Chins: J S v. Indiana Department of Child Services

Summary

The court vacated the CHINS adjudication because DCS failed to prove that the mother had the financial means to provide necessary shelter or failed to seek reasonable means to do so. The court also held that the trial court improperly deferred to DCS instead of independently considering whether alternative CHINS categories served the child's best interests. The matter was remanded because the child had not received required notice and opportunities to participate before possible adjudication under those alternatives.