in Re Stephan Minors ( 2019 )

If this opinion indicates that it is “FOR PUBLICATION,” it is subject to
revision until final publication in the Michigan Appeals Reports.
STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
UNPUBLISHED
In re STEPHAN, Minors. February 7, 2019
No. 343178
Oakland Circuit Court
Family Division
LC No. 2016-844340-NA
Before: GLEICHER, P.J., and STEPHENS and O’BRIEN, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
Respondent appeals as of right the trial court’s order terminating her parental rights to the
minor children, BS and CS, under MCL 712A.19b(3)(c)(i), (g), and (j). We affirm.
Respondent first argues that petitioner failed to make reasonable efforts toward
reunification, particularly given her intellectual deficiencies. We disagree. We review for clear
error a trial court’s finding whether reunification efforts were reasonable. In re Fried, 266 Mich
App 535, 542-543; 702 NW2d 192 (2005). A finding is clearly erroneous where the reviewing
court is left with a definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been made. In re Terry, 240
Mich. App. 14, 22; 610 NW2d 563 (2000). When reviewing the trial court’s findings of fact, we
defer to the special opportunity of trial court to judge the credibility of the witnesses. In re
Fried, 266 Mich. App. at 541.
“Under Michigan’s Probate Code, the Department has an affirmative duty to make
reasonable efforts to reunify a family before seeking termination of parental rights,” but the
“Department also has obligations under the [Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 42 USC
12101 et seq.,] that dovetail with its obligations under the Probate Code.” In re Hicks, 500 Mich.
79, 85-86; 893 NW2d 637 (2017). In In re Terry, this Court explained:
In enacting the ADA, Congress stated that “the Nation’s proper goals
regarding individuals with disabilities are to assure equality of opportunity, full
participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for such
individuals.” 42 USC 12101(a)(8). With these goals in mind, the ADA provides
in pertinent part:
Subject to the provisions of this subchapter, no qualified
individual with a disability shall, by reason of such disability, be
excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of
services, programs, or activities of a public entity, or be subjected
to discrimination by any such entity. [In re Terry, 240 Mich. App.
at 24, quoting 42 USC 12132.]
The In re Terry Court held that the ADA requires public agencies like the Department of Health
and Human Services (DHHS) to make reasonable accommodations for those individuals with
disabilities, so “the reunification services and programs provided by the [DHHS] must comply
with the ADA.” Id. But regardless of a parent’s disability, there is a commensurate
responsibility on the part of a parent to participate in and benefit from the services provided. In
re Frey, 297 Mich. App. 242, 248; 824 NW2d 569 (2012). “If a parent cannot or will not meet
her irreducible minimum parental responsibilities, the needs of the child must prevail over the
needs of the parent.” In re Terry, 240 Mich. App. at 28 (quotation marks and citation omitted).
The ADA defines a “disability” as “a physical or mental impairment that substantially
limits one or more major life activities of such individual,” “a record of such an impairment,” or
“being regarded as having such an impairment.” 42 USC 12102(1). For purposes of the ADA,
“major life activities include, but are not limited to, caring for oneself, performing manual tasks,
seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, walking, standing, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing,
learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating, and working.” 42 USC 12102(2)(A).
The trial court did not clearly err by finding that petitioner made reasonable efforts to
reunify respondent and the children. When respondent notified the court at her plea hearing in
August 2016 that she was enrolled in and attended some special education classes before
graduating from high school, the court ordered a psychological evaluation. When the
psychological evaluation had not been completed by the end of January 2017, the court
emphasized its importance given respondent’s explanation of her cognitive abilities and the need
to craft appropriate services for her. A psychological evaluation was completed just days later.
The psychologist reported that respondent fully understood the purpose of the evaluation, and
that respondent was oriented, her memory was adequate, her perception of events and
circumstances was good, and she had no difficulty comprehending questions.
