In the Matter of Termination of the Parent-Child Relationship of J.H., Mother, and Te.R.J., Ta.R.J., T.T.J., and T.H., Minor Children, J.H. v. Indiana Department of Child Services (mem. dec.) ( 2020 )


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  • MEMORANDUM DECISION
    Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D),
    this Memorandum Decision shall not be                                          FILED
    regarded as precedent or cited before any                                 Jul 13 2020, 9:20 am
    court except for the purpose of establishing                                   CLERK
    the defense of res judicata, collateral                                   Indiana Supreme Court
    Court of Appeals
    estoppel, or the law of the case.                                              and Tax Court
    ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT                                   ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
    Daniel G. Foote                                           INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF CHILD
    Indianapolis, Indiana                                     SERVICES
    Valerie K. Boots                                          Curtis T. Hill, Jr.
    Marion County Public Defender Agency                      Attorney General of Indiana
    Appellate Division                                        Robert J. Henke
    Indianapolis, Indiana                                     Monika Prekopa Talbot
    Deputy Attorneys General
    Indianapolis, Indiana
    ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE CHILD
    ADVOCATES, INC.
    DeDe K. Connor
    Indianapolis, Indiana
    IN THE
    COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
    In the Matter of the Termination                          July 13, 2020
    of the Parent-Child Relationship                          Court of Appeals Case No.
    20A-JT-178
    Appeal from the
    Marion Superior Court
    The Honorable
    Mark A. Jones, Judge
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-JT-178 | July 13, 2020                      Page 1 of 17
    of J.H., Mother, 1 and Te.R.J.,                               The Honorable
    Ta.R.J., T.T.J., and T.H.,                                    Peter P. Haughan, Magistrate
    Minor Children,                                               Trial Court Cause Nos.
    49D15-1901-JT-134
    J.H.,                                                         49D15-1901-JT-138
    Appellant-Respondent,                                         49D15-1901-JT-139
    49D15-1901-JT-141
    v.
    Indiana Department of Child
    Services,
    Appellee-Petitioner,
    and
    Child Advocates, Inc.,
    Appellee-Guardian Ad Litem.
    Kirsch, Judge.
    [1]   J.H. (“Mother”) appeals the juvenile court’s termination of her parental rights
    as to her four children. On appeal, Mother raises four issues, which we
    consolidate and restate as follows:
    I.       Whether the juvenile court committed clear error in
    determining there was a reasonable probability that the
    1
    The juvenile court also terminated the parental rights of T.J., Sr. (“Father”), but he is not participating in
    this appeal. However, because Father was a party of record in the juvenile court, he is a party on appeal. See
    Ind. Appellate Rule 17(A).
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-JT-178 | July 13, 2020                       Page 2 of 17
    conditions that led to the removal of her children would
    not be remedied; and
    II.      Whether the trial court committed clear error in
    determining that termination of Mother’s parental rights
    was in the best interests of her children.
    [2]   We affirm.
    Facts and Procedural History
    [3]   Mother has four children: Te.R.J., born September 27, 2007; Ta.R.J., born
    June 30, 2012; T.T.J., born December 11, 2014; and T.H., born July 28, 2016
    (collectively, “Children”). Appellant’s App. Vol. II at 51. On March 11, 2017,
    the Indiana Department of Child Services (“DCS”) removed Children from
    Mother’s care on an emergency basis due to allegations of abuse and/or
    neglect.
    Id. On March
    14, 2017, DCS filed a petition alleging that Mother’s
    Children were children in need of services (“CHINS”) .
    Id. at 53,
    69, 72, 76,
    79. The same day, the juvenile court issued an order that formally removed
    Children and placed them with DCS, citing: (1) Mother’s lack of stable housing
    and employment; (2) Mother’s problems with substance abuse, mental illness,
    domestic violence; and (3) Mother’s criminal behavior, which had included jail
    time.
    Id. at 53,
    64. On June 6, 2017, the juvenile court held a fact finding
    hearing and adjudicated Children to be CHINS based on Mother’s admission
    that she “needs the assistance of DCS to address alternative conflict resolution
    within the home,” and that the coercive intervention of the court was necessary.
    Id. at 53.
    The juvenile court ordered Mother to participate in home-based case
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-JT-178 | July 13, 2020   Page 3 of 17
    management, submit to random drug screens, complete a domestic violence
    assessment, and participate in Children’s therapy.
