In the Matter of the Termination of the Parent-Child Relationship of: T.R. and M.R. (Minor Children) and A.R. (Mother) v. The Indiana Department of Child Services (mem. dec.) ( 2020 )

MEMORANDUM DECISION
FILED
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), this
Memorandum Decision shall not be regarded as Apr 02 2020, 12:35 pm
precedent or cited before any court except for the CLERK
purpose of establishing the defense of res judicata, Indiana Supreme Court
Court of Appeals
collateral estoppel, or the law of the case. and Tax Court
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Anthony C. Lawrence Curtis T. Hill, Jr.
Anderson, Indiana Attorney General of Indiana
Jacob R. Kovalsky
Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
In the Matter of the Termination April 2, 2020
of the Parent–Child Relationship Court of Appeals Case No.
of: T.R. and M.R. (Minor 19A-JT-2472
Children) Appeal from the Madison Circuit
and Court
The Hon. G. George Pancol,
A.R. (Mother), Judge
Appellant-Respondent, Trial Court Cause Nos.
48C02-1902-JT-49
v. 48C02-1902-JT-50
The Indiana Department of Child
Services,
Appellee-Petitioner.
Bradford, Chief Judge.
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Case Summary
[1] T.R. and M.R. (collectively, “the Children”) were born in March of 2014 and
March of 2017, respectively, to A.R. (“Mother”) and B.R. 1 (“Father”)
(collectively, “Parents”). In August of 2017, while Father was incarcerated, the
Indiana Department of Child Services (“DCS”) took custody of the Children
because Mother had left them for several days with an acquaintance while she,
it was suspected, used illegal drugs. As it happened, Father would remain
incarcerated for the duration of this case. The juvenile court found the Children
to be children in need of services (“CHINS”) and ordered Parents to participate
in several services. At first, Mother exhibited partial compliance with some
services, but this did not last.
[2] In the end, Mother completed none of the ordered services, tested positive for
illegal drugs several times, missed several scheduled drug screens, and caused
visitation to be suspended permanently due to her non-compliance. In
February of 2019, DCS filed a petition to terminate Parents’ rights to the
Children (“the TPR Petition”). Following a hearing, the juvenile court granted
DCS’s petition. Mother contends that the trial court erred in concluding that
the conditions that led to the Children’s removal and continued placement in
foster care would likely not be remedied and that termination of her parental
rights is in the Children’s best interests. Because we disagree, we affirm.
1
Father does not participate in this appeal, and our treatment of the facts will therefore focus on Mother.
We note, however, that Father was incarcerated throughout the pendency of this case below.
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Facts and Procedural History
[3] T.R. and M.R. were born on March 3, 2014, and March 18, 2017, respectively,
to Parents. On August 22, 2017, DCS took custody of the Children and filed a
petition alleging that they were CHINS because Mother had left them with an
acquaintance she had only known for five weeks and had not returned for
several days. It was thought that substance abuse was the cause of Mother’s
neglect, and Father was incarcerated at the time. On November 14, 2017,
Mother admitted the allegations in the CHINS petition, and the juvenile court
found the Children to be CHINS.
[4] On December 13, 2017, the juvenile court conducted a dispositional hearing,
after which it ordered Mother to participate in supervised visitation, home-
based casework, random drug screens, a substance-abuse assessment, parenting
education, and home-based therapy. On January 31, 2018, the juvenile court
held a review hearing, after which it found, inter alia, that (1) both parents had
partially complied with the Children’s case plan; (2) Mother had begun
individual counseling but had postponed her parenting assessment, family
counseling, and psychological evaluation; (3) Mother had been meeting with
her home-based caseworker; (4) Mother had completed her substance-abuse
assessment but had only completed two out of fourteen random drug screens;
(5) both Parents had enhanced their ability to fulfill their parenting
responsibilities; (6) Mother had supervised visitation with the Children for a
total of eight hours a week; and (7) both Parents had cooperated with DCS.
The juvenile court set the matter for a permanency hearing on August 15, 2018.
