of the terminated parent’s due process rights2 by making it impossible
for appellate counsel to provide effective assistance. She asserts, because the
transcript of the termination hearings was not prepared prior to the filing deadline
for her petition on appeal, counsel was not capable of reviewing the record and
adequately presenting her arguments. Arguments generally must be raised on
appeal or they are deemed waived. Furthermore, Leanne’s trial counsel
withdrew after the termination hearing, and the court appointed new counsel to
represent her in the appeal. She asserts, without the transcript, appellate
counsel could not effectively represent her.
When assessing a procedural due process claim, we must first determine
if there is a protected liberty or property interest at stake. C.M., 652 N.W.2d at 211
. Our supreme court has determined that a termination-of-parental-rights 2 The Fourteenth Amendment to the federal constitution provides no state shall “deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.” The due process clause of the Iowa Constitution generally has been interpreted as identical in “scope, import, and purpose to the federal clause.” Exira Cmty. Sch. Dist. v. State,512 N.W.2d 787, 792
(Iowa 1994).
11
proceeding clearly involves a parent’s fundamental interest in the care, custody,
and control of his or her child. Id.
Because a protected interest is involved, we must determine what
procedure is constitutionally required. Id. at 212. We do that by balancing three
competing interests: (1) the private interest affected by the proceeding; (2) the
risk of error created by the procedures used, and the ability to avoid such error
through additional or different procedural safeguards; and (3) the countervailing
governmental interests supporting use of the challenged procedures. Id.
We have already identified the protected interest—“[a] parent has an
interest in the custody of his or her child.” Id. With regard to the third factor, our
supreme court has explained:
The State has an interest in finalizing the termination procedure in
an expedient manner so as to meet the child’s emotional and
psychological need for a permanent home, as well as to control the
financial drain on the State caused by needlessly protracted
proceedings. Interestingly, the parent in a termination case also
has an interest in a speedy conclusion because of the potential of
regaining custody.
Id. The remaining factor is the risk of error created by the existing procedures.
Iowa has an expedited appeals process for termination-of-parental-rights
cases. Iowa Rule of Juvenile Procedure 8.21 provides the terminated parent
must file a notice of appeal within fifteen days of the entry of the order and a
petition on appeal within fifteen days thereafter. Further procedures in CINA and
termination appeals are set out in the Iowa Rules of Appellate Procedure 6.201-
.205. The opposing party, usually the State, has fifteen days to file a response to
the petition on appeal. Iowa R. App. P. 6.202(2). Rule 6.201(2) provides the
12
appellant-parent shall request the clerk of court to transmit the record of the
termination proceeding, including the transcript, within thirty days after the filing
of the notice of appeal. The appellate court reviews the petitions and the record
de novo and may affirm or reverse the juvenile court’s order, remand the case, or
set the case for full briefing. Iowa R. App. P. 6.205. In practice, cases rarely are
set for full briefing in the court of appeals. We also recognize the petitioner-
appellant usually does not receive the transcript prior to preparing the petition on
appeal—the length of the proceedings and the manner of transcript preparation
in Iowa are impediments to having transcripts prepared that quickly.
The Iowa appellate courts previously have addressed the issue of the
expedited deadlines in termination appeals and the unavailability of the transcript
in the preparation of the petition. In In re R.K., 649 N.W.2d 18, 20
(Iowa Ct. App. 2002), the terminated parent argued the expedited appellate procedure violated her procedural due process rights in depriving her of the opportunity to review the transcript thoroughly, research the issues, and draft the petition. This court noted that termination counsel also handled the appeal, and the appellate court had the ability to review the full record and transcript. R.K.,649 N.W.2d at 21
. Thus, we concluded the expedited procedure, wherein the parent does not have access to a transcript in preparing the petition, contained sufficient safeguards for the parent’s due process rights.Id. at 22
. The supreme court reached substantially the same conclusion in C.M.,652 N.W.2d at 212-13
, wherein a terminated parent
complained about the lack of full briefing in her appeal. Again, the court noted
termination counsel handled the appeal, and the appellate court had access to
13
the entire record and the trial transcript when conducting de novo review. C.M.,
652 N.W.2d at 212
; see also In re J.A.D.-F.,776 N.W.2d 879
, 884 (Iowa Ct. App.
2009) (noting “[p]ractitioners routinely make closing arguments and post-trial
motions without the benefit of a transcript”).
In the above-cited cases, which speak approvingly of the expedited
procedure’s preservation of the terminated parent’s due process rights, the
attorney who represented the parent in the termination hearing handled the
appeal as well. Iowa Rule of Appellate Procedure 6.201(1)(a) specifically
provides, “The appellant’s trial counsel shall prepare the petition on appeal. Trial
counsel may be relieved of this obligation by the district court only upon a
showing of extraordinary circumstances.”
In the case before us, the court filed its termination order on August 31,
2014. Leanne’s CINA and termination attorney filed a notice of appeal on
September 15. On September 16, he filed an application to withdraw. The court,
finding insufficient reason to justify withdrawal, denied the motion on September
18. Also on September 18, the parties filed the combined certificate and ordered
transcripts of the termination proceeding. On September 22, Leanne’s attorney
filed a new application to withdraw, citing the following reasons:
This attorney has not done an appeal for over 30 years, does not
know how to properly format an appeal, does not have a secretary
to type the appeal brief, does not have adequate typing skills,
needs to type with two fingers to type the appeal brief himself and
this attorney would have to hire another attorney to perfect his
client[’]s appeal.
The court granted this application, finding the attorney showed the requisite
extraordinary circumstances. It appointed Leanne appellate counsel. This
14
occurred on September 24, six days before the filing deadline on the petition on
appeal. Appellate counsel timely filed the petition on September 30.
