Termination of Parental Rights • Parental Instability • Best Interests of Child

In the Interest of M.L., PICS Case No. 17-1167 (C.P. Adams May 24, 2017) George, J. (8 pages).

Termination of a father's parental rights was proper where he failed in multiple respects to abide by the court's reunification plan, and where he posed a serious safety risk to the child.

The child, M.L. was taken into custody at her birth in August 2015, by county social services. M.L. had been in kinship foster care continuously since that time. At a dispositional review hearing in November, 2015, the court established reunification as a goal, setting forth a reunification plan. The plan called for the parents to attend regular visitation and well as medical appointments. The plan also required the parents to participate in intensive parenting services, including a requirement that the father, D.L., was to address anger management issues and attend outpatient mental health counseling. Both parents were required under the plan to verify employment and provide stable and safe housing for the child.