Opinion ID: 2498669
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Initial Removal

Text: This case involves four children: Eddie (born March 1996), Tawny (born August 1997), Callie (born January 2001), and David (born February 2005). [1] The children's mother, Maddie, is an enrolled member of the Northern Cheyenne tribe. The three younger children's father, Steve, is an enrolled member of the Gulkana Village tribe (Gulkana). [2] The children were initially taken into OCS custody in May 2006 due to their exposure to Maddie and Steve's domestic violence and substance abuse. After OCS obtained custody of the children, the younger three were placed with their paternal grandmother and Eddie with his maternal great-grandfather. The placements changed slightly over the year: In September 2006 Callie was placed with Paula, her maternal grandmother, and in January 2007 David was placed with his mother, who was undergoing substance abuse treatment. Paula obtained a foster care license and by June or July 2007 all four children were in her care. [3] Gulkana's former ICWA worker testified that, at that time, she thought Paula was very culturally oriented. She stated that while she had concerns regarding how crowded Paula's house could be, those concerns had been addressed. By January 2008 the children's mother had made improvements and completed her first phase of treatment, and so the children were returned to her for a trial home visit. This was unsuccessful, and in July 2008 the children were removed and again placed with Paula. Following a hearing, the permanency plan was then changed from reunification to adoption. OCS identified Paula as a potential adoptive parent. In December 2008 the children's father relinquished his parental rights, and in July 2009 the children's mother relinquished her rights.