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

MEMORANDUM DECISION
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), FILED
this Memorandum Decision shall not be Jul 08 2019, 10:38 am
regarded as precedent or cited before any CLERK
court except for the purpose of establishing Indiana Supreme Court
Court of Appeals
the defense of res judicata, collateral and Tax Court
estoppel, or the law of the case.
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Cynthia Phillips Smith Curtis T. Hill, Jr.
Lafayette, Indiana Attorney General of Indiana
Katherine A. Cornelius
Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
In the Termination of the Parent- July 8, 2019
Child Relationship of: Court of Appeals Case No.
19A-JT-210
F.S. and A.S. (Minor Children)
Appeal from the Tippecanoe
and Superior Court
A.N. (Mother), The Honorable Faith Graham,
Appellant-Respondent, Judge
Trial Court Cause Nos.
v. 79D03-1805-JT-77, 79D03-1805-
JT-78
The Indiana Department of
Child Services,
Appellee-Petitioner
Altice, Judge.
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Case Summary
[1] A.N. (Mother) appeals from the involuntary termination of her parental rights
to two of her minor children, F.S. and A.S. (collectively, the Children). 1 She
challenges the sufficiency of the evidence supporting the termination order.
[2] We affirm.
Facts & Procedural History 2
[3] On November 21, 2016, the day after A.S.’s birth, the Department of Child
Services (DCS) became involved with the family because A.S.’s cord blood
tested positive for cocaine. The following day, a hair follicle test was performed
on F.S., who was eighteen months old. The test later returned positive for
methamphetamine. Mother admitted to cocaine use during the pregnancy, as
well as spice and marijuana, and acknowledged that she needed help with
1
Mother has another child who lives with an established guardian.
2
The Children’s father’s rights were also terminated, but Father has not appealed the termination order.
Accordingly, our recitation of the facts will focus on those related to Mother.
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addressing her substance abuse. At the time, DCS permitted the Children to
remain in the home with services.
[4] DCS filed a petition alleging that that the Children were children in need of
services (CHINS) on December 6, 2016. At the factfinding hearing on January
31, 2017, Mother and Father both admitted that the Children were CHINS.
Following the dispositional hearing on February 21, 2017, the trial court
determined that the Children should remain in Mother’s care and ordered
Mother to participate in services. Specifically, she was ordered to remain drug
and alcohol free, submit to random urine screens, participate in individual
therapy, and complete assessments for substance abuse, domestic violence, and
parenting and follow all recommendations following the assessments.
[5] Almost immediately thereafter, the trial court held a modification hearing and
issued an order, on March 2, 2017, modifying the dispositional decree. The
court ordered the removal of the Children from Mother’s home and placement
in foster care based on the following findings:
Mother and Father have been involved in two (2) domestic
violence altercations and the children have been present. Father
has been warned about trespassing and continues to go to the
home. Mother allowed Bryce Henderson to stay in her home
and he was arrested for an outstanding warrant. Mother reported
she had only known Mr. Henderson for approximately one (1)
month and allowed him to stay as he did not have utilities and
she felt bad for him.
Both of these children have been exposed to substances. Mother
admitted to using cocaine during her pregnancy … [and F.S.]
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tested positive for methamphetamine …. It is a concern Mother
allowed someone she has only known for a month to reside in
the home she shares with her children.
Exhibits Vol. 1 at 26. The Children have remained in foster care since their
removal.
[6] In early May 2017, Mother became incarcerated, first in the Tippecanoe
County Jail and then the Indiana Department of Correction, for battery with a
deadly weapon. She was placed on work release on or about January 4, 2018.
Following her release from prison, Mother began participating in services
referred through DCS. She completed an intake assessment with a therapist at
Wabash Valley Alliance on January 16, 2018, and a substance use assessment
later that month. The therapist recommended individual counseling, which
was scheduled but Mother never attended. Mother began supervised visits with
the Children at the beginning of February 2018 and had a handful of visits
before she was reincarcerated from mid-February through mid-April 2018,
following her use of illegal drugs. Thereafter, she was returned to work release
where she was serving a term of probation.