Despite the first psychological report, respondent’s counsel expressed additional concern
about whether respondent adequately understood the proceedings and requested the appointment
of a guardian ad litem (GAL) or a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) worker for
respondent because she appeared to be having difficulty with her parent-agency treatment plan
(PATP). The court ordered another psychological evaluation before considering whether a GAL
was appropriate. The second psychologist, Dr. Bernard Gaulier, determined that respondent was
“somewhat intellectually limited,” would have difficulty with complex problem-solving, and,
given her fourth-grade reading level, would benefit from written information in simple, layman’s
terms. Dr. Gaulier recommended that more time be provided to respondent for reunification.
Based on this report, the court allowed respondent additional time for reunification, but
concluded that respondent did not require any additional, specialized services and that she was
capable of completing the requirements of her PATP.
-2-
Ashley Johnson, the foster care case manager, testified that the Ennis Center for Children
accommodated respondent’s reading deficit by repeatedly meeting with her and explaining what
she needed to do. Johnson also testified that written communications were provided in simple
language.1 Johnson testified that the agency offered to help respondent contact service providers
and provide a business card to have the service provider contact the agency directly. The Ennis
Center workers also picked respondent up from her home and drove her to parenting-time
visitations because she had been unable to pass a driver’s test. And because of respondent’s
cognitive limitations, she received referrals for special one-on-one parenting classes. She could
not be reached to arrange the first set of classes, but was re-referred and received 14 weeks of
training at the beginning of 2017. For each visit, the instructor visited with respondent and her
children and then, after the visit, reviewed any concerns or highlights, and made suggestions
about what to do differently.
Johnson opined that respondent’s failure to comply with her PATP requirements was not
the result of respondent’s intellectual functioning or a misunderstanding of what was required,
but rather was a choice not to comply. Johnson explained that respondent would often start
participating in services before hearings, but then quit afterward. Respondent missed many of
BS’s appointments for his special needs and missed all of CS’s appointments. Respondent
admitted that she did not have transportation and, even though she knew the Ennis Center would
drive her, she did not want to ask for help. Dr. Gaulier testified that when the court was paying
close attention, respondent would comply, but opined that respondent would discontinue her
efforts and revert to “maladaptive behavior” once she was not under close supervision. Based on
the services tailored to address respondent’s needs, and in light of respondent’s apparent failure
to participate in and benefit from the services provided, In re Frey, 297 Mich. App. at 248, the
trial court did not clearly err by finding that the DHHS provided reasonable efforts, In re Fried,
266 Mich. App. at 542-543.
Respondent argues that the DHHS did not provide reasonable efforts because the trial
court should have appointed a CASA worker or the agency should have assigned her a parent
partner. But, as explained, the trial court concluded that respondent did not require additional,
specialized services because respondent’s second psychological evaluation showed that she was
capable of completing the PATP. Dr. Gaulier also reported that, at the psychological evaluation,
he and respondent discussed the court proceedings so that she understood the purpose and the
parties’ roles, and Dr. Gaulier believed that respondent understood and retained what she had
learned. Lastly, because respondent did not participate in and benefit from the range of services
1
Respondent argues that the agency should not have been sending her letters after learning of her
reading deficit. But Dr. Gaulier did not recommended that workers forgo all written
communication with respondent; he only recommended that workers write in simple language if
they were going to communicate with respondent through writing. Respondent does not cite any
letters or any language used therein to demonstrate that the written communications sent to
respondent were not written in simple language as recommended by the psychologist and
planned by the Ennis Center.
-3-
provided to her, she cannot establish that she would have availed herself of a CASA worker’s or
parent partner’s aid, had such aid been provided.2
Respondent also argues that her drug and alcohol testing was thwarted by a $14 balance
at JAMS, which she claimed she could not afford to pay. She complains that the agency never
worked with JAMS to help resolve the balance. While the record does not suggest that anyone
from the agency actually went to JAMS with respondent, Johnson testified that she called JAMS
to investigate respondent’s claims and found them to be baseless. According to Johnson, a
representative from JAMS told her that respondent never came to test, and that if a person in
respondent’s situation came to test, she would not be charged because JAMS would seek
reimbursement from the agency. The trial court appeared to credit Johnson’s testimony and not
respondent’s, and we defer to the trial court’s superior position to judge the credibility of the
witnesses that appear before it. In re Fried, 266 Mich. App. at 541.
