In re Declaring S.P.

This matter comes to us on appeal from a Missoula County District Court decision in which the parental rights of the natural father, C.M. were terminated. After finding H.M., J.M., Y.M., and K.M., youths in need of care, Judge Wheelis in his August 31, 1988 order, declared the parent-child relationship between C.M. and his four small children terminated, awarding permanent custody to the Department of Family Services (Department). The children were ordered permanently placed with foster parents J.K. and N.K. The Department, in consultation with the Ks and the children’s Guardian Ad Litem, was…