[7] At a permanency hearing on May 17, 2018, the trial court authorized DCS to
file petitions to terminate the parent-child relationship. Despite the move
toward termination, the court ordered DCS to continue to fund services for
Mother, including substance abuse evaluation and treatment, individual
counseling, case management, and supervised visits. The court noted that
Mother “needs to be actively complying with all services, submitting to random
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drug screens and staying clean from any and all substances.” Id. at 68. DCS
filed the instant termination petitions on May 24, 2018.
[8] DCS re-referred services for Mother after her release from incarceration in April
2018. Mother visited with the Children three times in April and then did not
show for a visit on April 26 due to being incarcerated. She then visited with the
Children on May 22. This was her last contact with the Children, as visitation
services were suspended due to Mother’s failure to comply with random drug
screens. Mother had been a no-show for drug screens during the entire month
of May. She submitted to one screen in June and then none thereafter. Mother
stopped contacting the family case manager (FCM), Jessica Wingate, entirely
after June 14, 2018. Additionally, although referred by DCS, Mother never
completed a parenting assessment, a domestic violence assessment, or
individual counseling.
[9] The termination factfinding hearing took place on August 16, 2018 and October
10, 2018. FCM Wingate testified that Mother had a period of partial
compliance starting in January 2018, which ended when Mother was
reincarcerated the following month. Despite being given the opportunity to
engage in services upon her release, Mother did not successfully complete any
services and was generally non-compliant. Further, FCM Wingate testified that
the Children do not know Mother, which caused FCM Wingate concern for
their emotional well-being during visits with Mother. Once the visits ceased,
FCM Wingate explained that the Children “finally ha[d] some emotional well-
being and consistency.” Transcript Vol. 2 at 99. In sum, FCM Wingate
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recommended termination as in the best interests of the Children because
“Mother has not been compliant when it was available for her to engage and
she does not have a relationship with the children at this time.” Id. at 100.
[10] Similarly, the CASA, Erika O’Brien, recommended termination. CASA
O’Brien had been assigned to the Children since May 2017. She explained her
recommendation as follows:
This has been a long road, best described as a roller coaster. I’ve
had a lot of faith in the proceedings and Dad has been on the
right track, he was doing a great job and then just fell off. Mom,
once she got out of jail she was on track, she was doing a great
job. She then got off track, was incarcerated, we had to restart.
So, all those things and at this point in the last few months Dad
has not been involved, neither has Mom. I’ve seen … no change
or improvement or move towards getting the children at this
juncture.
Id. at 118. CASA noted that since her involvement in the case – nearly a year
and a half at the time – Mother had engaged in services for about a total of sixty
days. Indeed, Mother acknowledged during her own testimony that her period
of success with services lasted only “about 60 days.” Id. at 135. Mother
testified that this success ended in February 2018 after she “admitted to
smoking spice” while in community corrections. Id. at 134.
[11] On December 17, 2018, the trial court issued its order terminating the parent-
child relationship between Mother and the Children. Mother now appeals.
Additional information will be provided below as needed.
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Discussion & Decision
[12] When reviewing the termination of parental rights, we will not reweigh the
evidence or judge the credibility of the witnesses. In re R.S., 56 N.E.3d 625, 628
(Ind. 2016). Instead, we consider only the evidence and reasonable inferences
most favorable to the judgment. In re D.D., 804 N.E.2d 258, 265 (Ind. Ct. App.
2004), trans. denied. In deference to the trial court’s unique position to assess
the evidence, we will set aside its judgment terminating a parent-child
relationship only if it is clearly erroneous. In re L.S., 717 N.E.2d 204, 208 (Ind.
