In the Matter of the Termination of the Parent-Child Relationship of A.A. and F.S., Minor Children, L.A., Mother v. The Indiana Department of Child Services (mem. dec.) ( 2019 )

MEMORANDUM DECISION
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D),
this Memorandum Decision shall not be
FILED
regarded as precedent or cited before any Jun 07 2019, 8:59 am
court except for the purpose of establishing CLERK
Indiana Supreme Court
the defense of res judicata, collateral Court of Appeals
and Tax Court
estoppel, or the law of the case.
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Erin L. Berger Curtis T. Hill, Jr.
Evansville, Indiana Attorney General of Indiana
Natalie F. Weiss
Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
In the Matter of the Termination June 7, 2019
of the Parent-Child Relationship Court of Appeals Case No.
of A.A. and F.S., Minor 18A-JT-3100
Children, Appeal from the Vanderburgh
L.A., Mother, Superior Court
The Honorable Brett J. Niemeier,
Appellant, Judge
v. Trial Court Cause Nos.
82D04-1807-JT-1417
82D04-1807-JT-1418
The Indiana Department of
Child Services,
Appellee.
Brown, Judge.
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[1] L.A. (“Mother”) appeals the involuntary termination of her parental rights with
respect to her children, A.A. and F.S. (the “Children”). We affirm.
Facts and Procedural History
[2] Mother is the mother of A.A., born on March 23, 2005, and F.S., born on
October 24, 2007. On February 28, 2017, the Department of Child Services
(“DCS”) filed petitions alleging that the Children were in need of services. 1 In
March 2017, the Children were removed due to conditions including drug
abuse, educational neglect, and problems with the home, shelter, and stability.
On May 1, 2017, the court held a hearing at which Mother failed to appear and
found the Children to be children in need of services (“CHINS”).
[3] On July 25, 2018, DCS filed petitions to terminate the parent-child relationship.
On October 18, 2018, the court held an evidentiary hearing. The court
admitted the chronological case summary (“CCS”) with respect to: CHINS
actions related to A.A., F.S., and Mother’s child, D.B., in which an order
terminating jurisdiction was ultimately entered in August 2011; a CHINS
action related to F.S. in which the final entry was a dismissal in June 2016; a
CHINS case involving D.B. with a final entry of January 2018; a CHINS case
involving A.A. with final entries in June 2016; a termination of parental rights
action between Mother and F.S. which includes an entry dated May 8, 2017,
stating: “Case Closed Effective: 12/16/2015”; and a termination of parental
1
The record does not contain a copy of the petitions.
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rights action between Mother and A.A. which indicates that the case was closed
in April 2017. DCS Exhibit E.
[4] Tracey Kelley, a therapist at Southwestern Behavioral Healthcare, testified that
A.A. initially had some visitations with Mother, he was “rather negative about
them,” and he felt “[t]hat his Mom wasn’t really interested in him.” Transcript
Volume II at 18-19. She testified A.A. said that a boyfriend had physically
harmed him, he suffered emotional abuse, and he was exposed to instances of
domestic violence between Mother and her boyfriend. On re-cross
examination, she testified that A.A. had been in foster care three times.
[5] Mother testified that her first involvement with DCS occurred in 2010 due to
her use of drugs and involved five children including A.A. and F.S. She
testified that she had another involvement with DCS in 2014 involving A.A.,
F.S., and three other children based upon false allegations that her home had
mold, that she was beating them with a baseball bat, and that her ex-boyfriend
touched her daughter.
[6] She stated that she stayed at the Ozanam Shelter and was there for three
months when the Children were removed. She stated that she was living with
her mother in Illinois because her mother just had major surgery and that she
would reside with her until she receives a letter “from the disability sayin’ that
I’ve been approved for disability.” Id. at 46. Mother stated that she has
ADHD, bipolar, COPD, emphysema, asthma, a pinched nerve, scoliosis, and
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diabetes. She testified that she was not currently working and had two jobs in
the past five years.
[7] She admitted that she did not complete substance abuse treatment. When
asked if she failed to appear for any drug screens during the most recent case,
she answered: “There were some I missed in the past. I don’t have none
recent.” Id. at 38. She denied using illegal substances while the case was open
and testified that she last used an illegal substance, marijuana, “[l]ast year.” Id.
at 39. On cross-examination, she admitted she did not finish the Counseling for
Change program which she had been told she needed to complete to obtain the
Children, that Mr. Austin was her case worker but she does not talk to him, that
he did not respond to her calls or texts, and that her last drug screen occurred in
March 2017. When asked when was the last time she used cocaine, she
answered: “I know I’ve been clean for that three years now.” Id. at 44. She
testified that she last used marijuana in October 2016 and that she was staying
clean. On redirect examination, Mother indicated that she stopped services
because she was not receiving visits. She testified that if she does not receive
disability, she could obtain a job that will support the Children.