    Id. [4] On
    March 8, 2017, the juvenile court held a permanency hearing, at which
    DCS recommended that the plan for permanency remain reunification.
    Id. at 55.
    On April 19, 2018, the juvenile court granted DCS’s motion to suspend
    Mother’s parenting time, noting that Mother had visited Children only once
    since the permanency hearing.
    Id. at 56.
    At a September 27, 2018 periodic
    review hearing, DCS reported that Mother was visiting Children but had been
    jailed twice and did not have stable housing or employment; however, Mother
    said she was willing to participate in services.
    Id. at 57.
    DCS was ordered to
    coordinate a psychological evaluation for Mother.
    Id. At a
    January 2, 2019
    permanency hearing, DCS requested that the plan for Children be changed to
    adoption, and the juvenile court granted the request.
    Id. at 57-58.
    On January
    25, 2019, DCS filed its petitions to terminate Mother’s parental rights.
    Id. at 69-
    82.
    [5]   On July 15 and October 1, 2019, the juvenile court held final evidentiary
    hearings on DCS’s petitions. Tr. Vol. II at 1-208. Family Case Manager
    (“FCM”) Teirenney Fincher (“FCM Fincher”) testified that she worked with
    Mother and Children for approximately one and a half years, ending in January
    2019.
    Id. at 33.
    Children were initially placed with a paternal aunt, but
    eventually two of the children were placed with the maternal aunt because the
    paternal aunt was unable to provide for Children.
    Id. at 44.
    At one point,
    Mother went to the maternal aunt’s residence, threatened her, and broke
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-JT-178 | July 13, 2020   Page 4 of 17
    windows in the apartment.
    Id. DCS then
    placed the two children who were
    with the maternal aunt into foster care, and the other two children were also
    eventually placed in foster care.
    Id. at 44-45.
    FCM Fincher referred Mother for
    drug screens, home-based casework, therapy, substance abuse assessment, and
    domestic violence services.
    Id. at 37.
    Mother missed several drug screens and
    did not complete a domestic violence assessment.
    Id. at 37-39.
    [6]   Mother would stay with various family and friends and was without stable
    housing during much of the time that FCM Fincher worked with Mother.
    Id. Mother often
    verbally and physically confronted those family and friends.
    Id. During one
    of Mother’s visits with Children that FCM Fincher supervised,
    Mother charged FCM Fincher and challenged her to fight.
    Id. at 44.
    FCM
    Kathryn Mosby (“FCM Mosby”) also testified that Mother had not shown the
    ability to provide Children with permanency.
    Id. at 133.
    [7]   FCM Fincher observed signs of mental illness with Mother.
    Id. at 43.
    Mother
    told FCM Fincher that she felt “things crawling on her skin” and that she felt
    like someone was following her.
    Id. Mother also
    made statements about
    someone “bio hacking” her.
    Id. Mother also
    told Home-Based Case Manager
    (“HBCM”) Sylvester Carr (“HBCM Carr)” that she was “biometrically
    hacked,” and she described DCS workers as “devils” or “some type of aliens,”
    who never told her “what was going on” and that she would report the DCS
    workers to the FBI.
    Id. at 27,
    72-73. FCM Tehya Jones (“FCM Jones”)
    testified that she handled Mother’s case from January to June of 2019 and that
    Mother told her that she often hallucinated; FCM Jones also testified that
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-JT-178 | July 13, 2020   Page 5 of 17
    Mother’s statements exhibited paranoid thoughts.
    Id. at 113,
    116. FCM Jones
    referred Mother to Choices Care for a psychological evaluation.
    Id. at 80,
    115-
    16. Mother did not think there was anything wrong with her, but she
    eventually completed a psychological assessment and obtained a prescription.
    Id. at 75.
    [8]   HBCM and visitation facilitator Crystal Heard (“HBCM Heard”) testified that
    she worked with Mother from November 2017 until April 2018 to help Mother
    obtain housing, employment, and achieve sobriety, but Mother did not achieve
    these goals.
    Id. at 63-64.
    Mother briefly obtained housing and employment,
    but she lost both.
    Id. at 63-64,
    67. Mother did not consistently participate in
    visits, sometimes cancelling at the last minute and sometimes failing to respond
    when the provider called to confirm a visit.
    Id. at 66.
    When Mother did visit,
    she was always late and never took food for Children even though providers
    encouraged her to do so.
    Id. at. 51,
    65-66. In April of 2018, the juvenile court
    suspended Mother’s parenting time.
