Opinion ID: 1927603
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The child's health and development have been or will be seriously impaired by the parental relationship.

Text: The primary focus of the court should be upon harm for which there is unambiguous and universal social condemnation. Developments in the Law  The Constitution and the Family, 93 Harv.L.Rev. 1156, 1319 (1980). Paramount examples of such condemnation are evident in the context of physical and sexual abuse. For example, N.J.S.A. 30:4C-15(a) authorizes termination of parental rights when a judgment of conviction has been entered based on abuse, abandonment, neglect of, or cruelty to the child. In Title 9, the definition of abused or neglected child includes a child    whose parent    inflicts or allows to be inflicted upon such child    protracted impairment of    emotional health    or a child whose    mental, or emotional condition has been impaired or is in imminent danger of becoming impaired as the result of the failure of his parent    to exercise a minimum degree of care   . N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.21. Serious emotional injury and developmental retardation should thus be regarded as constituting an injury to the child. Not every injury  real or imagined  to the child's psyche satisfies the test. Still, in some cases, the potential for emotional injury can be the crucial factor in child placement. See, e.g., Sees v. Baber, 74 N.J. 201, 222 (1977) (psychological aspect of parenthood is more important in terms of the development of the child and its mental and emotional health than the coincidence of biological or natural parenthood). The potential return of a child to a parent may be so injurious that it would bar such an alternative. In this case, for example, visits with his parents have allegedly disturbed Michael. The trial court therefore must consider the potential for serious psychological damage to the child. Sorentino v. Family and Children's Soc'y, 72 N.J. 127, 131-32 (1976) ( Sorentino I ). [T]he mental health of the child and its best interest psychologically must always be considered. In re Guardianship of R., 155 N.J. Super. 186, 194 (App.Div. 1977). The absence of physical abuse or neglect is not conclusive   . Id.