In re M.T. ( 2023 )

2023 IL App (4th) 230372-UNOTICE FILED
This Order was filed under September 20, 2023
Supreme Court Rule 23 and is NO. 4-23-0372
Carla Bender
not precedent except in the th
4 District Appellate
limited circumstances allowed IN THE APPELLATE COURT Court, IL
under Rule 23(e)(1).
OF ILLINOIS
FOURTH DISTRICT
In re M.T., a Minor ) Appeal from the
) Circuit Court of
(The People of the State of Illinois, ) Adams County
Petitioner-Appellee, ) No. 19JA86
v. )
Stephanie H., ) Honorable
Respondent-Appellant). ) John C. Wooleyhan,
) Judge Presiding.
JUSTICE CAVANAGH delivered the judgment of the court.
Justices Turner and Zenoff concurred in the judgment.
ORDER
¶1 Held: The appellate court granted appellate counsel’s motion to withdraw and affirmed
the trial court’s judgment terminating respondent’s parental rights.
¶2 On April 24, 2023, the trial court entered an order terminating the parental rights of
respondent, Stephanie H., to her child, M.T. (born in April 2011). Respondent appealed. Appellate
counsel now moves to withdraw pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), on the
basis that she cannot raise any potentially meritorious argument on appeal. Counsel’s notice of
filing and proof of service indicate she sent a copy of her motion and brief to respondent by mail.
We granted respondent until July 14, 2023, to file a response. No response was filed. After
reviewing the record and counsel’s brief, we grant counsel’s motion to withdraw and affirm the
court’s judgment.
¶3 I. BACKGROUND
¶4 On November 8, 2019, the State filed a petition for adjudication of wardship
regarding M.T. The petition alleged the minor was neglected and/or abused by respondent mother.
M.T.’s father is deceased. The State alleged M.T. was present during a domestic-violence incident
in June 2019 between respondent and her boyfriend, Kevin H. The Illinois Department of Children
and Family Services (DCFS), through the services of Quincy Catholic Charities, opened an intact
family case implementing a safety plan. The plan prohibited Kevin from being in the home due,
in part, to his ongoing methamphetamine use. During unannounced visits between June 2019 and
November 2019, the caseworker discovered respondent had been allowing Kevin to be in the home
and, on multiple occasions, she had attempted to hide him in a bedroom. Kevin’s probation officer
reported a positive drug test for methamphetamine in September 2019 and several failures to
appear through September and October 2019. He refused to engage in domestic-violence or
substance-abuse services. Respondent also failed to participate in services.
¶5 On January 26, 2021, the trial court entered an adjudicatory order, finding the minor
neglected on the grounds alleged. On March 15, 2021, the court entered a dispositional order,
finding respondent unfit to parent the minor and making her a ward of the court.
¶6 On August 30, 2021, because it appeared respondent had made sufficient progress
and reportedly had had no contact with Kevin, the trial court entered an order terminating
wardship, restoring custody and guardianship of M.T. to respondent, and closing the case.
However, within days, the guardian ad litem filed a motion to reconsider, claiming “new
concerns,” misinformation, and respondent’s “active attempts to mislead [the] parties” justified
the court’s reconsideration of the order closing the case. After considering the evidence and
arguments of counsel, the court vacated its order and reinstated wardship but allowed respondent
-2-
to maintain custody of M.T., with DCFS as guardian. Respondent was ordered to not allow Kevin
to (1) be within 1000 feet of her residence or (2) have any direct or indirect contact with M.T.
¶7 In October 2021, the guardian ad litem requested the trial court vacate its “return
home” order due to evidence that Kevin was residing with respondent and M.T. The court agreed,
and the minor was again removed from the home.
¶8 On January 23, 2023, the State filed a petition to terminate respondent’s parental
rights. The petition alleged respondent had (1) failed to make reasonable efforts to correct the
conditions which were the basis for the removal of the child (750 ILCS 50/1(m)(i) (West 2022))
and (2) failed to make reasonable progress toward the return of the minor during any nine-month
period following adjudication (id. § 1(D)(m)(ii)). The State relied on three nine-month periods to
support its allegations of unfitness: (1) January 26, 2021, through October 26, 2021; (2) October
27, 2021, through July 27, 2022; and (3) July 28, 2022, through April 28, 2023.
