Opinion ID: 4057169
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Stability and permanency

Text: Mother. Mother secured suitable housing for herself and the children. She rented a two-bedroom apartment. The family service plan required her to identify any person living with her and state the nature of their relationship. In April 2014, the Department learned an undisclosed paramour might be living with Mother. She denied the allegation. Mother maintained employment throughout the case. She had several jobs. She said she sometimes worked two jobs at a time. Proposed placement. The Department wanted David to live with and be adopted by his maternal aunt, Mother’s older sister. His aunt testified that David was “absolutely” happy in her home. She said, “I don’t consider him a handful. I consider the fact that he has been through a lot, and I can tell that, you know, he is lacking something.” David calls his aunt “Mom,” but when talking to a third party, he refers to her as his “auntie.” Child Advocates, Inc. was appointed to be David’s guardian ad litem. Meredith Wallace, the advocacy coordinator for Child Advocates, testified Child Advocates also wanted David to be adopted by his aunt. Wallace believed termination was in David’s best interest because Mother “has not shown that she can support a safe and stable environment for herself.”