In re the Matter of the Termination of the Parent-Child Relationship of S.N. (Minor Child) and J.F. (Father) v. Indiana Department of Child Services (mem. dec.) ( 2017 )

MEMORANDUM DECISION
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D),
this Memorandum Decision shall not be FILED
regarded as precedent or cited before any Mar 15 2017, 7:17 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
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
David L. Joley Curtis T. Hill, Jr.
Fort Wayne, Indiana Attorney General of Indiana
Robert J. Henke
David E. Corey
Deputy Attorneys General
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
In re the Matter of the March 15, 2017
Termination of the Parent-Child Court of Appeals Case No.
Relationship of S.N. (Minor 02A05-1610-JT-2361
Child) Appeal from the Allen Superior
Court
and The Honorable Charles F. Pratt,
Judge
J.F. (Father), The Honorable Sherry A. Hartzler,
Magistrate
Appellant-Respondent,
Trial Court Cause No.
v. 02D08-1610-JT-23
Indiana Department of Child
Services,
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Appellee-Petitioner.
Bradford, Judge.
Case Summary
[1] Appellant-Respondent J.F. (“Father”) appeals the juvenile court’s order
terminating his parental rights to S.N. (the “Child”). On February 24, 2015,
Appellee-Petitioner the Indiana Department of Child Services (“DCS”) filed a
petition alleging that the Child was a child in need of services (“CHINS”).
Following an evidentiary hearing, the Child was adjudicated to be a CHINS.
Father, who was incarcerated at the time of the CHINS hearing, was ordered to
establish paternity and participate in certain services. Father was also ordered
to notify DCS upon his release from incarceration so as to complete an
evaluation to determine what other services might be necessary. Although
Father established his paternity of the Child, he failed to complete the court-
ordered services or to notify DCS upon his release from incarceration.
[2] DCS filed a petition seeking the termination of Father’s parental rights to the
Child on January 29, 2016. Following an evidentiary hearing, the juvenile
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court issued an order granting DCS’s petition. On appeal, Father contends that
DCS did not provide sufficient evidence to support the termination of his
parental rights. We affirm.
Facts and Procedural History
[3] Father and K.D. (“Mother”) are the parents of the Child who was born on May
18, 2010.1 DCS became involved with the Child in February of 2015 after
Mother’s other child was diagnosed with shaken baby syndrome.2 As a result
of the other child’s diagnosis, both Mother’s other child and the Child were
subsequently removed from Mother’s care. At the time, Father was
incarcerated in the Department of Correction (“DOC”).3
[4] During a March 23, 2015 hearing, Father admitted that he was the alleged
father of the Child and that due to his incarceration, he was “unable to provide
care, supervision or financial support for [the Child].” DCS Ex. 6, p. 2.
Following the conclusion of this hearing, the juvenile court found the Child to
1
The termination of Mother’s parental rights to the Child is not at issue in the instant appeal.
As such, to the extent possible, we will limit our factual overview and discussion to facts and
issues pertaining to Father.
2
This other child’s father, who lived with Mother and the Child, was subsequently convicted
of Level 3 felony neglect of a dependent for actions which were found to have caused the other
child’s condition.
3
At this time, Father’s release date was believed to be in 2021.
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be a CHINS. In a subsequent dispositional order, the juvenile court ordered
that Father shall:
1. Refrain from all criminal activity;
2. Maintain clean, safe, and appropriate sustainable housing at
all times;
3. Notify the [DCS] within forty-eight (48) hours of all changes
in household composition, housing, and employment;
4. Cooperate with all caseworkers, and the Guardian ad Litem
[(“GAL”)] or [Court Appointed Special Advocate (“CASA”)];
5. Attend all case conferences as directed; maintain contact with
[DCS], and accept announced and unannounced home visits by
all caseworkers, the [GAL] or CASA;
6. Immediately provide the caseworkers with accurate
information regarding paternity, finances, insurance, and family
history including the names and address of the [Child’s] father or
alleged father;
7. Immediately provide the caseworkers and [GAL]/CASA with
signed and current consents of release and exchange of
information;
8. Provide the [Child] with clean, appropriate clothing at all
times and;
9. Fully cooperate with all rules of the [Child’s] placement.
In addition, you shall successfully complete and benefit from the
following programs, services and/or other requirements in a
timely manner:
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10. Commence proceedings to establish paternity by meeting
with the IV-D Prosecutor and fully cooperate with the IV-D staff
to establish paternity for [the Child].
