Case Name: In the Matter of A.S., K.S., and P.S., Alleged Dependent Children
Court: South Dakota Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: South Dakota
Decision Date: 1993-02-24
Citations: 496 N.W.2d 589
Docket Number: No. 17853
Parties: In the Matter of A.S., K.S., and P.S., Alleged Dependent Children.
Judges: MILLER, C.J., and AMUNDSON, J., concur.
Reporter: North Western Reporter 2d
Volume: 496
Pages: 589–593

Head Matter:
In the Matter of A.S., K.S., and P.S., Alleged Dependent Children.
No. 17853.
Supreme Court of South Dakota.
Considered on Briefs Nov. 19, 1992.
Decided Feb. 24, 1993.
Cynthia Howard of Minnehaha County Public Defender’s Office, Sioux Falls, for appellant father.
Mark W. Barnett, Atty. Gen., Joan P. Baker, Asst. Atty. Gen., Pierre, for appel-lee State.
Laurel Eggers, Sioux Falls, for appellee mother.

Opinion:
WUEST, Justice.
Y.V.N. (hereinafter "Father") appeals an order terminating his parental rights. While Father was serving a five year sentence in the state penitentiary, his wife left two of their three children with South Dakota Social Services. The circuit court found the children dependent and neglected and terminated Mother's and Father's parental rights. Shortly thereafter, Father was released from the penitentiary and requested reconsideration of the termination of parental rights. The circuit court considered Father's request and reaffirmed its termination order.
We agree with Father that several of the trial court's findings of fact are clearly erroneous because they are unsupported by evidence in the record. For example, the trial court found that "reasonable efforts" had been made to return the children to Father. In fact, there is no evidence that Social Services made any efforts to work with Father. It is fundamental that before parental rights can be terminated, "reasonable efforts" must be made to aid parents in maintaining their children. In re A.D., 416 N.W.2d 264, 267 (S.D.1987).
We reverse the circuit court's order terminating Father's parental rights and remand for a new trial.
MILLER, C.J., and AMUNDSON, J., concur.
HENDERSON, J., concurs with writing.
SABERS, J., dissents.