Opinion ID: 901167
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: issues

Text: [¶ 23.] Whether the trial court erred in determining reasonable efforts to reunite the family had been made. [¶ 24.] DSS must exercise reasonable efforts to return children to their parents. SDCL 26-8A-21. Mother argues that she completed a substantial portion of the goals set for her by DSS. Mother did complete parenting classes and attend most of her visits with the child, except for two months of no visitation whatsoever. However, she failed to cooperate with DSS, keep them informed of her whereabouts, sign her case service plans, and, most importantly, refused to follow the recommendations of her psychiatric evaluation. Mother made no attempts to complete her necessary treatments or counseling and DSS's efforts toward reunification were frustrated almost every step of the way by mother's actions. The trial court did not err in determining that reasonable, but unsuccessful, efforts were made. [¶ 25.] Affirmed.