Opinion ID: 1378820
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Relevant facts pertaining to Daniels

Text: DCFS filed an unsigned case plan for Daniels in July 1993, because the agency could not locate her. Essentially, the plan mirrored Kidwell's case plan. Juvenile court had established that Daniels was using drugs; therefore, in addition to maintaining stable housing, employment, and attending parenting classes, Daniels was required to submit to random urinalysis for six months and pay $200.00 per month in child support. Daniels testified that she abused cocaine, and while pregnant with Allen and Christopher, she was convicted of possession of cocaine in August of 1989 and sentenced in November of 1993. After receiving a suspended sentence and probation, Daniels was rearrested two months later and convicted in August of 1994 for attempted possession. She spent the next seventeen months in prison. Upon her release from prison, Daniels was assigned to Kathleen Petit, the DCFS social worker. Daniels had neither a permanent address nor gainful employment. During the twelve-month period that the caseworker was assigned to Daniels and to the Kidwell children, Daniels never provided DCFS with a phone number or permanent address. Petit, however, made earnest attempts to locate Daniels. For example, Petit engaged the assistance of a parent locator service and contacted family members. Petit testified that, during the year prior to Daniels' release from prison, Daniels sent only one letter to the children. Moreover, Daniels failed to pay any child support. After her release, Petit testified that Daniels failed to make any progress on her case plan. According to Petit, the children had only a bare recollection of their mother. Petit concluded that reunification of the children with either parent was unlikely because the children have special needs which neither parent has addressed.