Ct. App. 1999), trans. denied. In light of the applicable clear and convincing
evidence standard, we review to determine whether the evidence clearly and
convincingly supports the findings and whether the findings clearly and
convincingly support the judgment. In re R.S., 56 N.E.3d at 628.
[13] We recognize that the traditional right of parents to “establish a home and raise
their children is protected by the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States
Constitution.” In re M.B., 666 N.E.2d 73, 76 (Ind. Ct. App. 1996), trans. denied.
Although parental rights are of constitutional dimension, the law provides for
the termination of these rights when parents are unable or unwilling to meet
their parental responsibilities. In re R.H., 892 N.E.2d 144, 149 (Ind. Ct. App.
2008). In addition, a court must subordinate the interests of the parents to those
of the child when evaluating the circumstances surrounding the termination. In
re K.S., 750 N.E.2d 832, 836 (Ind. Ct. App. 2001). The purpose of terminating
parental rights is not to punish the parents, but to protect their children. Id.
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[14] Before an involuntary termination of parental rights may occur in Indiana, DCS
is required to allege and prove by clear and convincing evidence, 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[.]
Ind. Code § 31-35-2-4(b)(2)(B). DCS must also prove by clear and convincing
evidence that termination is in the best interests of the child and that there is a
satisfactory plan for the care and treatment of the child. I.C. § 31-35-2-
4(b)(2)(C), (D).
[15] On appeal, Mother asserts that DCS failed to present clear and convincing
evidence that the conditions resulting in the Children’s removal would not be
remedied, that the continuation of the parent-child relationship poses a threat to
the Children’s well-being, and that termination is in the best interests of the
Children. We will address each of these in turn, as needed.
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[16] Mother first contends that DCS failed to present clear and convincing evidence
that there is a reasonable probability that the conditions resulting in the
Children’s removal or continued placement outside the home will not be
remedied. In deciding whether a reasonable probability exists that conditions
will not be remedied, the trial court must judge a parent’s fitness to care for her
children at the time of the termination hearing, taking into consideration
evidence of changed conditions. In re J.T., 742 N.E.2d 509, 512 (Ind. Ct. App.
2001), trans. denied. The court must also evaluate the parent’s habitual patterns
of conduct to determine whether there is a substantial probability of future
neglect or deprivation of the children. Id. The court may consider evidence of
the parent’s prior criminal history, drug and alcohol abuse, history of neglect,
failure to provide support, and lack of adequate housing and employment. A.F.
v. Marion Cty. Office of Family & Children, 762 N.E.2d 1244, 1251 (Ind. Ct. App.
2002), trans. denied. “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.” In re L.S., 717 N.E.2d at 210.
[17] The record establishes that the reasons for the Children’s removal and
continued placement outside Mother’s home centered on concerns of substance
abuse and domestic violence. 3 On a related note, Mother’s unstable lifestyle
3
Mother asserts that “DCS failed to elicit any testimony proving the reasons for removal”. Appellant’s Brief at
11. The reasons for removal, however, are amply established in the exhibits that were admitted at trial
without objection from Mother.
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and anger issues led to repeated incarcerations. By the conclusion of the
termination hearing, the Children had been removed from Mother’s care for
twenty months and she had spent ten of those months incarcerated at various
times. For the ten months that she was not incarcerated, she participated in
some services, by her own account, for only about two months.
[18] The trial court’s detailed findings of fact set out Mother’s history of compliance
throughout the case, as well as her incarcerations. The court then summarized:
15. During the CHINS case, Mother demonstrated compliance
with services for approximately six (6) to (8) weeks. Otherwise
Mother failed to attend services even when not incarcerated.
Mother failed to successfully complete any services. Mother was
last discharged from services on May 30, 2018 for lack of contact
and compliance.
16. Mother failed to complete a parenting assessment. Since
February 2018, Mother has attended only approximately ten (10)
scheduled visits. In April/May 2018, Mother was scheduled to
participate in supervised parenting time twice per week.
