Opinion ID: 6348794
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Termination Trial And Termination Order

Text: The superior court held a trial in March 2021, about a year after the termination petition was filed, and ordered the termination of Mona’s parental rights. Among its other necessary findings the court found by clear and convincing evidence that OCS had made active efforts to provide remedial services and rehabilitative programs intended to prevent the breakup of the family, as required by ICWA.6 The superior court began its discussion of active efforts by stating that active efforts “are more than reasonable efforts and are dependent on [Mona’s] willingness to engage.” The court found that Mona “was never willing to engage in an attempt to reunify with her children and actively attempted to frustrate OCS’s attempts to provide remedial service[s] and rehabilitative programs at different points throughout the case.” The court acknowledged that Mona attended urinalysis tests, always tested negative, participated in some family contacts, and completed some of her case plan requirements. The court also observed, however, that she sometimes actively frustrated family contact and refused to cooperate with most OCS workers. The court wrote: “OCS testified convincingly that OCS offered services to [Mona] over the life of the case” even though “there were times when OCS was more lax in [its] efforts.” The court cited OCS’s facilitation of regular visits and its efforts to get Mona the proper 6 25 U.S.C. § 1912(d) (“Any party seeking to effect a . . . termination of parental rights to[] an Indian child under State law shall satisfy the court that active efforts have been made to provide remedial and rehabilitative programs designed to prevent the breakup of the Indian family and that these efforts have proved unsuccessful.”). -10- 7598 assessments, contrasting these efforts with Mona’s failure to return calls and texts, her demand that all contact go through her attorney, and her refusal to attend meetings. The court also noted OCS’s attempts to encourage alternative housing for Mona and her refusal to move away from Earl. Mona appeals the termination order, challenging the court’s active efforts finding.