Dept. of Human Services v. M. A. H.

Where . . . the children 'have special needs and are healthily bonded to their foster parents, the issue is . . . whether the parent has waited too long to reform in light of the child’s pressing needs.'” State ex rel Dept. of Human Services v. A. L. S., 228 Or App 700, 723, 209 P3d 817, rev den, 347 Or 43 (2009).

Mother appealed from a judgment terminating her parental rights to her three children. Mother assigned error to the juvenile court’s denial of her motion to terminate the wardship of her youngest child and the court’s finding that she was unfit to parent all three of her children at the time of trial. On appeal, Mother argued she is no longer using drugs, is no longer living with the children’s abusive father, and has maintained a stable life. "Where . . . the children 'have special needs and are healthily bonded to their foster parents, the issue is . . . whether the parent has waited too long to reform in light of the child’s pressing needs.'” State ex rel Dept. of Human Services v. A. L. S., 228 Or App 700, 723, 209 P3d 817, rev den, 347 Or 43 (2009). The Court held that the Mother’s failure to acknowledge how her past behavior has affected the children, her unwillingness to take responsibility for her past behavior and her lack of concern about disrupting the children’s attachments to their foster parents were enough to establish unfitness to parent.

Juvenile court’s denial and termination affirmed.