A procedure for voluntary termination of the parent-child
relationship is initiated
when a child placing agency or the office of family and children
accepts the parent's consent to the termination of the parent-child
relationship and files the necessary petition with the juvenile
court. A parent does not have the authority to file directly for
termination of his/her parental rights because a parent has the
duty to support and care for the child until the child is
emancipated. And as such, terminating parental rights may not and
often does not terminate obligation to pay child support unless the
child is being adopted.