In the Matter of the Termination of the Parent-Child Relationship of P.Y. and J.Y. (Minor Children), and R.Y. (Mother) v. The Indiana Department of Child Services (mem. dec.) ( 2017 )

MEMORANDUM DECISION
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), FILED
this Memorandum Decision shall not be
Feb 16 2017, 7:00 am
regarded as precedent or cited before any
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
Patricia Caress McMath Curtis T. Hill, Jr.
Marion County Public Defender Agency Attorney General of Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
Robert J. Henke
Marjorie Newell
Deputy Attorneys General
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
In the Matter of the Termination February 16, 2017
of the Parent-Child Relationship Court of Appeals Case No.
of P.Y. and J.Y. (Minor 49A02-1609-JT-2033
Children), and Appeal from the Marion Superior
Court
The Honorable Marilyn A.
R.Y. (Mother), Moores, Judge
Appellant-Respondent, The Honorable Larry Bradley,
Magistrate
v.
Trial Court Cause Nos.
49D09-1512-JT-766, -767
The Indiana Department of
Child Services,
Appellee-Petitioner
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Crone, Judge.
Case Summary
[1] R.Y. (“Mother”) appeals the trial court’s order involuntarily terminating her
parental rights to her minor children P.Y. and J.Y. (collectively “the
Children”). We affirm.
Facts and Procedural History
[2] The Children were initially removed from Mother’s care in December 2012,
and after progress toward reunification failed, the Marion County Department
of Child Services (“DCS”) filed petitions to terminate Mother’s parental rights
to the Children on December 18, 2015. Evidentiary hearings were held on May
11 and June 20, 2016. The trial court entered its order terminating Mother’s
parental rights on August 15, 2016, and found the following relevant facts:1
1. Mother is the mother of P.Y. and J.Y., minor children
born on May 30, 2004 and August 12, 2005, respectively.
2. The Children’s father is deceased.
3. Child in Need of Services Petitions “CHINS” were filed on
the Children on December 27, 2012, under Cause Numbers
49D091212JC048952 and 49D091212JC048953, on
1
We note that the trial court entered a nunc pro tunc order on August 23, 2016, to make a correction. We
further note that trial court’s termination order refers to the parties by their full names. We use “Mother,”
“the Children,” or each child’s initials where appropriate.
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allegations of inappropriate sexual activities and educational
neglect.
4. The Children were involved in a previous CHINS
proceeding from April 5, 2007 to June 26, 2008 after Mother
requested the Children be removed from her care due to being
unemployed and having to prostitute.
5. The Children were ordered detained and placed outside
the home at the December 27, 2012 initial hearing.
6. Mother was appointed counsel and supervised parenting
time was ordered.
7. On February 20, 2013, Mother admitted that the Children
were in need of services “because one of the children has
reported seeing inappropriate sexual materials in the home.
The son has been looking at inappropriate material on the
internet. The daughter has been taking naked pictures of
herself, has been masturbating with markers, has
demonstrated issues with personal boundaries and has been
drawing sexual images. Therefore, the coercive intervention
of the courts is necessary.”
8. The CHINS Court adjudicated the Children to be in need
of services.
9. Disposition was held on March 8, 2013, at which time the
Children remained detained from their mother and placement
continued out of the home.
10. The Children had been removed from their mother for at
least six (6) months under a disposition decree prior to this
termination action being filed on December 18, 2015.
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11. The Children had been removed from the home and
placed under the care and supervision of [DCS] for at least
fifteen (15) of the most recent twenty-two (22) months prior to
the filing of this termination action.
12. A Parental Participation Order was issued for Mother to
engage in services consisting of home based services, a
parenting assessment and follow recommendations therefrom,
and completing a psychological evaluation and follow
recommendations.
13. Due to a domestic violence incident in 2014, Mother was
ordered to undergo a domestic violence assessment and
follow recommendations. She successfully completed a
twenty-six week program.
14. Mother completed a parenting assessment which
recommended home based therapy. Mother engaged in
individual and family therapy with the Children.
15. Mother was engaged with Camike Jones as a therapist
from mid-2014 until December 2015, toward gaining insight
into how her choices affect her parenting and how to
effectively communicate and interact with her children.
16. Therapist Jones felt Mother had made some progress
developing insight but there were set backs as well.
17. Mother blamed P.Y. for the involvement with [DCS]
throughout the CHINS case, and at the time of trial was still
in fear that P.Y. would “misspeak again.”
18. Therapist Jones recommended ongoing therapy in
December 2015, at the end of her referral. She also believed
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that Mother would not be capable of parenting without
regular and ongoing mental health treatment, and that
medication would be important.