However, Mother attended only three (3) scheduled visits on
April 18, April 20, and April 23, 2018. Mother was incarcerated
at the time of the next visit scheduled on April 26, 2018. Mother
attended a scheduled visit on May 22, 2018. Mother’s visits were
thereafter suspended for failure to engage in random drug
screening. Mother’s last contact with the children was on May
22, 2018.
Appendix Vol. II at 23.
[19] The evidence and the court’s findings of fact overwhelming establish a
reasonable probability that the conditions resulting in the Children’s removal
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and continued placement outside Mother’s home will not be remedied. There
were no changed conditions at the time of the termination hearing, and Mother
had made no progress in the five months following her most-recent release from
incarceration in May 2018. Particularly telling of Mother’s lack of commitment
to do what needed to be done to reunify with the Children was her decision to
end visits with them rather than submit to drug screens and to cease contact
with FCM Wingate.
[20] I.C. § 31-35-2-4(b)(2)(B) is written in the disjunctive. Therefore, having upheld
the trial court’s conclusion under I.C. § 31-35-2-4(b)(2)(B)(i), we need not
review the trial court’s determination that continuation of the parent-child
relationship would pose a threat to the Children’s well-being.
[21] Finally, Mother asserts that the evidence was insufficient to support the trial
court’s determination that termination was in the Children’s best interests. In
making this best-interests determination, the trial court is required to look
beyond the factors identified by DCS and consider the totality of the evidence.
In re J.C., 994 N.E.2d 278, 290 (Ind. Ct. App. 2013). The court must
subordinate the interest of the parent to those of the children and need not wait
until a child is irreversibly harmed before terminating the parent-child
relationship. McBride v. Monroe Cty. Office of Family & Children, 798 N.E.2d 185,
199 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003). Our Supreme Court has explained that
“[p]ermanency is a central consideration in determining the best interests of a
child.” In re G.Y., 904 N.E.2d 1257, 1265 (Ind. 2009). “Moreover, we have
previously held that the recommendations of the case manager and court-
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appointed advocate to terminate parental rights, in 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.”
In re J.S., 906 N.E.2d at 236.
[22] Mother’s brief argument regarding the best-interest element is that she loves the
Children and that, due to her incarcerations, she has not been given the
opportunity to prove that she can care for them. She also asserts that she and
the Children are bonded and, thus, it would not be in the Children’s best
interests to have their relationship with her severed.
[23] On the contrary, the evidence establishes, and the trial court found, that the
Children have no bond with Mother. Between May 2017 and October 2018,
the Children had only visited with Mother about ten times. The lack of visits
was due to Mother’s multiple incarcerations and her refusal to submit to
random drug screens. As we have recognized, “[i]ndividuals who pursue
criminal activity run the risk of being denied the opportunity to develop positive
and meaningful relationships with their children.” Castro v. State Office of Family
& Children, 842 N.E.2d 367, 374 (Ind. Ct. App. 2006) (quoting Matter of A.C.B.,
598 N.E.2d 570, 572 (Ind. Ct. App. 1992)), trans. denied.
[24] Both the CASA and the FCM recommended termination of Mother’s parental
rights. Moreover, as the trial court found:
CASA noted that neither parent has been involved or made any
steps toward reunification in the past few months. CASA
reported the children are confused and emotionally troubled by
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inconsistent contact with the parents. The children were
emotionally impacted by Mother’s absence and Father’s
inconsistent presence. The children did not demonstrate a bond
with Mother at all. Since parenting time ceased, the children
have emotionally stabilized. The children are currently placed
with foster parents who are willing to adopt the children. The
children are adoptable even if the current foster family is unable
to adopt for any reason.
Appendix Vol. II at 24. The evidence was sufficient to show by clear and
convincing evidence that termination was in the Children’s best interests.
[25] Judgment affirmed.
Kirsch, J. and Vaidik, C.J., concur.
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