IN RE KENYATTA MAURICE CUNNINGHAM MINOR
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STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
In the Matter of KENYATTA MAURICE
CUNNINGHAM, Minor.
FAMILY INDEPENDENCE AGENCY,
UNPUBLISHED
December 8, 1998
Petitioner-Appellee,
v
JOHN DAVID CUNNINGHAM and JOHNETTA
DARIAN FOXX,
Nos. 205665; 206485
Wayne Juvenile Court
LC No. 95-331191
Respondents-Appellants.
Before: Sawyer, P.J., and Wahls and Hoekstra, JJ.
MEMORANDUM.
Respondent John Cunningham appeals as of right, and respondent Johnetta Foxx appeals by
delayed leave granted, from the juvenile court order terminating their parental rights to the minor child
pursuant to MCL 712A.19b(3)(c)(i), (g) and (j); MSA 27.3178(598.19b)(3)(c)(i), (g) and (j). We
affirm.
The juvenile court did not clearly err in finding that the statutory grounds for termination were
established by clear and convincing evidence with respect to both respondents. See MCR 5.974(I); In
re Miller, 433 Mich 331, 337; 445 NW2d 161 (1989). The evidence indicated that respondents failed
to complete the terms of their parent-agency agreements, or make significant progress in treatment,
during the 1½ year period that this matter was pending before the juvenile court. In particular, both
respondents had severe substance abuse problems, which they failed to adequately address in
treatment. Although respondents were enrolled in treatment at the time of the termination hearing, they
had not yet shown significant progress in treatment and neither respondent had yet completed a
parenting course. On the basis of the evidence presented, it was not reasonably likely that respondents
would be able to properly care for their child within a reasonable period of time, considering her age.
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Finally, respondents failed to show that termination of their parental rights was clearly not in the
child’s best interests. MCL 712A.19b(5); MSA 27.3178(598.19b)(5); In re Hall-Smith, 222 Mich
App 470, 472-473; 564 NW2d 156 (1997). Thus, the juvenile court did not err in terminating
respondents’ parental rights to the child.
Affirmed.
/s/ David H. Sawyer
/s/ Myron H. Wahls
/s/ Joel P. Hoekstra
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