19. Therapist Daniel Wright, working with the family,
believed the CHINS case could not move forward without
Mother addressing her mental health issues. Mother ended
her therapy with Mr. Wright in October 2015 at which time
she was seen to have regressed.
20. Mother has mental health diagnoses of Post-Traumatic
Stress Disorder, Anxiety, Depression, and Borderline
Personality Disorder.
21. A psychological evaluation was referred for Mother
which she completed. Evaluation recommendations included
completing a medical evaluation and participat[ing] in mental
health/substance abuse dual diagnosis program.
22. Mother did start attending Eskenazi Health in late
September 2015. She missed several appointments and there
was some conflict with the provider. Mother’s last
appointment made was on January 8, 2016. She was no
longer attending Eskenazi and needed [DCS] to pay for it.
23. The Eskenazi treatment plan [] included a diagnosis of
PTSD and unspecified personality disorder evidenced by
flashbacks, is irritable, avoids places that remind her of her
trauma, isolates herself from others and has anger outbursts.
24. Mother testified she only needed to take an anxiety
medication, Cymbalta, as needed and she no longer needs it
as she is not dealing with the family case manager. Eskenazi
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notes represent that Cymbalta was prescribed for Mother’s
low mood and trauma condition.
25. Mother is against taking mental health medication.
26. In 2015, parenting time became unsupervised and the
team was moving toward in-home temporary trial visitation.
Due to Mother displaying unpredictable and emotional
behavior, as well as appearing overwhelmed to be caring for
the Children, visits went back to supervised status.
27. Ben Combs was the children’s foster care treatment
coordinator. As a result of adverse behavior he received from
Mother, he became concerned for the Children’s safety when
unsupervised with their mother, and felt Mother needed
therapy to address issues.
28. Mother’s last visit with J.Y. was in December 2015. P.Y
wished to discontinue visits with her mother in July 2015.
29. The Children are in a preadoptive home. They have
blended into the foster family.
30. P.Y. wishes to be adopted.
31. J.Y. wants to be back with his mother “when she is
better.”
32. The Children remain in ongoing therapy.
33. P.Y. needs therapy to continue to address emotional
neglect, trauma, Post[-]Traumatic Stress Disorder, and
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depression. She also has had past sexual maladaptive
behaviors for which she will need aftercare as she ages.
34. P.Y.’s behaviors have improved in her current placement
and her mood improved after visits with her mother were
stopped.
35. J.Y.’s original therapy helped him deal with anger and
bad behaviors such as stealing. His relationship with his sister
is stabilizing.
36. J.Y. has a more positive relationship with his mother.
There remain concerns about Mother’s ability to provide a
stable home and one that is emotionally and physically safe.
37. At the time of trial, Mother was sharing a one[-]bedroom
apartment.
38. Mother testified she was going to start employment at the
airport. Although no vouchers were offered at trial, Mother
testified that she had recently done restaurant work. Her
Eskenazi medical notes indicate she was working temporary
jobs during that time.
Appellant’s App. at 6-8. The trial court further found that the family case
manager, the guardian ad litem, and three therapists that had worked with the
family each opined that termination of Mother’s parental rights was in the
Children’s best interests.
[3] Based upon these findings of fact, the trial court concluded that: (1) there is a
reasonable probability that the conditions that resulted in the Children’s
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removal and continued placement outside the home will not be remedied by
Mother; (2) there is a reasonable probability that the continuation of the parent-
child relationship between Mother and the Children poses a threat to the
Children’s well-being, (3) termination of the parent-child relationship between
Mother and Children is in the Children’s best interests; and (4) DCS has a
satisfactory plan for the care and treatment of the Children, which is adoption.
Accordingly, the trial court determined that DCS had proven the allegations of
the petitions to terminate parental rights by clear and convincing evidence and
therefore terminated Mother’s parental rights. This appeal ensued.
Discussion and Decision
[4] “The purpose of terminating parental rights is not to punish the parents but,
instead, to protect their children. Thus, although parental rights are of a
constitutional dimension, the law provides for the termination of these rights
when the parents are unable or unwilling to meet their parental
responsibilities.” In re A.P., 882 N.E.2d 799, 805 (Ind. Ct. App. 2008) (citation
omitted). “[T]ermination is intended as a last resort, available only when all
other reasonable efforts have failed.” Id. A petition for the involuntary
termination of parental rights must allege in pertinent part:
(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
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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). DCS must prove “each and every element” by
clear and convincing evidence. In re G.Y., 904 N.E.2d 1257, 1261 (Ind. 2009);
Ind. Code § 31-37-14-2. If the trial court finds that the allegations in a petition
are true, the court shall terminate the parent-child relationship. Ind. Code § 31-
35-2-8(a).
