Court Opinion

ID: 4690271
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-05-26 16:05:23.15507+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:04:58.699371
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA

                                   No. 21-0430
                               Filed May 26, 2021

IN THE INTEREST OF C.D.,
Minor Child,

A.D., Mother,
       Appellant.
________________________________________________________________

      Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Cerro Gordo County, Adam D.

Sauer, District Associate Judge.

      A mother appeals the juvenile court order terminating her parental rights.

AFFIRMED.

      Jane M. Wright, Forest City, for appellant mother.

      Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General, and Mary A. Triick, Assistant Attorney

General, for appellee State.

      David A. Grooters of Pappajohn, Shriver, Eide & Nielsen, P.C., Mason City,

attorney and guardian ad litem for minor child.

      Considered by Bower, C.J., Tabor, J., and Danilson, S.J.*

      *Senior judge assigned by order pursuant to Iowa Code section 602.9206

(2021).
                                         2

DANILSON, Senior Judge.

       A mother appeals the juvenile court order terminating her parental rights.

We find the juvenile court did not abuse its discretion in denying the mother’s

motion for a continuance during the termination hearing, there is sufficient

evidence to support the termination, termination of the mother’s parental rights is

in the child’s best interests, none of the exceptions to termination should be

applied, the mother should not be given an extension of time to work on

reunification, and the mother is unable to challenge the child-in-need-of-assistance

(CINA) adjudication in this appeal. We affirm the decision of the juvenile court.

       I.     Background Facts & Proceedings

       A.D., mother, and S.H., father, are the parents of C.D., born in 2015. The

Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) became involved with the family in

October 2019 due to reports the mother was using methamphetamine. The child

was removed from the parents’ care on November 7 and placed in the care of

relatives.

       There was a CINA adjudication for the child on November 22, based on

Iowa Code section 232.2(6)(n) (2019). During the CINA proceedings, the mother

entered four substance-abuse treatment programs but was unsuccessful in

maintaining sobriety.   She continued to use methamphetamine.          She did not

participate in random drug testing. The mother was not always consistent in

attending visitation. At times she became easily frustrated with the child.

       In a review order on May 7, 2020, the juvenile court found the parents lacked

stability, they did not consistently participate in services, and they had ongoing

drug use. The court ruled in the permanency order on October 16 that the parents
                                        3

had made only minimal progress in the case. The court noted the mother had not

addressed her need for mental-health treatment.

      On December 31, the State filed a petition for termination of parental rights.

The termination hearing was held telephonically on March 9, 2021. The mother

testified that she had been in a substance-abuse treatment program for a month

or two but had also used methamphetamine a week before the hearing. She stated

that prior to a week before the hearing she had been using methamphetamine

every other day for about three months. The mother testified she was receiving

mental-health counseling.

      The following exchange occurred during the questioning of a social worker

by the guardian ad litem (GAL):

             Q. Is there one thing that [the mother] is better at now than
      when this started? A. She has gotten more consistent in attending
      her interactions.
             Q. But she still misses visits? A. Yes, at times usually on her
      cancellation.
             Q In other words, she cancels visits, is that what you’re
      saying?
             Mother: Hardly.
             A. Yes.
             Mother: God. Hardly. You fu*king—God.
             The Court: Ms.—Ms. [A.D.]?

The mother was then disconnected from the conference call. There was a break

in the proceedings to permit counsel for the mother to contact her.

      When the proceedings resumed, the court stated:

      We took a break after [the mother] hung up. My understanding is
      [counsel for the mother] has reached out to her, was not able to get
      in contact with her and that [a DHS social worker] also called her and
      it went straight to voice mail; and so no one has been able to reach
      her. She was upset when she hung up and she has not called back
      in at this time.
                                           4

Counsel for the mother stated she tried to contact the mother by email, telephone,

and text messages but was unable to contact her.

         Counsel for the mother asked for a continuance.         The State resisted,

claiming the mother made the choice to not attend the remainder of the hearing.

The GAL agreed that the mother made a voluntary decision to leave the hearing.

Counsel for the mother pointed out that it was unknown whether the mother

voluntary hung up the phone. The court stated, “[I]t was very clear to the Court

that [the mother] was not happy with the most recent answer that was provided by

[the social worker]; and she hung up out of frustration.” The court found that a

continuance based on the mother’s intentional acts would not be appropriate.