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[5] Mother’s partial compliance with court-ordered services was not to last. On
August 15, 2018, the juvenile court held a permanency hearing, after which the
juvenile court found, inter alia, that (1) Parents had not complied with the
Children’s case plan; (2) Mother had not successfully completed or maintained
compliance with any service, all of which had been cancelled by the providers;
(3) Mother had tested positive for methamphetamine on a day she visited with
the Children; (4) Mother had relapsed on illegal drugs and was incarcerated by
the end of May of 2018; and (5) Mother’s visitation had been temporarily
suspended due to no-shows and cancellations. On September 5, 2018, the
juvenile court appointed Natalie Bogan as a court-appointed special advocate
(“CASA Bogan”) to represent the Children’s interests. Visitation was also
reinstated at some point in September of 2018.
[6] On February 13, 2019, the juvenile court conducted a hearing, after which it
found, inter alia, that (1) Parents had not complied with the case plan; (2) with
the exception of a substance-abuse evaluation in 2017, Mother had failed to
complete any services; (3) T.R.’s therapist Shayla Irby and CASA Bogan
recommended cessation of visitation with Mother; (4) Parents had not
enhanced their ability to fulfill their parental obligations; (5) Mother had been
closed out of visitation due to positive drug screens, failing to confirm
visitations, leaving early, no-shows, and visitation being traumatic for the
Children; (6) Parents had not cooperated with DCS; and (7) the cause of
removal had not been alleviated. The same day, the juvenile court approved a
concurrent permanency plan for the Children of reunification and adoption.
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[7] On February 19, 2019, DCS filed a TPR petition. On July 23, 2019, the
juvenile court began a hearing on the TPR Petition, which hearing was
continued on August 8 and 13, 2019. Irby testified that she had been working
with T.R. since November of 2018 and that T.R. had exhibited aggressive
behavior, resistance to her foster parents, and bed-wetting after visits from
Mother. T.R.’s behaviors improved, however, when visitation was
permanently suspended in December of 2018. Irby indicated her belief that
further trauma could be avoided if Parents’ rights were terminated, and she
agreed with that course of action.
[8] Dwayne Wade, who supervised Mother’s visitation with the Children from
September of 2018 until its cessation in December of 2018, testified that while
Mother’s visitation was initially consistent, that consistency did not last.
Visitation was cancelled October 17 and 24, 2018, due to Mother’s failure to
confirm the appointments as directed. Moreover, Mother missed five straight
visitations in late November to early December of 2018. Mother later claimed
that she had been in a drug rehabilitation program at the time, but that turned
out to be untrue, as she had only spent one day in the program. Mother
attended two more visits in mid-December, but visitation was suspended
permanently after she missed the next three scheduled visits. Wade testified
that inconsistency in visitation could have a detrimental effect on children in
general and that Mother’s inconsistency was particularly traumatic for T.R.
When asked if termination of Parents’ parental rights was in the Children’s best
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interests, Wade replied that he felt like the Children would “be in a better place
if they are in a more consistent atmosphere.” Tr. Vol. II p. 156.
[9] CASA Bogan testified that the Children had bonded with their foster parents
and were healthy, happy, and safe in their current placements. CASA Bogan
opined that any change in status would jeopardize the Children’s stability and
that it was in their best interests that Parents’ rights to them be terminated.
[10] FCM Katherine Briney, who took over the Children’s cases in February of
2018, testified that she was unable to confirm that Mother had attained stable
housing or employment due to Mother’s poor communication. FCM Briney
testified that Mother’s visitations had been cancelled in December of 2018, her
parenting education had been cancelled in December of 2018, her home-based
casework had been closed in October of 2018, and Mother had not been
consistent in providing samples for drug screens. FCM Briney confirmed that
Mother’s three latest drug screens had been positive for multiple illegal
substances. Toxicologist Dr. Deborah Coy elaborated, testifying that Mother
had tested positive for methamphetamine, 6-acetymorphine, and morphine on
November 19, 2018; 6-acetymorphine, morphine, methadone, and fentanyl on
December 12, 2018; and amphetamine, methamphetamine, morphine, fentanyl,
norfentanyl, and tramadol on March 19, 2019.
