In the Int. of: E.L.,III, a Minor ( 2015 )

J-S28032-15
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
IN THE INTEREST OF: E.L., III, A IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
MINOR PENNSYLVANIA
APPEAL OF: E.L., JR., NATURAL FATHER
No. 17 MDA 2015
Appeal from the Order Entered November 19, 2014
In the Court of Common Pleas of Wyoming County
Civil Division at No(s): OCAD #2014-10
*****
IN THE INTEREST OF: J.J.L., A MINOR IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
PENNSYLVANIA
APPEAL OF: E.L., JR., FATHER
No. 18 MDA 2015
Appeal from the Order Entered November 19, 2014
In the Court of Common Pleas of Wyoming County
Civil Division at No(s): OCAD #2014-11
*****
IN THE INTEREST OF: D.L., A MINOR IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
PENNSYLVANIA
APPEAL OF: E.L., FATHER
No. 19 MDA 2015
Appeal from the Order Entered November 19, 2014
In the Court of Common Pleas of Wyoming County
Civil Division at No(s): OCAD #2014-12
J-S28032-15
IN THE INTEREST OF: T.L., A MINOR IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
PENNSYLVANIA
APPEAL OF: E.L., JR., FATHER
No. 20 MDA 2015
Appeal from the Order Entered November 19, 2014
In the Court of Common Pleas of Wyoming County
Civil Division at No(s): OCAD #2014-13
BEFORE: BOWES, J., ALLEN, J., and LAZARUS, J.
MEMORANDUM BY LAZARUS, J.: FILED JULY 02, 2015
E.L., Jr. (“Father”) appeals from the orders entered in the Court of
Common Pleas of Wyoming County involuntarily terminating his parental
rights to his four sons, E.L., III (DOB March 2007), J.J.L (DOB June 2008),
D.L. (DOB November 2009), and T.L. (DOB August 2010) (collectively,
“Children”). After our considered review, we reverse. Wyoming County
Children and Youth Services (CYS), a division of Wyoming County Human
Services, has failed to meet its burden of proving by clear and convincing
evidence that Father’s parental rights should be terminated under 23
Pa.C.S.A. § 2511(a)(2) and (b).
Father raises thirteen claims on appeal, several of which overlap, and
so we summarize for ease of addressing them as follows:
Did the trial court err in failing to consider:
1. that the alleged conditions giving rise to the petition were
capable of and subject to remedy within a reasonable period
of time or no longer existed, that Father has the means of
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correcting any alleged basis for termination, and the lack of
testimony that father would not be capable of caring for his
children post-incarceration?
2. Father’s efforts in attempting to arrange visitation through
the agency, which efforts were ignored and thwarted by the
agency?
3. Father’s conduct in providing for his children prior to
incarceration as indicative of his ability to maintain parental
responsibilities?
4. how termination of Father’s parental right would affect the
developmental, physical and emotional needs of the children?
Father was incarcerated in 2011; he was convicted of possession of a
firearm without a license.1 At the time of the termination hearings, in
October and November 2014, Father was already transitioning back to
society, living in a halfway house.
Prior to 2011, Children lived with Father and natural Mother, H.M.,
(“Mother”), as well as K.A.P., Jr.,2 Mother’s oldest child from another man.
In November 2012, while Father was incarcerated, CYS received a referral
that the two oldest children were not enrolled in school and that there were
concerns for Children’s health and well-being in the home. As a result, in
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1
Father was found carrying a disassembled antique pistol in a plastic bag in
his car; he was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment. N.T. Hearing,
10/24/14, at 64.
2
K.A.P., Jr. is the subject of a separate termination proceeding, which is
also currently on appeal. See 16 MDA 2015, J. S28031/15.
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December 2012, Children were removed from Mother’s home by CYS.3
Children have been in the custody of CYS since 2012; Children, along with
their half-brother, K.A.P., Jr., have been in the care of F.S. and R.S.,
(“Foster Parents”), since the summer of 2013.
The court granted a goal change to adoption on January 13, 2014.