Respondent also claims that the agency should have provided her with bus tickets to get
to JAMS. But respondent never claimed below that she failed to participate in screens due to
transportation problems. If she had, there is nothing to suggest that the agency would not have
aided respondent in finding transportation, especially in light of the agency’s efforts picking
respondent up from her home for parenting-time visits. Ultimately, on this record, respondent
has failed to establish that the trial court clearly erred by determining that reasonable efforts were
made to reunify respondent and the children.
Next, respondent argues that she was denied the effective assistance of counsel for
various reasons. Because respondent did not raise her claim of ineffective assistance of counsel
in a motion for a new trial or request a Ginther,3 review of this issue is limited to facts apparent
on the record. People v Jordan, 275 Mich. App. 659, 667; 739 NW2d 706 (2007).
“[A]lthough child protective proceedings are not criminal in nature, where the right to
effective counsel arises from the Sixth Amendment, the Due Process Clause indirectly
guarantees effective assistance of counsel in the context of child protective proceedings.” In re
HRC, 286 Mich. App. 444, 458; 781 NW2d 105 (2009). “The principles applicable to claims of
ineffective assistance of counsel in the arena of criminal law also apply by analogy in child
protective proceedings; therefore, it must be shown that (1) counsel’s performance was deficient,
falling below an objective standard of reasonableness, and that (2) the deficient performance
prejudiced the respondent.” In re Martin, 316 Mich. App. 73, 85; 896 NW2d 452 (2016).
Effective assistance is presumed, and respondent bears a heavy burden of proving otherwise.
People v Vaughn, 491 Mich. 642, 670; 821 NW2d 288 (2012). Respondent must “overcome the
strong presumption that counsel’s performance constituted sound trial strategy.” In re Martin,
316 Mich. App. at 85.
2
In addition, as the Ennis Center noted, respondent never requested a parent partner.
3
People v Ginther, 390 Mich. 436; 212 NW2d 922 (1973).
-4-
Respondent first complains that counsel was ineffective for allowing her to enter a
no-contest plea despite believing her to be intoxicated. This claim is based on a
misunderstanding of the record. On September 19, 2016, respondent’s counsel stated that she
recalled smelling alcohol on respondent on the morning of the preliminary hearing, when she
first met respondent. The preliminary hearing—the first hearing that respondent and
respondent’s counsel attended together—occurred on July 20, 2016. Respondent did not enter
her no-contest plea until August 3, 2016. Respondent therefore fails to establish the factual
predicate for her claim that counsel improperly allowed her to enter a plea with knowledge that
she was under the influence of alcohol. See People v Hoag, 460 Mich. 1, 6; 594 NW2d 57 (1999)
(explaining that a defendant raising a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel bears the burden
of proving the factual predicate of his or her claim).
Respondent also argues that defense counsel’s disclosure that respondent previously
smelled of alcohol constituted a breach of confidence, which was prejudicial to respondent
because the court ordered screening that ultimately caused the termination of respondent’s
parental rights. We disagree.
At the September 19, 2016 hearing, respondent was not present, and the trial court asked,
“At this point -- why aren’t we doing drug screens or something? Something is something seems
to be off where mom is not here this morning . . . .” The GAL responded first and stated that
there was no explanation for respondent’s absence. Johnson, from the Ennis Center, then stated,
“We can do drug screens, your Honor. Mom denied any substance abuse history and that was
the report I received . . . and so that’s what I worked with.” Respondent’s counsel then stated,
“Your Honor, when I first met my client at the prelim I asked her about drug addiction, alcohol
addiction, she denied it to me, and yet that very morning I could smell alcohol so I believe she
needs a PACE assessment.” Although the court had already ordered a PACE assessment, it
added drug screening to respondent’s PATP following this exchange.