Thus, in Leanne’s case, trial counsel withdrew prior to filing the petition on
appeal. Leanne argues appellate counsel cannot rely on her own recollections of
the termination hearings to address all the potential appealable issues, thus, she
was deprived of the procedural safeguard present in the above-cited cases. In a
similar case, In re L.M., 654 N.W.2d 502, 506
(Iowa 2002), the terminated mother
argued that any attorney representing a parent in an expedited termination
appeal is ineffective because the transcript cannot be prepared within the
procedural timeframes. Leanne’s argument, framed as a due-process violation,
is substantially the same. The supreme court disagreed with the mother in L.M.,
finding the following:
The rules contemplate that the petition will be prepared by trial
counsel. See [now Iowa R. App. P. 6.201(1)(a)] . . . . The petition
itself is a streamlined, fill-in-the-blanks form, designed to be
completed in an expeditious manner. With respect to factual
matters, the appellant is merely asked to state the material facts as
they relate to the issues presented for appeal. As for the legal
aspects of the appeal, counsel is simply required to state the legal
issues presented for appeal, including a statement of how the
issues arose and how they were preserved for appeal with a
citation to legal authority. Counsel is not expected to exhaustively
review the evidence at trial, nor must counsel cite to the record to
demonstrate error. Verification of counsel’s statements of the facts
and issues preserved will be undertaken by the reviewing court,
which will have the trial transcript available for reference. Even in
the extraordinary situation where trial counsel does not prepare the
petition on appeal, the new attorney would most likely be able to
consult with trial counsel and the client, as well as be able to review
the court file.
654 N.W.2d at 506
(emphasis added; internal quotation marks and citations
omitted). It appears from the record before us that Leanne’s termination counsel
15
withdrew because he did not feel competent to handle an appeal and did not
have the resources of time and skill to do so. As there is no claim of deficiency in
his memory or understanding of the CINA and termination proceedings or his
availability, Leanne’s appellate counsel could have consulted with him. The
submitted petition does not indicate whether counsel did that. However, with
respect to Leanne’s contention, the foregoing authorities show that there is no
per se due process violation inherent in the unavailability of the hearing transcript
for termination appeals. Therefore, we reject Leanne’s due process and
ineffective-assistance-of-appellate-counsel claims.
B. Statutory Grounds for Termination.
We will uphold an order terminating parental rights where there is clear
and convincing evidence of the statutory grounds for termination. D.W., 791 N.W.2d at 706
. Evidence is clear and convincing when there is no serious or substantial doubt as to the correctness of the conclusions of law drawn from the evidence.Id.
When the juvenile court orders termination of parental rights on more than one statutory ground, we need only find grounds to terminate on one of the sections to affirm. In re J.B.L.,844 N.W.2d 703, 704
(Iowa Ct. App. 2014).
1. T.S.
The juvenile court terminated Leanne’s parental rights with respect to T.S.
under Iowa Code section 232.116(1)(d), (e), and (h). To terminate under
paragraph (h), the State must show by clear and convincing evidence the child is
three years old or younger, has been adjudicated a child in need of assistance,
has been removed from the parent’s care for at least six of the last twelve
16
months, or the last six consecutive months and any trial period at home has been
less than thirty days, and the child cannot be returned to the parent’s custody at
the time of the termination hearing.
At the time of the termination hearing, T.S. was just over two years old.
He was adjudicated a child in need of assistance in the November adjudication
order. He had been removed from Leanne’s home for eight months with no trial
periods at home. The children were removed from the home originally due to
domestic violence and the parents use of drugs while supervising the children.
At the time of the termination hearing, Leanne had been recommended for
residential substance abuse treatment and had not started it. She told the
substance abuse counselor she did not believe she needed residential treatment.
She had begun—but not completed—outpatient substance abuse treatment.
Until the termination petition was filed, she had given differing accounts of her
past drug use, resulting in her not getting accurate treatment recommendations.
She had relapsed and used methamphetamine as recently as April. She had
attended domestic violence classes; however, she continued to see her abuser,
John, on multiple occasions and in violation of the no-contact order, which
stemmed from the incident for which her children were removed. The record
discloses that Leanne has gained very little insight over the course of these
proceedings about her domestic violence issues and the dangers they pose to
the children. Returning T.S. to her would be contrary to his welfare.
Leanne complains the district court referred to and relied on her “mental
health issues” in its termination order. She asserts there is no evidence in the
17
record that she has a mental health disorder or personality disorder. However,
Leanne herself testified she was diagnosed with adjustment disorder and she
sees a therapist who treats mental health issues. Nonetheless, the children were
removed due to the domestic violence and substance abuse issues in the home,
and those concerns alone are sufficient to support termination under paragraph
(h). We find the State has shown sufficient evidence to support termination of
Leanne’s parental rights to T.S. under paragraph (h). We affirm the juvenile
court’s order in that respect.
2. K.G.
a. Leanne’s Parental Rights to K.G.
i. Paragraph (d).
The juvenile court terminated Leanne’s parental rights with respect to K.G.
under Iowa Code section 232.116(1)(d) and (e). To terminate parental rights
under paragraph (d), the State must show:
1. The court has previously adjudicated the child to be in need of
assistance [(CINA)] after finding the child to have been
physically or sexually abused or neglected as the result of the
acts or omissions of one or both parents or the court has
previously adjudicated a child who is a member of the same
family to be a child in need of assistance after such a finding
[;and]
2. Subsequent to the child in need of assistance adjudication, the
parents were offered or received services to correct the
circumstance which led to the adjudication, and the
circumstance continues to exist despite the offer or receipt of
services.
In the termination ruling, the juvenile court noted that K.G. was adjudicated
pursuant to Iowa Code section 232.2(6)(b), (c)(2), and (n). It made no further
finding as to existence in the record of evidence of physical or sexual abuse or
18
neglect. Leanne contends the district court erred in adjudicating K.G. under
232.2(6)(b) because there was no allegation of physical injury.
We have already found adjudication under subsection (6)(b) was proper
under the “imminently likely” clause. However, for the purposes of termination
and to satisfy subparagraph (d)(1), a showing that physical injury is “imminently
likely” is not sufficient. See In re J.S., 846 N.W.2d 36, 41
(Iowa 2014). In J.S., the parent appealed from the juvenile court order adjudicating the child under section 232.2(6)(b).Id.
