S.F. v. Lamar County Department of Child Protection Services by Marcus Davenport, L.J.F. and Z.E.F., Minors, by and…

Summary

The Mississippi Supreme Court affirmed the youth court’s termination of S.F.’s parental rights to Z.F. and L.F. The Court held that the youth court retained jurisdiction over the children because jurisdiction attached before Z.F. turned eighteen and continued while the children remained within the statutory foster-care jurisdiction. Applying deferential review, the Court concluded that clear and convincing evidence supported findings that S.F. abandoned her parental duties and lacked protective capacity after continuing her relationship with the children’s sexually abusive stepfather.