State Ex Rel. Juvenile Department v. Woodruff

Father appeals an order terminating his parental rights to his three children, who are members of the Chickasaw Indian Nation. He argues that the termination order is invalid because of the state’s failure to comply with the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). We affirm.

The children, a girl, 9, and two boys, 11 and 2 1/2, were made wards of the court in November, 1987. Both parents have a long history of addictive use of alcohol and controlled substances. The youngest child was born with methadone in his urine. The mother has been incarcerated intermittently. Father is currently imprisoned on…