DCS Ex. 7. Father was also ordered to notify DCS upon his release from
incarceration. Father’s paternity was established in an order dated July 14,
2015.
[5] On January 29, 2016, DCS filed a petition seeking the termination of Father’s
parental rights to the Child. The juvenile court conducted an evidentiary
hearing on DCS’s petition on June 22, 2016. Father failed to appear for this
hearing but was represented by counsel.
[6] During the termination hearing, DCS presented evidence indicating that Father
had a “long criminal history” which was largely related to substance abuse. Tr.
p. 35. Father’s criminal history includes a conviction for dealing in
methamphetamine, multiple convictions for possession of methamphetamine,
and multiple convictions for possession of paraphernalia. It also includes “a
long history of OWIs, other possession cases, [and] other cases of public intox.”
Tr. p. 77. Father also had a “very long history of substance use and abuse.”
Tr. p. 77.
[7] DCS also presented evidence indicating that Father was released from
incarceration and placed in the Allen County Community Corrections program
on April 18, 2016. Father, however, did not notify DCS of his release as
previously ordered. In addition, Father has failed to provide DCS with an
address where DCS could reach him.
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[8] Further, as part of his Community Corrections placement, Father was required,
among other things, to obtain a job, follow the drug screening policy, and meet
with his case manager, Bobbie Guin. As of the date of the termination hearing,
Father had admitted to Guin that he had used methamphetamine on more than
one occasion since being released from incarceration. He also had multiple
positive drug screens and had failed to submit to other drug screens. In light of
Father’s violations of the terms of his Community Corrections placement,
Father had already appeared before the Community Corrections hearing board
and received a “therapeutic sanction.” Tr. p. 26. As a result, Father was
required to attend certain “meetings” and to provide Guin with a letter
indicating “what he learned in those meetings.” Tr. p. 26.
[9] Guin also informed the juvenile court that Father had another hearing
scheduled before the Community Corrections hearing board later that same
day. The purpose of the hearing was to address Father’s missed drug screens as
well as the fact that he had failed to provide the above-mentioned letter as
previously ordered. Guin acknowledged that a possible outcome of this hearing
was that Father’s placement on Community Corrections would be revoked and
he would be sent back to DOC. Further, if Father was sent back to DOC, it
would be up to DOC to determine how much additional time Father would be
required to serve.
[10] In addition, DCS presented evidence indicating that prior to DCS’s
involvement, Father had only seen the Child “one time when she was a very
small infant.” Tr. p. 72. Father had not had any contact with the Child during
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the CHINS or termination proceedings. He had never requested any visits with
the Child or provided any letters or cards for DCS to pass along to the Child.
Further, although Father has stated that he eventually wants to be in the Child’s
life, he has admitted to Guin that “right now he doesn’t feel that he’s in a place
to be in” the Child’s life. Tr. p. 34.
[11] Following the conclusion of the hearing, the juvenile court took the matter
under advisement. On September 13, 2016, the juvenile court issued an order
terminating Father’s parental rights to the Child. This appeal follows.
Discussion and Decision
[12] On appeal, Father contends that the evidence is insufficient to sustain the
termination of his parental rights to the Child. The Fourteenth Amendment to
the United States Constitution protects the traditional right of a parent to
establish a home and raise his child. Bester v. Lake Cnty. 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 a parent is
unable or unwilling to meet his responsibility as a parent. 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 child’s interests in determining
the appropriate disposition of a petition to terminate the parent-child
relationship. Id.Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 02A05-1610-JT-2361 | March 15, 2017 Page 7 of 22
[13] The purpose of terminating parental rights is not to punish the parent but to
protect the child. Id. 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 her physical, mental,
and social development is permanently impaired before terminating the parent-
child relationship. Id.[14] Father contends that the evidence presented at the evidentiary hearing was
insufficient to support the juvenile court’s order terminating his parental rights.
