Opinion ID: 1636726
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: indian child welfare act/termination of parental rights

Text: Parental rights of F.W. (hereinafter referred to as Mother) and L.D.W. (hereinafter referred to as Father) were terminated as to female children S.D., K.C.H., and L.W. Both K.C.H. and L.W. possess sufficient quantities of American Indian blood to require application of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). S.D. is Caucasian. Parents contend their rights were improperly terminated. Error by the trial court was committed, they maintain, when it concluded: (1) With reference to K.C.H. and L.W. only, sufficient expert testimony (as mandated by ICWA) supported termination of parental rights. (2) Reasonable and active efforts were made to rehabilitate and prevent the dissolution of the W. family in accordance with both state and federal directives. (3) Their continued custody of the children was likely to result in serious emotional or physical damage to said children. (4) Termination of parental rights was the least restrictive alternative. (5) Their Stipulation of Dependency and Neglect was improperly accepted when the standard of proof for termination of rights was not determined at that time. This issue is raised only by Father. We affirm on all issues.