[8] Family case manager Nathan Austin (“FCM Austin”) testified that he officially
took over as the ongoing case manager on September 26, 2017, there had been a
history of issues regarding income or employment, and Mother admitted to the
assessment worker that she had recently smoked marijuana and she tested
positive for marijuana and cocaine. When asked if he recalled how many
“absences or tardys” the Children had, he answered that he did not recall the
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exact number but estimated that one had about eighteen and the other had
about fifty-five. Id. at 58. He also stated that F.S. had all Fs and that A.A. was
also failing his courses.
[9] Janet Bett, a home-based therapist, testified that she received the referral to
work with Mother and the Children in December 2017, attempted to contact
Mother, and after over a month she had the first face-to-face supervised
therapeutic visit. When asked if she encountered any issues during her
interactions with the family, she answered: “Yes, I did, a lot.” Id. at 89. She
stated that Mother seemed withdrawn all the time and that there were episodes
where Mother would promise that she was on the way before canceling. She
stated that there were cancellations, no calls, and no shows. Without objection,
the court took judicial notice of the CASA report that had been filed. 2
[10] On November 28, 2018, the court entered separate orders terminating Mother’s
parental rights to the Children. The court found that: Mother and the Children
were homeless and living in a car prior to the filing of the CHINS petition; they
were residing in a shelter at the time of the filing; Mother has a substantial
history of involvements with DCS predating the initiation of the underlying
CHINS cases; Mother’s substance abuse has been an ongoing issue since
December 2010; Mother failed to participate in or benefit from the services
offered by DCS; and according to CASA Debby Gamache, Mother has been
2
The record does not contain a copy of the CASA report.
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evicted at least twice since the filing of the underlying CHINS causes and has
not sustained consistent employment. It found: Mother had a significant
history of substance abuse; she tested positive for THC, cocaine, and
methamphetamine during the underlying CHINS causes and failed or refused
to address her substance abuse; she admitted to the use of crack cocaine and
marijuana during her intake appointment in December 2017; and she did not
complete substance abuse treatment. It found that Mother failed to consistently
attend visitation and that her behavior during visits demonstrated her lack of
dedication to reunification.
[11] The court stated: “CASA, DCS, and the Court agree there is a reasonable
probability that the reasons for the child’s placement outside the home will not
be remedied. As FCM Austin stated, the ‘same concerns’ that necessitated
removal are ‘still present.’” Appellant’s Appendix Volume II at 33, 45. It
agreed with DCS and CASA that continuation of the parent-child relationship
posed a threat to the Children’s well-being. The court stated that Mother “has
done nothing to indicate that she truly wants to better her life or her child’s
life,” “has refused to accept the State’s assistance and has failed on her own,”
and “[h]er reasoning for not visiting her child, which was bogus, and her lack of
visits, best sums up why she should no longer be the child’s legal mother.” Id.
at 36. It found that “DCS and CASA believe that termination of parental rights
and adoption are in the child’s best interest” and concluded that adoption was
in the Children’s best interests. Id. at 36, 48. Discussion
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[12] The issue is whether the evidence is sufficient to support the termination of
Mother’s parental rights. In order to terminate a parent-child relationship, DCS
is required to allege and prove, among other things:
(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.
Ind. Code § 31-35-2-4(b)(2). If the court finds that the allegations in a petition
described in Ind. Code § 31-35-2-4 are true, the court shall terminate the parent-
child relationship. Ind. Code § 31-35-2-8(a).
[13] The State’s burden of proof for establishing the allegations in termination cases
“is one of ‘clear and convincing evidence.’” In re G.Y., 904 N.E.2d 1257, 1260-
1261 (Ind. 2009) (quoting Ind. Code § 31-37-14-2), reh’g denied. This is “a
‘heightened burden of proof’ reflecting termination’s ‘serious social
consequences.’” In re E.M., 4 N.E.3d 636, 642 (Ind. 2014) (quoting In re G.Y.,
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904 N.E.2d at 1260-1261, 1260 n.1). “But weighing the evidence under that
heightened standard is the trial court’s prerogative—in contrast to our well-
settled, highly deferential standard of review.” Id. We do not reweigh the
evidence or determine the credibility of witnesses, but consider only the
evidence that supports the judgment and the reasonable inferences to be drawn
from the evidence. Id. We confine our review to two steps: whether the
evidence clearly and convincingly supports the findings, and then whether the
findings clearly and convincingly support the judgment. Id.