    Id. at 41-42.
    [9]   HBCM Carr testified that he worked with Mother from August to October
    2018.
    Id. at 72.
    Mother’s goals were employment, housing, and transportation,
    but she did not achieve those goals.
    Id. at 73.
    Mother refused to give HBCM
    Carr any information or sign any documents for housing.
    Id. Mother was
    provided a bus pass, but she did not use public transportation because she was
    afraid that people around her would attack her.
    Id. At one
    point, the services
    provided through HBCM Carr were interrupted because Mother was
    incarcerated.
    Id. at 74.
          Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-JT-178 | July 13, 2020   Page 6 of 17
    [10]   By June of 2019, Mother did not have any parenting time but still had home-
    based case management.
    Id. at 115.
    Mother’s participation in services was
    sporadic.
    Id. at 120.
    FCM Jones believed that Mother would not comply with
    services even if given more time and concluded that Mother would not be able
    to provide stable housing for Children because she kept moving from one
    residence to another.
    Id. at 120-21.
    FCM Jones also said that Mother would
    not be able to provide financially for Children because she did not have a job.
    Id. at 121.
    [11]   Choices Care Coordinator Arica Chatterley (“CCC Chatterley”) testified that
    she became involved in Mother’s case in January 2019.
    Id. at 87.
    CCC
    Chatterley made referrals for Mother for drug screens, individual therapy, and a
    psychological evaluation.
    Id. at 88.
    Mother communicated with CCC
    Chatterley inconsistently.
    Id. at 90.
    Mother demanded new referrals for
    services she had previously refused to complete, such as random drug screens,
    individual therapy, and a psychological evaluation.
    Id. at 91.
    DCS eventually
    approved the reopening of the referrals.
    Id. [12] Mother
    testified that since March of 2017, she had been arrested twelve times;
    Mother had also been convicted of theft and was incarcerated at the time of the
    termination hearings, although she was able to attend the second hearing.
    Id. at 185,
    190, 193, 198-99; DCS Ex. 41. Mother admitted that she had stopping
    taking medication for her mental illnesses about a year earlier because she did
    not like how the medication made her feel. Tr. Vol. II at 200. Guardian Ad
    Litem Marybeth Browne (“GAL Browne”) testified that Mother’s behavior had
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-JT-178 | July 13, 2020   Page 7 of 17
    been erratic, hostile, and aggressive.
    Id. at 148.
    GAL Browne testified that
    Children were happier since they had been removed from the care of relatives
    because Children were engaged in activities and liked their placements.
    Id. at 149-50.
    GAL Browne recommended adoption for Children because this was in
    the best interest of Children.
    Id. at 154.
    [13]   On December 30, 2019, the juvenile court entered its order terminating
    Mother’s parental rights in Children. Appellant’s App. Vol. II at 51-68. The
    juvenile court concluded, in part:
    46. o. The Court finds that DCS has shown by clear and
    convincing evidence that there is a reasonable probability that the
    conditions that resulted in the Children’s placement outside the
    home of [Mother] will not be remedied.
    ....
    47. e. The Court finds that DCS has shown by clear and
    convincing evidence that there is a reasonable probability that the
    continuation of the parent-child relationship between [Mother]
    and the Children poses a threat to the well-being of the Children.
    ....
    48. i. The Court finds that DCS has shown by clear and
    convincing evidence that the termination of the parent-child
    relationship between [Mother] and the Children is in the best
    interests of the Children.
    Id. at 65-66.
    Mother now appeals.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-JT-178 | July 13, 2020   Page 8 of 17
    Discussion and Decision
    [14]   Mother argues that the trial court committed clear error in concluding that the
    conditions that led to removal of the Children would not be remedied and that
    termination of Mother’s parental rights was in the best interests of Children. As
    our Supreme Court has observed, “Decisions to terminate parental rights are
    among the most difficult our trial courts are called upon to make. They are also
    among the most fact-sensitive -- so we review them with great deference to the
    trial courts[.]” E.M. v. Ind. Dep’t of Child Servs., 
    4 N.E.3d 636
    , 640 (Ind. 2014).
