ELMORE, Judge.
Respondents appeal from: (1) an order adjudicating the juveniles neglected; and (2) a disposition order awarding legal custody and placement of the juveniles to the McDowell County Department of Social Services. After careful review, we affirm.
On 29 August 2011, the McDowell County Department of Social Services ("DSS") filed petitions alleging that Y.S.P., A.M.B., E.D.B., N.E.B., R.C.T.B., T.C.T.B, and Y.D.T.B. were neglected and abused juveniles. DSS received a report on 11 March 2011 concerning allegations of sexual abuse, domestic violence and medical and dental neglect. DSS stated that the juveniles all required routine medical, dental, and vision care. The allegations of sexual abuse concerned the juveniles' older sibling, A.B., and a child medical evaluation concluded that respondent-father, who was A.B.'s stepfather, had "placed his penis in [A.B.'s] mouth and ejaculated afterwards, placed his finger in her vagina, asked to perform oral sex on her, touched her breasts with his mouth and hands and encouraged her not to tell her mother."
The family was put into a case management plan and respondent-father agreed to have no contact with respondent-mother and the juveniles. Respondents underwent a psychological assessment but were unwilling to participate in a Child and Family Team meeting to discuss the recommendations. The psychological assessment claimed that the juveniles were at risk if respondent-father did not receive sex offender treatment. Accordingly, because respondents refused to accept the protective services arranged by DSS, DSS filed the petition alleging abuse and neglect.
Adjudicatory hearings were held on 17 November 2011 and 5 January 2012 and dispositional hearings were held on 16 and 23 February 2012. The trial court concluded that the juveniles were neglected and that a return to respondents' home would be contrary to their welfare. Accordingly, the court awarded custody of the juveniles to DSS. Respondents appeal.
The threshold issue for this Court to consider is whether the trial court acquired jurisdiction of the subject matter of this juvenile action. Respondents argue that the trial court lacked subject matter jurisdiction over N.E.B., Y.D.T.B., E.D.B., and R.C.T.B. because the copies of the verified petitions alleging abuse and neglect of these juveniles were not included in the record on appeal. We disagree.
We review de novo questions of subject matter jurisdiction. See In re J.A.P., 189 N.C. App. 683, 685, 659 S.E.2d 14, 16 (2008).
"A trial court's subject matter jurisdiction over all stages of a juvenile case is established when the action is initiated with the filing of a properly verified petition." In re T.R.P., 360 N.C. 588, 593, 636 S.E.2d 787, 792 (2006). N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-403 specifically provides that "the petition shall be drawn by the director, verified before an official authorized to administer oaths, and filed by the clerk, recording the date of filing." N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-403(a) (2011).
Here, not all of the juvenile petitions contained within the record on appeal were verified. However, on 5 September 2012, DSS filed a motion to supplement the record on appeal to include copies of the petitions as well as an affidavit from the social worker who filed the petitions. This Court granted respondent's motion and the copies of the petitions were designated as exhibits to the record. The copies of the petitions submitted by DSS were properly verified. It is therefore apparent from the petitions in the record on appeal and the copies submitted by DSS that not all copies of each juvenile petition were properly verified. Nevertheless, at least one verified petition concerning each juvenile was filed with the court. The filing of a single verified petition is sufficient to invoke the subject matter jurisdiction of the courts. Conversely, the failure of the clerk of court to verify duplicate copies of the petitions did not deprive the court of jurisdiction. Therefore, we conclude the trial court had subject matter jurisdiction.
Respondents next argue that the trial court erred by adjudicating the juveniles as neglected. We disagree.
"The role of this Court in reviewing a trial court's adjudication of neglect [] is to determine `(1) whether the findings of fact are supported by "clear and convincing evidence," and (2) whether the legal conclusions are supported by the findings of fact[.]'" In re T.H.T., 185 N.C. App. 337, 343, 648 S.E.2d 519, 523 (2007) (quoting In re Gleisner, 141 N.C. App. 475, 480, 539 S.E.2d 362, 365 (2000)), aff'd as modified, 362 N.C. 446, 665 S.E.2d 54 (2008). "If such evidence exists, the findings of the trial court are binding on appeal, even if the evidence would support a finding to the contrary." Id. (citation omitted).
