Such as inadequate housing, furnishings, income, clothing and medical care if found to be beyond the control of the parent. The rights of a parent shall not be terminated solely on the basis of environmental factors The court in terminating the rights of a parent shall give primary consideration to the developmental, physical and emotional needs and welfare of the child.
The parent by conduct continuing for a period of at least six months immediately preceding the filing of the petition either has evidenced a settled purpose of relinquishing parental claim to a child or has refused or failed to perform parental.The rights of a parent in regard to a child may be terminated after a petition filed on any of the following grounds: Grounds for Involuntary Termination of Parental Rights (from the Adoption Act 23 PA C.S. An adoption hearing is scheduled generallyģ0 days after the hearing to allow parents a 30 day period during which they may appeal the judge's decision. By this stage, the child(ren) is generally living with a family willing to adopt and a home study is completed.
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If the judge grants the Involuntary Termination of Parental Rights, the child is free to be adopted. The evidence is sufficient to prove the grounds alleged by CYF, the judge will determine whether Involuntary Termination of Parental Rights best meets the needs and welfare of the child(ren). If a parent comes to the hearing to contest, a second hearing may be scheduled.įirst, the judge listens to testimony and evidence gathered by CYF and its legal representatives, probation officers and service providers and will hear testimony from the parents' and child(ren) and their witnesses. If a parent does not attend the hearing, the involuntary termination of parental rights hearing will normally proceed without the parent. If no paternity has been established, CYF will seek to involuntarily terminate rights on all alleged, legal and unknown fathers.
If any parents' whereabouts are unknown, CYF will conduct a diligent search to locate the parent. When the permanency goal for a child under the care of CYF is changed to adoption, CYF staff gathers evidence and documentation to facilitate the filing of a termination petition by the Allegheny County Law Department. The decision to terminate parental rights is determined in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas by a Juvenile Court judge who serves as an Orphans Court judge for this proceeding. Involuntary Termination of Parental Rights is a decision that is made by a judge after evidence is reviewed and it is determined that attempts at reunification were unsuccessful and it is no longer in the best interest of the child.