[11] FCM Briney opined that the reason for the removal of the Children and their
continued placement outside the home had not been remedied because Parents
had shown through their habitual patterns to be incapable of providing the
stability that the Children need and deserve. FCM Briney also opined that
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continuation of the parent–child relationship posed a threat to the Children
because they had established a sense of security and safety in their foster
placement and it would be traumatic to return them to a situation that had not
been proven to be stable and safe. FCM Briney testified that the current plan
for the Children was adoption by their current foster parents, a placement in
which she believed the Children to be doing “fantastic.” Tr. Vol. II p. 214.
Finally, FCM Briney opined that it was in Children’s best interests that the
parent–child relationship with Parents be terminated.
[12] Brandon Dake, one of the Children’s foster fathers, testified that T.R. had
behavioral problems when Mother still had visitation, including bed-wetting
and tantrums, problems that worsened when Mother missed visits and
improved when visitation was suspended. Dake and his husband had also
addressed preexisting medical issues when they assumed care of the Children,
i.e., the back of M.R.’s head had been flat, and T.R. had had a lazy eye and
eighty-percent tooth decay; both of T.R.’s conditions had required corrective
surgery. According to Dake, he and his husband had bonded with the
Children, and they, in turn, had bonded with the other foster child in the
couple’s care. Dake and his husband hoped to adopt the Children, and Dake
opined that termination of Parents’ rights was in the Children’s best interests.
[13] On August 13, 2019, Mother testified that she was currently incarcerated,
facing charges of methamphetamine possession, possession of a controlled
substance, false informing, marijuana possession, and paraphernalia possession.
Mother also confirmed that she had prior convictions for three counts of theft
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and had pled guilty to Level 6 felony methamphetamine possession and Level 6
felony unlawful possession of a syringe on April 16, 2019, convictions for
which she had been given an aggregate suspended sentence of two years and
168 days.
[14] On September 23, 2019, the juvenile court granted DCS’s TPR petition in an
order providing, in part, as follows:
30.) From the specific evidence presented through testimony
and documents, this Court categorically finds that in
regards to Mother:
a. She has failed to achieve or sustain any period of
sobriety since the opening of the CHINS
proceedings.
b. She failed her last 3 drugs screens submitted to, she
was arrested in June for drug charges, and chose to
remove herself from an inpatient rehabilitation
facility after only one day.
c. She was closed out of all other services due to non-
compliance.
d. The evidence showed that her inconsistent visits
were harming the Children, in particular it caused
[T.R.] to bed wet and have disruptive behavioral
issues.
e. She has not had contact with her Children since
visitation was cancelled at the end of December
2018 and she could possibly be ordered to serve the
remaining suspended sentence from her previous
arrests, causing contact with her children to be
delayed further.
f. The conditions resulting in the Children’s removal
from the Mother’s home and care have not been
remedied. The children were removed because of
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Mother’s absence and substance abuse and they
remain out of her care because of the same.
[….]
32.) The previous recitation of found facts and inferences, both
in specific detail and by general category, lead directly to
the factual finding, now made, that there is a reasonable
probability that the continuation of the parent–child
relationship between the Children and [P]arents pose a
threat to the well-being of the [C]hildren. The Court finds:
a. Shayla Irby, [T.R.]’s therapist, stated the lasting of
effects of childhood trauma can follow the Children
through the rest of their lives.
b. Children’s brains are still developing at their age
and trauma can hinder that development and cause
maladaptive behaviors such as: a higher
susceptibility to victimhood in the future, a potential
to be a perpetrator as an adult, a decreased ability to
bounce back from life’s struggles, and a decreased
resiliency for living a healthy lifestyle.
c. The Children will face additional trauma, if
removed from their Foster parent’s home, visitation
is started and becomes inconsistent, or the Children
continue to bond with their Foster parents only to
be removed at [a] later date due to the Parent[s’]
documented inability to avoid drug use and the
criminal justice system.
