Illinois Appellate Court
Civil Court
Termination of Parental Rights
Ample evidence was presented to support court's finding that termination of mother's parental rights was in minor's best interest. Mother's long-term heroin addiction and multiple relapses have severely interfered with her ability to parent, and minor, age 12, is in need of permanency. Only if court had first determined that it was not in minor's best interest to terminate mother's parental rights would court have been able to then consider option of a custodial alternative, such as alternative guardianship arrangement. (HOWSE and LAVIN, concurring.)