In re Zarirai S.

Syllabus

The respondent mother appealed from the judgments of the trial court terminating her parental rights with respect to her minor children. The mother claimed that the court improperly determined that she had failed to achieve a sufficient degree of rehabilitation pursuant to the applicable statute (§ 17a-112 (j) (3)). Held: The trial court reasonably determined, on the basis of its subordinate factual findings and the reasonable inferences drawn therefrom, which were ade- quately supported by the evidence, that, pursuant to § 17a-112 (j) (3) (B) and (E), the respondent mother failed to achieve sufficient rehabilitation that would encourage the belief that, within a reasonable time, she could assume a responsible position in the children's lives. The trial court did not improperly compare the parenting of the respondent mother with that of the foster parents in determining that the mother failed to achieve a reasonable degree of rehabilitation, the court's statements regarding the foster parents having been made in the context of its finding that the mother could not meet the children's needs. The trial court applied the proper legal standard, namely, whether the peti- tioner, the Commissioner of Children and Families, proved by clear and convincing evidence that the respondent mother had failed to achieve a sufficient degree of rehabilitation pursuant to § 17a-112 (j) (3) (B) and (E), and it did not require the mother to ''guarantee'' her rehabilitation within a period of six months. Argued October 10—officially released November 21, 2024