    While the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution protects
    the traditional right of a parent to establish a home and raise his child and
    acknowledges that parental rights are of a constitutional dimension, the law
    allows for the termination of those rights when a parent is unable or unwilling
    to meet his responsibility as a parent. Bester v. Lake Cty. Office of Family &
    Children, 
    839 N.E.2d 143
    , 145 (Ind. 2005). Parental rights are not absolute and
    must be subordinated to the child’s interests in determining the appropriate
    disposition of a petition to terminate the parent-child relationship. In re J.C.,
    
    994 N.E.2d 278
    , 283 (Ind. Ct. App. 2013). The purpose of terminating parental
    rights is not to punish the parent but to protect the child. In re D.P., 
    994 N.E.2d 1228
    , 1231 (Ind. Ct. App. 2013). Termination of parental rights is proper where
    the child’s emotional and physical development is threatened.
    Id. The juvenile
    court need not wait until the child is irreversibly harmed such that his physical,
    mental, and social development is permanently impaired before terminating the
    parent-child relationship.
    Id. Court of
    Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-JT-178 | July 13, 2020   Page 9 of 17
    [15]   When reviewing a termination of parental rights case, we will not reweigh the
    evidence or judge the credibility of the witnesses. In re H.L., 
    915 N.E.2d 145
    ,
    149 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009). Instead, we consider only the evidence and
    reasonable inferences that are most favorable to the judgment.
    Id. Moreover, in
    deference to the juvenile court’s unique position to assess the evidence, we
    will set aside the court’s judgment terminating a parent-child relationship only if
    it is clearly erroneous.
    Id. at 148-49.
    A judgment is clearly erroneous only if
    the legal conclusions made by the juvenile court are not supported by its
    findings of fact, or the conclusions do not support the judgment. In re S.P.H.,
    
    806 N.E.2d 874
    , 879 (Ind. Ct. App. 2004).
    [16]   Where, as here, the juvenile court entered specific findings and conclusions, we
    apply a two-tiered standard of review. In re B.J., 
    879 N.E.2d 7
    , 14 (Ind. Ct.
    App. 2008), trans. denied. Here, however, because Mother does not claim that
    the findings are unsupported by the evidence in the record, we need only
    determine whether the findings support the juvenile court’s legal conclusions.
    See Madlem v. Arko, 
    592 N.E.2d 686
    , 687 (Ind. 1992) (Unchallenged findings
    “must be accepted as correct.”). If the evidence and inferences support the trial
    court’s decision, we must affirm. A.D.S. v. Ind. Dep’t of Child Servs., 
    987 N.E.2d 1150
    , 1156 (Ind. Ct. App. 2013), trans. denied.
    [17]   Before an involuntary termination of parental rights may occur, the State is
    required to allege and prove:
    (A) that one (1) of the following is true:
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-JT-178 | July 13, 2020   Page 10 of 17
    (i) The child has been removed from the parent for at least six (6)
    months under a dispositional decree.
    (ii) A court has entered a finding under IC 31-34-21-5.6 that
    reasonable efforts for family preservation or reunification are not
    required, including a description of the court’s finding, the date
    of the finding, and the manner in which the finding was made.
    (iii) The child has been removed from the parent and has been
    under the supervision of a local office or probation department
    for at least fifteen (15) months of the most recent twenty-two (22)
    months, beginning with the date the child is removed from the
    home as a result of the child being alleged to be a child in need of
    services or a delinquent child;
    (B) that one (1) of the following is true:
    (i) There is a reasonable probability that the conditions that
    resulted in the child’s removal or the reasons for placement
    outside the home of the parents will not be remedied.
    (ii) There is a reasonable probability that the continuation of the
    parent-child relationship poses a threat to the well-being of the
    child.
    (iii) The child has, on two (2) separate occasions, been
    adjudicated a child in need of services;
    (C) that termination is in the best interests of the child; and
    (D) that there is a satisfactory plan for the care and treatment of
    the child.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-JT-178 | July 13, 2020   Page 11 of 17
    Ind. Code § 31-35-2-4(b)(2). The State’s burden of proof for establishing these
    allegations in termination cases is one of clear and convincing evidence. In re
    
    H.L., 915 N.E.2d at 149
    . Moreover, if the court finds that the allegations in a
    petition are true, the court shall terminate the parent-child relationship. Ind.
    Code § 31-35-2-8(a).
    I. Remedying Reason for Removal of Children
    [18]   In determining whether there is a reasonable probability that the conditions that
    led to a child’s removal and continued placement outside the home would not
    be remedied, we engage in a two-step analysis. K.T.K. v. Ind. Dep’t of Child
    Servs., 
    989 N.E.2d 1225
    , 1231 (Ind. 2013). First, we determine what conditions
    led to the child’s placement and retention in foster care, and, second, we
    determine whether there is a reasonable probability that those conditions will
    not be remedied.
