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APPEAL
FROM THE SEBASTIAN COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT, FORT SMITH DISTRICT
[NO. 66FJV-17-14], HONORABLE LEIGH ZUERKER, JUDGE
Janet
Lawrence, for appellant.
Andrew
Firth, Office of Chief Counsel, for appellee.
Chrestman
Group, PLLC, by: Keith L. Chrestman, attorney ad litem for
minor children.
OPINION
BRANDON
J. HARRISON, Judge
Rema
Bailey appeals the termination of her parental rights to four
of her children.[1] She argues that the circuit court
erred in finding that she posed a risk of potential harm to
her children and that the Arkansas Department of Human
Services (DHS) failed to provide adequate services. We
affirm.
On 9
January 2017, DHS petitioned for emergency custody of
Baileys five children, who ranged from three months to seven
years of age. The affidavit attached to the petition
explained that DHS was notified in October 2016 after the
infant, K.B., was born with amphetamines in his system. DHS
opened a protective-services case in November and discovered
that K.B. had been admitted to Arkansas Childrens Hospital
(ACH) on December 25. ACH voiced concern over the parents
fighting at the hospital and their refusal to participate in
the case, including not assisting in changing or feeding K.B.
On 4 January 2017, Bailey was drug-screened and was positive
for methamphetamine. She denied using drugs and blamed her
husband for possibly putting drugs in her food. At that time,
a seventy-two-hour hold was placed on the other four
children; K.B. was discharged and a hold was placed on him
the next day. DHS discovered that three of the children were
heavily infested with lice. The affidavit also noted a
previous protective-services case, which was opened due to
environmental neglect and the parents testing positive for
methamphetamine.
The
circuit court granted emergency custody and later found
probable cause to continue custody with DHS. In its
probable-cause order, the court ordered that the parents be
referred for a drug-and-alcohol assessment and marital
counseling and that both parents submit to a drug screen that
day (12 January 2017) and as requested by DHS.
In
March 2017, the court adjudicated the children
dependent-neglected. The parties stipulated to the
adjudication "based on parental unfitness due to
parental drug use." The court ordered the parents to
obtain and maintain stable and appropriate housing, income,
and transportation; complete parenting classes; complete a
drug-and-alcohol assessment and follow the recommendations;
complete domestic-violence classes; resolve all criminal
issues; and submit to random drug screens and hair-follicle
testing. The court noted in a September 2017 review order
that the parents had submitted to a drug-and-alcohol
assessment but needed to follow the recommendations of that
assessment.
The
circuit court conducted a permanency-planning hearing on 30
November 2017. The permanency-planning order, which was ...