[5] “We have long had a highly deferential standard of review in cases involving
the termination of parental rights.” C.A. v. Ind. Dep’t of Child Servs., 15 N.E.3d
85, 92 (Ind. Ct. App. 2014).
We neither reweigh evidence nor assess witness credibility. We
consider only the evidence and reasonable inferences favorable to
the trial court’s judgment. Where the trial court enters findings
of fact and conclusions thereon, we apply a two-tiered standard
of review: we first determine whether the evidence supports the
findings and then determine whether the findings support the
judgment. In deference to the trial court’s unique position to
assess the evidence, we will set aside a judgment terminating a
parent-child relationship only if it is clearly erroneous.
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Id. at 92-93 (citations omitted). “A judgment is clearly erroneous if the findings
do not support the trial court’s conclusions or the conclusions do not support
the judgment.” In re R.J., 829 N.E.2d 1032, 1035 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005).
Section 1 – DCS presented clear and convincing evidence that
there is a reasonable probability that the conditions that led to
the Children’s removal and continued placement outside the
home will not be remedied.
[6] Mother contends that DCS failed to present clear and convincing evidence that
there is a reasonable probability that the conditions that led to the Children’s
removal and continued placement outside the home will not be remedied. 2 In
determining whether there is a reasonable probability that the conditions that
led to the Children’s removal and continued placement outside the home will
not be remedied, we engage in a two-step analysis. K.T.K. v. Ind. Dep’t of Child
Servs., 989 N.E.2d 1225, 1231 (Ind. 2013). First, “we must ascertain what
conditions led to their placement and retention in foster care.” Id. Second, “we
‘determine whether there is a reasonable probability that those conditions will
not be remedied.’” Id. (quoting In re I.A., 934 N.E.2d 1132, 1134 (Ind. 2010)
(citing In re A.A.C., 682 N.E.2d 542, 544 (Ind. Ct. App. 1997))). In the second
step, the trial court must judge a parent’s fitness at the time of the termination
2
Mother also argues that DCS failed to prove that there is a reasonable probability that the continuation of
the parent-child relationship poses a threat to the well-being of the Children. However, Indiana Code Section
31-35-2-4(b)(2)(B) is written in the disjunctive, such that, to properly effectuate the termination of parental
rights, the trial court need only find that one of the three requirements of that subsection has been established
by clear and convincing evidence. A.D.S. v. Ind. Dep’t of Child Servs., 987 N.E.2d 1150, 1156 (Ind. Ct. App.
2013), trans. denied. Accordingly, we will address the sufficiency of the evidence with regard to only one of
the three requirements.
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proceeding, taking into consideration evidence of changed conditions, and
balancing a parent’s recent improvements against “‘habitual pattern[s] of
conduct to determine whether there is a substantial probability of future neglect
or deprivation.’” In re E.M., 4 N.E.3d 636, 643 (Ind. 2014) (quoting K.T.K., 989
N.E.2d at 1231). “A pattern of unwillingness to deal with parenting problems
and to cooperate with those providing social services, in conjunction with
unchanged conditions, support a finding that there exists no reasonable
probability that the conditions will change.” Lang v. Starke Cty. Office of Family
& Children, 861 N.E.2d 366, 372 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007), trans. denied.
[7] The Children were originally removed from the home after it was reported that
both Children had been engaging in inappropriate and maladaptive sexual
behaviors and, additionally, their school attendance was not satisfactory.
Home-based therapy was recommended to allow Mother to gain insight into
how her choices affect her parenting and also for her to learn how to effectively
communicate and interact with the Children. The record indicates that while
Mother did initially participate and made some progress in home-based
therapy, she did not significantly benefit or improve her parenting skills due to
her failure to address her largely untreated mental health issues. Mother has
been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and
borderline personality disorder. She was referred for dialectical behavioral
therapy to address her personality disorder; however, the record indicates that
she did not complete such therapy.
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[8] In addition, although Mother completed a parenting assessment and
psychological evaluation, she failed to follow through with the parenting skills
recommendations or therapy recommendations for mental health treatment.
Regarding mental health treatment, she attended some appointments, missed
several others, and had conflict with her care provider. Mother has a history of
extreme volatility in her personal relationships and has consistently blamed
P.Y. for the CHINS matter rather than taking personal responsibility for the
Children’s removal and continued placement outside of her care. Indeed,
Mother continued to lack any insight during the termination proceedings, as
she maintained that it was P.Y.’s “mistake” of “misspeak[ing] in mixed
company” during a school field trip about inappropriate sexual things going on
in the home that would be the reason P.Y. “loses touch with her entire family
for the rest of her life[.]” Tr. at 154, 167.