The American Bar Association’s Standards of Practice for Attorneys Representing
Parents in Abuse and Neglect Cases provides in Standard 26 that attorneys shall “[e]ngage in
case planning and advocate for appropriate social services using a multidisciplinary approach to
representation when available.”4 The United States Supreme Court has held that ABA standards
are guides regarding reasonable conduct of counsel. Strickland v Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 688;
104 S. Ct. 2052; 80 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984). Applying Standard 26 here, respondent’s counsel may
have been attempting to proactively identify and, if needed, get appropriate treatment for a
possible substance abuse problem. See Vaughn, 491 Mich. at 670 (explaining that a reviewing
court is to affirmatively entertain the range of possible reasons counsel may have had for
proceeding as they did). When counsel made the remarks at issue, reunification was still the
goal. It was not unreasonable for counsel to try to identify a potential drug problem early on so
that, if there was a problem, it could be treated and would not become a barrier to reunification
4
ABA Standards of Practice for Attorneys Representing Parents in Abuse and Neglect Cases
(accessed January 2, 2019).
-5-
later. This explains why counsel reiterated the need for a PACE assessment: to identify a
substance abuse problem, if one existed.
That said, even if it was sound strategy for counsel to reiterate the need for a PACE
assessment, we must consider whether counsel’s ancillary remark about smelling alcohol on
respondent constituted ineffective assistance. It is difficult to say whether that remark caused the
trial court to order respondent to participate in drug screens, particularly in light of the trial court
and Johnson’s exchange directly before the remark was made. Assuming that the remark did
cause the trial court to order respondent to participate in drug screens and that it was objectively
unreasonable for counsel to make that remark, respondent cannot establish that she was
prejudiced by counsel’s performance. The result of counsel’s performance was that respondent
was ordered to participate in drug screens, which she continually failed to do. Respondent was
not prejudiced by being ordered to participate in drug screens; if she was prejudiced, it was due
to her failure to participate in the drug screens. In other words, any prejudice came from
respondent’s failure, not counsel’s performance. Also, as will be explained in more detail later,
respondent’s barriers to reunification stretched beyond her failure to participate in drug screens,
so it cannot be said that “but for counsel’s . . . errors, the result of the proceeding would have
been different.” People v Randolph, 502 Mich. 1, 9; 917 NW2d 249 (2018) (quotation marks and
citation omitted).5
Next, respondent argues that counsel was ineffective for telling the court that respondent
had possibly married her boyfriend, Gerardo Reyes, as well as telling the court that respondent’s
grandmother said that she and Reyes did not get along, that the grandmother had an expired PPO
against him, and that Reyes would control and confuse respondent. Respondent does not clearly
explain how these remarks were prejudicial, and instead asserts that the statements “caused
additional requirements to be placed on” respondent, like ending “her relationship with [Reyes]
and find[ing] a new place to live.” But there was no question that respondent would be required
to move from her apartment with Reyes because it was not large enough to accommodate her
5
Respondent seems to suggest that counsel breached attorney-client privilege by disclosing the
smell of alcohol on respondent. But contrary to respondent’s suggestion, counsel did not breach
any attorney-client privilege because the privilege only attaches to confidential communications
made by a client to his or her attorney. Reed Dairy Farm v Consumers Power Co, 227 Mich
App 614, 618; 576 NW2d 709 (1998).
Respondent also asserts in passing that the PACE assessment and screening should not
have been ordered by the court. Despite that the issue is not properly before this Court because it
is raised as a part of respondent’s ineffective assistance claim, respondent’s assertion is
meritless. When the trial court ordered respondent to participate in the PACE assessment and
drug screening, the trial court was aware that CS may have fetal alcohol syndrome and that
respondent may have been using alcohol before the preliminary examination. The trial court was
also aware that respondent was missing scheduled court dates without any explanation as to why.