In reviewing termination proceedings on appeal, this court will not reweigh the
evidence or assess the credibility of the witnesses. In re Involuntary Termination
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
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.[15] 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
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juvenile court are not supported by its findings of fact, or the conclusions do not
support the judgment. Id.[16] In order to involuntarily terminate a parent’s parental rights, DCS must
establish by clear and convincing evidence that:
(A) one (1) of the following exists:
(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; or
(iii) the child has been removed from the parent and
has been under the supervision of a county office of
family and children 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
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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) termination is in the best interests of the child; and
(D) there is a satisfactory plan for the care and treatment of the
child.
Ind. Code § 31-35-2-4(b)(2). Father does not dispute that DCS presented
sufficient evidence to support the first and fourth elements set forth in Indiana
Code section 31-35-2-4(b). Father, however, claims that DCS failed to establish
the second and third elements that are required to be proven before a court can
order the involuntary termination of a parent’s parental rights.
A. Whether Conditions Will Be Remedied
[17] On appeal, Father argues that DCS failed to establish by clear and convincing
evidence both that the conditions leading to the Child’s removal from his home
would not be remedied and that there is a reasonable probability that the
continuation of the parent-child poses a threat to the well-being of the Child.
[18] It is well-settled that because Indiana Code section 31-35-2-4(b)(2)(B) is written
in the disjunctive, the juvenile court need only find either that (1) the conditions
resulting in removal from or continued placement outside the parent’s home
will not be remedied, (2) the continuation of the parent-child relationship poses
a threat to the child, or (3) the child has been adjudicated CHINS on two
separate occasions. See In re C.C., 788 N.E.2d 847, 854 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003),
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trans. denied. Therefore, where the juvenile court determines one of the above-
mentioned factors has been proven and there is sufficient evidence in the record
supporting the juvenile court’s determination, it is not necessary for DCS to
prove, or for the juvenile court to find, either of the other two factors listed in
Indiana Code section 31-34-2-4(b)(2)(B). See generally In re S.P.H., 806 N.E.2d
at 882 (providing that because Indiana Code section 31-35-2-4(b)(2)(B) is
written in the disjunctive, DCS need only prove and the juvenile court need
only find that one of the factors listed in that sub-section is true).
[19] In order to determine whether the conditions will be remedied, the juvenile
court should first determine what conditions led DCS to place the Child outside
of Father’s care or to continue the Child’s placement outside Father’s care, and,
second, whether there is a reasonable probability that those conditions will be
remedied. In re A.I., 825 N.E.2d 798, 806 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005), trans. denied; In
re S.P.H., 806 N.E.2d at 882. When assessing whether a reasonable probability
exists that the conditions justifying the child’s removal or continued placement
outside their parent’s care will not be remedied, the juvenile court must judge
the parent’s fitness to care for the child at the time of the termination hearing,
taking into consideration evidence of changed conditions. In re A.N.J., 690
N.E.2d 716, 721 (Ind. Ct. App. 1997). The juvenile court must also evaluate
the parent’s habitual patterns of conduct to determine whether there is a
substantial probability of future neglect or deprivation. Id. A juvenile court
may properly consider evidence of the parent’s prior criminal history, drug and
alcohol abuse, history of neglect, failure to provide support, and lack of
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adequate employment and housing. McBride v. Monroe Cnty. Office of Family &
Children, 798 N.E.2d 185, 199 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003). Moreover, a juvenile court
“‘can reasonably consider the services offered by [DCS] to the parent and the
parent’s response to those services.’” Id. (quoting In re A.C.C., 682 N.E.2d 542,
544 (Ind. Ct. App. 1997)). The evidence presented by DCS “need not rule out
all possibilities of change; rather, DCS need establish only that there is a
reasonable probability that the parent’s behavior will not change.” In re
Involuntary Termination of Parent-Child Relationship of Kay L., 867 N.E.2d 236,
242 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007).
[20] Here, the juvenile court determined that DCS presented sufficient evidence to
prove that it was unlikely that the reasons for the Child’s removal from and
continued placement outside of Father’s care would be remedied, and upon
review, we conclude that the juvenile court’s determination to this effect is
supported by the record. In support of its determination, the juvenile court
found as follows:
2. The Child, [S.N.], was born to the Respondent Mother,
[K.D.] on May 18, 2010.
3. Respondent Father, [J.F.], has been adjudicated the father of
[the Child] on July 14, 2015 under cause number 02D07-1504-
JP-286.
****
14. The Court finds that proof of service is and notice is shown
upon [Father]. (Exhibit 28, Order dated February 29, 2016).