¶9 On April 3, 2023, the trial court held a termination hearing. Delaney McDonald
testified she was the child welfare specialist assigned to this case between August 2020 and
December 2021. According to the November 2020 case plan, respondent was to cooperate with
the agencies and providers, participate in combined mental-health/domestic-violence treatment,
maintain a substance-free lifestyle, successfully complete a parenting course, and participate in
visitation. In April 2021, when the case plan was evaluated, respondent’s progress was rated as
satisfactory, and M.T. was returned home in June 2021.
¶ 10 McDonald testified her recommendation that M.T. be returned home due to
respondent’s satisfactory progress was based on the assumption that respondent was in compliance
with the trial court’s order prohibiting her from having any contact with Kevin. The problem with
Kevin being in the home, or involved with the family at all, was not only his reputation as a “severe
-3-
drug user” and frequent domestic-violence abuser, but also M.T.’s limited and primarily nonverbal
communication skills due to autism. M.T.’s inability to effectively communicate posed a
significant risk factor. McDonald explained that, if M.T.’s safety was in jeopardy, she would be
unable to effectively express that danger. According to McDonald, this barrier enhanced the
importance of respondent’s duty of maintaining a safe household.
¶ 11 In late August 2021, after the case was closed, McDonald learned respondent had
been in contact with Kevin. In October 2021, McDonald witnessed Kevin in the presence of
respondent and M.T. This was when the case was reopened and M.T. was again removed from the
home.
¶ 12 Caseworker Sarah Goodapple testified she was assigned the case from November
2021 through August 2022. She created respondent’s case plan dated May 20, 2022. Respondent’s
primary task was “cooperation and participation.” For the time period of November 2021 through
May 2022, respondent was rated unsatisfactory on this task because she had not been honest about
her relationship status and, in February 2022, respondent admitted that Kevin had been residing in
her home. Respondent was also to participate in combined mental-health and domestic-violence
counseling. Again, she was rated unsatisfactory due to her failure to advise her providers that
Kevin “was back in [respondent]’s life.”
¶ 13 Goodapple testified respondent was rated satisfactory on her parenting and
visitation tasks. She had successfully completed the parenting course and “was doing great in her
visits with [M.T.]” Respondent was also rated satisfactory on her substance-abuse task. She had
completed the assessment, and no further services were recommended.
¶ 14 Goodapple testified that, despite respondent’s success at parenting and visitation,
M.T. was still at risk because Kevin was “not a safe person to have in the home.” According to
-4-
Goodapple, respondent could not explain why she chose to violate the trial court’s order of no
contact, but she had told Goodapple that Kevin had left the home in February 2022 after staying
only “a few nights.”
¶ 15 Caseworker Thomas Miller testified he was assigned the case after Goodapple in
August 2022. Miller created the case plan dated November 7, 2022. Respondent’s goals remained
“cooperation and participation,” combined mental-health/domestic-violence treatment, parenting
and visitation, separate mental-health treatment, maintaining a substance-free lifestyle, and
maintaining a violence-free lifestyle. Respondent received a satisfactory rating on “cooperation
and participation,” parenting and visitation, and maintaining a substance-free lifestyle. She was
rated unsatisfactory on two tasks: (1) the combined mental-health/domestic-violence treatment due
to her dishonesty with the provider and (2) the new mental-health task because it had been
recommended she change providers due to her dishonesty with the original provider, but she never
did.
¶ 16 Miller testified that an updated case plan dated only nine days later, on November
16, 2022, was necessary after “a critical decision was made to suspend visits.” Miller said there
were changes in M.T.’s behaviors after visits with respondent, in that she “was becoming more
aggressive.” The foster family reported to him that M.T. slammed doors, refused to get dressed,
and was “just becoming more and more of a challenge.” She had “started becoming aggressive to
the family animals.” Miller said M.T. “started to kick the dog and [would go] after the cat.” The
trial court agreed to suspend visits and, as a result, M.T.’s behavior improved.
