Find Court Cases > Go Back to List > In re Jaron Z.

In re Jaron Z.

Case Date: 05/07/2004
Court: 1st District Appellate
Docket No: 1-03-0286 Rel

SIXTH DIVISION
May 7, 2004



No. 1-03-0286

 
In re

JARON Z. and RAVEN H.,

               Minors-Respondents-Appellees,

(The People of the State of Illinois,

               Petitioner-Appellee,

v.

Lynette H. F.,

               Respondent-Appellant).

 )
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)		 Appeal from the
Circuit Court of
Cook County.






Nos. 96 JA 02400
         96 JA 02401

The Honorable
Stephen Y. Brodhay,
Judge Presiding.


JUSTICE FITZGERALD SMITH delivered the opinion of the court:

Respondent Lynette H. F. (respondent) appeals from two companion orders finding her to be an unfitparent and terminating her parental rights to two of her minor children, Jaron Z. (Jaron) and Raven H. (Raven).(1) On appeal, respondent makes several contentions asserting error by the trial court. The State and the children'spublic guardian have filed appellees' briefs. For the following reasons, we affirm.

BACKGROUND

Jaron was born prematurely to respondent in August 1993, with several medical problems. At birth,Jaron required a tracheotomy tube and a breathing monitor. He was nonverbal until the age of four and has beendiagnosed with mild cerebral palsy. He is currently labeled a "special needs child," has behavioral problemsincluding attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and participates in several different therapy and specialeducation programs. Raven was born to respondent drug-exposed in July 1995. Raven too has been labeled a"special needs child": she has severe cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, is not toilet-trained and requires occupational,physical, speech and developmental therapies.

Respondent's family was first brought to the attention of the Department of Children and Family Services(DCFS) when Raven was born. At that time, both Raven and respondent tested positive for a controlledsubstance. DCFS allowed Jaron and Raven to remain with respondent, but put a family service plan in placerequiring that respondent participate in an inpatient drug treatment program. Respondent refused to comply andlater overdosed on a controlled substance and was hospitalized. Jaron (then 3