Father was released from his incarceration one week later, on January 21,
2014. Foster Parents are prospective adoptive parents; they wish to adopt
all four boys, as well as K.A.P., Jr. CYS filed petitions for involuntary
termination of Father’s parental rights with respect to Children on August 22,
2014.4
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3
Mother signed a Consent to Adopt with respect to all of the children. See
Order of President Judge Russell D. Shurtleff, 1/7/15:
And now, this 7th day of January, 2015, after hearing on
October 24, [2014] to Involuntary [sic] Terminate the Parental
Rights of the above-referenced children during which Mother was
represented by Joseph McGraw, Esquire [], review of the
transcript thereof and the Court finding the Natural Mother,
[H.M.], knowingly, voluntarily and intelligently executed a
Consent to Adopt, of which judicial notice was taken during the
hearing and the Consent to Adopt was confirmed by this Court
during said hearing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Natural
Mother’s Consent to Adopt is CONFIRMED.
4
We note that each of the four petitions are identically worded to the
petition filed regarding K.A.P., Jr., (16 MDA 2015, J. S28031/15), even to
the extent of using the name K.A.P., Jr., instead of Children’s names at issue
here. Each of the four petitions before us read: “Wyoming County Human
Services, shall continue to assume legal custody of [K.A.P., Jr.] until such
time as the child is adopted.” See Petitions for Involuntary Termination,
8/22/14, at ¶ 13. Clearly, this is a “cut and paste” error.
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Father is a high school graduate. Prior to his incarceration, he worked
as the Seafood Manager at a Price Chopper grocery store in Dunmore for
twenty years, and he held construction jobs on the side. He was
continuously employed for a period of thirty years, and during that period
had no problems with police and had never been incarcerated. N.T. Hearing,
10/23/14, at 65-67. Father testified that he was involved in Children’s daily
activities, took them to school, and attended holiday events at their school.
Id. at 68. Father also testified as to his own upbringing; his father was a
military drill sergeant and his mother was a nurse, and his family moved
every three years because of his father’s position in the military. Id. at 69.
Father stated that during his first year of incarceration, Mother brought
Children to visit him each week. After that time, they began living with
Mother’s friends (Foster Parents), and despite his attempts, he was unable
to communicate with Children. Id. at 70. Father testified regarding his
attempts to arrange visits with Children during his incarceration as follows:
A: . . . I wrote letters out to the caseworker. She said I couldn’t
write the kids personally. I could send a letter to her so [ ] in
the letter, said I’m right down the street from where you live. I
know where you live. Why can’t you bring my sons to see me?
I know they need to see their dad. Two years, and I was
[inaudible] with them all the time, and that broke my heart. . . .
Now I’m out, and I get a letter in the mail telling me they want
me to sign my rights over. She [Foster Mother] wanted to be
the one to raise my sons, and it’s killing me on the inside, too.
I’m trying to get my life together now. I’m trying to move back
to Scranton and everything and get my sons and raise them the
right way.
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Id. at 70-71. With regard to the CYS caseworker’s attempts to arrange
Children’s visits with Father, Father stated: “She told me - she said well,
first, I got to check it out and see if the kids really want to see you. Then,
she would tell me, let me talk to my director, my boss. I’ll get back to you,
and never got back with me.” Id. at 71. Father testified that he was
distraught over not being able to see his children:
A: I just want to-I wanted to cry. I feel like I was left behind. . .
to try to get everything taken care of, you know. I started
talking to people, talking to lawyers, told me the right steps to
take.
Id. Father’s testimony continued, stating that he wanted to be involved with
his son, he wanted to “raise” them and “give them the love that they need.”
Id. at 73. He also testified that that up until the time of his incarceration,
he was a hands-on parent:
Q: And was that on a daily basis?
A: Every day. Every day.
Q: And did you share meals with them?
A: Oh, in the morning time, we would sit at the breakfast table
and we’d say a prayer. We’d thank God for our meal. Lunchtime,
dinnertime, every time, they’d say dad, don’t forget to say the
prayer. That’s the way I was brought up and I brought my kids
up the same way.
****
Q: Prior to your incarceration, [was] there ever any involvement
of any social service agencies, Children and Youth or anything,
about your ability to care for your children?
A: No. No, sir.
****
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Q: Now, were you ever - was there ever any allegations of
violence or anything like that within your household?
A: No, no, no.
Id. at 74-76.
Father testified that he wanted to reestablish contact with his children
and that he had taken the recommended parenting class. He also testified
that he did not use any illegal drugs. Id. Father agreed that Foster Mother
was a “good person,” id. at 77, but believed he had the capacity to parent
Children:
Q: Do you think you have the capacity to be a father to these
children?