As stated, adjudication under section 232.2(6)(b)
requires a showing that the parent “physically abused or neglected the child, or is
imminently likely to abuse or neglect the child.” But, termination under section
232.116(1)(d)(1) requires a finding that the child “[has] been physically or
sexually abuse or neglected.” Thus, we must look for evidence of a physical
injury, rather than the mere imminent likelihood of a physical injury that is
sufficient under 232.2(6)(b). With regard to the existence of a prior injury, our
supreme court explained that:
Within chapter 232, “physical abuse or neglect” and “abuse
or neglect” mean “any nonaccidental physical injury suffered by the
child as the result of the acts or omissions of the child’s parent,
guardian, or custodian or other person legally responsible for the
child” . . . .
[P]hysical injury to the child is a prerequisite to finding past
physical abuse or neglect.
Id.
(internal citations and quotation marks omitted). The juvenile court made no
finding that there was a physical injury to K.G., nor is there any evidence in the
record of a physical injury. As such, although the CINA adjudication was
appropriate under the “imminently likely” clause of 232.2(6)(b), the facts do not
19
support the juvenile court’s termination of Leanne’s parental rights to K.G. under
paragraph (d), and we reverse the order to that extent.
ii. Paragraph (e).
To terminate parental rights under section 232.116(1)(e), the State must
show:
1. The child has been adjudicated a child in need of assistance
pursuant to section 232.96.
2. The child has been removed from the physical custody of the
child’s parents for a period of at least six consecutive months.
3. There is clear and convincing evidence that the parents have
not maintained significant and meaningful contact with the child
during the previous six consecutive months and have made no
reasonable efforts to resume care of the child despite being
given the opportunity to do so. For the purposes of this
subparagraph, “significant and meaningful contact” includes but
is not limited to the affirmative assumption by the parents of the
duties encompassed by the role of being a parent. This
affirmative duty, in addition to financial obligations, requires
continued interest in the child, a genuine effort to complete the
responsibilities prescribed in the case permanency plan, a
genuine effort to maintain communication with the child, and
requires that the parents establish and maintain a place of
importance in the child's life.
(Emphasis added.) The juvenile court found:
No parent has maintained significant and meaningful contact
with the children during the previous six consecutive months
because they have not made reasonable effort to resume care of
the children in interest despite being given the opportunity to do so.
Neither Mother nor [T.S.’s father] have adequately addressed their
domestic abuse, substance abuse or mental health issues, and
have not made a genuine effort to address these issues.
There is no dispute the two elements of section 232.116(1)(e)(1), (2) have
been satisfied. Leanne’s argument is that section 232.116(1)(e)(3) has not been
satisfied. That subparagraph has two requirements: “the parents (1) have not
maintained significant and meaningful contact with the child during the previous
20
six consecutive months and (2) have made no reasonable efforts to resume care
of the child despite being given the opportunity to do so.” Iowa Code § 232.116
(1)(e)(3) (emphasis added). With respect to maintaining significant and
meaningful contact, our review of the record shows that of approximately forty-six
visits Leanne has been offered over the life of this CINA case, she has missed or
cancelled eight. Leanne was consistently prepared for the visits with food and
toys for the children. She occasionally provided them clothing. Leanne
affirmatively asked for K.G. to have a cell phone so that she and Leanne could
communicate. If not for the statutory definition of “significant and meaningful
contact” our analysis might end here. But, section 232.116(1)(e)(3) requires an
affirmative duty on the parent to make “a genuine effort to complete the
responsibilities prescribed in the case permanency plan.” Although Leanne has
engaged in some services and has participated in visitation, our discussion under
the paragraph (h) analysis above regarding T.S. clearly demonstrates that
Leanne has not made a genuine effort to complete her responsibilities as
prescribed in the permanency plan. Accordingly, she has not satisfied the
requirement of significant and meaningful contact.
We turn now to the second requirement to determine whether the State
proved by clear and convincing evidence Leanne has “made no reasonable
efforts to resume care” of K.G. We consider the “no reasonable efforts” clause in
the context of subparagraph (e)(3). Out of context, one might think that a parent
who makes any reasonable effort to resume care could not be found to have
“made no reasonable efforts.” If that were so, then any single act which might
21
constitute a reasonable effort would avoid a termination under (e). We do not
believe the legislature intended such a result. The two requirements of
subparagraph (e)(3) are clearly in the conjunctive: connected, joined together.
Each is separately required, but they are considered closely interconnected.
Having already found that Leanne had not made a genuine effort to complete the
responsibilities prescribed in the case permanency plan, thus having failed to
satisfy the requirement of significant and meaningful contact, we now consider
her conduct as a whole to see if she has done anything which rises to the level of
“reasonable efforts to resume care” of K.G.
Obviously, this requires a qualitative analysis of her efforts—a look at the
substance of her conduct, not just the form. Some of her conduct was
reasonable: attending some domestic abuse classes, frequent child visitation,
appropriate preparation for visitation, and attempting to provide certain physical
needs such as clothing and a cell phone. But the substance of her conduct
belies any appearance of reasonable efforts to resume care: denial of substance
abuse, failed drug testing, failure to participate in inpatient treatment, failure to
complete outpatient treatment, lying to treatment providers, repeated violation of
no contact orders, instructing K.G. to delete text messages that would have
revealed Leanne attempting unauthorized visitation, lying to K.G.’s care
providers, and stating an intent to conceal future domestic abuse events.
We agree with the juvenile court that Leanne has made no reasonable
efforts to resume care of K.G. despite having been given the opportunity to do
so. Accordingly, we affirm termination under section 232.116(1)(e).
22
iii. Paragraph (h).
Leanne contends the court erred in terminating her parental rights to K.G.
pursuant to section 232.116(1)(h). We note that under “Order,” the juvenile court
stated, “[T]he maternal rights and relationship of Leanne, with respect to [K.G.]
and [T.S.], are permanently terminated as provided for by Iowa Code sections
232.116(1) (d), (e), and (h).” However, in substance, the juvenile court ruling
discussed paragraph (h) only in relation to T.S., and K.G. does not fall within
paragraph (h)’s age range. Consequently, it is clear the court did not terminate
Leanne’s parental rights to K.G. pursuant to paragraph (h).
b. Kirk’s Parental Rights to K.G.
i. Paragraph (b).