Thus, the trial court was rightfully concerned with respondent’s potentially irresponsible use of
alcohol and how it was affecting her behavior, and those concerns would be put to rest through
respondent’s participation in the PACE assessment and drug screening.
-6-
children. As for whether respondent would have been required to break up with Reyes, it is
unclear how this was prejudicial. First, respondent did, in fact, break up with Reyes, and so she
was not prejudiced by that requirement. Second, and more importantly, respondent testified at
the best-interest hearing that Reyes’s controlling behavior prevented her from taking action in
this case, so her separating from him can hardly be said to have prejudiced her. Lastly, as a
general matter, Reyes’s poor relationship with the grandmother was documented in the
guardianship file, and the court took judicial notice of that file at the statutory-basis hearing, so
that information would have been before the trial court regardless. Because respondent cannot
establish that, but for counsel’s statements, the outcome of the proceeding would have been
different, her claim of ineffective assistance fails. See Randolph, 502 Mich. at 9.
Respondent further argues that defense counsel was ineffective for failing to make
additional requests for accommodations because of her intellectual and reading deficits.
Respondent argues that counsel failed to renew the request for a GAL or CASA worker after the
psychological evaluation, failed to request a parent partner from the Ennis Center, failed to help
respondent contact JAMS about the fee for her drug tests, and failed to ask the Ennis Center to
stop sending her written communications. As indicated earlier, the trial court addressed the need
for additional, specialized services after respondent’s psychological evaluation and found that the
evaluation demonstrated that she did not require such services and was capable of completing the
PATP. Therefore, any renewed objection for an assistant, such as a CASA worker or a GAL,
would have been meritless. “Failing to advance a meritless argument or raise a futile objection
does not constitute ineffective assistance of counsel.” People v Ericksen, 288 Mich. App. 192,
201; 793 NW2d 120 (2010). With respect to the JAMS screening, respondent cannot establish
prejudice because the record demonstrated that she was not going to JAMS for screening and, if
she had, she would have been screened for free. Moreover, although respondent argues that
counsel should have asked the Ennis Center to stop sending written communications, Johnson
testified that documents were written in simple language, and respondent fails to point to any
communications that she did not understand.
Finally, with no citation to the record, respondent argues that counsel was ineffective
because she failed to request more time for respondent to complete the PATP, and she instead
conceded that a statutory-basis for termination had been established. “The failure to brief the
merits of an allegation of error constitutes an abandonment of the issue.” People v McPherson,
263 Mich. App. 124, 136; 687 NW2d 370 (2004). Regardless, the record does not support
respondent’s arguments. The record demonstrates that counsel repeatedly advocated for
additional time, particularly given respondent’s intellectual disabilities.
Respondent’s complaint regarding counsel’s concession to a statutory ground for
termination appears to be based on counsel’s closing argument at the statutory-basis hearing. At
that time, counsel admitted that there was clear and convincing evidence to support termination,
but maintained that there were outstanding issues that had not been adequately explored,
including “the drug testing issue, the therapy requirement issue, and . . . that Ennis and DHHS
has not done all reasonable activity to enable [respondent] to be reunited with her children.”
“The purpose of closing argument is to allow attorneys to comment on the evidence and to argue
their theories of law to the jury.” People v Finley, 161 Mich. App. 1, 9; 410 NW2d 282 (1987).
Whether and how to conduct a closing argument is a matter of trial strategy. See In re Ayres,
239 Mich. App. 8, 23; 608 NW2d 132 (1999). As discussed further below, there was
-7-
overwhelming evidence to support the trial court’s conclusion that clear and convincing evidence
demonstrated a statutory basis for termination. Instead of championing a meritless argument
regarding the sufficiency of that evidence, defense counsel argued that reasonable efforts had not
yet been made to reunify the family. Termination of parental rights is improper where
reasonable efforts at reunification have not been made. In re Hicks, 500 Mich. at 85-86. We
conclude that respondent has failed to overcome the strong presumption that counsel’s choice of
argument constituted sound trial strategy.