A: Yes, I do. . . . I know it in my heart.
Q: What are your goals for your children?
A: My goals for my kids, I want my kids to be raised up proper.
I want them to respect everybody they meet . . . . Don’t judge
no book by its cover. I want them to be somebody. I want them
to tell me what they want to be and encourage them. I want to
father them, you know. I want to see my kids grow up and
become [men] and have kids. I want to see them graduate high
school, you know? I want to see all of this. I[‘ve] seen the first
steps. I want to see the graduation, too. I want to be inside
their life.
Q: How long do you think it would take you to establish a
residence and employment in Lackawanna County or Scranton
area?
A: This area? . . . I can’t guarantee time, but thirty to – thirty
days – thirty to sixty days tops. Something nice, fully furnished,
and everything they[‘re] going to need. It’s a lot of work to do.
Id. at 70-82.
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Father also testified that he wanted to continue Children’s relationship
with K.A.P., Jr.. He explained that he had told K.A.P., Jr. that he was the
“big brother.” Id. at 82.
On cross-examination, counsel questioned how often Father wrote
letters to Children. Father replied that he wrote to “all five boys,” including
K.A.P., Jr., and that he wrote every week. Id. at 82. Father stated that he
gave the letters to his caseworker, Miss Ryan, and she distributed the letters
to the boys. Id. He also stated that if Mother wanted to be involved he
had no problem with that and would not keep his sons from their mother.
Id.
Q: Understood, but you want to have them in your -
A: In my custody, yes, in my custody.
Q: The four of them?
A: Sir?
Q: The four children - the four boys.
A: I’d love to have five, but— I’d love to have all of them. I
would love to, but they say that he’s not really my son, but I
would love to have all five of them. They all love me.
Q: And you indicated that you would be out from the parole
house in the next two weeks.
A: Yes[.] . . .
Q: And at any point after you were released from SCI Dallas
back in January and before you learned of this, the attempt by
the agency to terminate your parental rights, during that six
month period, did you try to contact— . . . Before you learned
about that and you were released from—in January from SCI
Dallas, did you make any effort to contact the agency?
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A: Yes, I contacted the agency and I’m trying to get visitation
rights, and they told me they needed to talk to the kids first or
they needed to talk to her boss, the director or whatever, and
that I would get back with you later. . . . That’s exact words.
Q: You mentioned you were incarcerated in February 2011. The
children weren’t put into placement . . . until December of 2012.
Did you see - did you see the children between February of 2011
and December of 2012?
A: I must say yes. She [Mother] brought the kids every
weekend to see me and visit me. Every last one of them, she
brought to visit me.
Q: And were you living with [Mother] up to the date of your
imprisonment in February of 2011?
A: Yes.
Q: So all six of you were living under the same roof?
A: Correct, yes.
Q: The job that you mentioned that you’re looking forward to in
Scranton, what type of position is that?
A: It’s in construction. I do all type[s] of construction, dry wall,
. . . I can do it all, and my friend, he owns his own company, I
can work for him. Since I lived in Scranton, we built his house.
He do[es] exquisite work.
Q: When did you - you have experience in that field?
A: Yes, I do.
Q: And when was the last time you actively worked in the
construction field?
A: Probably like a couple months ago, we did some work up in
Clarks Summit.
Q: OK, and so before you were incarcerated, did you work in the
construction industry?
A: Yes, I worked with him and I also worked in my hometown,
Atlanta, Georgia. I was a brick, block, concrete layer, finisher.
Q: And has he indicated to you what kind of salary you could
expect?
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A: He was paying me like by the job so I’m guaranteed five or
more a week, depend on what the job is, you know. . . . .
depends on the job, some jobs cost more.
Q: So if he doesn’t work, you don’t work, correct?
A: Oh, he always got work. . . .
Q: And have you started looking for housing in Scranton?
A: Not yet, but my friend own houses in Scranton. He owns . . .
like five or six houses in Scranton and Dunmore. . . .
****
Q: Is this the same friend that’s going to employ you?
A: Yeah, that’s right.
****
Q: And the last time you saw the four boys?
A: . . . I’ve been out almost ten months, almost three years now
haven’t seen my boys[.] . . .
Q: Have you had any discussions with any of the [foster] family?
