Opinion ID: 1972406
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: The State Grounds for Termination

Text: Under the state grounds for termination, the court must find that the parent is inadequate under one of the statutory conditions outlined in 22 M.R.S.A. § 4055 and that termination is in the best interests of the children. We will affirm an order for termination if the court could reasonably have been persuaded that the required factual findings were proven to be highly probable. In re Annette P., 589 A.2d at 926. The mother challenges the court's findings pursuant to 22 M.R.S.A. § 4055(1)(B)(2)(b) that she is unable or unwilling within a time reasonably calculated to meet her children's needs to take responsibility for them and to protect them from jeopardy. The court heard extensive testimony on these issues. The record shows that she has been unable to provide adequate clothing, shelter, supervision and care for her children. Her ability to protect them from sexual abuse is questionable. As the mother is unlikely to remedy her deficits in a time reasonably calculated to meet her children's needs, the court did not commit clear error in finding that she is unwilling or unable to take responsibility for A and B and to protect them from jeopardy. [2] The record also discloses that A and B have spent the last six years of their lives in foster care. While in their mother's care, they lived in unsanitary conditions and suffered from instability relating to her repeated hospitalizations for mental illness. B has shown improvement in his school performance since being removed from his mother's custody. A has bonded to her foster mother. Nevertheless, A and B are both anxious and frustrated at the lack of permanence they must endure. A and B will require careful parenting due to their emotional needs. B suffers from an adjustment disorder which leaves him with a limited ability to handle stress. A has either a language-based learning disability or attention deficit disorder. She may also suffer from fetal alcohol effects. She is definitely at risk for academic difficulties and requires structure, consistency and patience from any parent. The testimony at trial indicates that the mother will not be able to cope with the demands of her children even with the myriad of services which have been made available to her in the past. The court's finding that termination of her parental rights is in the best interests of her children was supported by clear and convincing evidence. The entry is: Judgment affirmed. All concurring.