An underage mother who, despite behavioral problems and a history of being abused by her own parents, did no harm to her newborn child, was nevertheless properly divested of her parental rights, an appeals court says.

“The Division [of Youth and Family Services] is not required to wait until a child actually suffers an injury to substantiate harm justifying his removal from parental custody,” the Appellate Division held Wednesday in DYFS v. L.J.D., A-5896-10.