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15. On February 24, 2015, [DCS] filed a Verified Petition
Alleging [the] Child to be in Need of Services.
16. A Preliminary Inquiry and Initial Hearing was held in the
underlying [CHINS] case 02D08-l502-JC-82 on February 24,
2015 at which time the child was placed in home of relatives.
17. On March 17, 2015, [the Child] was placed in licensed foster
care.
18. On March 20, 2015, [DCS] filed an Amended Verified
Petition Alleging [the] Child to be in Need of Services, and on
March 23, 2015 an Additional Initial hearing was held at which
[Father] admitted that he was the “alleged father of [the Child”]
and that due to his incarceration at Westville Correctional
Facility, [Father] is unable to provide care, supervision or
financial support for [the Child]. On March 20, 2015, the Court
adjudicated [the Child] a [CHINS] under I.C. 31-34-1-1 and I.C.
31-34-1-2.
19. On March 23, 2015 a Dispositional Hearing was held and
the [Child was] ordered continued in licensed foster care.
[Father] was ordered to, among other things, contact [DCS]
within 48 hours of any changes in housing, household
composition or employment. Additionally, he was ordered
establish paternity.
20. On August 19, 2015, a Review Hearing was held and the
child remained in licensed foster care.
21. On December 1, 2015, a Permanency Hearing was held in
which the Court approved a plan for termination of parental
rights and ordered [that] the [C]hild remain in licensed foster
care.
22. On March 1, 2016, a Review Hearing was held in which it
was ordered that the [C]hild remain in licensed foster care.
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23. In the present underlying CHINS case, [The Child] has been
placed outside the care of [Father] for a period of more than six
(6) months since the entry of the Disposition Decree.
24. [The Child] was removed from the care of her parents due to
neglect and the failure to provide appropriate care and
supervision.
25. Over the course of the underlying [CHINS] proceedings
[Father has not] contributed to the care and support of the
[C]hild nor has he provided financial or material benefits for the
care and support of the [C]hild.
26. Over the course of the underlying [CHINS] proceedings
[Father] has not maintained contact or visitation with [the Child]
or availed himself of these proceedings or services to remedy the
reason for the removal of [the C]hild and the continued
placement outside of his care.
27. [Father] was incarcerated for a majority of the underlying
juvenile proceedings for a felony conviction for possession of
Methamphetamines. Although it was order[ed] that he contact
[DCS] upon his release, he failed to do so.
28. It was further requested [that Father] provide [DCS] with
information concerning any services he may have completed or
participated in at [DOC] and he failed to do so.
29. The Court finds that although [Father was] released from
[DOC] in approximately April of 2016, he is under the
supervision of Community Corrections.
30. The Court finds that [Father] has not been in compliance
with the terms of his release as he has continued to use and test
positive for illegal substances.
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31. The Court finds that as of the date of the termination
proceedings, [Father] was scheduled to appear before the hearing
board to determine whether his release would be revoked and he
would be incarcerated at [DOC]. The Court finds that that is the
second hearing in which [Father]’s noncompliance with the
terms of his release have been addressed.
32. The Court finds that [DCS] has attempted to make contact
with [Father] through his Community Corrections Case
manager, Bobb[ie] Guin. The Court finds that contact
information for [DCS] was provided to [Father] but he failed to
follow through with contacting his [DCS] case manager.
33. The Court finds that [Father] had discussed his
circumstances with Bobb[ie] Guin of Community Corrections
and admitted that he was struggling with the use of
methamphetamines and that he was not currently in a stable
position to provide care and supervision for [the C]hild.
34. The Court further finds that [Father] has other children who
are not in his care and it is alleged that he has “signed over his
rights” to three other children.
Appellant’s App. Vol. II, pp. 54-57. In light of these findings, the juvenile court
concluded that DCS had established by clear and convincing evidence that the
reasons for the Child’s removal from and continued placement outside Father’s
home would not be remedied. In reaching this conclusion, the juvenile court
noted that Father “has not availed himself of these proceedings and services.”
Appellant’s App. Vol. II, p. 58.
