IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA
No. 21-0460
Filed July 21, 2021
IN THE INTEREST OF K.M. AND A.E.,
Minor Children,
A.C., Mother,
Appellant.
________________________________________________________________
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Humboldt County, Joseph L. Tofilon,
District Associate Judge.
A mother appeals the district court order terminating her parental rights.
AFFIRMED.
Brandon J. Dodgen of Conrad & Lemmenes, Humboldt, for appellant.
Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General, and Mary A. Triick, Assistant Attorney
General, for appellee State.
Sarah J. Livingston, Fort Dodge, attorney and guardian ad litem for minor
children.
Considered by Vaitheswaran, P.J., and Greer and Schumacher, JJ.
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SCHUMACHER, Judge.
I. Background Facts & Proceedings
A.C. is the mother of A.E., born in 2011, and K.M., born in 2015. 1 The
children were removed from the mother’s custody on November 18, 2019,
following a report that A.E. was sexually abused by one of the mother’s friends. 2
There were also concerns that the mother was using controlled substances while
caring for the children. In December 2019, the mother tested positive for
methamphetamine and amphetamines. The children were initially placed with
K.M.’s paternal grandfather and then later placed with a paternal uncle.
On February 25, 2020, the children were adjudicated to be in need of
assistance (CINA), pursuant to Iowa Code section 232.2(6)(c)(2) (2019). On the
same day as the adjudication, the mother was arrested on charges of sexual abuse
in the third degree, sexual exploitation of a minor, and prostitution. She pled guilty
to prostitution and was placed on probation. The mother tested positive for
methamphetamine on June 18.
The Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) received a sealed no-
contact order. Believing the no-contact order was for these children, DHS did not
permit the mother to have visitation with the children for approximately two months.
On August 11, DHS learned the no-contact order pertained to the minor involved
in the charge of sexual exploitation of a minor and not these children. DHS then
1 The father of A.E. is J.E. His parental rights were terminated, and he did not
appeal. At the termination hearing, the parties agreed the father of K.M., Ky.M.,
should be given an additional six months to work on reunification.
2 There was also a report that K.M. was sexually abused by an unknown person in
March 2020. Both A.E., age nine years, and K.M., age five years, tested positive
for a sexually transmitted disease.
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offered visitation to the mother, but she was inconsistent in attending visits. In the
seven months preceding the termination hearing, the mother exercised five visits.
The mother began a substance-abuse treatment program in July but was
unsuccessfully discharged in September due to lack of attendance.
On November 20, the State filed a petition seeking termination of the
mother’s parental rights. She entered an inpatient substance-abuse treatment
program in December. She completed the program and moved to an outpatient
program in January 2021. The mother moved to a different city in February. She
quit attending outpatient substance-abuse treatment and visitation with the
children.
The termination hearing was held on March 19. The mother testified she
had not seen the children since the end of January, stating she had “[j]ust been
focusing on myself really, trying to get myself together.” She stated she used K2,
synthetic marijuana, on January 27. The mother conceded she would not be able
to have the children returned to her at the time of the hearing. She asked for more
time to work on reunification with the children.
The district court terminated the mother’s parental rights under section
232.116(1)(e) and (f) (2020). The court found:
There is clear and convincing evidence that the children
cannot be returned to the custody of the mother. She admitted
during the hearing that she is not presently in a position where [K.M.]
and [A.E.] can be returned to her. [The mother] still suffers from
substance abuse and mental health issues. Furthermore, she does
not have sufficient insight into the trauma and mental health issues
suffered by her children. The children are in need of a stable home
with dependable caretakers so they can fully heal and she cannot
yet provide such an environment.
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The court determined termination of the mother’s parental rights was in the
children’s best interests. The court also determined none of the exceptions to
termination found in section 232.116(3) should be applied. The court denied the
mother’s request for an extension of time, finding it was “unable to find any
likelihood that the need for removal of the children will no longer exist at the end
of an additional six-month period.” The mother appeals the termination of her
parental rights.3
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
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 children. In re J.S., 846 N.W.2d 36, 40 (Iowa
2014).
III. Sufficiency of the Evidence
The mother claims the State did not present sufficient evidence 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
3 The mother’s appeal was untimely by one day under Iowa Rule of Appellate
Procedure 6.101(1)(a). The Iowa Supreme Court granted the mother’s motion for
a delayed appeal, noting her attorney had erroneously calculated the time for filing
the notice of appeal. After a request for review by a three-justice panel, the order
granting the delayed appeal was confirmed. The case was subsequently
transferred to the Iowa Court of Appeals.