A: Nope.
Q: Have you tried to reach out to them?
A: I reached out through Children and Youth, and the words that
was told to me is they don’t have to talk to me if they don’t want
to.
Q: And do you believe you can offer the four boys a better life
than what they have right now?
A: Yes, I can.
Id. at 83-87.
During the hearing, counsel for K.A.P., Jr., Children’s half-brother, also
questioned Father:
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Q: Despite what happens, do you think knowing the children, all
five children, do you think it’s best that they all remain together?
A: Well, it all depends. I love all five of the boys as my sons. If
I can’t have [K.A.P., Jr.], I would still love to have my sons. I
would still like to spend time with him and I would make sure my
sons get to see him, and he will always be treated like family
through my heart. He is my son, too.
Q: So would they all - I guess my question is more, do they
have a close relationship- does [K.A.P., Jr.] have a close
relationship as best as you recall with the other children?
A: Yes, he do[es]. He only knows that he’s the oldest brother. .
. He’s big brother.
Id. at 82-88. On re-direct, Father clarified that while he worked at the
grocery store, he also worked construction on the side, stating,
I go to work - I go to work sometimes 3:00 in the evening and
stay til the store close[s]. I love money, and when you got a big
family, two vehicles- two vehicle, big family, you need a lot of
money.
Id. at 90-91.
The CYS caseworker in this case, Meagan Manning, also testified. She
stated that she has been involved in this case since December of 2012.
N.T. Hearing, 11/10/14, at 5. She also testified that Father’s testimony that
he wrote to the boys every week was not accurate. To her recollection,
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Father wrote to the boys three times since 2012. Id. at 40-41.5 Manning
also acknowledged that Father contacted her after his release:
On February 19th, [Father] had called me and we did have a
discussion about his whereabouts and what his intent[ions] were
for the future of the case. . . . He said he was at the Allentown
CCC (halfway house). . . he stated that he would like visitation,
but he would need time to secure the funds to come from
Allentown to Tunkhannock. I’d said that I was going to have a
conversation with the kids regarding if they had an interest in
meeting with [Father], and that [he] should contact me back
when he had the appropriate funds that were needed.
Id. at 44-45.
Thereafter, Manning stated she heard nothing from Father. The phone
numbers she had for him had been disconnected, so she sent a letter on
April 23, 2014, to Father at the Allentown CCC; that letter was sent back to
her, on May 5, 2014, as undeliverable. Id. at 47. Manning further stated
that after her letter of April 23, 2014 was returned, she continued efforts to
contact Father. She stated that she contacted the agency’s paralegal, who
attempted to locate Father. Id. at 49. Manning also disputed Father’s
testimony that there was no violence in the home, as there were allegations
of domestic violence by Father against Mother, but she stated that she was
not able to release the referral source for those alleged incidents. Id. at 55-
56.
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5
We note that Father testified he gave his letters to Ms. Ryan, his
caseworker. Ryan did not testify at the hearing. It appears caseworker
Manning took over once Children were removed from natural Mother.
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On cross-examination, however, Manning acknowledged that after she
sent the April 2014 letter, she knew Father had been moved to Coleman Hall
in Philadelphia, that she sent no letters to Coleman Hall, and that none of
her letters was copied to Father’s counsel, who was appointed in December
of 2013. Id. at 62-63.
Manning’s testimony on cross-examination continued:
Q: And was there not – let’s talk about visitation for one minute
here. Did not [Father], when he was at SCI Dallas,
request visitation?
A: Yes.
Q: And in fact, did you not agree you would arrange to - for
visitation with [Father] while he was incarcerated?
A: Yes.
Q: And, in fact, did you make those arrangements?
A: No.
Q: And, in fact, did you ever follow through on his stated
intent for visitation during his time in his incarceration?
A: No.
Q: And did you ever follow up with him while he was
either in Allentown or in Philadelphia in further attempts
to arrange visitation which had failed because it was
never arranged?
A: Regarding when he was incarcerated?
Q: Yes.
A: No.
Q: And while he was at - I’m not using the word incarceration for
both the Allentown CCC and the Coleman Hall, which is a CCC in
Philadelphia. Did you ever attempt to revisit the visitation after
it was not scheduled as you promised?
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A: Yes.
Q: And was it arranged?
A: It was attempted, yes.
