Opinion
No. 14–0978.
2014-08-27
In the Interest of S.J. and J.H., Minor Children, A.J., Mother, Appellant.
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Marion County, Steven Guiter, District Associate Judge.A mother appeals the termination of her parental rights to her children. AFFIRMED.Michael S. Fisher of Fisher Law Office, Oskaloosa, for appellant.Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General, Kathrine S. Miller–Todd, Assistant Attorney General, and Edward W. Bull, County Attorney, for appellee.
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Marion County, Steven Guiter, District Associate Judge.
A mother appeals the termination of her parental rights to her children. AFFIRMED.
Michael S. Fisher of Fisher Law Office, Oskaloosa, for appellant. Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General, Kathrine S. Miller–Todd, Assistant Attorney General, and Edward W. Bull, County Attorney, for appellee.
Jessica Millage of Millage Law Firm, P.C., Des Moines, for father.
Jared Harmon of Carr & Wright Law Firm, Des Moines, attorney and guardian ad litem for minor children.
Considered by DANILSON, P.J., and VOGEL and BOWER, JJ. BOWER, J.
A mother appeals the termination of her parental rights to her children. She contends the State failed to make reasonable efforts to reunify her with the children and the juvenile court should have granted her additional time to allow for return of the children. Because we find the evidence supports termination of the mother's parental rights, and there is no reason to believe additional time would result in reunification, we affirm.
Upon our de novo review of the record, we agree with the assessment of the juvenile court. The mother's continued inability to resolve her drug use places the children in danger. The mother has been given several opportunities to address her methamphetamine use, but failed drug tests in August 2013 and again in March 2014, just weeks before the termination hearing, indicate a lack of responsibility for her actions and disregard for the well-being of her children. We give particular weight to the juvenile court's assessment that although the mother often says the right thing, her actions have not matched her words. The mother did testify to her bond with the children; however, her continued drug use since the children were removed from her care indicates additional time would not rectify the problems or allow for the permanent return of the children. See In re Dameron, 306 N.W.2d 743, 745 (Iowa 1981) (noting a parent's past behavior is an important factor in determining what the future holds for a child if returned to the parent's care and custody). Further, “[w]e have repeatedly followed the principle that the statutory time line must be followed and children should not be forced to wait for their parent to grow up.” In re N.F., 579 N.W.2d 338, 341 (Iowa Ct.App.1998).
Because granting the mother additional time is contrary to the children's best interests, we affirm.
AFFIRMED.