Opinion ID: 1279768
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Department's Duty

Text: The parents' first contention is that under Neb.Rev.Stat. §§ 43-245 to 43-2,129 (Reissue 1988), parental rights may not be terminated until the department has expended reasonable efforts to reunify the family and that in this case the department breached its responsibility. In so arguing, the parents refer us to several cases from other jurisdictions in which courts have, based upon the applicable agency's failure to make reasonable efforts to reunite the family, reversed lower court determinations to terminate parental rights. In each case the court determined that the agency had a statutory obligation to render such efforts prior to termination of parental rights under the theory of termination alleged. See, Matter of Leon RR, 48 N.Y.2d 117, 397 N.E.2d 374, 421 N.Y.S.2d 863 (1979) (New York statute, Social Services Law § 384-b, required that in order to terminate parental rights on the theory that child is permanently neglected, state must prove parents failed for period of more than 1 year after child placed within care of authorized agency to substantially and continuously or repeatedly maintain contact with or plan for future of child although physically and financially able to do so, notwithstanding agency's diligent efforts to encourage and strengthen the parental relationship when such efforts will not be detrimental to best interests of child); Matter of Jason S., 117 A.D.2d 605, 498 N.Y.S.2d 71 (1986); Matter of Sheila G., 61 N.Y.2d 368, 462 N.E.2d 1139, 474 N.Y.S.2d 421 (1984); In re Kristina L., 520 A.2d 574 (R.I.1987) (Rhode Island statute, R.I.Gen.Laws § 15-7-7 (1984), required that in order to terminate parental rights on basis that child has been in the care of a child placement agency for 6 months, state must prove that it made reasonable efforts to reunite the family); Matter of Jones, 436 N.E.2d 849 (Ind.App.1982) (at the time of the case, Indiana statute, Ind.Code § 31-6-5-4 (Supp.1981), required that in order to terminate parental rights, the state must prove the child has been removed from the parents for 6 months under a dispositional decree, there is a reasonable probability that the conditions which resulted in removal will not be remedied, termination is in the child's best interests, the county department has a satisfactory plan for the care and treatment of the child, and reasonable services have been offered or provided to the parent to assist in fulfilling the parental obligation and parent has failed to accept them or they have been ineffective). In an effort to relate the foregoing holdings to our law, the parents urge that not only does § 43-246 place upon the department the burden to make reasonable efforts to reunite the family prior to seeking termination of parental rights, but so does § 43-284. Section 43-246 provides, in pertinent part, that the juvenile code shall be construed to effectuate the following: (1) To assure the rights of all juveniles to care and protection and a stable living environment and to development of their capacities for a healthy personality, physical well-being, and useful citizenship and to protect the public interest; (2) To provide for the intervention of the juvenile court in the interest of any juvenile who is within the provisions of the Nebraska Juvenile Code, with due regard to parental rights and capacities and the availability of nonjudicial resources; .... (4) To achieve the foregoing purposes in the juvenile's own home whenever possible, separating the juvenile from his or her parent only when necessary for his or her welfare or in the interest of public safety and, when temporary separation is necessary, to consider the developmental needs of the individual juvenile in all placements and to assure every reasonable effort possible to reunite the juvenile and his or her family. We have enunciated that the policy statements recited above are laudable and establish a generalized program for the juvenile courts and the department to follow. State v. Duran, 204 Neb. 546, 554, 283 N.W.2d 382, 387 (1979). Nevertheless, § 43-246 has never been interpreted to require that the department institute a plan for rehabilitation of a parent whose child has been found to be dependent and neglected. See, In re Interest of C.D.C., 235 Neb. 496, 455 N.W.2d 801 (1990); In re Interest of P.D., 231 Neb. 608, 437 N.W.2d 156 (1989). Indeed, we have held that the juvenile court may terminate parental rights under the various grounds specified in subsections (1) through (5) of § 43-292 without providing the parent with a reasonable opportunity to rehabilitate himself or herself. See, In re Interest of M.B., R.P., and J.P., 222 Neb. 757, 386 N.W.2d 877 (1986); In re Interest of M.W.M., 221 Neb. 829, 381 N.W.2d 134 (1986); In re Interest of W., 217 Neb. 325, 348 N.W.2d 861 (1984); In re Interest of Wood and Linden, 209 Neb. 18, 306 N.W.2d 151 (1981); In re Interest of Wagner and Russell, 209 Neb. 33, 305 N.W.2d 900 (1981); State v. Duran, supra . It is only to terminate parental rights pursuant to subsection (6) of & sect; 43-292 that the State is required to prove that the parents have been provided with a reasonable opportunity to rehabilitate themselves according to a court-ordered plan and have failed to do so. See State v. Duran, supra . Section 43-284 reads in relevant part: The court may enter a dispositional order removing a juvenile from his or her home only upon a written determination that continuation in the home would be contrary to the welfare of such juvenile and that reasonable efforts have been made to prevent or eliminate the need for removal of the juvenile from his or her home and to make it possible for the juvenile to return. It is apparent, however, that the foregoing language has application only to the dispositional order which initially removes the juvenile from the parental home and does not have application to the ultimate determination of whether to terminate parental rights. If reasonable efforts were not made in this case to prevent the need for removal of the children from the home or the court made no such finding, the parents had an opportunity to appeal from the dispositional order removing the children from the home. See, In re Interest of R.A. and V.A., 225 Neb. 157, 403 N.W.2d 357 (1987); In re Interest of V.T. and L.T., 220 Neb. 256, 369 N.W.2d 94 (1985). Having failed to appeal that determination, they may not now complain of it. Thus, irrespective of what the law of other jurisdictions may be, the parents' first assignment of error is without merit under our law.