AI Generated Opinion Summaries

This summary was computer-generated without any editorial revision. It is not official, has not been checked for accuracy, and is NOT citable.

Facts

• The case involves the termination of the parental rights of the father to his children, Arianna B. and Lawrence B., by the Children, Youth & Families Department (CYFD). The father was accused of failing to address issues related to domestic violence, anger management, and long-term substance abuse, which led to the children being taken into CYFD custody. Despite efforts by CYFD to assist the father, including arranging for him to attend an inpatient substance abuse program from which he left prematurely, the father's continued criminal acts, incarcerations, and lack of commitment to sobriety and anger management were highlighted. The children were placed with their paternal aunt in Santa Fe, providing them with stability and comfort.

Procedural History

• [Not applicable or not found]

Parties' Submissions

• Petitioner-Appellee (CYFD): Argued that reasonable efforts were made to assist the father in addressing his issues with domestic violence, anger management, and substance abuse. Highlighted the father's lack of cooperation and commitment to the treatment and rehabilitation programs provided.
• Respondent-Appellant (Father): Contended that CYFD did not make reasonable efforts to assist him, specifically failing to afford him access to individualized treatment for domestic violence or anger management and not referring him to inpatient treatment for long-term substance abuse.

Legal Issues

• Whether the Children, Youth & Families Department made reasonable efforts to assist the father in addressing his issues related to domestic violence, anger management, and substance abuse.
• Whether sufficient evidence supports the termination of the father's parental rights.

Disposition

• The district court’s order terminating the father's parental rights was affirmed.

Reasons

• Per Bogardus, J., concurred by Zamora, J., and Ives, J.:
  The court found that the father did not specifically dispute any of the facts or law upon which the proposed analysis relied, nor did he adequately address the district court’s determination of the reasonableness of CYFD’s efforts. The court emphasized the totality of the circumstances, including CYFD’s statutory obligation, the parent’s efforts, and the children’s health and safety. The court noted the father's repeated criminal acts, incarcerations, and failure to demonstrate commitment to his sobriety and anger management. It was highlighted that the children’s need for stability and comfort was being met in their current placement. The court also pointed out that the father prematurely left a CYFD-arranged inpatient substance abuse program and failed to address CYFD’s efforts in the context of the facts of the case or the law. The court remained persuaded that sufficient evidence supported the termination of the father’s parental rights (paras 1-5).