Opinion ID: 2183121
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Good Faith Effort to Reunify

Text: [¶ 21] The mother and the grandfather also assert that DHS failed to execute its statutory obligation of making a good faith effort to reunify Breauna with her biological family. See 22 M.R.S.A. § 4041 (1996 & Supp.1998). We disagree. The evidence in the record establishes by a preponderance that DHS acted in good faith. See In re Denise, 670 A.2d at 394 (opining that good faith action by DHS must be proved by a preponderance of the evidence). Before DHS petitioned to remove Breauna from her mother's custody, the mother had the assistance of Casey Family Services, a day care center, and a public health nurse. When DHS took custody of Breauna, the mother moved to Europe. The mother was not available to undergo the extensive parenting instruction that she needed to safely care for Breauna. DHS attempted to reunify Breauna with her grandfather, but the reunification effort failed. [¶ 22] In In re Denise, we opined that DHS satisfied its statutory obligation because it spent two years trying to help the parents learn parenting skills, even though DHS failed to disclose that one of its counselor's who recommended termination also wanted to adopt the child. See In re Denise, 670 A.2d at 393-94. Similar to the circumstances in In re Denise, DHS spent over three years trying to reunify Breauna with her family. See id. DHS did not address this matter as efficiently as it should have, but DHS did not cause the mother to move to Europe and live a great distance from her daughter. DHS did not cause the grandfather to leave the intensive reunification early. Thus, DHS's efforts to establish and implement a reunification program support the finding that DHS engaged in a good faith reunification effort. See In re Denise, 670 A.2d at 394.