SUMMARY: Reasonable efforts offered to a parent in a prior proceeding that are close in time to the later removal and reasonably related to the circumstances causing the removal are sufficient to satisfy the reasonable effort requirement for the later removal. Amari A., born in September 2010, was...

SUMMARY: Evidence of one-time methamphetamine use and past criminal history with no showing of child neglect or definite risk of harm is not sufficient for adjudicating the child within the meaning of N.R.S. 43-247(3)(a). Kaden, DOB 1/10, was removed from the mother’s home on March 30, 2010, after...

SUMMARY: There was sufficient evidence that the child comes within the meaning of 43-247(3)(a) based on the child’s testimony of inappropriate discipline, failure to care for injuries and her fear of her mother and step-father, but the DHHS recommendation for continued placement in the father’s home...

SUMMARY: Incarceration, standing alone, cannot be grounds for termination of parental rights Leland, DOB 12/05, entered the child welfare court system in October 2008 after his mother was unable to care for her children due to a mental health issue. Leland’s father, Ronald, was incarcerated in May...

SUMMARY: Siblings of a child under the custody of the state child welfare system have no standing to appeal denial of the child’s placement in their home. Meridian, a 3-year-old, was adjudicated as a child within the meaning of N.R.S. 43-247(3)(a) in December 2007, and has been in foster care nearly...

SUMMARY: Termination of parental rights was proper where the mother did not make sufficient effort to work on her case plan and where the needs of the child required stability and permanency. Lokani, DOB 7/03, was removed from the mother, Veronica, on August 26, 2008, due to Veronica’s drug use...

SUMMARY: A Nebraska juvenile court has subject matter jurisdiction under the juvenile code over “any juvenile” lacking proper parental care by reason or fault of the parent regardless of where the child is residing at the time the petition is filed. Breana, DOB 12/08, was removed from the custody of...

SUMMARY: If reasonable efforts have been made to reunify the child with a parent, placing the child out-of-state with another parent does not automatically create a situation not conducive to reunification; however; a concurrent goal of adoption should be changed to “change of custody” if placement...

SUMMARY: A parent cannot delay a proceeding by challenging paternity when a default order of paternity had been entered years earlier and has remained uncontested by that parent. Javontae, DOB 6/93, is the child of James, who has been incarcerated a majority of Javontae’s life. On June 3, 2010, the...

SUMMARY: The parent’s occasional compliance with the court ordered plan over three years, is outweighed by the child’s need for a permanent home and termination of parental rights was therefore proper. Kailynn I, DOB 1/00, was removed from Dawn, her mother, in November 2006 pursuant to an arrest for...

SUMMARY: Termination of the father’s parental rights was proper because he failed to follow through on sex offender and parenting programs while incarcerated and had poor interaction with the children during therapeutic visitation even when prompted, and because the children’s behaviors had improved...

SUMMARY: The physical locus of a child at the time an amended petition is filed does not affect the subject matter jurisdiction of the presiding juvenile court. Tegan, a child under one, was taken to the emergency room by her mother for second-degree burns on her face, ears and neck. The doctors...

SUMMARY: Termination of parental rights was improper as to the children not connected to the inappropriate sexual contact because the parents established significant progress in their ability to care and protect the children. However, with the children involved in the sexual assault, the parents did...

SUMMARY: There is no exception to making “active efforts” as there is for reasonable efforts under the aggravated circumstances exception of N.R.S. 43-283.01 On September 30, 2008, Jamyia M., was removed from the home at 2 months of age after being hospitalized for a serious, non-accidental...

SUMMARY: Immediate termination after removal was proper based on prior terminations and evidence establishing that the mother continued to struggle with drug addiction and mental health issues. Maddison, DOB 1/08, was removed from the mother on October 30, 2009. The mother, Tasha, had her parental...