Opinion
No. 3-070 / 02-1988
Filed January 29, 2003
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Polk County, Constance Cohen, Juvenile Judge.
Mother appeals the order terminating her parental rights to four children. AFFIRMED.
Edward Bull, Des Moines, for appellant mother.
Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General, Kathrine Miller-Todd, Assistant Attorney General, John Sarcone, County Attorney, and Celene Coffman, Assistant County Attorney, for appellee State.
Charles Fuson of the Youth Law Center, Des Moines, guardian ad litem for minor child.
Considered by Vogel, P.J., and Miller and Eisenhauer, JJ.
Patricia P. appeals the order terminating her parental rights to Trinity M., born April 13, 2001, Paige M., born April 9, 2000, Alexis M., born October 22, 1998, and Taylor P., born October 15, 1992. We review termination orders de novo. In re R.F., 471 N.W.2d 821, 824 (Iowa 1991).
The juvenile court terminated Patricia's parental rights pursuant to Iowa Code sections 232.116(1)(d), (f), (h), and (l) (Supp. 2001). On appeal, Patricia only specifically contests the evidence supporting termination under section 232.116(1)(d). See Iowa R.App.P. 6.14(1)( c) (failure in the brief to state, to argue, or to cite authority in support of an issue may be deemed waiver of that issue). On our de novo review, we conclude the State presented clear and convincing evidence supporting the termination under sections 232.116(1)(f), (h), and (l). SeeIn re R.R.K., 544 N.W.2d 274, 276 (Iowa Ct.App. 1995) (stating that while the district court terminated the parental rights on more than one statutory ground, we will affirm if at least one ground has been proved by clear and convincing evidence).
Furthermore, we reject Patricia's contention termination was not in the children's best interests. Patricia is a drug-addicted parent whose lifestyle is ill suited to the safe keeping of four young children. We also note she did not appear personally at the termination hearing and the children appear to be doing well in their pre-adoptive, relative placements.