33.) The Children have been removed from the home and care
of their Parents since August of 2017, a time period of
approximately twenty five (25) consecutive months
through the date of this order. The Children have resided
with their current pre-adoptive foster family for the
entirety of the 25 months. The Children know this family
as their own. The Children have positively responded to
the stability and structure, as well as the love and
nurturing, provided by the family.
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34.) The Children’s DCS case manager, therapist, supervised
visitation worker, CASA, and foster father have all
testified that the termination of the parent–child
relationship and adoption of the Children are in the
Children’s best interest. The Court agrees with these
opinions, and now accepts and adopts them as its own
finding of fact in these proceedings.
Order pp. 14, 15.
Discussion and Decision
[15] The Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution protects the
traditional right of parents to establish a home and raise their children. Bester v.
Lake Cty. Office of Family & Children, 839 N.E.2d 143, 145 (Ind. 2005). Further,
we acknowledge that the parent–child relationship is “one of the most valued
relationships of our culture.” Id. However, although parental rights are of a
constitutional dimension, the law allows for the termination of those rights
when parents are unable or unwilling to meet their responsibilities as parents.
In re T.F., 743 N.E.2d 766, 773 (Ind. Ct. App. 2001), trans. denied. Therefore,
parental rights are not absolute and must be subordinated to the children’s
interest in determining the appropriate disposition of a petition to terminate the
parent–child relationship. Id.
[16] In reviewing termination proceedings on appeal, this court will not reweigh the
evidence or assess the credibility of the witnesses. In re Invol. Term. of Parental
Rights of S.P.H., 806 N.E.2d 874, 879 (Ind. Ct. App. 2004). We only consider
the evidence that supports the juvenile court’s decision and reasonable
inferences drawn therefrom. Id. Where, as here, the juvenile court includes
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findings of fact and conclusions thereon in its order terminating parental rights,
our standard of review is two-tiered. Id. First, we must determine whether the
evidence supports the findings, and, second, whether the findings support the
legal conclusions. Id. In deference to the juvenile court’s unique position to
assess the evidence, we set aside the juvenile court’s findings and judgment
terminating a parent–child relationship only if they are clearly erroneous. Id. A
finding of fact is clearly erroneous when there are no facts or inferences drawn
therefrom to support it. Id. 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. Id.
[17] Indiana Code section 31-35-2-4(b)(2) governs what DCS must allege and
establish to support the termination of parental rights, and for purposes of our
disposition that was:
(A) that [t]he child has been removed from the parent for at least
six (6) months under a dispositional decree[;]
[….]
(B) that [t]here 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[;]
[….]
(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). Mother contends that the juvenile court’s erred in
concluding that there is a reasonable probability that the conditions that
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resulted in the Children’s removal or the reasons for placement outside Parents’
home will not be remedied and termination is in the Children’s best interests.
I. Indiana Code Section 31-35-2-4(b)(2)(B)(i)
[18] Mother argues that DCS has failed to establish that there is a reasonable
probability that the reasons for the Children’s continued removal would not be
remedied. In making such a determination, a juvenile court engages in a two-
step inquiry. First, the juvenile court must “ascertain what conditions led to
their placement and retention in foster care.” K.T.K. v. Ind. Dep’t of Child Servs.,
989 N.E.2d 1225, 1231 (Ind. 2013). After identifying these initial conditions,
the juvenile court must determine whether a reasonable probability exists that
the conditions justifying the children’s continued “placement outside the home
will not be remedied.” In re D.D., 804 N.E.2d 258, 266 (Ind. Ct. App. 2004)
(citation omitted), trans. denied. The statute focuses not only on the initial
reasons for removal “but also those bases resulting in continued placement
outside the home.” In re A.I., 825 N.E.2d 798, 806 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005), trans.
denied. In making this second determination, the juvenile 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 D.D., 804
N.E.2d at 266. DCS need not rule out all possibilities of change; rather, it must
establish that there is a reasonable probability that the parent’s behavior will not
change. In re B.J., 879 N.E.2d 7, 18–19 (Ind. Ct. App. 2008), trans. denied.
