In Re Term of Parental Rights as to I.C.

── In Re Term of Parental Rights as to I.C. ── Case No.: 1 CA-JV 25-0144 Court: Court of Appeals of Arizona Date: March 09, 2026 Category: General NOTICE: NOT FOR OFFICIAL PUBLICATION. UNDER ARIZONA RULE OF THE SUPREME COURT 111(c), THIS DECISION IS NOT PRECEDENTIAL AND MAY BE CITED ONLY AS AUTHORIZED BY RULE. IN THE ARIZONA COURT OF APPEALS DIVISION ONE IN RE TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS AS TO I.C. No. 1 CA-JV 25-0144 FILED 03-09-2026 Appeal from the Superior Court in Maricopa County No. JD43566 The Honorable Michael Rassas, Judge AFFIRMED COUNSEL Maricopa County Office of the Public Advocate, Mesa By Seth Draper Counsel for Appellant Leticia C. Arizona Attorney General’s Office, Phoenix By Rachael Andrews Counsel for Appellee Department of Child Safety Maricopa County Office of the Legal Advocate, Phoenix By Amanda Adams Counsel for Appellee I.C.  IN RE TERM OF PARENTAL RIGHTS AS TO I.C. Decision of the Court MEMORANDUM DECISION Judge Cynthia J. Bailey delivered the decision of the Court, in which Presiding Judge Daniel J. Kiley and Judge D. Steven Williams joined. B A I L E Y, Judge: ¶1 Leticia C. (“Mother”) appeals the superior court’s termination of her parental rights to I.C. (“Child”).1 We affirm. FACTS2 AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY ¶2 Mother has struggled with substance abuse since she was a teenager, and she continued to use methamphetamine and fentanyl while pregnant with Child. ¶3 Child was born substance-exposed in early November 2023. Weeks later, he was discharged from the hospital under an in-home safety plan, which required his maternal grandmother (“Grandmother”) to provide supervision. The safety plan also required Mother to engage in substance-abuse services. But Mother did not engage in the services and instead continued using methamphetamine and fentanyl. Within days, Grandmother requested law enforcement remove Mother from the home based on her substance abuse and erratic behavior, which they did. ¶4 In late November 2023, the Department of Child Safety (“DCS”) placed Child in Grandmother’s care and petitioned for a dependency based on Mother’s substance abuse, mental health, and neglect. Mother did not contest the petition, and the court found Child dependent in March 2024. ¶5 Both before and after the dependency finding, DCS provided Mother with substance-abuse treatment, drug testing, parenting classes, 1 Child’s father’s rights also were terminated, but he is not a party to this appeal. 2 We view the facts in the light most favorable to upholding the superior court’s order. Ariz. Dep’t of Econ. Sec. v. Matthew L., 223 Ariz. 547, 549, ¶ 7 (App. 2010). 2  IN RE TERM OF PARENTAL RIGHTS AS TO I.C. Decision of the Court and supervised visitation, with Mother only participating in the visitation. In January 2024, Mother began serving jail terms for crimes against Grandmother, so her visitation became virtual and the other services were closed out. And when she was re-offered services upon her release from jail in March 2024, she failed to engage beyond completing a substance- abuse intake in April 2024 (at which time she confirmed she had resumed using drugs) and calling into drug testing once in May 2024. ¶6 Beginning in May 2024, Mother was incarcerated for several more months for assaulting a police officer while under the influence. DCS set up virtual visitation but the renewed referrals for other services were closed out. And again, Mother resumed her drug use upon her release from jail. She committed a new crime against Grandmother and was incarcerated in October 2024, again receiving virtual visitation. ¶7 A