Ultimately, when viewing all of respondent’s ineffective assistance claims, even if we
were to assume that counsel’s performance fell below an objective standard of reasonableness,
we do not believe that respondent is entitled to a relief. All of the issues raised by respondent
either concerned evidence that was presented through other means or they were not otherwise
outcome determinative. And because respondent cannot establish prejudice, she is not entitled to
relief. See In re Martin, 316 Mich. App. at 85.
We next address respondent’s argument that the trial court erred by finding clear and
convincing evidence to support termination of her parental rights under MCL 712A.19b(3)(c)(i),
(g), and (j). This Court “review[s] for clear error a trial court’s finding of whether a statutory
ground for termination has been proven by clear and convincing evidence.” In re Moss, 301
Mich. App. 76, 80; 836 NW2d 182 (2013).
The trial court found that termination of respondent’s parental rights was justified under
MCL 712A.19b(3)(c)(i), (g), and (j), which, at the time the trial court entered its order, permitted
termination under the following circumstances:
(c) The parent was a respondent in a proceeding brought under this
chapter, 182 or more days have elapsed since the issuance of an initial
dispositional order, and the court, by clear and convincing evidence, finds either
of the following:
(i) The conditions that led to the adjudication continue to exist and there is
no reasonable likelihood that the conditions will be rectified within a reasonable
time considering the child’s age.
* * *
(g) The parent, without regard to intent, fails to provide proper care or
custody for the child and there is no reasonable expectation that the parent will be
able to provide proper care and custody within a reasonable time considering the
child’s age.[6]
6
MCL 712A.19b(3)(g) was amended by 2018 PA 58, effective June 12, 2018. As amended,
§ 19b(3)(g) now provides:
-8-
* * *
(j) There is a reasonable likelihood, based on the conduct or capacity of
the child’s parent, that the child will be harmed if he or she is returned to the
home of the parent.
The trial court did not clearly err by finding that clear and convincing evidence supported
termination of respondent’s parental rights under MCL 712A.19b(3)(c)(i). Respondent does not
dispute that more than a year had passed since issuance of the initial dispositional order.7
Respondent has never provided sole care and custody for her children. Respondent and BS lived
with the grandmother from BS’s birth until he was approximately one year old, at which time
respondent agreed to a guardianship with the grandmother. When CS was born, the infant was
immediately placed in the grandmother’s care. The guardianship with the grandmother ended
due to the grandmother’s poor health and another couple took over the guardianship. But they
requested that the guardianship be terminated when BS was five years old and CS was 2½ years
old, which lead to the instant proceedings.
These proceedings began because, as stated in the petition, respondent was “homeless,
and therefore cannot provide for care and placement of the children” when their guardianship
was terminated. The trial court ordered respondent to obtain appropriate housing and
employment. When the trial court issued this order, respondent was living in a hotel, but she
claimed that she planned to rent an apartment the following month. Five months later, she still
had not moved into an apartment. By the time of the statutory-basis hearing, respondent was
once again in temporary housing and had failed to inform the Ennis Center where she and her
new boyfriend were living. Thus, just like when the proceedings began, respondent only had a
plan to move to a two-bedroom apartment to accommodate her family. And because she had not
yet moved, the agency had not inspected the apartment to determine if it was appropriate.
During the guardianship proceedings, respondent received services for employment, but
stopped participating and failed to stay in touch with the service provider. When the instant
proceedings began, she claimed to be working at McDonald’s, but did not provide proof of her
employment as required by the PATP. Leading up to and during the statutory-basis hearing, she
continued to claim that she held various jobs, but she never provided verifiable proof.
Throughout the current proceedings, respondent visited the children consistently and
completed her parenting class. Yet, in spite of this progress, respondent’s visits were always
supervised at the agency, and, at the time of the statutory-basis hearing, respondent continued to
struggle with caring for both children at once.
The parent, although, in the court’s discretion, financially able to do so,
fails to provide proper care or custody for the child and there is no reasonable
expectation that the parent will be able to provide proper care and custody within
a reasonable time considering the child’s age.
