In re Interest of S.H.E.
Annotate this CaseFather was the biological father of three sons and one daughter and the stepfather of two stepdaughters. Upon allegations that Father raped one of his stepdaughters, the children were taken into the custody of the Department of Social Services (DSS). DSS subsequently filed a petition alleging that the children were abused or neglected. Ultimately, the circuit court terminated Father's parental rights to all of his biological children. Father appealed, arguing that DSS did not make active efforts to reunite the Indian family and that termination of his parental rights was not the least restrictive alternative commensurate with the best interests of the children. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding (1) based upon the circumstances, DSS actively attempted to reunify the family, but those efforts were unsuccessful; and (2) the circuit court did not err in finding that the least restrictive alternative commensurate with the best interests of the children was termination of Father's parental rights.
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