Opinion ID: 2521422
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Risk of serious injury

Text: Based on its factual findings, the district court determined that Cristan's drug problems and her failure to adjust her circumstances would cause the children to suffer emotionally and would put them at risk of physical harm if they were returned to her care. The district court noted Vincent's lack of communication with the children, the children's integration into the foster home and that the children had been exposed to domestic violence throughout their lives. Additionally, DCFS cautioned that Vincent was incarcerated at the time of the termination proceedings, was unemployed, lacked stable housing and lacked foster care licensing for Cristan's child, D.R.H., who was neither Vincent's biological nor adopted child. While Vincent insists that the children could have stayed with relatives in Utah, the relatives had not obtained foster care licensing needed for D.R.H., placing him at risk of separation from his brothers. Moreover, at the termination proceeding, there was conflicting testimony as to whether Vincent's relatives were serious about caring for the children long-term. DCFS was also awaiting a response from Utah on whether the state would accept interstate placement. Accordingly, the district court properly determined that the uncertain situation would expose the children to a risk of serious emotional or physical injury.