P.O. v. Department of Children & Families

P.O., the mother, timely appeals an order terminating her parental rights as to her minor daughter, S.S. While we ultimately affirm the order of the trial court, we write to address appellant’s claim that the failure of the Department of Children and Families (“DCF”) to make sufficient efforts to assist her in complying with her case plan warrants reversal.

In February of 2000, DCF filed a verified shelter petition for the minor child S.S. The petition alleged S.S. had been left alone for over four (4) hours with inadequate supervision on December 27, 1999, that the mother, P.O., had tested…