The juvenile court terminated Kirk’s parental rights to K.G. under
paragraphs (b) and (e). As recited above in this opinion:
Prior to Leanne and John moving to Iowa in November 2012,
Kirk had been paying child support to Leanne for K.G. and
exercising visitation each weekend. After moving to Iowa, Kirk
continued paying child support but did not see K.G. regularly. He
was in contact with her over the phone or by text. He did not
inquire into K.G.’s new living environment. She did, however,
spend three months in the summer of 2013 with Kirk in Colorado.
Further, it appears from the record that Kirk had intended to exercise
some visitation with K.G. in Colorado at Christmas time in 2013 and in the
summer of 2014. However, DHS denied the Christmas visitation because of the
juvenile court proceedings and, given the June 6 and 9, 2014 termination-of-
parental-rights trial, it appears obvious why there was no summer visitation.
23
In order to terminate under paragraph (b), the juvenile court was required
to find “that there is clear and convincing evidence that the child has been
abandoned or deserted.” Iowa Code § 232.116
(1)(b).
“Abandonment of a child” means the relinquishment or
surrender, without reference to any particular person, of the
parental rights, duties, or privileges inherent in the parent-child
relationship. Proof of abandonment must include both the intention
to abandon and the acts by which the intention is evidenced. The
term does not require that the relinquishment or surrender be over
any particular period of time.
Id.
§ 232.2(1).
“Desertion” mean
intention to desert, but is evidenced by the lack of attempted
contact with the child or by only incidental contact with the child.
Id. § 232.2(14).
Kirk’s regular payment of child support, his pattern of visitation and his
occasional contact with K.G. by phone or text weigh against any finding that he
had abandoned or deserted K.G. In fact, his level of involvement might be
considered typical—but far from ideal—for a noncustodial out-of-state parent
after the custodial parent moved two states away. On our de novo review we
conclude the evidence does not support a finding by clear and convincing
evidence Kirk abandoned or deserted K.G.
ii. Paragraph (e).
For our analysis of whether Kirk’s parental rights should have been
terminated under paragraph (e) we will use the same analytic framework as set
24
forth above under our discussion of Leanne’s parental rights. There is no dispute
that paragraphs (e)(1) and (2) have been satisfied,3 so we will focus on (e)(3).
The first requirement under (e)(3) is that “the parents have not maintained
significant and meaningful contact with the child during the previous six
consecutive months.” Iowa Code § 232.116
(e) (emphasis added). Our
legislature has adopted specific requirements under subparagraph (e)(3) by
defining “significant and meaningful contact”:
For the purposes of this subparagraph, “significant and
meaningful contact” includes but is not limited to the affirmative
assumption by the parents of the duties encompassed by the
role of being a parent. This affirmative duty, in addition to
financial obligations, requires continued interest in the child, a
genuine effort to complete the responsibilities prescribed in the
case permanency plan, a genuine effort to maintain
communication with the child, and requires that the parents
establish and maintain a place of importance in the child's life.
Iowa Code § 232.116
(1)(e)(3) (emphasis added).
We start with a recitation of some of the facts as summarized by our
colleague in his dissent:
. . . From the time of K.G.’s birth until the parents’ separation
and divorce, Kirk and Leanne raised K.G. in a family unit. When
the parents separated and divorced, Kirk paid child support and
exercised visitation every other weekend. When Leanne left
Colorado for Iowa in November 2012, the record shows Kirk
exercised visitation in a manner not inconsistent with a
noncustodial parent who does not reside in the same state as the
child. K.G. lived with Kirk in Colorado for the entire summer of
2013. This is the first summer after Leanne moved K.G. to Iowa.
Shortly after K.G.’s return from Colorado, this case commenced.
Kirk had planned to exercise visitation over winter break in 2013,
but IDHS disallowed the visitation because of this case.
3
Section 232.116(1)(e)(1) requires a CINA adjudication; (e)(2) requires at least six
months removal from physical custody of parents.
25
Presumably, summer visitation in 2014 also would have been
disallowed for the same reason.
....
. . . Kirk has assumed the duties of parenthood one would
expect of a noncustodial parent who resides in a different state than
the child. Kirk has paid child support since the divorce. He is
current on his child support obligations. See Iowa Code § 232.116
(1)(e)(3) (identifying satisfaction of “financial obligations”
as duty of parent). He has maintained continued interest in the
child. See id.
(identifying “continued interest” as a factor). Kirk
communicated with his daughter by telephone and text message on
a regular basis. See id.
(identifying “genuine effort to maintain
communication with the child” as a parental duty). In addition to his
communication directly with K.G., Kirk also communicated regularly
with the mother regarding K.G.’s welfare. Kirk sent K.G. Christmas
and birthday gifts. He has sent gift cards to K.G. and T.S., even
though T.S. is not his child. He also provided K.G. with an Easter
basket almost every year of her life because “she’s big time on
Easter.” . . . [T]here is no evidence that Kirk has not maintained a
central place of importance as a parent in this child’s life.
We agree that Kirk has met his financial obligations by paying child
support. He has shown continued interest in K.G. by maintaining some phone
and text contact with her. Although he had no visitation with her after removal
from her mother’s care, under the facts of this case we will not consider that to
his prejudice. Instead, we focus on whether he has satisfied two other
components of the statutory definition: “the affirmative assumption by the parent[]
of the duties encompassed by the role of being a parent,” and “a genuine effort to
complete the responsibilities prescribed in the case permanency plan.” A more
thorough review of the proceedings will help guide us through this analysis.