7
The initial dispositional order was entered on August 12, 2016.
-9-
In light of the continued problems with respondent’s ability to care for the children, her
lack of appropriate housing, and her unverifiable employment, we are not left with a definite and
firm conviction that the trial court erred by finding clear and convincing evidence that the
conditions that led to the adjudication continued to exist.
And there was no reasonable likelihood that the conditions would be rectified within a
reasonable time. By the time of the statutory-basis determination in November 2017, BS had
been outside of respondent’s care since November 2012 and CS had been outside of respondent’s
care since her birth. For years, respondent showed a pattern of starting but not completing
services, despite the psychologist’s conclusion that respondent understood what was required of
her. The petition in this case was filed in July 2016, and in the sixteen months since then,
respondent had not made any significant progress on her barriers to reunification. Indeed,
respondent had never had verifiable employment and still only had a plan to acquire suitable
housing. On this record, the trial court did not clearly err by finding that there was no reasonable
likelihood that respondent would resolve her continuing issues within a reasonable time.
Respondent argues that she should have been given more time and more assistance with
services given her intellectual deficits. But as we concluded earlier, the trial court did not clearly
err by determining that petitioner made reasonable efforts to reunify respondent and the children.
Moreover, following the recommendation from the second psychological evaluation, the court, in
fact, gave respondent additional time to reach her goals in the PATP, but the problems continued.
In sum, clear and convincing evidence supported a statutory basis for termination under
MCL 712A.19b(3)(c)(i). If at least one ground for termination exists, this Court need not
consider the additional grounds on which the trial court based its decision. In re HRC, 286 Mich
App at 461.
Finally, respondent argues that termination of her parental rights was not in the children’s
best interests. We disagree. We review for clear error a trial court’s determination regarding a
child’s best interests. MCR 3.977(K); In re Mason, 486 Mich. at 152.
Once a statutory ground for termination is established, the trial court shall order
termination of parental rights if it finds that termination is in the child’s best interests. MCL
712A.19b(5). “[W]hether termination of parental rights is in the best interests of the child must
be proved by a preponderance of the evidence.” In re Moss, 301 Mich. App. at 90. The trial court
should weigh all the evidence available to it in determining a child’s best interests. In re White,
303 Mich. App. 701, 713; 846 NW2d 61 (2014). Factors relevant to a determination of a child’s
best interests include the child’s bond to the parent, the parent’s compliance with his or her case
service plan, the parent’s history of visitation with the child, the child’s need for permanency,
stability, and finality, the advantages of a foster home over the parent’s home, and the possibility
of adoption. Id. at 713-714.
A preponderance of the evidence supports the trial court’s determination that termination
of respondent’s parental rights was in the children’s best interests. Even though respondent had
not cared for BS since he was a baby, respondent and the six-year-old shared a bond. In contrast,
Johnson expressed concern that CS lacked a secure bond with anyone and had no caregiver
-10-
preference. Respondent’s bond with BS tended to weigh against termination, while respondent’s
apparent lack of bond with CS tended to support termination.
For most of the proceedings, respondent failed to substantially comply with the PATP. In
the approximate two months between the statutory-basis hearing and the best-interest hearing,
respondent made progress with verifiable employment, housing, and weekly, random drug
screenings. Dr. Gaulier believed, however, that respondent’s recent cooperation with the PATP
was the result of close supervision by the court and the agency, and if the supervision was not in
place, she would discontinue her efforts and revert to “maladaptive behavior.” Like Dr. Gaulier,
the trial court questioned the sincerity of respondent’s recent efforts to comply with her PATP,
especially in light of the sixteen months before the statutory-basis hearing during which
respondent substantially failed to comply with her PATP. While the trial court’s skepticism was
perhaps warranted, respondent’s compliance with her PATP tended to weigh against termination.