         The juvenile court terminated the parents’ rights.1 The mother’s rights were

terminated under section 232.116(1)(e) and (f) (2020). The court found termination

of the mother’s rights was in the child’s best interests. The court also found none

of the exceptions to termination in section 232.116(3) should be applied in this

case. The court determined an extension of time should not be granted, stating,

“There is no indication that parents will have achieved case goals in the next six

months, considering their lack of progress over the past 18 months.” The mother

appeals the termination of her parental rights.

         II.    Standard of Review

         Our review of termination proceedings is de novo. In re A.B., 815 N.W.2d

764, 773 (Iowa 2012). The State must prove its allegations for termination by clear

and convincing evidence. In re C.B., 611 N.W.2d 489, 492 (Iowa 2000). “‘Clear

1   The father has not appealed the termination of his parental rights.
                                          5

and convincing evidence’ means there are no serious or substantial doubts as to

the correctness [of] conclusions of law drawn from the evidence.” Id. Our primary

concern is the best interests of the child. In re J.S., 846 N.W.2d 36, 40 (Iowa

2014).

         III.   Continuance

         The mother claims the juvenile court should have granted her request for a

continuance during the termination hearing. She states the telephone line was

disconnected. The mother contends the hearing should not have proceeded

without her participation.

         A motion to continue should not be granted unless there is good cause. In

re R.B., 832 N.W.2d 375, 378 (Iowa Ct. App. 2013) (citing Iowa Ct. R. 8.5). We

review the juvenile court’s ruling on a motion for a continuance for an abuse of

discretion. Id. “Denial of a motion to continue must be unreasonable under the

circumstances before we will reverse.” In re C.W., 554 N.W.2d 279, 281 (Iowa Ct.

App. 1996).

         The circumstances present at the time the mother was disconnected from

the telephone conference call support the juvenile court’s conclusion the mother

hung up the phone. Her language immediately before the call was disconnected

shows she was very upset and disrespectful. Moreover, multiple attempts were

made to contact the mother during the break in the court proceedings, but the

mother did not respond to telephone calls, text messages, or emails. Moreover,

the mother never filed a motion to reopen the record during the two-week period

from the end of the termination hearing and the date the termination order was

filed.   We conclude the mother voluntarily decided to not participate in the
                                         6

remainder of the termination hearing.        The juvenile court did not abuse its

discretion by denying the motion to continue made by the mother’s counsel. See

In re K.M., No. 16-0778, 2016 WL 4379361, at *2 (Iowa Ct. App. Aug. 17, 2016)

(finding no abuse of discretion in the denial of a motion for continuance, although

the parent was not present at the time of a CINA hearing).

      On appeal, the mother claims the juvenile court’s denial of her motion for a

continuance violated her due process rights. This issue was not raised before the

juvenile court. “As a general rule, parties to a child-welfare proceeding have an

obligation to preserve error for appeal, even error of constitutional dimension.” In

re B.E., 875 N.W.2d 181, 186 (Iowa Ct. App. 2015). “This requires presentation of

the constitutional question to the district court when the ground or grounds for

objection become apparent.” Id. “Additionally, generally, the district court must

rule upon the issue raised at some point prior to appeal.” Id. We conclude the

mother’s due process claims have not been preserved for our review and we do

not address them.

      IV.    Sufficiency of the Evidence

      The mother claims there is not sufficient evidence in the record to support

termination of her parental rights. “We will uphold an order terminating parental

rights where there is clear and convincing evidence of the statutory grounds for

termination.” In re T.S., 868 N.W.2d 425, 434 (Iowa Ct. App. 2015). “When the

juvenile court orders termination of parental rights on more than one statutory

ground, we need only find grounds to terminate on one of the sections to affirm.”
                                            7

Id. at 435. We focus on the termination of the mother’s parental rights under

section 232.116(1)(f).2

         The mother does not dispute the first three elements of section

232.116(1)(f) but asserts there is insufficient evidence to show the child could not

safely be returned to her care. See Iowa Code § 232.116(1)(f)(4). She states

there is no evidence to show her drug use was harmful to the child.

         We consider whether a child can be returned to a parent’s care at the time

of the termination hearing. In re A.M., 843 N.W.2d 100, 111 (Iowa 2014). The

mother admitted that she had been using methamphetamine every other day in

the three months before the termination hearing but stated she had not used in the

one-week period before the hearing.                A parent’s active addiction to

methamphetamine may result in harmful effects to a child. See J.S., 846 N.W.2d

at 42. Here, the mother’s anger has been detrimental to the child. In addition to

her substance-abuse problems, the mother had unaddressed mental-health

problems. We find the child could not be returned to the mother at the time of the

termination hearing. The elements for termination of parental rights under section

232.116(1)(f) are supported by the record.