Q: Was it arranged?
A: No, it never occurred.
Q: Did [Father] ever voice any objection to visitation?
A: No.
****
Q: Now, [Father] indicated that in addition to his employment
record, that he had been an active father up until the time of his
incarceration.
A: Yes.
Q: Do you have any records that would dispute the fact
that he was a live-in father.
A: I do not.
Q: So you would agree with me that the records would support
his testimony in that regard?
A: Yes.
****
Q: Was [Father] consistent or inconsistent in the desc- in the
alleged offense and the repercussion of the alleged offense?
A: Consistent.
Q: How long was [Father] at Coleman Hall if you know?
Coleman Hall being the Philadelphia facility?
A: I don’t - I don’t know.
Q: But regardless of how long he was there, you never
attempted to contact him there.
A: Personally, no. . .
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Q: Do you know – can you testify for sure that anyone
made efforts to contact him at Coleman Hall?
A: I can’t. I know I received a phone call from him, but I
did not write him a letter when he was in Coleman Hall.
****
Q: [Father] testified at [the] hearing that he is in the process of
seeking a transfer from the CCC in Allentown to a location in
Scranton, Pennsylvania. Do you have anything in your records
that would dispute that?
A: No.
Q: When [Father] resided in Scranton, did he reside in
private housing?
A: To my knowledge, yes.
Q: And when he was residing in Scranton, who provided for his
family, food, clothing, and shelter?
A: I’m not sure. I know he testified that he was employed. . . .
****
Q: When the caseworker appeared, would I be correct
that she observed the home to be in satisfactory
condition?
A: Yes.
Q: That the food supply was excellent?
A: Yes.
Q: That the children’s physical appearance and observable
medical conditions were excellent?
A: Yes.
Q: That the caregiver’s physical appearance and observable
medical conditions were satisfactory?
A: Yes.
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Q: That when – [Father] was involved at this point in time,
correct?
A: Yes.
Q: He would be the father, and that family interactions at
that time were quote, excellent, quote.
A: Yes, that’s what it says.
Id. at 66-87 (emphasis added).
Manning acknowledged on cross-examination that Father intended to
reestablish a family residence in Scranton, and that there was no evidence
to indicate that Father was not involved in the lives of Children up until the
time of his incarceration Id. at 86-87.
Termination of parental rights is governed by Section 2511 of the
Adoption Act, 23 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 2101–2938, which requires a bifurcated
analysis. Initially, the focus is on the conduct of the parent.
The party seeking termination must prove by clear and
convincing evidence that the parent’s conduct satisfies the
statutory grounds for termination delineated in Section 2511(a).
Only if the court determines that the parent’s conduct warrants
termination of his or her parental rights does the court engage in
the second part of the analysis pursuant to Section 2511(b):
determination of the needs and welfare of the child under the
standard of best interests of the child. One major aspect of the
needs and welfare analysis concerns the nature and status of the
emotional bond between parent and child, with close attention
paid to the effect on the child of permanently severing any such
bond.
In re L.M., 923 A.2d 505, 511 (Pa. Super. 2007) (citations omitted). Our
scope of review is broad and comprehensive, although our standard of
review is narrow. See In re C.M.S., 884 A.2d 1284, 1286 (Pa. Super.
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2005). We consider all the evidence, along with the legal conclusions and
factual findings of the trial court, and will reverse only if we find an abuse of
discretion, an error of law, or insufficient evidentiary support. Id.
The standard of review in termination of parental rights cases
requires appellate courts to accept the findings of fact and
credibility determinations of the trial court if they are supported
by the record. If the factual findings are supported, appellate
courts review to determine if the trial court made an error of law
or abused its discretion. A decision may be reversed for an
abuse of discretion only upon demonstration of manifest
unreasonableness, partiality, prejudice, bias, or ill-will. The trial
court’s decision, however, should not be reversed merely
because the record would support a different result. We have
previously emphasized our deference to trial courts that often
have first-hand observations of the parties spanning multiple
hearings.
In re T.S.M., 71 A.3d 251, 267 (Pa. 2013) (citations and quotation marks
omitted).
