Juvenile Officer, Respondent, v. J.H.; B.E.P., Appellants. (2024)

ORDER

In September 2022, the Circuit Court of Cass County assumed jurisdiction over the four children of J.H. (“Father”) and B.E.P. (“Mother”) pursuant to § 211.031.1(1), RSMo. In April 2023, the Juvenile Officer filed a motion to modify the prior order of disposition, based on allegations that one of the children had disclosed sexual abuse involving both Father and Mother, and that the other children had been present when the abuse occurred. After a hearing, the circuit court granted the Juvenile Officer's motion to modify. In its dispositional order, the court found that the Children's Division of the Department of Social Services was not required to engage in further reunification efforts between the children and their parents, because the parents had subjected the children “to a severe act or recurrent acts of physical, emotional or sexual abuse” under § 211.183.7(1), RSMo. Mother and Father both appeal, challenging the circuit court's determination that efforts to reunify them with their children were no longer required. We affirm. Because a published opinion would have no precedential value, we have provided an unpublished memorandum to the parties which sets forth the reasons for this order. Rule 84.16(b).

PER CURIAM: