This section contains the nature of the case and procedural background.

M who was born in Colombia and came to this country as a teenager, is the natural mother of three children. Two girls, J.C. and J.M.C., were born in July 1983 and in January 1985, respectively, and J.C., a boy, was born in August 1986. M voluntarily placed her two girls in foster care through the Division of Youth and Family Services. The children were returned to her after three months. A year later, in October 1986, M again placed the two girls, along with her new child, J.C., in foster care, where they have remained for the past five and a half years. M regularly visited with them. DYFS (P) eventually determined that M lacked parental fitness and that the children required permanent homes. P brought an action to terminate M's parental rights in order that the children could be adopted. The trial court concluded that termination of M's parental rights was necessary and in the best interests of the children. It found that the children would suffer serious psychological harm if they were removed from their foster or pre-adoptive homes. The Appellate Division affirmed. P appealed.

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