"Neglected juvenile" is defined in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-101(15) as:
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-101(15) (2011) (emphasis added). In determining whether a child is neglected based upon the abuse or neglect of a sibling, "the trial court must assess whether there is a substantial risk of future abuse or neglect of a child based on the historical facts of the case." In re McLean, 135 N.C. App. 387, 396, 521 S.E.2d 121, 127 (1999). "A determination of the weight to be afforded to evidence of prior abuse or neglect of another child is committed to the sound discretion of the trial court." In re S.H., ___ N.C. App. ___, ___, 719 S.E.2d 157, 159 (2011) (citing In re Nicholson and Ford, 114 N.C. App. 91, 94, 440 S.E.2d 852, 854 (1994)).
Here, the trial court found as fact:
Respondent-mother makes a general argument that finding of fact 39 is not supported by sufficient evidence. We find her objection to be without merit. Dr. Sanbury's letter that was referenced by the court was attached to the juvenile petitions. Additionally, Dr. Sanbury testified at the hearing and his testimony was consistent with the letter. Thus, we conclude there was sufficient evidence in the record to support the trial court's finding of fact. Respondents do not challenge any of the other findings of fact and they are binding on appeal. See Koufman v. Koufman, 330 N.C. 93, 97, 408 S.E.2d 729, 731 (1991) (unchallenged findings are deemed supported by competent evidence and are binding on appeal); see also In re S.N.H. & L.J.H., 177 N.C. App. 82, 83, 627 S.E.2d 510, 512 (2006).
A careful examination of the trial court's adjudication order also shows that it considered additional evidence bearing on the issue of neglect besides the prior abuse to which A.B. was subjected. The trial court found as fact:
The trial court's findings were supported by the testimony of Elizabeth Browning, an adolescent and pediatric nurse employed with South Mountain Children and Family Services. Browning testified that the juveniles "didn't have a primary care provider, that they did not have regular well checks, that they had not had immunizations, that they hadn't had regular dental care, that they'd not had vision care." Browning stated that the juveniles "had poor dental care and it was visible[,]" noting that some of the juveniles had "brown spots" on their teeth due to decay. Browning further testified that T.C.T.B. did not have the regular checkups with her oncologists recommended for a child who was in remission from leukemia. "It is settled law that nonfeasance as well as malfeasance by a parent can constitute neglect." In re Adcock, 69 N.C. App. 222, 224, 316 S.E.2d 347, 348 (1984) (citation omitted).
We conclude that the trial court's findings of fact concerning respondent-father's abuse of A.B., respondents' failure to cooperate with Dr. Sanbury's recommendations, respondent-mother's desire to continue a relationship with respondent-father, the risk of harm to the juveniles, as well as the medical and dental neglect suffered by the juveniles, supports the trial court's adjudication of neglect.
Respondent-mother next argues the trial court abused its discretion by continuing custody of the juveniles with DSS. We are not persuaded.
"The district court has broad discretion to fashion a disposition from the prescribed alternatives in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-903(a), based upon the best interests of the child." In re B.W., 190 N.C. App. 328, 336, 665 S.E.2d 462, 467 (2008). A court's decision on best interests is reviewed for abuse of discretion. See In re D.S.A., 181 N.C. App. 715, 720, 641 S.E.2d 18, 22 (2007). A trial court may be reversed for abuse of discretion only upon a showing that the court's ruling is "manifestly unsupported by reason" or "so arbitrary that it could not have been the result of a reasoned decision." White v. White, 312 N.C. 770, 777, 324 S.E.2d 829, 833 (1985).
Among the dispositional alternatives for abused, neglected, or dependent children is to place "any juvenile who needs more adequate care or supervision or who needs placement" in the custody of DSS. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-903(a)(2) (2011). Here, the trial court found as fact in its dispositional order that:
Respondent-mother does not challenge the trial court's dispositional findings as being unsupported by the evidence and they are therefore binding on appeal. See Koufman, 330 N.C. at 97, 408 S.E.2d at 731. Based upon these uncontested findings, as well as the historical facts of this case, we hold that the trial court's decision to continue custody with DSS was not manifestly unsupported by reason.
We conclude that the trial court had subject matter jurisdiction to adjudicate this matter. Furthermore, the trial court did not err in adjudicating the juveniles as neglected and it properly awarded legal custody and placement of the juveniles to the McDowell County Department of Social Services. After careful review, we affirm.
Affirmed.
Judges STEELMAN and STROUD concur.
Report per Rule 30(e).