PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — The South Dakota Supreme Court has ruled that a state judge and the Department of Social Services failed to consider improvements a mother had made in her parenting skills and living conditions before terminating her rights to her child.
The high court this week sent the case back to Beadle County.
The circuit judge acknowledged the mother made some improvements, but not enough and said she failed to show she could provide for the child’s basic needs.
The Supreme Court noted that Social Services didn’t provide the mother with remedial services and made no effort to reunite her with her child.
Justices said because the girl was born to an American Indian mother, the state has a heightened responsibility for reunification under the Indian Child Welfare Act.
