Opinion ID: 2498669
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Various Hearings Regarding The Children's CINA Cases

Text: After the children were removed from Paula's care, several hearings occurred for which Paula did not receive notice. The first, in July 2009, was the termination of parental rights proceeding at which the children's mother voluntarily relinquished her parental rights. [11] In August 2009 a permanency hearing was held at which Gulkana's ICWA worker informed the master that the grandmother [was] okay with the plan now. The superior court adopted the master's finding that placement with the Dubovs was reasonable and in the children's best interests and that all parties entitled to notice had been served with notice of the proceeding. But Paula was not served with notice of this hearing. In December 2009 a status hearing was held, but Paula did not receive notice of this hearing. In July 2010 a permanency hearing was held. There, the superior court determined that a hearing was necessary to consider placement with relatives in Montana, who had been denied placement by OCS. Paula was not given notice of this proceeding. The placement hearing was held in September 2010 to review OCS's placement decision regarding relatives in Montana. Paula was not given notice and did not attend this hearing. At this hearing, there was a significant amount of testimony presented regarding the placement history with Paula and the challenges she faced in trying to raise the children. The master found that there was good cause to deviate from ICWA preferences and that placement with the Dubovs was proper because the children were bonded with and had expressed a preference to stay with the Dubovs.