In October 2013, K.G. was removed from the mother’s home. CINA
proceedings were commenced. Kirk received notice of the proceedings, notice
of his right to counsel, and notice that failure to appear for the CINA hearings
might result in an adjudication and a disposition requiring foster care. Kirk came
26
to the adjudication hearing on November 7-8 but did not request counsel. On
November 19, 2013, the DHS worker mailed to Kirk the Social History
Questionnaire and informed him he needed to provide the completed
questionnaire as soon as possible. During the entire course of these
proceedings, Kirk never completed the questionnaire.
On December 9, 2013, the court held the disposition hearing as
scheduled. The State submitted exhibit 10, a DHS report to the court dated
December 9, 2013, which we presume to be the case permanency plan. The
numbered recommendations of the report include: “Kirk [ ] make his intentions
know to the Department of Human Services in regards to his daughter, [K.G.].”
Kirk did not attend the disposition hearing and no counsel appeared for him.
During the hearing, the court attempted to contact him by telephone, but there
was no answer. The case permanency plan was adopted by the court and all
parties were ordered to comply with its terms. Under the findings of fact portion
of the order, the court found:
The Court inquired of the parties as to the sufficiency of services
being provided and whether additional services are needed to
facilitate the safe return to or maintenance of the children in the
home. Based on this inquiry, the Court finds the following
additional services were requested: no additional services were
requested by the parties.
The court later explained, “The Court advised the parties that failure to identify a
deficiency in services may preclude the party from challenging the sufficiency of
services in a termination of parental rights proceeding.” Under the Order heading
the court recited: “The parent(s) are informed that the consequences of a
permanent removal may include termination of the parent’s rights with
27
respect to the children.” (The original is in bold print.) Prior to the termination
hearing, Kirk never made a request for appointment of counsel or the provision of
services and never reported any claimed deficiencies in services.
A permanency hearing/review hearing was scheduled for April 4, 2014.
The State submitted exhibit 22, a March 28, 2014 report to the court prepared by
DHS. Among the numbered recommendations was a repeat of a
recommendation contained in the case permanency plan that Kirk make his
intentions known to DHS. Also, the recommendations included that a termination
of parental rights petition be filed by the county attorney’s office with regard to
T.S. At that time there was no recommendation to terminate the parental rights
as to K.G.; but because of the affair that Leanne had with T.S.’s father during her
marriage to Kirk, paternity testing was ordered to determine if Kirk was the father
of K.G. Those results were pending at the time of the report. The report stated:
“[Kirk] resides in Colorado. It has been reported that he smokes marijuana on a
daily basis. [Kirk] has had minimal contact with this worker throughout the life of
this case. He has stated that he wants the best for [K.G.].” Later, the report
provided:
In regards to [K.G.], due to her age more time is available to
provide services for her to be reunified with her mother or father as
that is the primary permanency goal for her. The concurrent plan
for [K.G.] at this time is Another Planned Permanent Living
Arrangement and Guardianship with the [current foster parents, the
paternal grandparents of T.S.].
On April 4, 2014, the guardian ad litem filed a report agreeing with that DHS
recommendation.
28
On May 9, 2014, the State filed a petition for termination of parental rights
of Leanne and Kirk as to K.G. The court-appointed special advocate (CASA)
submitted a report dated May 21, 2014, supporting the DHS recommendations to
terminate Leanne’s rights to T.S. and to K.G., without any reference to Kirk’s
parental rights. The permanency hearing was continued to June 5, 2014, but
was later continued to coincide with the termination hearing set to commence on
June 6. The petition for termination was set for hearing June 6 and 9, 2014. Kirk
requested and received court-appointed counsel. He and his attorney appeared
on June 6, and his attorney—not Kirk—appeared on June 9.
The court terminated Kirk’s parental rights to K.G. In its termination order,
the court included this summary in its findings of fact: “The Court finds the
problem with [Kirk] is not that he has done anything overtly inappropriate or
dangerous, but that fact he has simply done nothing, either to protect his child or
make efforts to have her returned to his care.” The court also included the
following findings under its conclusions of law heading:
[Kirk] has not taken any steps to regain custody of his child.
He continues to use marijuana to treat chronic pain, knowing DHS
cannot place the child in his custody, until he finds a medically
appropriate alternative. He has not obtained a suitable place to live
and admits he could not have the child placed with him until
December 2014, at the earliest. He has financial constraints that
prevent him from even visiting the child more than one time in the
past three years. He has not spoken to the child’s therapist about
her current needs and was unaware of her recent hospitalization.
It is without dispute that Kirk’s role in K.G.’s life has not changed during
the time K.G. has lived in Iowa, including during the course of the court
proceedings in this case. The question is: Should he have done more in
29
response to the CINA proceedings? This is not a moral question, but a legal
question. The question might be reframed: What did the legislature intend that a
noncustodial out-of-state parent must do in order to satisfy the requirement of an
“affirmative assumption of the duties encompassed by the role of being a parent”
when faced with a CINA adjudication and possible termination of parental rights?
In the context of a CINA proceeding and impending termination proceeding, was
Kirk required to do more than maintain his status quo as a noncustodial dad?
The following recitation from an unreported decision of our court provides
a helpful summary of applicable law:
While the State has an obligation to provide reasonable
services to preserve the family unit, it is the parent’s responsibility
“to demand other, different, or additional services prior to the
termination hearing.” In re S.R., 600 N.W.2d 63, 65
(Iowa Ct. App.
1999) (emphasis added); In re H.L.B.R., 567 N.W.2d 675, 679
(Iowa Ct. App. 1997). Complaints regarding services are properly
raised “at removal, when the case permanency plan is entered, or
at later review hearings.” In re C.H., 552 N.W.2d 144
, 148 (Iowa
2002). Where 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.” C.H., 552 N.W.2d at 148. Similarly,
we will not review a reasonable efforts claim unless it is raised prior
to the termination hearing. See In re L.M.W., 518 N.W.2d 804, 807
(Iowa Ct. App. 1994) (stating that a party challenging reasonable
efforts must do so prior to the termination hearing).
