Opinion ID: 1248800
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Challenge to the Adequacy of Services

Text: Douglas has not completed sex offender treatment or substance abuse treatment as recommended. He claims the State did not offer him adequate services to allow him to comply with the case permanency plan and ultimately reunify his family. Specifically, Douglas argues he complained several times to his social worker regarding the adequacy of services provided to him. He, however, made no effort to inform the juvenile court of his complaints. The State must make reasonable efforts to provide services to a parent before termination proceedings may be instituted. Iowa Code § 232.102(7), (10)(a); In re C.B., 611 N.W.2d 489, 492-93 (Iowa 2000). Reasonable efforts are aimed at both preventing and eliminating the need for removal. Iowa Code § 232.102(10)(a); In re C.B., 611 N.W.2d at 493. This is both a required element of each state's Title IV-E state plan and a condition of federal funding for individual foster care placements. In re H.L.B.R., 567 N.W.2d 675, 679 (Iowa Ct.App.1997). However, what constitutes reasonable services varies based upon the requirements of each individual case. Id. Generally, in making reasonable efforts to provide services, the State's focus is on services to improve parenting. In re C.B., 611 N.W.2d at 493 (citing In re T.A.L., 505 N.W.2d 480, 485 (Iowa 1993)). The concept of reasonable efforts broadly includes a visitation agreement designed to facilitate reunification while protecting the child from the harm responsible for the removal. In re M.B., 553 N.W.2d 343, 345 (Iowa Ct.App.1996). It is appropriate in some cases for the parent to request additional services from DHS. It is also appropriate for DHS to respond to such requests if they are within its duty to use reasonable efforts to satisfy the case permanency plan and the goal of reunification. However, in making reasonable efforts to provide services, the State need not search for unavailable services. This is especially so when a parent, as in the present case, presents the awesome challenge of getting treatment for a deficit the parent claims he does not have. A dialogue between the parent and DHS may help the parties comply with the case permanency plan. If, however, a parent is not satisfied with DHS' response to a request for other services, the parent must come to the court and present this challenge. See Iowa Code § 232.99(3) [4] Douglas asserts he told his social worker, Karen Claussen, he wanted other treatment that would not force him to admit to the sexual abuse. Karen Claussen's reports do not reveal such a request. The court approved a case permanency plan for Cecilia and her family, which identified the problems within the family unit and provided a variety of services to Douglas. Douglas failed to comply with the case permanency plan. DHS offered him classes to facilitate parent skills development and treatment for substance abuse issues. Since 1999 when Cecilia went into foster care, DHS has offered Douglas treatment on at least two occasions. Douglas refused to accept such treatment. Instead, he requested alternate services when there was no evidence to suggest the services were available. After two failed attempts at treatment and requests for nonexistent services, it is clear the State made reasonable efforts to provide services to Douglas before the court terminated his parental rights. Even if Douglas asked for alternative treatment, he did not make his request in an appropriate proceeding or at the appropriate time. In general, if a parent fails to request other services at the proper time, the parent waives the issue and may not later challenge it at the termination proceeding. See In re S.R., 600 N.W.2d 63, 65 (Iowa Ct.App.1999); In re L.M.W., 518 N.W.2d 804, 807 (Iowa Ct.App.1994) (parent must demand services if he or she feels they are inadequate prior to termination); Iowa Code § 232.99(3). If a parent has a complaint regarding services, the parent must make such challenge at the removal, when the case permanency plan is entered, or at later review hearings. Id. Moreover, voicing complaints regarding the adequacy of services to a social worker is not sufficient. A parent must inform the juvenile court of such challenge. Douglas did not inform the court at the time the children were removed from the home that he disliked the services available to him. He did not notify the court of his complaint later when the court adopted the case permanency plan. He also failed to notify the court at a later review hearing. Rather, Douglas waited until the termination hearing to make this challenge before the court. We conclude Douglas may not now challenge the sufficiency of services provided to him. Even if Douglas' attorney had filed a motion with the juvenile court requesting alternative services in a timely manner, Douglas' argument would still fail as there was ample evidence to support the termination apart from his failure to get treatment for his problem.