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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.”
Id. at 435. We focus on the termination of the mother’s parental rights under
section 232.116(1)(f).4
During the termination hearing, the mother testified she was not ready to
have the children returned to her care. In her petition on appeal, she also states
“she is not presently in a position where her children can be returned to her.” In
applying section 232.116(1)(f), we consider whether the child could be safely
returned to the parent’s care at the time of the termination hearing. See In re D.W.,
791 N.W.2d 703, 707 (Iowa 2010). The mother does not dispute the other
elements of section 232.116(1)(f). We conclude the district court properly found
that the statutory elements of section 232.116(1)(f) had been met and the mother’s
parental rights could be terminated on this ground.
IV. Best Interests
A. The mother claims termination of her parental rights is not in the
children’s best interests. She states that she is engaged in treatment for substance
abuse, participating in mental-health therapy, attending visitation, and maintaining
4 A parent’s rights may be terminated under section 232.116(1)(f) if the court finds:
(1) The child is four years of age or older.
(2) The child has been adjudicated a [CINA] 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.
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employment. She asserts that the children should have the opportunity to stay in
her care.
In considering the children’s best interests, we give “primary consideration
to the child[ren]’s safety, to the best placement for furthering the long-term
nurturing and growth of the child[ren], and to the physical, mental, and emotional
needs of the child[ren] under section 232.116(2).” In re P.L., 778 N.W.2d 33, 41
(Iowa 2010). “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’s choice to have a drug-using acquaintance in the home led to
the sexual abuse of A.E. The criminal charges against the mother involved the
exchange of sex acts with a minor for drugs. The mother was still using illegal
substances about one and one-half months before the termination hearing. The
mother is not able to provide the stability the children need. As recognized by the
district court, both children have been victims of profound trauma and abuse. Both
children are now engaged in therapy. The district court noted, “[The mother] does
not appear to have genuine insight into the mental health problems of her children.”
We find termination of the mother’s parental rights is in the children’s best interests.
B. As part of the mother’s arguments concerning the children’s best
interests, she contends that termination of her parental rights would be detrimental
to the children due to the children’s bond with her. This argument appears to
invoke an exception to termination found in section 232.116(3)(c). A court need
not terminate a parent’s rights if “[t]here is clear and convincing evidence that the
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termination would be detrimental to the child at the time due to the closeness of
the parent-child relationship.” Iowa Code § 232.116(3)(c).
“The factors weighing against termination in section 232.116(3) are
permissive, not mandatory.” In re A.R., 932 N.W.2d 588, 591 (Iowa Ct. App. 2019)
(quoting In re D.S., 806 N.W.2d 458, 474–75 (Iowa Ct. App. 2011)). “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. (citing In re
A.M., 843 N.W.2d 100, 113 (Iowa 2014)).
The district court concluded, “t[T]here has been no clear and convincing
evidence that the termination of [the mother’s] parental rights would be detrimental
to the children at this time due to the closeness of any parent-child relationship.”
We agree with the district court’s conclusion. The evidence does not show
termination of the mother’s parental rights would be detrimental to the children. To
the contrary, we have determined that termination of the mother’s parental rights
is in the children’s best interests.
V. Extension of Time
The mother asserts she should be given an additional six months to work
on reunification with the children. She states “that despite previous failings, she
was well along the path to addressing her mental health and substance abuse
needs.” She states she has not used illegal drugs since January 27, 2021. She
claims the children could be returned to her care in the near future.
The 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
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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.” Iowa Code §§ 232.104(2)(b); 232.117(5).
The district court found:
The request of the mother for additional time to seek
reunification is denied. The Court is unable to find any likelihood that
the need for removal of the children will no longer exist at the end of
an additional six-month period. The children were removed from the
mother’s custody and care over 16 months ago and she is no closer
to reunification than she was on the date of the removal.
We agree with the court’s conclusion that it was unlikely the children could
be returned to the mother’s care after six months. The mother was still struggling
to overcome her substance-abuse problems. She was still addressing her mental-
health issues. Furthermore, the mother has not shown she was capable of helping
the children deal with their significant trauma. We find the district court properly
denied the mother’s request for a six-month extension in this case. Accordingly,
we affirm the district court’s order terminating the mother’s parental rights.
AFFIRMED.