In re M.Y.R., No. 11–1139, 2011 WL 5389436
, at *7 (Iowa Ct. App. Nov. 9,
2011). The foregoing quote balances the legal sufficiency of DHS “reasonable
efforts” or sufficiency of services against the timing and sufficiency of a parent’s
duty to request or demand services. The legislative scheme is designed to
require that parents whose children are subjects of a CINA case “step up their
game” in order to avoid termination. Parents are given timely warnings—as was
30
Kirk in this case—that failure to take such steps may result in termination and
they are given opportunities to request additional services or assistance. Simply
put, a parent must do something, must make some effort to move; neither
standing still nor cruise control on a status-quo path will defeat an impending
termination.
Inherent in CINA proceedings is a requirement that parents who were the
cause of the CINA determination are required to take certain affirmative steps to
remedy the circumstances which gave rise to the adjudication. In other words,
maintaining the status quo is not sufficient for such a parent. In the event only
one of the parents was responsible for causing the CINA adjudication, the other
parent cannot refuse to assist in the remediation and just stand on the sideline
and observe. That is the directive the legislature requires under section
232.116(1)(e)(3).
The dissent cites several cases involving fathers whose rights were
terminated by the juvenile court, but were reversed by our court. A review of
some of those cases helps demonstrate how intensely fact-based these cases
are: whether to reverse or not is often based on a single, or seemingly minor fact
or factor. In the case of In re A.C., our court reversed a termination of a father
after finding that he had requested additional visits and services, only two were
provided to him, and he had made progress toward reunification by enrolling in
substance abuse treatment, finding housing, and securing employment. No. 03-
1314, 2003 WL 22455895
, at *2 (Iowa Ct. App. Oct. 29, 2003). In the case of In
re K.P., we reversed after finding that “the mother repeatedly asserted she
31
required transportation assistance to facilitate visits with her daughter,” and
finding DHS did not furnish that single service that was critical to facilitating the
mother’s reunification. No. 11-0663, 2011 WL 3117780
, at *2-3 (Iowa Ct. App. July 27, 2011). In the case of In re J.C., the father had regularly had frequent visitation with the child, had previously sought custody of the child in district court, in those proceedings expressed willingness to take immediate custody of his child, and had a full-time job and a home that would accommodate the child. No. 14-0100,2014 WL 1234432
, at *2-3 (Iowa Ct. App. Mar. 26, 2014). The State failed to prove the father was in need of services to correct circumstances which led to the adjudication or that he was afforded services.Id.
In the case of In re A.L., we reversed on a finding that the father had not been served in the CINA proceedings and was served the termination petition about seven weeks prior to hearing, and alternatively, that the State had not satisfied the reasonable efforts requirement for termination. No. 14-0428,2014 WL 2432421
(Iowa Ct.
App. May 29, 2014).
As we compare the decisions in those cases with the facts in this case, we
note that Kirk has had an opportunity to be involved in the proceedings from the
start. He received notice and attended the CINA adjudication hearing. Between
the time of that hearing and the disposition, DHS requested that he complete the
Social History Questionnaire. He never did. He received notice of the
disposition hearing, but did not appear or request counsel. The case
permanency plan approved by the court at that hearing provided that Kirk would
let his intentions concerning involvement with K.G. be known to DHS. He never
32
did so prior to the termination hearing.4 The order following the disposition
hearing notified Kirk that all parties were ordered to comply with the case
permanency plan, informed him the court found that no party was requesting
additional services, advised him that failure to identify any deficiency in services
might preclude a later challenge on that basis, and the consequences of
permanent removal might result in termination of parental rights. There is no
evidence that Kirk ever complained of lack of services, requested additional
services, inquired as to what he should or could do to help K.G. or preserve his
own rights, and never notified DHS of his intentions.
Although a March DHS report and an April CASA report indicate a current
plan for an alternative arrangement for K.G., including a long term guardianship,
there is no indication that Kirk affirmatively influenced that plan. It appears more
likely a plan made out of uncertainty as to his intended involvement. It is
tempting to claim the DHS could have or should have done more with respect to
Kirk, but how much more? He failed to complete the social history questionnaire
requested and needed by the department. He was notified of all hearings. He
failed to appear for the disposition hearing and failed to request or to obtain
counsel. He was not available to participate in that hearing by phone. There is
no evidence of any communications he initiated with DHS or other service
providers inquiring about K.G. or requesting or demanding services. He attended
only one of the two days of the termination hearing.
4
Arguably, he finally did so at the termination hearing.
33
If Kirk were a resident of the same town in which K.G. resided, would we
hesitate to find that he has failed to complete the responsibilities prescribed in
the case permanency plan? All he had to do was make his intentions known to
DHS. Would we hesitate to find that he has failed to affirmatively assume the
duties encompassed by the role of being a parent? We think the answer is “no”
to each question. What if he were a resident of Iowa, across the state from
where K.G. lives? How much does it matter that he lives in Colorado?
Depending on what was asked of him, perhaps it would matter; but in this case,
he failed to even complete a questionnaire, failed to even timely let DHS know
what he intended or wished his long-term involvement to be, and failed to request
any assistance or services for seven months from the time of removal to the time
of termination hearing.
Accordingly, on our de novo review we conclude the State has established
by clear and convincing evidence that Kirk failed to affirmatively assume the
duties of a parent as required under the circumstances in K.G.’s life and he failed
to comply with—in this case, even respond to—the responsibilities prescribed in
the case permanency plan, and that Kirk’s rights should be terminated under
section 232.116(1)(e). We affirm the juvenile court on this issue.
IV. CONCLUSION.
With respect to Leanne, we find neither trial nor appellate counsel was
ineffective. We further find the expedited termination appeal process does not
create a per se violation of terminated parents’ due process rights. With respect
to the statutory grounds, we affirm termination of her parental rights to T.S. under
34
Iowa Code section 232.116(1)(h) and affirm termination of her parental rights to
K.G. under section 232.116(1)(e). With respect to Kirk, we find the evidence
sufficiently supported termination of his parental rights to K.G. under paragraph
(e).
AFFIRMED ON BOTH APPEALS.
Bower, J., concurs; McDonald, J., concurs in part and dissents in part.
