IN RE CONLEY/SMITH MINORS
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STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
In the Matter of TATAYANNA LASHAY
CONLEY and JAMARCUS JERMAINE SMITH,
JR., Minors.
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES,
UNPUBLISHED
December 6, 2007
Petitioner-Appellee,
v
No. 277338
Oakland Circuit Court
Family Division
LC No. 05-712914-NA
LAQUANA CONLEY,
Respondent-Appellant.
Before: Schuette, P.J., and Borrello and Gleicher, JJ.
MEMORANDUM.
Respondent appeals as of right from a circuit court order terminating her parental rights
to the minor children pursuant to MCL 712A.19b(3)(c)(i) and (g). For the reasons set forth in
this memorandum, we affirm.
Respondent does not dispute the trial court’s determination that the statutory grounds for
termination were established by clear and convincing evidence. Once a ground for termination is
established, the court must order termination of parental rights unless the evidence on the whole
record clearly shows that termination is not in the child’s best interests. MCL 712A.19b(5); In re
Trejo, 462 Mich 341, 354; 612 NW2d 407 (2000). The evidence showed that respondent denied
the existence of a substance abuse problem despite positive screens for cocaine and alcohol.
Respondent’s failure to comply with the substance abuse goals indicated that she would present a
continued risk of harm to the children should they be returned to her custody and that continued
risk was not outweighed by respondent’s love for the children and improvement in certain areas
such that termination was clearly contrary to the children’s best interests. The trial court did not
err in terminating respondent’s parental rights to the children.
Affirmed.
/s/ Bill Schuette
/s/ Stephen L. Borrello
/s/ Elizabeth L. Gleicher
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