¶ 17 Before resting its case, the State asked the trial court to take judicial notice of (1) the
January 26, 2021, adjudicatory order; (2) the March 15, 2021, dispositional order; (3) the
September 3, 2021, order directing respondent to not allow Kevin within 1000 feet of her residence
-5-
or to have any direct or indirect contact with M.T.; (4) the October 28, 2021, order vacating the
remain-home goal; and (4) Adams County case No. 19-CM-189, in which Kevin pleaded guilty to
domestic battery against respondent.
¶ 18 Respondent presented the testimony of JoAnn O’Rourke, her mental-
health/domestic-violence therapist. O’Rourke testified she began seeing respondent when she was
employed at SIU Center for Family Medicine between January 2020 and April 2021, at which time
O’Rourke switched to Quincy Medical Group. Due to the switch, there was a lapse in respondent’s
treatment as she waited for insurance recertification, and O’Rourke was unavailable until February
2022. O’Rourke testified that, in November 2022, she spoke with a caseworker who expressed
concerns about respondent’s honesty. O’Rourke wrote a letter outlining respondent’s positive
progress related to her employment, available transportation, attendance at her appointments, and
her understanding of boundaries and the impact of domestic violence.
¶ 19 On cross-examination, O’Rourke testified the basis for her belief that respondent
had demonstrated improvement was respondent’s remorse. According to O’Rourke, respondent
was “very hurt that she misses her daughter and what has happened to her daughter.”
¶ 20 After considering the evidence and arguments of counsel, the trial court found the
State had proved respondent was unfit “by not only clear and convincing evidence but by
overwhelming evidence.” The court found respondent’s apparent progress during the initial nine-
month period alleged “was not progress at all due to [respondent] being untruthful with the
caseworkers because having continued to maintain contact with [Kevin] in spite of the Court’s
prior orders” of no contact. After M.T. was removed from respondent’s care the second time, in
October 2021, respondent was unable to demonstrate progress “that she had moved on from
[Kevin]” and that she would be able to maintain a safe living environment for M.T. The court
-6-
recognized M.T. was a “special needs minor” who “need[ed] *** specialized treatment and care
because of her medical and emotional circumstances.” The court addressed the “critical decision”
to suspend visits due to M.T.’s aggressive behavior and noted respondent never requested that
M.T. be returned to her care or that visits be unsupervised. The court recognized respondent’s
acknowledgement that she had been dishonest with the caseworkers regarding her involvement
with Kevin after the no-contact order was in place. Yet, the court noted, after M.T.’s removal from
the home the second time, respondent was never able to demonstrate credible progress such that
the agencies would consider returning M.T. to respondent’s care.
¶ 21 On April 24, 2023, at the best-interest hearing, the trial court considered testimony
from then-current caseworker Miller. He said M.T. had “severe autism, intellectual issues, [and]
limited speech capabilities.” When M.T. was removed from respondent’s care the second time,
she was placed in her current foster home, which was capable of meeting her needs, and things
had been “going very well.” He said M.T. typically uses a device that helps her communicate, but
the device was not needed in the home because, according to Miller, “they have such a solid
connection that the talking device is not used.” Miller had visited the foster home at least twice a
month and had seen the strong bond between M.T., the foster mother, and the biological 16-year-
old daughter in the home. M.T. was doing well in school “for somebody in [her] position.” Miller
testified all of M.T.’s emotional, physical, and medical needs were being met in the home and the
foster mother had expressed her desire to adopt M.T.
¶ 22 The trial court found the State had shown by a preponderance of the evidence that
the termination of respondent’s parental rights would be in M.T.’s best interest. The court noted
the testimony established M.T. was bonded to the foster family; her needs, including her special
needs, were being met in the home; the home appeared to be safe and appropriate; M.T. was in
-7-
school on a regular basis; and the foster home was a potential permanent placement. The court
changed the goal to adoption.
¶ 23 This appeal followed.
¶ 24 II. ANALYSIS
¶ 25 On appeal, appellate counsel seeks to withdraw on the basis she cannot raise any
arguments of potential merit.