[9] In the three and one-half years since the Children’s removal, Mother has only
been allowed unsupervised visitation for a very brief period due to safety
concerns for the Children based upon Mother’s inappropriate and unpredictable
behavior and her apparent feelings of being too overwhelmed to care for the
Children. At the time of termination, Mother continued to claim that she did
not need medication, and she admitted to not taking her prescribed medications
as recommended. Mother admitted to having been recently arrested and
charged with two felonies and four misdemeanors, charges stemming from a
romantic relationship in which she “wasn’t being respected,” and she stated
that she was currently serving an eighteen-month sentence in community
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corrections. Id. at 171. In addition, at the time of the hearing, Mother admitted
to not having adequate housing for the Children. Judging Mother’s fitness at
the time of the termination proceeding, the evidence indicates that she
continues to demonstrate a habitual pattern of unwillingness to deal with her
parenting problems and mental health issues such that there is a substantial
probability of future neglect and deprivation. DCS presented clear and
convincing evidence that there exists no reasonable probability that the
conditions that led to the Children’s removal and continued placement outside
the home will be remedied.
Section 2 – DCS presented clear and convincing evidence that
termination of Mother’s parental rights is in the best interests
of the Children.
[10] Next, we address Mother’s assertion that DCS failed to present clear and
convincing evidence that termination of her parental rights is in the Children’s
best interests. In determining the best interests of a child, the trial court must
look beyond the factors identified by DCS and consider the totality of the
evidence. In re J.S., 906 N.E.2d 226, 236 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009). “In so doing,
the trial court must subordinate the interests of the parent to those of the child.”
Id. Children have a paramount need for permanency, which our supreme court
has deemed a central consideration in determining a child’s best interests. E.M.,
4 N.E.3d at 647-48. Courts “need not wait until a child is irreversibly harmed
such that the child’s physical, mental, and social development is permanently
impaired before terminating the parent-child relationship.” Id. at 648 (citation
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omitted). We have previously determined that the testimony of the case worker
and/or guardian ad litem regarding the child’s need for permanency supports a
finding that termination is in the child’s best interests. McBride v. Monroe Cty.
Office of Family & Children, 798 N.E.2d 185, 203 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003).
[11] DCS family case manager Michelle Johnson testified that she believed that
termination of Mother’s parental rights is in the Children’s best interests due to
the Children’s need for permanency. She opined that Mother’s untreated
mental health issues are the main barrier to her being able to properly parent the
Children. Johnson stated that she did not believe that additional time would
aid Mother to reunify with her Children, noting that, since the CHINS case
began in 2012, DCS had seen “no real, true progress in terms of stability and
structure that [Mother] can provide for her children.” Tr. at 107. Johnson
relayed that she felt that adoption by the Children’s current foster family is in
their best interests.
[12] Similarly, guardian ad litem Sandra Donaldson recommended that adoption is
the best option for the Children and that it would be in the Children’s best
interests if Mother’s parental rights were terminated. Donaldson stated that the
Children have been “from one place to another” over the past several years and
that now “they just need stability.” Id. at 114. Donaldson did not believe that
it would be fair to the Children to allow Mother more time to complete services
because “she had a lot of time already[.]” Id. at 115. Donaldson emphasized
the paramount importance of permanency for the Children, stating that “they
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need um knowing that they’re not going to be removed … they’re not going to
be placed in a situation that they’re uncomfortable in.” Id. at 114-115.
[13] Moreover, multiple therapists that have worked with both Children expressed
their extreme concerns about Mother’s mental health and her ability to parent
the Children, and each stated that he or she supported the plan that the
Children be adopted by their current stable and nurturing foster family. While
we agree with Mother that the Children’s need for immediate permanency is
not reason enough on its own to terminate her parental rights, see In re V.A., 51
N.E.3d 1140, 1152 (Ind. 2016) (declining to find the need for permanency
enough to terminate parental rights when father had an established relationship
with his child and had taken positive steps in accordance with a parent
participation plan toward reunification), the record here is replete with evidence
indicating that despite ample opportunity over the years, Mother remains in a
state of denial and is unwilling to take the steps necessary regarding her mental
health and parenting skills to make reunification with the Children feasible.
DCS presented clear and convincing evidence that termination of Mother’s
parental rights is in the Children’s best interests.
[14] In sum, the evidence and reasonable inferences favorable to the trial court’s
judgment support the termination of Mother’s parental rights to the Children.
Mother has failed to demonstrate that the court’s termination order is clearly
erroneous, and therefore we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
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[15] Affirmed.
Riley, J., and Altice, J., concur.
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