In re K.P.

Summary

The Supreme Court of North Carolina reversed the Court of Appeals insofar as it held that the trial court improperly eliminated reunification and failed to verify the nonparent caretakers’ qualifications. The court held that the statutory alternatives were disjunctive and that the trial court’s findings and evidence adequately established both the achievement of a permanent placement and the caretakers’ understanding and resources. The court left undisturbed the ruling that additional findings were required before ending further permanency-review hearings.