35
MCDONALD, J. (dissenting)
I concur in the judgment with respect to the termination of Leanne’s
parental rights, but I dissent from the majority’s opinion with respect to Kirk’s
parental rights. Kirk had not abandoned the child. Kirk maintained significant
and meaningful contact with the child not inconsistent with what one would
expect of a noncustodial parent not a resident of the state in which the child
resides. The State never made any effort to provide Kirk with services or
otherwise involve him in any meaningful way in this case because the primary, if
not sole, focus of the Iowa Department of Human Services (IDHS) was to provide
services to the mother and stepfather. When those efforts failed, Kirk was
treated as flotsam of his ex-wife’s wreckage.
I.
The State has the burden to prove the allegations of the petition by clear
and convincing evidence. Iowa Code § 232.96
. Clear and convincing evidence is more than a preponderance of the evidence and less than evidence beyond a reasonable doubt. In re L.G.,532 N.W.2d 478, 481
(Iowa Ct. App. 1995). It means that there must be no serious or substantial doubt about the correctness of a particular conclusion drawn from the evidence.Id.
Because our review is de
novo, we should not be passive where there is a deficient presentation of
evidence. Instead, we must satisfy ourselves the State has come forth with the
quantum and quality of evidence sufficient to prove the statutory grounds for
termination of a parent’s rights, a standard imposed to balance the parent’s
interest in maintaining the parent-child relationship and the State’s obligation to
36
act parens patriae. I conclude the State has not met its significant evidentiary
burden in this case.
II.
The first ground for termination requires the State to establish by clear and
convincing evidence “that the child has been abandoned or deserted.” Iowa Code § 232.116
(1)(b). The majority concludes the State has not proved this
ground for termination, and I agree.
III.
A.
The second ground for termination requires the State to first prove, as
relevant here, Kirk has not “maintained significant and meaningful contact with
the child.” Iowa Code § 232.115
(1)(e)(3). “‘[S]ignificant and meaningful contact’ includes but is not limited to the affirmative assumption by the parents of the duties encompassed by the role of being a parent.”Id.
I conclude the State has
not proved by clear and convincing evidence that Kirk failed to maintain
significant and meaningful contact with K.G.
It is necessary to provide some context regarding the history of this family.
Kirk and Leanne married and tried unsuccessfully for a period of time to have
children. After Kirk and Leanne treated with medical providers, K.G. was born
into the marriage. From the time of K.G.’s birth until the parents’ separation and
divorce, Kirk and Leanne raised K.G. in a family unit. When the parents
separated and divorced, Kirk paid child support and exercised visitation every
other weekend. When Leanne left Colorado for Iowa in November 2012, the
37
record shows Kirk exercised visitation in a manner not inconsistent with a
noncustodial parent who does not reside in the same state as the child. K.G.
lived with Kirk in Colorado for the entire summer of 2013. This is the first
summer after Leanne moved K.G. to Iowa. Shortly after K.G.’s return from
Colorado, this case commenced. Kirk had planned to exercise visitation over
winter break in 2013, but IDHS disallowed the visitation because of this case.
Presumably, summer visitation in 2014 also would have been disallowed for the
same reason. It is wholly disingenuous for the State to now argue Kirk failed to
have more frequent visitation with the child when the State disallowed the
father’s visitation with the child—visitation the father exercised for years without
interruption prior to the State becoming involved with this family because of Kirk’s
ex-wife’s conduct.
In addition to exercising visitation with K.G. until the State prevented the
same, Kirk assumed the duties of parenthood one would expect of a
noncustodial parent who resides in a different state than the child. Kirk paid child
support, and he is current on his child support obligations. See Iowa Code § 232.116
(1)(e)(3) (identifying satisfaction of “financial obligations” as duty of parent). He maintained continued interest in the child. Seeid.
(identifying “continued interest” as a factor). Kirk communicated with his daughter by telephone and text message on a regular basis. Seeid.
(identifying “genuine
effort to maintain communication with the child” as a parental duty). In addition to
his communication directly with K.G., Kirk also communicated regularly with the
mother regarding K.G.’s welfare. Kirk sent K.G. Christmas and birthday gifts. He
38
sent gift cards to K.G. and T.S., even though T.S. is not his child. He also
provided K.G. with an Easter basket almost every year of her life because “she’s
big time on Easter.” Most important, there is no evidence that Kirk has not
maintained a central place of importance as a parent in this child’s life. See id.
The majority nonetheless concludes the State proved this element
because the affirmative assumption of parental duties includes the duty to obtain
counsel and litigate the case. Kirk’s litigation conduct, or lack thereof, has little
relationship to whether he had “significant and meaningful contact with the child.”
If anything, Kirk’s litigation conduct seems more probative of the “reasonable
efforts” element, discussed below. By focusing on Kirk’s litigation conduct, the
majority has effectively incorporated the “reasonable efforts” element back into
the “significant and meaningful contact” element. That simply confuses two
issues the majority concedes are separate:
That subparagraph has two requirements: “the parents (1) have not
maintained significant and meaningful contact with the child during
the previous six consecutive months and (2) have made no
reasonable efforts to resume care of the child despite being given
the opportunity to do so.”
Ante, at 20; See ante, at 21 (“The two requirements of subparagraph (e)(3) are
clearly in the conjunctive: connected, joined together. Each is separately
required . . .”). Accordingly, I conclude Kirk’s failure to immediately retain
counsel and aggressively litigate a case that had nothing to do with his conduct
and everything to do with his ex-wife’s conduct is not probative of the whether
Kirk maintained “significant and meaningful contact” with his child.
39
The majority also concludes the State proved this element because Kirk
failed to make a “genuine effort to complete the case permanency plan.” It
should be noted that there is no exhibit or document entitled “case permanency
plan” in this record. The majority “presumes” a report to the court submitted
during the disposition hearing held on December 9, 2013, was, in fact, the case
permanency plan. We should not terminate a parent’s rights on the ground the
parent failed to comply with the “case permanency plan,” which is a statutorily
defined term, see Iowa Code § 232.2
(4), when we cannot find the “case
permanency plan” in the record. If the report to the court is the case permanency
plan, it sets forth fourteen recommendations for the family, only one of which
directly relates to Kirk. The report to the court states Kirk shall make his
intentions regarding K.G. known. The report contains no deadline for Kirk to
make his intentions known.
