Opinion ID: 1358677
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Tobias W., Joshua W., and Alicia W.

Text: Kelly S. is the natural mother of three children: Tobias W., born April 1, 1990, Joshua W., born April 2, 1991, and Alicia W., born May 30, 1992. The children's natural father is deceased. On October 3, 1995, the Department submitted a civil petition to the circuit court alleging that Kelly S. had neglected her children. [9] By an order of the same date, the circuit court awarded the Department temporary custody of the children pending a preliminary hearing. [10] On October 13, 1995, a preliminary hearing was held. By an order filed on November 14, 1995, the circuit court renewed its award of temporary custody to the Department; granted the Department leave to place the children in foster care or with a suitable relative; and ordered that supervised visitation between Kelly S. and the children be conducted. Thereafter, Tobias W., Joshua W., and Alicia W. were placed in separate foster homes in Morgan County. On March 18, 1996, Kelly S., her counsel, and two representatives of the Department convened for an adjudicatory hearing, at which time counsel for Kelly S. moved for a preadjudicatory improvement period. [11] The Department did not object, and by order filed July 31, 1996, the circuit court granted Kelly S. a preadjudicatory improvement period of one year. [12] By the same order, the circuit judge directed the Department to prepare a family case plan [13] and ordered Kelly S. to complete a drug and alcohol treatment program before the end of the improvement period. On December 17, 1996, the Department filed a family case plan which outlined a plan for Kelly S.'s recovery from alcoholism and development of parenting skills. On December 19, 1996, the guardian ad litem moved for revocation of the improvement period alleging that Kelly S. had failed to comply with the terms and conditions thereof. At a hearing on February 7, 1997, Kelly S. agreed to revocation of the improvement period and also waived her right to an adjudicatory hearing. By order filed February 28, 1997, the circuit judge found Kelly S. to be guilty of neglect, as defined in W.Va. Code § 49-1-3 [1994]; placed her on a six month post-adjudicatory improvement period; required the Department to prepare a family case plan; and granted the Department permission to keep the children in separate foster homes during the improvement period with the stipulation that visitation among them be maintained. On April 18, 1997, the Department filed a second family case plan, detailing problems of and goals for Kelly S. and her children, including a plan to reunite the children with their mother. By order filed July 21, 1997, the post-adjudicatory improvement period was extended for three months in order to allow the Department sufficient time to complete the reunification. When the extension was ordered, two of the three children had already been returned to Kelly S. On October 9, 1997, the guardian ad litem filed a Motion for Revocation of Improvement Period due to Kelly S.'s alleged failure to overcome her alcohol and substance abuse problems. At a hearing on the motion on October 20, 1997, testimony concerning Kelly S.'s relapse was presented. On October 22, 1997, a disposition order was filed. [14] In that order, the circuit court terminated Kelly S.'s parental rights; awarded permanent guardianship of the children to the Department with the direction that they be placed in permanent foster care; and granted Kelly S. post-termination visitation rights. [15]