Opinion ID: 2520807
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Alaska Statute 47.10.088(a)(2): DFYS made reasonable efforts to provide family support services to Martin.

Text: Alaska Statute 47.10.088(a)(2) requires the court to find by a preponderance of the evidence that DFYS has made reasonable efforts to assist the parent in remedying harmful conduct or conditions, as required by AS 47.10.086. The superior court found that DFYS did all it could reasonably do until its efforts were excused by Martin's long sentence. Martin argues that DFYS's efforts were unreasonable because it delivered only the first case plan to him, a case worker met with him in person only once, and later case plans required further classes and good behavior even after he had been placed in maximum security. But we agree with the trial court that DFYS drew up a suitable case plan, including parenting classes and drug monitoring, and implemented it through telephonic contact until March 2001 when Martin's maximum security statuswhich resulted from Martin's own actions while in prisonprecluded him from taking further classes. DFYS also made reasonable efforts to provide Martin with visitation until it became clear that the visitation was harmful to Amanda. While Martin is in prison, the Department of Corrections rather than DFYS has primary responsibility for providing services to him; [25] after Martin was sentenced, the superior court was empowered to find that DFYS was not required to make efforts under AS 47.10.086(c)(10) because Martin was incarcerated and ... unavailable to care for the child during a significant period of the child's minority. The superior court made this finding. The superior court did not err in finding that DFYS complied with the reasonable efforts requirement.