Domestic Relations – Parent & Child – Termination of Parental Rights – Failure to Make Progress

In unchallenged findings of fact, the trial court found that the respondent-Mother had failed to attend any substance abuse treatment, avoided some drug screens and tested positive in others, failed to engage in appropriate parenting classes, failed to maintain employment (losing one job because she failed to obtain a required vaccination), did not engage with her family or friends to get assistance with transportation, and reported both that she was losing her home and that she could stay there as long as she wished. These unchallenged findings of fact show that Mother had not addressed the issues which led to “Kevin’s” initial adjudication as neglected. Thus, these findings support the trial court’s conclusion that “there is a high probability that [Mother] would continue to neglect the juvenile if he were returned to [Mother’s] care.” Accordingly, the trial court did not err by concluding that grounds existed to terminate Mother’s parental rights to Kevin pursuant to G.S. § 7B-1111(a)(1).

We affirm the termination of Mother’s parental rights.

In re K.M.K. (Lawyers Weekly No. 012-053-23, 16 pp.) (Allegra Collins, J.) Appealed from Burke County District Court (Burford Cherry, J.) Amanda Perez for petitioner; Amelia Serrat and Michael Mitchell for guardian ad litem; Christopher Watford for respondent. N.C. App. Unpub.