[14] Reviewing whether the evidence clearly and convincingly supports the findings,
or the findings clearly and convincingly support the judgment, is not a license to
reweigh the evidence. Id. “[W]e do not independently determine whether that
heightened standard is met, as we would under the ‘constitutional harmless
error standard,’ which requires the reviewing court itself to ‘be sufficiently
confident to declare the error harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.’” Id.
(quoting Harden v. State, 576 N.E.2d 590, 593 (Ind. 1991) (citing Chapman v.
California, 386 U.S. 18, 87 S. Ct. 824 (1967))). “Our review must ‘give “due
regard” to the trial court’s opportunity to judge the credibility of the witnesses
firsthand,’ and ‘not set aside [its] findings or judgment unless clearly
erroneous.’” Id. (quoting K.T.K. v. Ind. Dep’t of Child Servs., Dearborn Cty. Office,
989 N.E.2d 1225, 1229 (Ind. 2013) (citing Ind. Trial Rule 52(A))). “Because a
case that seems close on a ‘dry record’ may have been much more clear-cut in
person, we must be careful not to substitute our judgment for the trial court
when reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence.” Id. at 640. The involuntary
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termination statute is written in the disjunctive and requires proof of only one of
the circumstances listed in Ind. Code § 31-35-2-4(b)(2)(B).
[15] Mother argues that DCS failed to prove by clear and convincing evidence that
the conditions that resulted in the Children’s removal would not be remedied,
that the continuation of the parent-child relationship posed a threat to the well-
being of the Children, and that termination was in the best interest of the
Children. She asserts DCS provided no testimony that the home she shared
with her mother was unfit or evidence to contradict her testimony that she was
applying for disability for multiple medical conditions. She contends that the
evidence demonstrated she no longer had a substance abuse issue and
interacted appropriately with the Children. She also argues the evidence does
not support the findings that she failed to provide stable housing and income,
remain sober, interact with the Children, or benefit from or cooperate with
services. DCS argues that the court’s order is not clearly erroneous and that
Mother’s arguments amount to a request to reweigh the evidence.
[16] In determining whether the conditions that resulted in the Children’s removal
will not be remedied, we engage in a two-step analysis. See E.M., 4 N.E.3d at
642-643. First, we identify the conditions that led to removal, and second, we
determine whether there is a reasonable probability that those conditions will
not be remedied. Id. at 643. In the second step, the trial court must judge a
parent’s fitness as of the time of the termination proceeding, taking into
consideration evidence of changed conditions, balancing a parent’s recent
improvements against habitual patterns of conduct to determine whether there
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is a substantial probability of future neglect or deprivation. Id. 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. Id.
Requiring trial courts to give due regard to changed conditions does not
preclude them from finding that a parent’s past behavior is the best predictor of
his future behavior. Id.
[17] The statute does not simply focus on the initial basis for a child’s removal for
purposes of determining whether a parent’s rights should be terminated, but
also those bases resulting in the continued placement outside the home. In re
N.Q., 996 N.E.2d 385, 392 (Ind. Ct. App. 2013). A court may consider
evidence of a parent’s prior criminal history, history of neglect, failure to
provide support, lack of adequate housing and employment, and the services
offered by DCS and the parent’s response to those services. Id. Where there
are only temporary improvements and the pattern of conduct shows no overall
progress, the court might reasonably find that under the circumstances the
problematic situation will not improve. Id.
[18] To the extent Mother does not challenge the court’s findings of fact, the
unchallenged facts stand as proven. See In re B.R., 875 N.E.2d 369, 373 (Ind.
Ct. App. 2007) (failure to challenge findings by the trial court resulted in waiver
of the argument that the findings were clearly erroneous), trans. denied.
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[19] With respect to Mother’s substance abuse, when asked about her compliance
with obtaining a substance abuse evaluation and completing substance abuse
treatment, FCM Austin stated:
December 29th, ’17 she did an assessment at Counseling for
Change. From there she didn’t follow up with any other
appointments. It wasn’t until March of 2018 where she attended
a group. And that was only a one time occurrence. She then
became noncompliant again. And then she either went into the
office or called into the office and she rescheduled a reentry
appointment for April, 2018, which she did not appear to.
Transcript Volume II at 60. He also testified that Mother had not completed
substance abuse treatment. When asked to describe Mother’s compliance with
random drug screens, he answered:
The most recent screens that I’ve checked is from March of 2017
to February, 2018, and there was ninety-nine scheduled screens.
