DM v. Dept. of Child. & Families, 807 So. 2d 90 (Fla. 5th DCA 2002). · Go Syfert
DM v. Dept. of Child. & Families, 807 So. 2d 90 (Fla. 5th DCA 2002). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
5 citation events (5 in the last 25 years) across 1 distinct court.
Strongest positive: In Re Gs (fladistctapp, 2012-04-11)
Top citers, strongest first. 2 distinct citers. How cited ↗
discussed Cited "see, e.g." In Re Gs
Fla. Dist. Ct. App. · 2012 · signal: see also · confidence medium
(Emphasis added.) Finally, section 39.603(1)(f) requires the court to consider, before accepting a case plan submitted by the Department, " [w]hether the plan is meaningful and designed to address facts and circumstances upon which the court based the finding of dependency in involuntary placements. " (Emphasis added.) All of these statutes together require the Department to "develop case plans tailored to address the needs of the family." C.D. v. Dep't of Children & Families, 974 So.2d 495, 499 (Fla. 1st DCA 2008); see also D.M. v. Dep't of Children & Families, 807 So.2d 90, 90 (Fla. 5th DCA …
discussed Cited "see, e.g." C.T. v. Department of Children & Family Services & Guardian
Fla. Dist. Ct. App. · 2012 · signal: see also · confidence medium
(Emphasis added.) Finally, section 39.603(l)(f) requires the court to consider, before accepting a case plan submitted by the Department, “[wjhether the plan is meaningful and designed to address facts and circumstances upon which the court based the finding of dependency in involuntary placements.” (Emphasis added.) All of these statutes together require the Department to “develop case plans tailored to address the needs of the family.” C.D. v. Dep’t of Children & Families, 974 So.2d 495, 499 (Fla. 1st DCA 2008); see also D.M. v. Dep’t of Children & Families, 807 So.2d 90, 90 (Fla…
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
D.M., Mother of J.M., J.M., and S.M., Children, Appellant,
v.
DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, Appellee.
5D01-2911.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fifth District.
Jan 4, 2002.
807 So. 2d 90
Harris.
Cited by 4 opinions  |  Published

Ryan Thomas Truskoski of Ryan Thomas Truskoski, P.A., Orlando, for Appellant.

James A. Sawyer, Jr., Kissimmee, for Appellee.

HARRIS, J.

In this rather unusual dependency case, the children were determined to be dependent as to the father (who does not appeal) but not dependent as to the mother. However, after this determination of non-dependency, the mother announced that she was unable to care for the children and they were placed in the custody of the maternal grandmother. The court, after the mother's announcement of present inability to care for her children, ordered that since the mother was currently incapable of parenting her children, she must participate in a case plan with the goal that she eventually "start parenting effectively and provide the basics that are necessary."

The mother appeals, claiming that the court cannot require a case plan without determining dependency, and that because the Department admitted that she was non-offending and the court found the children dependent only as to the father, it was error to require her to submit to a case plan. We affirm.

Section 39.603(1)(f) provides:

(1) At the hearing on the plan ... the court shall determine:
(f) Whether the plan is meaningful and designed to address facts and circumstances upon which the court based the finding of dependency in involuntary placements or the plan is meaningful and designed to address facts and circumstances upon which the child was placed in out-of-home care voluntarily.

(emphasis added).

By admitting that she was unable to care for her children, even without admitting their dependency, the mother voluntarily permitted the children to be placed in out-of-home care. The court properly ordered a case plan by which the mother[*91] could in time resume her parenting responsibilities.

AFFIRMED.

SAWAYA and PALMER, JJ., concur.