Adoption of Malik

After Malik suffered serious but unexplained injuries as an infant while in the care of his birth mother (mother), the Department of Children and Families (department) commenced a petition for his care and protection, under G. L. c. 119, § 24. Eventually, both birth parents stipulated to their unfitness and to termination of their parental rights, and decrees entered to that *437effect.2 Thereafter, the care and protection proceeding was consolidated with a petition by Malik’s maternal grandparents seeking guardianship, and an evidentiary hearing was conducted to determine whether Malik’s best…