[19] Here, the reason for the Children’s removal was Mother’s abandonment of
them to the care of an acquaintance of short duration for several days so that
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she (it was suspected) could do drugs. Since the Children’s removal, Mother’s
substance-abuse issues, if anything, have worsened. In the early months of the
CHINS case, Mother completed only two out of fourteen requested drug
screens. In November of 2018, Mother left a drug-rehabilitation program after
one day. Mother’s last three drug screens in November and December of 2018
and March of 2019 demonstrate Mother’s ongoing use of illegal substances,
including methamphetamine, 6-acetymorphine, morphine, methadone,
fentanyl, amphetamine, norfentanyl, and tramadol.
[20] Mother’s issues have led to criminal charges as well: in April of 2019, Mother
pled guilty to methamphetamine possession and unlawful possession of a
syringe and was given a suspended sentence of over two years. At the time of
the termination hearing, Mother was incarcerated following her June of 2019
arrest for four additional drug-related charges and was facing possible
imposition of the suspended sentence from her April case. In short, the record
demonstrates a reasonable probability that Mother’s substance-abuse issues will
not be resolved any time soon.
[21] Mother, citing her own testimony, argues that she had been “clean” for four
months at the time of termination, completed “EOP” and a step-down
program, worked with a home-based care provider, completed a parenting class
on her own, attended NA, maintained a home, had employment available after
her release, and “felt she was making progress.” Appellant’s Br. p. 12.
Mother’s arguments amount to nothing more than requests to reweigh the
evidence, which we will not do. In re S.P.H., 806 N.E.2d at 879. The juvenile
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court did not clearly err in concluding that the reasons for the Children’s
removal and continued placement in foster care were not likely to be remedied.
II. Indiana Code Section 31-35-2-4(b)(2)(C)
[22] Mother also argues that the juvenile court erred in concluding that termination
of her parental rights was in the Children’s best interests. We are mindful that,
in determining what is in the best interests of the Children, the juvenile court is
required to look beyond the factors identified by DCS and 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). In doing so, the juvenile court must subordinate the
interests of the parents to those of the children involved. Id. Furthermore, this
court has previously determined that the testimony of a GAL regarding a
child’s need for permanency supports a finding that termination is in the child’s
best interests. In the matter of Y.E.C., 534 N.E.2d 273, 276 (Ind. Ct. App. 1992).
Here, T.R.’s therapist, the visitation supervisor, the FCM, the CASA, and the
Children’s foster father all testified that termination was in Children’s best
interests. While this testimony is likely more than enough to support the
juvenile court’s conclusion to that effect, it is not as though this evidence stands
alone.
[23] As mentioned, there is ample evidence to support a conclusion that Mother is in
the throes of addiction such that she is either unwilling or unable to place the
needs of the Children before her need to get high. Mother’s failures to complete
any ordered services and maintain regular visitation, as well as her recent
criminal convictions and charges, seem to be directly attributable to her
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substance abuse, and there is little in the record to suggest that the situation will
improve any time soon. Several witnesses, unsurprisingly, testified that it
would be detrimental to the Children to be placed back into that environment.
[24] The juvenile court also heard a great deal of evidence that the Children were
thriving with their foster family, including evidence that the Children were
bonded to them, the Children’s previous medical issues had been addressed,
and T.R. was doing “[a]mazing” in kindergarten. Tr. Vol. III p. 7. Indeed, the
Children already refer to at least one of their foster fathers as “Daddy” and to
their foster brother as “bubby[.]” Tr. Vol. III. p. 9. In light of the evidence of
Mother’s failure to address her substance abuse and the very positive nature of
the Children’s pre-adoptive placement, we conclude that the record contains
more than enough evidence to support the juvenile court’s conclusion that
termination was in the Children’s best interests.
[25] The judgment of the juvenile court is affirmed.
Baker, J., and Pyle, J., concur.
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