[21] We note that in claiming that the evidence was insufficient to support the
juvenile court’s order terminating his parental rights, Father does not challenge
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the sufficiency of any particular finding, instead levying only the blanket
assertion that the juvenile court’s conclusion was not supported by the
evidence. As a result, Father has waived any argument relating to whether
these unchallenged findings are clearly erroneous. See Madlem v. Arko, 592
N.E.2d 686, 687 (Ind. 1992) (providing that when an appealing party fails to
challenge the findings of the trial court, the findings must be accepted as
correct); In re B.R., 875 N.E.2d 369, 373 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007) (providing that
failure to challenges findings resulted in waiver of argument that findings were
clearly erroneous), trans. denied.
[22] On appeal, Father asserts that the juvenile court failed to consider evidence
indicating that he has acknowledged his substance abuse issues and has
professed an interest in being a presence in the Child’s life. Father argues that
as of the date of the termination hearing, he had only been released from prison
for approximately two months and asserts that he was not offered the
opportunity to participate in services while incarcerated. Father, however, does
not provide any indication as to why he failed to attempt to begin services or
initiate visitation with the Child after being released from incarceration.
[23] Father also asserts that the juvenile court failed to consider evidence indicating
that he was attempting to make positive changes in his life. Father, however,
has failed to demonstrate what these alleged positive changes are. At the time
of the termination hearing, the evidence established that Father continued to
use and abuse illegal drugs and was facing revocation of his Community
Corrections placement. Father acknowledged the potential that his placement
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would be revoked and that he would be returned to incarceration in DOC,
arguing that if returned to DOC, he would likely be released from incarceration
by October of 2016.4 Even though Father admits that he was not in a position
to provide care for the Child as of the date of the termination hearing, Father’s
assertion in this regard appears to be that the juvenile court should have given
Father additional time to attempt to make positive changes in his life before
terminating his parental rights to S.N.
[24] It is well-established that the juvenile court, acting as a trier of fact, was not
required to believe or assess the same weight to the testimony as Father. See
Thompson v. State, 804 N.E.2d 1146, 1149 (Ind. 2004); Marshall v. State, 621
N.E.2d 308, 320 (Ind. 1993); Nelson v. State, 525 N.E.2d 296, 297 (Ind. 1988);
A.S.C. Corp. v. First Nat’l Bank of Elwood, 241 Ind. 19, 25, 167 N.E.2d 460, 463
(1960); Haynes v. Brown, 120 Ind. App. 184, 189, 88 N.E.2d 795, 797 (1949),
trans. denied. Father’s challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence to support the
conclusions of the juvenile court effectively amounts to an invitation for this
court to reassess witness credibility and reweigh the evidence, which, again, we
will not do. See In re S.P.H., 806 N.E.2d at 879.
[25] Upon review, we conclude that the juvenile court did not err in concluding that
the conditions leading to the Child’s removal from and continued placement
outside’s Father’s care were unlikely to be remedied. See In re C.M., 675 N.E.2d
4Given that the amount of any additional time served by Father would be determined by the DOC, the
juvenile court was not obligated to credit Father’s claim that he would be released in October of 2016.
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1134, 1140 (Ind. Ct. App. 1997). Having concluded that the evidence was
sufficient to support the juvenile court’s determination, and finding no error by
the juvenile court, we need not consider whether the continuation of the parent-
child relationship poses a threat to the Child’s well-being because DCS has
satisfied the requirements of Indiana Code section 31-35-2-4(b)(2)(B) by clear
and convincing evidence.
B. Best Interests of the Child
[26] We are mindful that in considering whether termination of one’s parental rights
is in the best interests of a child, the juvenile court is required to look beyond
the factors identified by DCS and look to the totality of the evidence. McBride,
798 N.E.2d at 203. In doing so, the juvenile court must subordinate the
interests of the parent to those of the child involved. Id. Furthermore, this
court has previously determined that the testimony of the case worker, a GAL,
or a CASA regarding the child’s need for permanency supports a finding that
termination is in the child’s best interests. Id.; see also Matter of M.B., 666
N.E.2d 73, 79 (Ind. Ct. App. 1996), trans. denied.
[27] Here, the juvenile court found that evidence established that the Child has a
need for permanency and stability and that the termination of Father’s parental
rights would serve the Child’s best interests. In addition to the findings set forth
above, the juvenile court found as follows:
35. The Court finds that [the Child] is currently placed in a pre-
adoptive placement. Since her removal, [the Child] has had
behavioral issues that have improved over the course of her
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removal from her parents. [The Child] requires stability and care
and the continued provision of therapy.