2   Under section 232.116(1)(f), a parent’s rights may be terminated if the court finds:
                (1) The child is four years of age or older.
                (2) The child has been adjudicated a child in need of
        assistance pursuant to section 232.96.
                (3) The child has been removed from the physical custody of
        the child’s parents for at least twelve of the last eighteen months, or
        for the last twelve consecutive months and any trial period at home
        has been less than thirty days.
                (4) There is clear and convincing evidence that at the present
        time the child cannot be returned to the custody of the child’s parents
        as provided in section 232.102.
                                          8

       V.     Best Interests

       The mother contends that termination of her parental rights is not in the

child’s best interests. She states that her ability to provide for the needs of the

child was not affected by her substance abuse.

       In considering the child’s best interests, we “give primary consideration to

the child’s safety, to the best placement for furthering the long-term nurturing and

growth of the child, and to the physical, mental, and emotional condition and needs

of the child.” In re P.L., 778 N.W.2d 33, 40 (Iowa 2010) (quoting Iowa Code

§ 232.116(2)). “It is well-settled law that we cannot deprive a child of permanency

after the State has proved a ground for termination under section 232.116(1) by

hoping someday a parent will learn to be a parent and be able to provide a stable

home for the child.” Id.

       The mother struggles with long-term sobriety and her mental health. During

visitation, she sometimes became frustrated with the child and snapped at him,

causing him to cry.        She also conducted adult conversations in the child’s

presence. The mother did not demonstrate the consistency and stability the child

needed. We find termination of the mother’s parental rights is in the child’s best

interests.

       VI.    Exceptions

       The mother claims the juvenile court should have applied an exception to

termination under section 232.116(3). She does not designate which exception or

exceptions she believes apply in this case. The mother has the burden to show

an exception to termination should be applied. See In re W.M., 957 N.W.2d 305,

312 (Iowa 2021).
                                           9

       The juvenile court considered all of the exceptions in section 232.116(3)

and determined none of them should be applied. The application of the exceptions

is permissive, not mandatory. In re A.R., 932 N.W.2d 588, 591 (Iowa Ct. App.

2019). “The court may exercise its discretion in deciding whether to apply the

factors in section 232.116(3) to save the parent-child relationship based on the

unique circumstances of each case and the best interests of the children.” Id. We

agree with the juvenile court’s conclusion that none of the exceptions should be

applied under the circumstances of this case.

       VII.   Extension of Time

       In her request for relief, the mother asks for an additional six months to work

on reunification with the child. The juvenile court may decide to not terminate

parental rights if it finds there is clear and convincing evidence that CINA

proceedings should continue and enters an order to extend the time for

reunification in accordance with section 232.104(2)(b). Iowa Code § 232.117(5).

The court may continue the proceedings for an additional six months if the court

finds “the need for removal . . . will no longer exist at the end of the additional six-

month period.” Id. § 232.104(2)(b).

       The juvenile court addressed this issue and found:

                The same concerns that existed at the time of case initiation
       still exist today. [The mother’s] sobriety remains an issue. Parents
       have not achieved stability and additional time is not warranted.
       There is no indication that parents will have achieved case goals in
       the next six months, considering their lack of progress over the past
       18 months. The child has been in his current placement since
       removal and they are an adoptive placement. The child is in need of
       permanency.
                                         10

We find an extension of time is not warranted under the facts of this case. The

evidence does not show that it is likely the need for removal would no longer exist

in six months. The mother has not been able to maintain sobriety over an extended

period of time. She also has not shown the ability to change at this time in her life,

and any progress has been short-lived.

       VIII.   CINA Adjudication

       Finally, the mother contends the State did not meet its burden of proof for

the CINA adjudication. The mother should have appealed following the CINA

dispositional order, which is a final order. See In re W.D., 562 N.W.2d 183, 185

(Iowa 1997). Her failure to appeal the CINA adjudication prevents her from raising

this issue in the appeal of the termination order. See In re M.T., 613 N.W.2d 690,

692 (Iowa Ct. App. 2000) (finding a parent’s failure to appeal on the grounds of a

lack of reasonable services during the CINA proceedings meant he failed to

preserve error on this claim during the termination proceedings). We do not

address the mother’s claims concerning the CINA adjudication.

       We affirm the decision of the juvenile court.

       AFFIRMED.