State ex rel. A.A.

*127S.A., the father of A.A., A.A., and A.W., appeals a judgment of the trial court awarding custody of the minor children to the mother, D.W. For the reasons that follow, we affirm in part, reverse in part and remand with instructions.

FACTS

S.A. ("the father") and D.W. ("the mother") are the biological parents of three minor daughters, A.A. (born November 17, 2001), A.A. (born November 21, 2002), and A.W. (born July 18, 2007).1 The children had been in the custody of the father for approximately seven years due, in part, to the mother's history of substance abuse.

On October 20, 2016, the…