    Id. We consider
    not only the initial reasons the child was
    removed but also any basis resulting in the continued placement outside of a
    parent’s home. In re N.Q., 
    996 N.E.2d 385
    , 392 (Ind. Ct. App. 2013). In the
    second step, the juvenile court must judge a parent’s fitness at the time of the
    termination proceeding, considering evidence of changed conditions and
    balancing a parent’s recent improvements against habitual patterns of conduct
    to determine if there is a substantial probability of future neglect or deprivation.
    
    E.M., 4 N.E.3d at 643
    . The juvenile court has discretion to weigh a parent’s
    prior history more heavily than efforts made only shortly before termination.
    Id. at 642-43.
    “Requiring trial courts to give due regard to changed conditions
    does not preclude them from finding that parents’ past behavior is the best
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-JT-178 | July 13, 2020   Page 12 of 17
    predictor of their future behavior.”
    Id. at 643.
    Pursuant to this rule, “trial
    courts have properly considered evidence of a parent’s prior criminal history,
    drug and alcohol abuse, history of neglect, failure to provide support, and lack
    of adequate housing and employment.” In re D.B., 
    942 N.E.2d 867
    , 873 (Ind.
    Ct. App. 2011). In addition, DCS need not provide evidence ruling out all
    possibilities of change; rather, it need establish only that there is a reasonable
    probability the parent’s behavior will not change. In re Kay L., 
    867 N.E.2d 236
    ,
    242 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007). “We entrust that delicate balance to the trial court,
    which has discretion to weigh a parent’s prior history more heavily than efforts
    made only shortly before termination.” 
    E.M., 4 N.E.3d at 643
    .
    [19]   When determining whether the conditions for the removal would be remedied,
    the juvenile court may consider the parent’s response to the offers of help,
    including services offered by DCS and the parents’ response to those services.
    
    D.B., 942 N.E.2d at 873
    . Where there are only temporary improvements and
    the pattern of conduct shows no overall progress, the juvenile court might
    reasonably find that under the circumstances the problematic situation will not
    improve. 
    N.Q., 996 N.E.2d at 392
    . “A pattern of unwillingness to deal with
    parenting problems and to cooperate with those providing social services, in
    conjunction with unchanged conditions, support a finding that there exists no
    reasonable probability that the conditions will change.” Lang v. Starke Cty. Office
    of Family & Children, 
    861 N.E.2d 366
    , 372 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007), trans. denied.
    “Also, the failure to exercise the right to visit one’s children demonstrates a lack
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-JT-178 | July 13, 2020   Page 13 of 17
    of commitment to complete the actions necessary to preserve [the] parent-child
    relationship.”
    Id. (internal quotation
    omitted).
    [20]   Here, Mother argues that the trial court committed clear error in determining
    that the conditions that led to the removal of Children would not be remedied
    because the evidence showed that: 1) she has a bond with Children, who were
    happy to see her during visits, and she had age-appropriate conversations with
    Children; 2) she had “obtained gainful employment and housing at “various
    times”; 3) according to HBCM Heard, Mother sometimes showed good
    parenting skills; and 4) even though DCS was concerned about Mother’s lack of
    sobriety, HBCM Heard testified that during the visits she supervised, Mother
    did not appear to be under the influence of any substances. See Appellant’s Br. at
    12-13.
    [21]   Mother’s arguments ask us to reweigh the evidence, which our standard of
    review does not allow. See 
    H.L., 915 N.E.2d at 149
    . The reasons the trial court
    cited for removing the Children included: Mother’s lack of stable housing and
    employment; Mother’s problems with substance abuse, mental illness, domestic
    violence; and Mother’s criminal behavior, which had included jail time.
    Appellant’s App. Vol. II at 53, 64. There is no evidence Mother made any
    progress remedying these conditions. Mother did obtain employment and
    housing but only briefly. Tr. Vol. II at 63-64, 67, 73. She made no progress on
    her mental illnesses, evinced by her statements that: she felt “things crawling
    on her skin,” she was “biometrically hacked,” and DCS workers were “devils”
    or “some type of aliens.”
    Id. at 27,
    43, 72-73. Mother also hallucinated and
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-JT-178 | July 13, 2020   Page 14 of 17
    exhibited paranoid thoughts and behavior.
