the People of the State of Colorado v. R.S. and C.R.H

In January 2022, the Weld County Department of Human

Services (the Department) filed a petition in dependency and neglect

concerning the then-newborn child. At the time of filing, the

Department did not know the identity of the child's father. The

Department alleged concerns about mother's substance use

because the child tested positive for benzodiazepines and

methadone at birth.



Initially, the juvenile court granted temporary legal custody to

mother's stepfather, and the Department placed the child with him.

But a few weeks later, he informed the Department that he was no

longer able to care for the child, prompting the juvenile court to

grant temporary legal custody to the Department. The Department

then placed the child in foster care for approximately five months

before placing her with her paternal uncle and aunt.



When father was confirmed to be the child's biological father

through genetic testing, the juvenile court adjudicated him as the

child's legal father. Both parents agreed to deferred adjudications,

which required that they comply with court-approved treatment

plans. The court later revoked the deferred adjudications and

adjudicated the child dependent or neglected.



The Department then filed a motion to terminate the parents'

legal relationships with the child. Approximately two years after the

petition was filed, the juvenile court granted the termination motion

following a contested hearing.



* * *

Affirmed