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The
Appellate Court affirmed the termination of parental rights in a
case where the mother put her rights in jeopardy due to substance
abuse problems. In Destiny D., the respondent mother appealed the
trials court's termination of her parental rights with respect to
her three minor children. The mother challenged the judgment against
her, contending the court erroneously found that (1) the Department
failed to make reasonable efforts to reunify the family, and (2)
there was no ongoing parent-child relationship between her and one
of the minor children. The Appeals court respectfully demurred,
finding that the Department made efforts to provide regular visitation
between the mother and her children, arranging rehabilitative services
for her, and arranging counseling and therapy for the three children.
The Department also provided various rehabilitative services to
the mother to address her substance abuse and mental health problems.
The record indicated that the mother's long history of substance
abuse and her recidivistic nature regarding substance abuse carried
the day, and the appellate court found that the Department's efforts
were "reasonable" under the circumstances. Since the court found
that the Department made reasonable efforts at reunification, it
did not address the mother's claim of an ongoing relationship with
the children.
This
case may be found by going to the Judicial Branch website at
www.jud.state.ct.us/external/supapp/Cases/AROap/AP86/86ap28.pdf.
(JES)
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