    Id. at 113,
    116. Mother did
    complete a psychological assessment and was prescribed medication, but the
    record contains no evidence that her mental illnesses were alleviated, and to the
    extent that medication might have reduced her symptoms, Mother testified that
    she had not taken her medication for one year.
    Id. at 75,
    200. The record also
    contains no evidence suggesting that Mother would remedy her criminal
    behavior. Since Children were removed, Mother was arrested twelve times,
    was convicted of theft, and was incarcerated at the time of the termination
    hearings.
    Id. at 185,
    190, 193, 198-99; DCS Ex. 41.
    [22]   We also find that factors that were not the initial reasons Children were
    removed also support the trial court’s conclusion that there was no reason to
    believe that Children should be returned to Mother. See 
    N.Q., 996 N.E.2d at 392
    . Mother was verbally and physical aggressive with family and friends who
    provided housing to her. Tr. Vol. II at 39. Mother’s failure to cooperate with
    those providing services also supported the trial court’s conclusion that Mother
    would not remedy the reasons for the removal of children. See 
    Lang, 861 N.E.2d at 372
    . For instance, Mother missed drug screens, did not complete a
    domestic violence assessment, and cancelled visitation sessions with Children at
    the last minute. Tr. Vol. II at 39, 66. Accordingly, we conclude that Mother
    has failed to show that the trial court committed clear error in determining that
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-JT-178 | July 13, 2020   Page 15 of 17
    there was not a reasonable probability that the reasons for the removal of
    Children would be remedied. See Ind. Code § 31-35-2-4(b)(2)(B)(i).2
    II. Best Interests of Children
    [23]   Mother argues the trial court committed clear error in determining that
    terminating her parental rights was in the best interest of children, relying on
    the same facts she cited in her argument regarding whether the reasons for
    removal of Children would be remedied. Here again, Mother asks us to
    reweigh the evidence, which is not our prerogative under our standard of
    review. See 
    H.L., 915 N.E.2d at 149
    .
    [24]   In determining the best interests of a child, the juvenile court is required to look
    to the totality of the evidence. McBride v. Monroe Cty. Office of Family & Children,
    
    798 N.E.2d 185
    , 203 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003). The juvenile court must subordinate
    the interests of the parent to those of the children.
    Id. The juvenile
    court need
    not wait until the children are irreversibly harmed before terminating the
    parent-child relationship. 
    A.D.S., 987 N.E.2d at 1158-59
    . The inability of a
    parent to provide a stable environment for a child also supports a trial court’s
    conclusion that termination of parental rights is in a child’s best interests.
    2
    Mother also contends that the trial court committed clear error in determining that the continued existence
    of the parent-child relationship poses a threat to the well-being of Children. Under Indiana Code section 31-
    35-2-4(b)(2)(B), DCS needed to prove only that there was a reasonable probability that the conditions that
    resulted in removal of Children would not be remedied or that that there was a reasonable probability that the
    continuation of the parent-child relationship posed a threat to the well-being Children. Because we conclude
    that the evidence supports the juvenile court’s conclusion that the conditions leading to removal of Children
    would not be remedied, we need not address this argument.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-JT-178 | July 13, 2020                    Page 16 of 17
    
    K.T.K., 989 N.E.2d at 1230
    . The recommendation by a DCS case manager and
    a guardian ad litem to terminate parental rights is sufficient to show by clear
    and convincing evidence that termination is in the child’s best interests. A.D.S.,
    987 at 1158-59.
    [25]   Here, FCM Jones did not believe that Mother would comply with services
    given more time and testified that Mother would not be able to provide stable
    housing for Children and that Mother could not provide financially for
    Children. Tr. Vol. II at 120-21. FCM Mosby testified that Mother had not
    shown the ability to provide Children with permanency.
    Id. at 133.
    GAL
    Browne testified that Mother’s behavior had been erratic, hostile, and
    aggressive and recommended that adoption was in the best interest of Children.
    Id. at 148-50.
    Therefore, Mother has failed to demonstrate that the juvenile
    court committed clear error in determining that termination of her parental
    rights was in the best interest of Children.3
    [26]   Affirmed.
    Najam, J., and Brown, J., concur.
    3
    Mother also argues that her marijuana use did not justify termination of her parental rights. Because we do
    not rely on that fact in affirming the trial court, we need not address that issue.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-JT-178 | July 13, 2020                   Page 17 of 17