Opinion ID: 1707089
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: The youth court judge retains the power to direct DHS to initiate TPR proceedings without a prior application for such by the DHS.

Text: ¶ 18. In In re T.T., 427 So.2d 1382 (Miss.1983), we determined that the trial court had the authority to direct that proceedings for TPR be initiated where the court had decided, from all of the evidence, that it was in the best interest of the child regardless of the parents' compliance with the court's requirements. Id. at 1384. Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-609 (1993) states six alternatives which the court may enter in a disposition order in neglect cases. In T.T. we stated that while § 43-21-609 does not specifically provide for ordering the filing of TPR proceedings, the authority to do so is implicit when considering the section as a whole. Id. ¶ 19. Section 93-15-105(1)(1994) of the Miss.Code Ann. states, Any person, agency or institution may file for termination of parental rights in the chancery court of the county in which a defendant or the child resides, or in the county where an agency or institution holding custody of the child is located. In T.T., we considered the broad authority of this section and determined that family courts have the power to direct the Department of Public Welfare to initiate proceedings for the termination of parental rights if such proceedings are in the best interest and future of a minor child. Id. at 1384. ¶ 20. G.R. and B.J.R. claim the youth court judge had no authority to initiate the proceedings for termination. The record does not indicate whether the judge issued a directive to DHS or whether DHS initiated these proceedings because the transcript from the November 9, 1995 hearing was not provided. However, we have previously determined in In re R.D., 658 So.2d 1378 (Miss. 1995) that the youth court can direct the DHS to initiate TPR proceedings in the child's best interest. In this case, the youth court judge was within the scope of his power.