¶ 26 The procedure for appellate counsel to withdraw set forth in Anders applies to
findings of parental unfitness and termination of parental rights. In re S.M., 314 Ill. App. 3d 682,
685 (2000). Under this procedure, counsel’s request to withdraw must “ ‘be accompanied by a
brief referring to anything in the record that might arguably support the appeal.’ ” Id. (quoting
Anders, 386 U.S. at 744). Counsel must “(a) sketch the argument in support of the issues that could
conceivably be raised on appeal, and then (b) explain why [s]he believes the arguments are
frivolous.” Id. Counsel must then conclude the case presents no viable grounds for appeal. Id. In
doing so, counsel should review both the unfitness finding and the best-interest determination and
indicate in the brief that he or she has done so. Id. at 685-86.
¶ 27 In this case, counsel asserts she has reviewed the record on appeal, including the
report of proceedings of the termination hearing, and has concluded there are “no viable grounds
for appeal.” Counsel asserts she considered raising the arguments (1) the trial court erred by
admitting the case plans into evidence during the fitness hearing without a proper foundation,
(2) the court erred in admitting and relying upon the hearsay evidence in the case plans,
(3) respondent’s counsel provided ineffective assistance of counsel, (4) the court’s fitness finding
was against the manifest weight of the evidence, and (5) the court’s best-interest determination
was not supported by the statutory best-interest factors. We address each argument in turn and
-8-
ultimately agree with counsel’s conclusion there are no issues of arguable merit to be raised on
review.
¶ 28 A. Finding of Parental Unfitness
¶ 29 Parental rights may not be terminated without the parent’s consent unless the trial
court first determines, by clear and convincing evidence, the parent is unfit as defined in section
1(D) of the Adoption Act (750 ILCS 50/1(D) (West 2022)). In re Gwynne P., 215 Ill. 2d 340, 354
(2005). Pursuant to section 1(D)(m)(i), (ii) of the Adoption Act (750 ILCS 50/1(D)(m)(i), (ii)
(West 2022)), a parent may be found unfit if she fails “(i) to make reasonable efforts to correct the
conditions that were the basis for the removal of the child from the parent during any 9-month
period following the adjudication of neglected or abused minor ***, or (ii) to make reasonable
progress toward the return of the child to the parent during any 9-month period following the
adjudication of neglected or abused minor.” “A trial court’s determination that a parent’s unfitness
has been established by clear and convincing evidence will not be disturbed on review unless it is
contrary to the manifest weight of the evidence.” Gwynne P., 215 Ill. 2d at 354. The State need
only sufficiently prove one ground of unfitness to support the termination of parental rights. In re
F.P., 2014 IL App (4th) 140360, ¶ 83.
¶ 30 Here, the State alleged respondent was unfit under both subsections—for failing to
make reasonable efforts and reasonable progress. The State alleged respondent’s unfitness could
be proved during any one of three nine-month periods: (1) January 26, 2021, to October 26, 2021,
(2) October 27, 2021, to July 27, 2022, or (3) July 28, 2022, to April 28, 2023. See 750 ILCS
50/1(D)(m)(i), (ii) (West 2022). The trial court found the State had established the allegations of
unfitness by clear and convincing evidence. We agree.
¶ 31 This case began in June 2019, after respondent’s boyfriend, Kevin, battered her in
-9-
M.T.’s presence. Kevin was arrested and convicted of domestic battery as a result of this incident.
An intact case was opened and a safety plan was put in place. In November 2019, when it was
discovered respondent had violated the safety plan by allowing Kevin in the home, M.T. was
removed from respondent’s care. By August 2021, it seemed respondent had made progress in her
case and had not allowed Kevin to have contact with her. M.T. was returned to respondent’s care
and the case was closed.
¶ 32 However, only days after the case’s closure, and during the first alleged nine-month
period, in August 2021, DCFS, or its authorized agents, discovered respondent had allowed Kevin
into the home. In fact, on October 26, 2021, Kevin was at M.T.’s school to pick her up. M.T. was
again removed from respondent’s care. Respondent admitted she had allowed the prohibited
contact.
