Illinois Appellate Court
Civil Court
Termination of Parental Rights
Consolidated appeal of cases involving children with the same mother (who voluntarily surrendered her parental rights) but two different fathers. By finding that father (Michael) failed to show a reasonable degree of interest, concern or responsibility as to his child's welfare, court's finding that he was an unfit parent, and that child's best interests would be served by allowing her to remain with her maternal grandmother, was not against manifest weight of evidence. State failed to present sufficient evidence of father's (Shalyn's) unfitness, as his incarceration, which should last less than a year, is not enough, given the other factors, upon which to base a determination of unfitness. (STEIGMANN and DeARMOND, concurring.)