36. Should parental rights be terminated [DCS] has an
appropriate plan for [the Child], that being adoption.
37. The [C]hild’s [CASA] has also recommended termination of
parental rights and that the [Child]’s best interests are served by
the termination of parental rights.
Appellant’s App. Vol. II, p. 57. In light of these findings, the juvenile court
concluded that DCS had established by clear and convincing evidence that the
termination of Father’s parental rights was in the Child’s best interests. In
reaching this conclusion, the juvenile court noted that the Child “need[s] a
safe[,] stable and nurturing home environment that can be achieved through
adoption.” Appellant’s App. Vol. II, p. 58.
[28] Again, the record reveals that Father took no action to attempt to begin services
or visitation with the Child upon his release from incarceration. Notably,
although represented by counsel, Father did not even appear before the juvenile
court for the termination hearing. The record reveals that Father has only seen
the Child once—when the Child was a “very small infant,” tr. p. 72, and his
actions are not consistent with his claim that he would like to be a part of the
Child’s life. In addition, Father does not dispute the juvenile court’s
determination that the Child requires stability.
[29] Family Case Manager (“FCM”) Patricia Parrish, the case manager assigned to
the Child’s case, testified that she believed that the termination of Father’s
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parental rights was in the Child’s best interests. In explaining her
recommendation, FCM Parrish indicated the following:
[The Child] ah is placed in a pre-adoptive home [with care givers]
who have addressed some issues with her[. S]he had some
behavioral issues and they have pulled every service that they
could pull in to work with [the Child] um she’s a part of their
family she goes on vacations with them, um she’s doing
cheerleading with her foster siblings she they have just welcomed
her into their home and [the Child] really needed some one-on-
one attention that she’s now receiving um and she’s a completely
different kids [sic] it’s almost hard to explain. Her behaviors
were off the charts[, …] she was hitting other kids with baseball
bats and fighting and biting and carrying on and now she’s been
placed in a pre-adoptive home where the focus is on [her] and
and she’s had them um these siblings working with her and she’s
now able to attend preschool; starting kindergarten in the fall.
These are things that a year ago[, …] the preschools were saying
we don’t want her if she’s going to behave this way. She’s a
completely different child. Um she continues to be involved in
individual therapy through Phoenix um they have worked so
well with her.
Tr. pp. 65-66. FCM Parrish further indicated that the Child was progressing
very well in her current situation and that she was “very unstable prior to this.”
Tr. p. 66.
[30] In addition, both the Child’s CASA, Suzanne Lange, and GAL, Beth Webber,
expressed the following concerns in relation to Father: Father’s (1)
incarceration throughout the majority of the CHINS case; (2) extensive
criminal history; (3) history of drug abuse/ongoing drug use; (4) failure to
contact DCS upon his release from incarceration; (5) lack of relationship with
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the Child, even before DCS became involved; and (6) lack of stability and
ability to care for the Child’s special needs. In light of these concerns coupled
with the likelihood that Father would return to prison because of his continued
drug use, the Child’s CASA testified that she believed that the termination of
Father’s parental rights was in the Child’s best interests. Also in light of the
above-stated concerns coupled with the Child’s progress and Father’s apparent
lack of interest in the Child’s life, the Child’s GAL testified that she believed
that termination of Father’s parental rights was in the Child’s best interests.
[31] The juvenile court did not have to wait until the Child was irreversibly harmed
such that her physical, mental, and social development was permanently
impaired before terminating Father’s parental rights. See In re C.M., 675 N.E.2d
at 1140. In light of the testimony of FCM Parrish, CASA Lange, and GAL
Webber, considered with the juvenile court’s unchallenged factual findings and
Father’s failure to contact DCS following his release from incarceration, we
conclude that the evidence is sufficient to satisfy DCS’s burden of proving that
termination of Father’s parental rights is in the Child’s best interests. Again,
Father’s claim to the contrary merely amounts to an invitation for this court to
reweigh the evidence, which we will not do. See In re S.P.H., 806 N.E.2d at 879.
Conclusion
[32] Having concluded that the evidence is sufficient to support the juvenile court’s
order terminating Father’s parental rights to the Child, we affirm the judgment
of the juvenile court.
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[33] The judgment of the juvenile court is affirmed.
Vaidik, C.J., and Brown, J., concur.
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