¶ 33 At the fitness hearing, the trial court stated there was “no evidence that [respondent]
had ever been able to make the decision that [Kevin] was no longer to be a part of her household
and because of that, she was never able to show progress with regard to being able to maintain a
safe living environment for the minor.” The court found the State had sufficiently proved
respondent unfit on the grounds alleged. Given this evidence alone, the State clearly demonstrated
respondent had failed to make reasonable efforts to correct the conditions that were the basis for
the removal of the child and had failed to make reasonable progress toward the return of the child
to her care.
¶ 34 Based on our review of the record, we find the trial court’s finding of unfitness was
not against the manifest weight of the evidence. Further, we agree with appellate counsel’s
assessment of this issue as one not worthy of appeal.
¶ 35 B. Counsel’s Performance
- 10 -
¶ 36 Appellate counsel also indicates she considered arguing that trial counsel rendered
ineffective assistance when she failed to object to inadmissible hearsay or evidence lacking a
proper foundation. However, because the caseworkers testified to personally observing several
instances of respondent having contact with Kevin, and because respondent admitted to such
contact, any challenge to counsel’s failure to object to potentially inadmissible evidence would be
without merit, as the result of the proceedings would not have been different. See People v. Cherry,
2016 IL 118728, ¶ 24 (citing Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 694 (1984) (Our supreme
court noted that an ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claim is precluded if the defendant cannot
establish a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s error, the result of the proceeding would
have been different.).
¶ 37 C. Best-Interest Determination
¶ 38 When a trial court finds a parent to be unfit, “the court then determines whether it
is in the best interests of the minor that parental rights be terminated.” In re D.T., 212 Ill. 2d 347,
352 (2004). In making the best-interest determination, the court must consider the factors set forth
in section 1-3(4.05) of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 (Act) (705 ILCS 405/1-3(4.05) (West
2022)). These factors include:
“(1) the child’s physical safety and welfare; (2) the development of the child’s
identity; (3) the child’s background and ties, including familial, cultural, and
religious; (4) the child’s sense of attachments, including love, security, familiarity,
and continuity of affection, and the least-disruptive placement alternative; (5) the
child’s wishes; (6) the child’s community ties; (7) the child’s need for permanence,
including the need for stability and continuity of relationships with parental figures
and siblings; (8) the uniqueness of every family and child; (9) the risks related to
- 11 -
substitute care; and (10) the preferences of the persons available to care for the
child.” In re Jay. H., 395 Ill. App. 3d 1063, 1071 (2009) (citing 705 ILCS
405/1-3(4.05) (West 2008)).
“The court’s best[-]interest determination [need not] contain an explicit reference to each of these
factors, and a reviewing court need not rely on any basis used by the trial court below in affirming
its decision.” In re Tajannah O., 2014 IL App (1st) 133119, ¶ 19.
¶ 39 At a best-interest hearing, the State must prove by a preponderance of the evidence
that termination of parental rights is in the best interest of the minor. D.T., 212 Ill. 2d at 366. On
review, “[w]e will not disturb a court’s finding that termination is in the
[minor’s] best interest unless it was against the manifest weight of the evidence.” In re T.A., 359
Ill. App. 3d 953, 961 (2005).
¶ 40 In the instant case, while the trial court did not expressly reference section 1-3(4.05)
of the Act, it explicitly considered the statutory factors set forth in that section. Specifically, the
court considered the facts that (1) M.T. needed specialized care, (2) the foster home was equipped
to handle M.T.’s special needs, (3) M.T. had a strong bond with her foster mother and sibling,
(4) M.T. was comfortable, safe, and secure in the home, (5) the foster family was meeting all of
M.T.’s physical, emotional, and mental needs, and (6) the foster mother expressed her desire to
provide M.T. with a permanent and stable placement. Given this evidence, we conclude the court’s
best-interest finding was based on an appropriate consideration of the statutory factors and was
not against the manifest weight of the evidence. Again, we agree with counsel that no reasonable
argument challenging the court’s best-interest finding could be made on appeal.
¶ 41 III. CONCLUSION
¶ 42 For the reasons stated, we allow appellate counsel to withdraw and affirm the trial
- 12 -
court’s judgment.
¶ 43 Affirmed.
- 13 -