Kristin Johns v. Arkansas Department of Human Services and Minor Child

── Kristin Johns v. Arkansas Department of Human Services and Minor Child ── Court: Court of Appeals of Arkansas Date: April 15, 2026 Category: General Cite as 2026 Ark. App. 237 ARKANSAS COURT OF APPEALS DIVISION IV No. CV-25-612 KRISTIN JOHNS Opinion Delivered April 15, 2026 APPELLANT APPEAL FROM THE VAN BUREN COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT V. [NO. 71JV-24-7] ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF HONORABLE SUSAN WEAVER, HUMAN SERVICES AND MINOR JUDGE CHILD APPELLEES AFFIRMED WAYMOND M. BROWN, Judge Appellant Kristin Johns appeals the order of the Van Buren County Circuit Court terminating her parental rights to her daughter, Minor Child (MC), born on February 16, 2024.1 Appellant argues that the circuit court erred in terminating her parental rights on the statutory grounds. She also argues that the circuit court erred by finding that termination of her parental rights was in MC’s best interest. We affirm. The Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) received a hotline call on February 16, 2024, alleging that appellant and MC tested positive for marijuana and amphetamines. DHS performed a drug test on appellant at the hospital before appellant 1 MC’s father, Michael Quarrles, voluntarily relinquished his parental rights to MC and is not a party to this appeal. was discharged. Appellant tested positive for methamphetamine, amphetamines, opioids, and marijuana. She admitted that she had used methamphetamine three days before giving birth. However, she contended that before then, she had been clean since December 11, 2023. Appellant informed DHS that she had worked out a plan whereby she and MC would live with MC’s paternal grandmother. DHS conducted a home visit at the grandmother’s home on February 17, and although the home was found to be appropriate, the grandmother also tested positive for marijuana and methamphetamine. The grandmother admitted using marijuana but denied using methamphetamine. DHS also discovered that in October 2023, she was convicted of felony drug possession. MC was removed from appellant’s custody on February 17 because of parental unfitness due to drug use, Garrett’s Law, homelessness, appellant’s extensive history with DHS (dating back to 2016) with a pattern of substance abuse, and overall instability. DHS filed a petition for dependency-neglect and emergency custody along with a supporting affidavit on February 20, 2024, outlining the above facts. The circuit court entered an ex parte order for emergency custody that same day. A probable- cause order was filed on February 29; it noted that appellant had stipulated that there was probable cause for DHS to take custody of MC and for MC to remain in DHS’s custody. The order stated the following: [I]t is alleged the mother has delivered her fifth child, [MC], and the mother tested positive for Amphetamines and THC at time of delivery. The mother has had four other juveniles removed from her care and custody due to allegations of parental unfitness relating to illegal substance abuse, specifically methamphetamines. The mother is alleged to have forgone receiving any prenatal care during this pregnancy. The mother is alleged to be without stable housing and has no place to safely provide care or supervision necessary for a newborn, specifically a drug free environment with 2  an appropriate sober caretaker. The Department has further concerns for the juvenile’s health and safety due to these allegations of unstable housing and parental unfitness relating to substance abuse despite four prior juveniles being removed from her care and custody and her