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 Department of Children, Youth, and Families (the Department) took custody of Carrol Ann L. (Child) due to allegations of neglect by Stephanie H. (Mother). The allegations included Mother's methamphetamine use, physical abuse towards Child's older sister, and failure to provide proper care for Child. Mother did not contest the neglect allegations and agreed to a treatment plan that included substance abuse and mental health assessments, parenting classes, and maintaining contact with both the Department and Child. Despite this, the Department moved to terminate Mother's parental rights, citing her continued drug use and lack of progress in addressing the causes of neglect (paras 3-6, 12).

Procedural History

• [Not applicable or not found]

Parties' Submissions

• • Petitioner-Appellee (the Department): Argued that Mother failed to ameliorate the causes of Child's neglect despite the Department's reasonable efforts to assist her, including providing a treatment plan and referrals for assessments and services (paras 17-22).
• • Respondent-Appellant (Mother): Contended that the Department did not make reasonable efforts to assist her and that she could address the causes of Child's neglect within the foreseeable future (para 16).

Legal Issues

• Whether the Department made reasonable efforts to assist Mother in addressing the causes of Child's neglect.
• Whether the conditions and causes of the neglect are unlikely to change in the foreseeable future despite the Department's efforts.

Disposition

• The motion to terminate parental rights was granted (para 14).

Reasons

• The Court, consisting of Judges Linda M. Vanzi, J. Miles Hanisee, and Jacqueline R. Medina, affirmed the termination of Mother's parental rights. The Court found that the Department made reasonable efforts to assist Mother by providing a treatment plan and continuing to reach out to her even after filing for termination. Despite these efforts, Mother failed to engage with the services provided, did not maintain sobriety, and did not seek services to assist her in doing so. The Court concluded that, given Mother's lack of engagement and progress, it was reasonable to determine that the conditions and causes of Child's neglect were unlikely to change in the foreseeable future. The Court rejected Mother's arguments that there was no evidence linking her addiction to Child's neglect and that the Department's efforts were unreasonable (paras 15-25).