In April 2014, the juvenile court was to hold a permanency hearing with
respect to K.G. The court continued the hearing until June 2014. Subsequently,
on May 21, 2014, the State filed its petition to terminate Kirk’s parental rights. In
response, the juvenile court cancelled the permanency hearing and instead
scheduled a termination hearing for June 2014. Within several days of the
petition to terminate parental rights being filed, Kirk retained counsel to resist the
termination of his parental rights. It cannot be underemphasized that there was
no substantive hearing regarding K.G. or Kirk between the time of the disposition
hearing in December and the time of the termination hearing in June. Thus,
between the time of the December disposition hearing and the time of the next
40
hearing Kirk made known his intentions to maintain his parental rights to K.G. He
therefore complied with all of the terms and conditions of the case permanency
plan, or court report, that applied to him.
Considering all the facts and circumstances, I conclude the State has
failed to prove this element by clear and convincing evidence.
B.
In addition to proving the lack of significant and meaningful contact, the
State is required to prove by clear and convincing evidence that Kirk “made no
reasonable efforts to resume care of the child despite being given the opportunity
to do so.” Iowa Code § 232.116
(1)(e)(3). This requires proof the State provided the parent with the opportunity to resume care of the child, including offering appropriate and adequate services, and the parent failed to avail himself of the services offered. See In re A.C., No. 03-1314,2003 WL 22455895
, at *2-3 (Iowa
Ct. App. Oct. 29, 2003) (reversing termination of father’s rights where State failed
to prove it offered meaningful services to father). As previously discussed, this
element is separate and distinct from the “significant and meaningful contact”
element. The State’s failure of proof as to this element is thus an independent
ground for vacating the juvenile court’s termination order.
The juvenile court concluded termination is warranted because Kirk did
not make “reasonable efforts to resume care of the child [after] being given the
opportunity to do so.” Specifically, the juvenile court faulted Kirk for his failure to
take legal action upon the opening of this case. The juvenile court’s conclusion
that Kirk should have been more legally proactive within the CINA case
41
erroneously places the burden of proof on Kirk. See In re J.C., No. 14-0100,
2014 WL 1234432
, at *3-4 (Iowa Ct. App. Mar. 26, 2014) (rejecting State’s
position that termination was proved because father should have done more to
seek custody of child during CINA proceedings). In addition, the narrow focus on
whether Kirk was actively involved in the litigation glosses over an important
element of proof: to establish the element, the State is required to prove Kirk
failed to make reasonable efforts to resume care of K.G. after “being given the
opportunity to do so.”
In reviewing this file, it is clear IDHS did not give Kirk a meaningful
opportunity to resume care of the child. IDHS’s focus was to provide services to
Leanne and John to facilitate their reunification with the child. The services
offered this family related almost exclusively to domestic violence and
methamphetamine abuse. Those services were wholly inapplicable to Kirk.
IDHS admitted that it did not seek services for Kirk, stating in a report that “Kirk
had no involvement in services due to living in Colorado.” I do not in any way
fault IDHS for focusing its efforts on Leanne and John. IDHS’s charge is to take
action in the best interest of the child. Leanne and John were K.G.’s custodial
parents within the State’s jurisdiction and the persons whom the State could most
effectively provide services to facilitate reunification. The fact that IDHS’s focus
was well-intentioned and well-placed, however, does not relieve the State of its
burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that the State gave Kirk a
meaningful opportunity to resume care of his child under this statutory ground for
termination.
42
The reality of this case is that it was never about Kirk until it was. At that
point, it was too late for him in IDHS’s view. Under these circumstances, I would
hold the State failed to prove by clear and convincing evidence that it provided
Kirk with any meaningful opportunity to resume the care of K.G. See In re A.L.,
No. 14-0428, 2014 WL 2432421
, at *4 (Iowa Ct. App. May 19, 2014) (reversing termination order and holding the State failed to prove the father “was given the opportunity to do so” “because no reunification services were provided while the child-in-need-of-assistance action was pending” and explaining “services offered after the filing of the termination petition” do not satisfy the department’s obligation to make reasonable reunification efforts); In re J.W.E.L., No. 12-2309,2013 WL 751305
, at *4 (Iowa Ct. App. Feb. 27, 2013) (reversing termination where noncustodial low income father did not make attempts to resume care of the child until the end of the case because “the plan for reunification had focused solely on the mother until less than three months before the termination hearing”); In re K.P., No. 11-0663,2011 WL 3117780
, at *2 (Iowa Ct. App. Jul.
27, 2011) (reversing termination where State failed to provide the single service
necessary to facilitate reunification).
This case is very similar to J.C., 2014 WL 1234432
. In that case, the juvenile court terminated the noncustodial father’s parental rights on several grounds, including section 232.116(1)(e). We concluded that the State failed to prove its case.Id. at *2
. As in this case, the father in J.C. had exercised visitation consistent with that of a noncustodial parent. See2014 WL 1234432
,
at *3 (“There is nothing to suggest he abdicated the role of noncustodial
43
parent.”). As in this case, the State contended the “father should have stepped
forward to seek custody of the child during the child in need of assistance
proceeding.” Id.
Our court explained that the argument impermissibly shifted the burden of proof to the father. Further, our court explained that the father’s lack of involvement in the case was because “[v]irtually all the department’s reunification efforts were directed at the mother.”Id.
The same is true of this case. Ultimately, the J.C. court concluded the State failed to prove grounds for terminating the father’s parental rights pursuant to paragraph (e).Id. at *2-3
.
The same result should obtain here.
IV.
I conclude the State failed to prove grounds for termination by clear and
convincing evidence. At minimum, the evidence in this case is in equipoise, and
the tie goes to the runner. I respectfully dissent with respect to the termination of
Kirk’s parental rights.