There was sixty-four no shows. There was approximately thirty-
four, thirty-five that was taken. And out of those that were
taken, only three were clean. And those are approximate
numbers.
Id.
[20] With respect to employment, FCM Austin testified that Mother obtained
employment at one point through Ameriqual for a couple of weeks, then did
yard work, then worked at a hotel, and then worked at McDonald’s where she
quit after seven days. Mother testified that she was not currently working and
had filed for disability.
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[21] FCM Austin testified that communication was very difficult with Mother and
that he had four phone numbers for her which were all different from the
number she gave his supervisor. When asked why he was never able to
recommend placement of the Children with Mother, he answered: “Because
there’s no place to recommend her to be reunified with. For one, also the same
concerns that got us involved is [sic] still present. Nothing has changed. And
we don’t foresee it happening.” Id. at 67-68. He also stated that there was no
intention of sustaining the level of sobriety that is needed, Mother was
dependent on her own mother, ICPC denied the home of Mother’s mother
“because they said it’s too small to have those children in that home,” the drug
abuse concerns are still present, there was still no satisfactory income, and DCS
could not say that the Children would be placed in a stable environment with
Mother. 3 Id. at 68.
[22] When asked if she felt Mother was engaged in the service she was providing,
Bett, the home-based therapist, answered: “Not at all.” Id. at 91. She testified
that Mother’s speech was slurred most of the time and that Mother slept during
several visits and indicated that she had just taken some sleep medication.
3
When asked to identify ICPC, FCM Austin answered: “I’m not familiar with the abbreviation, however,
it’s whenever there’s a location for the children if there’s another possible placement location outside of the
State of Indiana. And being that [Mother] said that if she can’t – during our meeting when we talked about
permanency – she said, ‘If I can’t get my kids back I want them to go live with my Mom.’ And based on her
desire is the reason why DCS sent the ICPC to her Mother.” Transcript Volume II at 68-69. The trial court’s
order states: “DCS previously completed background checks necessary for placing the child in another state,
per the requirements of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children. Grandmother’s home was
denied for purposes of placement due to the home lacking sufficient space.” Appellant’s Appendix Volume
II at 33-34 (footnote omitted).
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When asked whether the goal of the family establishing communication and
trust was achieved, she answered in part: “It was never achieved because
[Mother] never attempted.” Id. at 92. She testified that some of the
cancellations occurred when Mother stated she did not have food or electricity.
She also stated that she bought food herself and gave it to the Children.
[23] Based upon the court’s findings and the record, we conclude that clear and
convincing evidence supports the trial court’s determination that there is a
reasonable probability that the conditions leading to the Children’s removal will
not be remedied.
[24] In determining what is in the best interests of a child, the trial court is required
to look beyond the factors identified by DCS and to the totality of the evidence.
McBride v. Monroe Cty. Office of Family & Children, 798 N.E.2d 185, 203 (Ind. Ct.
App. 2003). In so doing, the court must subordinate the interests of the parent
to those of the children. Id. Children have a paramount need for permanency
which the Indiana Supreme Court has called a central consideration in
determining the child’s best interests, and the Court has stated that children
cannot wait indefinitely for their parents to work toward preservation or
reunification and courts need not wait until the child is irreversibly harmed such
that the child’s physical, mental, and social development is permanently
impaired before terminating the parent-child relationship. In re E.M., 4 N.E.3d
at 647-648. However, focusing on permanency, standing alone, would
impermissibly invert the best-interests inquiry. Id. at 648. Recommendations
by both the case manager and child advocate to terminate parental rights, in
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addition to evidence that the conditions resulting in removal will not be
remedied, is sufficient to show by clear and convincing evidence that
termination is in the child’s best interests. A.D.S. v. Ind. Dep’t of Child Servs., 987
N.E.2d 1150, 1158-1159 (Ind. Ct. App. 2013), trans. denied.
[25] When asked for his recommendation regarding the best interests of the
Children, FCM Austin testified that his recommendation for the Children was
to be adopted in their current placement. The court found that “DCS and
CASA believe that termination of parental rights and adoption are in the child’s
best interest” and concluded that adoption was in the Children’s best interests.
Appellant’s Appendix Volume II at 36.
[26] Based on the testimony, as well as the totality of the evidence in the record and
set forth in the trial court’s termination order, we conclude that the court’s
determination that termination is in the best interests of the Children is
supported by clear and convincing evidence.
[27] Affirmed.
May, J., and Mathias, J., concur.
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