Respondent consistently visited the children once a week at the agency. BS looked
forward to her visits, and respondent was loving and playful. But according to the caseworker,
respondent focused most of her attention on BS. While respondent’s participation in visits tends
to weigh against termination, her inability to properly care for both children tends to support that
termination was in CS’s best interests.
Also, the worker that supervised respondent’s visits was concerned that respondent
appeared unable to deescalate BS’s behavior. Both BS and CS have special needs. Dr. Gaulier
opined that respondent’s low IQ could make parenting in out-of-the-ordinary situations—like
addressing the children’s special needs—difficult for her to problem solve, and her fourth-grade
reading level could make it difficult for her to help the children with school. Dr. Gaulier opined
that BS needed a parent who would be skilled in understanding his needs and following through
with the school and service providers to make sure that his needs were met. In that vein, the trial
court expressed concern that respondent only had a “superficial understanding” of BS’s needs
and how to address them, and Dr. Gaulier opined that respondent would be unable to address
BS’s needs without extensive assistance. The trial court was also concerned that respondent
would not be able to address the children’s special needs because she continually failed to go to
appointments. Johnson testified that despite having notice of BS’s appointments, respondent had
not been attending. She opined that, if respondent could not get there alone, she would not be
able to take BS to the appointments if she had custody. The trial court shared Johnson’s
concerns because, if the children were returned to respondent, she would be responsible for
getting them to their doctor’s appointments. Respondent’s inability to comprehend the scope of
the children’s needs, her unreliability in attending the children’s doctor’s appointments, and the
uncertainty of whether respondent would be able to get the children to their doctor’s
appointments, all tend to support that termination was in the children’s best interests.
The trial court was also concerned because respondent had not proven that she could care
for the children on her own. Though respondent had suitable housing at the time of the
best-interest hearing, the housing was dependent on respondent’s boyfriend at the time. As the
trial court pointed out, that relationship was relatively new, and there was no guarantee that it
would last. This was troubling given that, if the relationship ended, then respondent would be
unable to independently provide suitable housing for the children. The trial court chalked this up
to an apparent pattern of respondent “expecting others to care for her,” and concluded that she
-11-
would not “be able to care for the children [if] she needs someone to care for her.” Respondent’s
dependency on others to meet her children’s needs, and her inability to meet those needs
independently, tends to support that termination was in the children’s best interests.
Respondent argues that it is not bad parenting to need help from others, but the trial court
was concerned that respondent could not parent by herself. Because respondent’s relationships
tended to not be long-term, the people on whom she relied for help with the children could not be
reasonably relied on for extended periods. For example, in the summer of 2017, respondent was
planning to parent with one boyfriend, but by the fall of 2017 she claimed that a new boyfriend
planned to assist her. The trial court expressed concern that the people who respondent relied on
might not be available long-term, and if they were not available, respondent would need to be
able to provide for the children independently, which she had not demonstrated that she could
do.
Although, as respondent notes, the children had been placed in multiple foster care
homes, both children responded well to the structure of their final foster home and their behavior
had been improving. The foster mother had concerns that both children would act out after visits
with respondent, and “it takes the children a while to readjust to the structure that she provides.”
Dr. Gaulier wrote in the report that BS’s foster mother was “appropriately meeting his needs and
is following through with mental health and schools services as needed for [BS].” In contrast,
the trial court was skeptical about whether respondent would be able to meet the children’s
needs, as already explained. The advantages of the foster placement and the foster family’s
ability to provide stability and permanence for the children tend to support that termination was
in the children’s best interests.
In sum, despite that some factors tended to support that termination was not in the
children’s best interest, other factors—particularly concerns about respondent’s ability to
understand and address the children’s special needs and respondent’s dependency on others for
care for the children—tended to support that termination was in the children’s best interests. On
this record, the trial court did not clearly err in finding by a preponderance of the evidence that
termination of respondent’s parental rights was in the children’s best interests.
Affirmed.
/s/ Elizabeth L. Gleicher
/s/ Cynthia Diane Stephens
/s/ Colleen A. O’Brien
-12-