Opinion ID: 1241163
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Termination of E.A.'s Parental Rights

Text: E.A. challenges the superior court's decision to terminate her parental rights to C.A. and V.A. In reviewing that decision we must apply the clearly erroneous standard. We will not disturb the court's findings regarding the termination of parental rights unless we are left with the definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been made. In re S.D., Jr., 549 P.2d 1190, 1195 (Alaska 1976). In order to terminate parental rights under AS 47.10.080(c)(3), [3] the court must find by clear and convincing evidence (1) that there is a child in need of aid under AS 47.10.010(a)(2) [4] as a result of parental conduct, and (2) that the parental conduct is likely to continue. In re C.L.T., 597 P.2d 518, 524-25 (Alaska 1979). In the present case the parties stipulated, with approval of the court, that C.A. and V.A. are children in need of aid. E.A. apparently does not challenge the validity of that stipulation or the factual basis of the court's finding that C.A. and V.A. are children in need of aid as a result of parental conduct. She does contend, however, that the court failed to make a clear finding that the parental conduct is likely to continue as required by AS 47.10.080(c)(3). We agree. In its decision, the court discussed parental conduct at length and expressly found that E.A.'s conduct was such as to constitute abandonment of C.A. and V.A. It is not clear from the decision, however, whether the court made the additional requisite finding, based on clear and convincing evidence, that the parental conduct is likely to continue. In order to assure that the important right to the care, custody, and control of one's children is not permanently terminated absent strict compliance with the statutory requirements, we hold that this finding must be made expressly on the record prior to ordering the termination of parental rights. Thus, we remand to the superior court for determination on the record of whether there is clear and convincing evidence that the conduct of E.A. which led to this action is likely to continue if there is no termination of parental rights. E.A. objects to the termination of her parental rights in three other respects. We will address these contentions briefly since they are likely to arise again on remand. First E.A. argues on the basis of AS 47.17.030(d) that the state had a mandatory duty to provide counseling and other support services to the family prior to seeking termination of parental rights. AS 47.17.030(d) reads: (d) Before the department or a local government health or social service agency may seek the termination of parental rights, under AS 47.10.080(c)(3), it shall offer protective social services and pursue all other reasonable means of protecting the child. E.A.'s reliance upon this statute is misplaced. The section is found in Chapter 17 which applies to cases of physical abuse and neglect of children, and is clearly intended to prevent further abuse by providing protective services to the child. Before resorting to termination of parental rights, the state must still make reasonable attempts, whenever possible, to preserve and strengthen the family ties. [5] The record shows, however, that in the present case the DHSS fulfilled this obligation by offering counseling and supervision to E.A. on numerous occasions. E.A.'s second contention is that the court erred in rejecting her recommended disposition. She proposed, as an alternative to termination of parental rights, that the state retain legal custody of the children for two years and that the children be placed with their grandparents in the meantime. Assuming that the court, on remand, makes a determination that there is clear and convincing evidence that the parental conduct is likely to continue, it is within the court's discretion to reject this proposal and terminate parental rights. Finally, E.A. urges that she is entitled to a new adjudicatory hearing under the provisions of the new Indian Child Welfare Act, 25 U.S.C. §§ 1901-1963 (Supp. 1978) [the Act]. This Act provides a higher standard of protection to the rights of parents in termination proceedings involving Indians and Native Alaskans [6] than that provided in AS 47.10.080(c)(3). [7] The provisions of the Act are not applicable, however, to termination proceedings conducted prior to the effective date of the Act. [8] E.A. acknowledges that the Act was not in effect at the time her parental rights were terminated, but contends that under our decision in In re J.M., 573 P.2d 1376 (Alaska 1979), she is entitled to a new adjudicatory hearing whenever a statute with significantly stricter standards takes effect after the original adjudication, but during the pendency of the proceeding. This argument is based on an overly broad interpretation of our holding in J.M.J.M. held that children adjudged dependent under the old dependency statute prior to its repeal are entitled, on request, to a new hearing under the higher standards of the newly enacted dependency statute. This holding was based largely on the fact that the dependency statute was amended such that most of the guardian ad litem's constitutional objections to the old law, under which J.M. was adjudged dependent, were cured. Thus, in J.M. there was the possibility that the minor had been adjudged dependent under an unconstitutional statute. Here there has been no constitutional challenge to the statute under which E.A.'s parental rights were terminated. We see no basis for granting E.A. a new adjudication hearing under the standards of the Indian Child Welfare Act. [9]