In this case, the trial court made several findings of fact, essentially
mirroring the language of sections 2511(a)(2),6 (a)(5)7 and (a)(8).8 See
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6
“The repeated and continued incapacity, abuse, neglect or refusal of the
parent has caused the child to be without essential parental care, control or
subsistence necessary for his physical or mental well-being and the
conditions and causes of the incapacity, abuse, neglect or refusal cannot or
will not be remedied by the parent.” 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 2511(a)(2).
7
“The child has been removed from the care of the parent by the court or
under a voluntary agreement with an agency for a period of at least six
months, the conditions which led to the removal or placement of the child
continue to exist, the parent cannot or will not remedy those conditions
within a reasonable period of time, the services or assistance reasonably
available to the parent are not likely to remedy the conditions which led to
the removal or placement of the child within a reasonable period of time and
(Footnote Continued Next Page)
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Trial Court Order, 1/19/14, at 2-3. The court concluded that CYS had
proved termination, under section 2511(a)(2), by clear and convincing
evidence that “Father, through his course of conduct continuing for a period
of over one (1) year, has failed to perform his parental duties and has
caused the subject children to be without essential parental care, control or
subsistence necessary for the subject children’s physical and mental well
being and the conditions and causes of the neglect and refusal cannot and
will not be remedied by the natural Father.” Id. at 4. We disagree.
In order to terminate parental rights due to parental incapacity, abuse,
neglect, or refusal, the following three elements must be met: (1) repeated
and continued incapacity, abuse, neglect or refusal; (2) such incapacity,
abuse, neglect or refusal has caused the child to be without essential
parental care, control or subsistence necessary for his physical or mental
well-being; and (3) the causes of the incapacity, abuse, neglect or refusal
cannot or will not be remedied. 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 2511(a)(2).
_______________________
(Footnote Continued)
termination of the parental rights would best serve the needs and welfare of
the child.” 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 2511(a)(5).
8
“The child has been removed from the care of the parent by the court or
under a voluntary agreement with an agency, 12 months or more have
elapsed from the date of removal or placement, the conditions which led to
the removal or placement of the child continue to exist and termination of
parental rights would best serve the needs and welfare of the child. 23
Pa.C.S.A. § 2511(a)(8).
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Here, the first two elements pertaining to incapacity are based solely
on Father’s incarceration. In In re Adoption of S.P., 47 A.3d 817 (Pa.
2012), our Supreme Court addressed the issue of relevance of incarceration
in a section 2511(a)(2) termination case. The Court stated:
[W]e now adopt the view of other Superior Court panels that
have determined that incarceration neither compels nor
precludes termination. . . . Instead, we hold that incarceration is
a factor, and indeed can be a determinative factor, in a court’s
conclusion that grounds for termination exist under § 2511(a)(2)
where the repeated and continued incapacity of a parent due to
incarceration has caused the child to be without essential
parental care, control or subsistence and that the causes of the
incapacity cannot or will not be remedied.
Id. at 827 (quotations and citations omitted). The Court went on to state:
In line with the expressed opinion of a majority of justices in
R.I.S., [36 A.3d 567 (Pa. 2011)], our prior holdings regarding
incapacity, and numerous Superior Court decisions, we now
definitively hold that incarceration, while not a litmus test for
termination, can be determinative of the question of whether a
parent is incapable of providing “essential parental care, control
or subsistence” and the length of the remaining
confinement can be considered as highly relevant to
whether “the conditions and causes of the incapacity,
abuse, neglect or refusal cannot or will not be remedied
by the parent,” sufficient to provide grounds for
termination pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S. § 2511(a)(2). . . . If a
court finds grounds for termination under subsection (a)(2), a
court must determine whether termination is in the best
interests of the child, considering the developmental, physical,
and emotional needs and welfare of the child pursuant to §
2511(b). In this regard, trial courts must carefully review the
individual circumstances for every child to determine, inter alia,
how a parent’s incarceration will factor into an assessment of the
child’s best interest.
Id. at 830 (emphasis added)(quotations and citations omitted).
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Although the Court in S.P. found that this Court had erred in reversing
the trial court’s termination of father’s parental rights, there, father had
been incarcerated since prior to S.P.’s birth and had never provided the child
with essential parental care. Id. at 332. Here, the testimony was
uncontroverted that Father was an active parent, on a daily basis, up until
the time of his incarceration, and that he had visits once a week with
Children for the first year of his three-year incarceration. Father had no
prior arrests, no PFAs, and no indications of abuse with respect to Children.
There is no evidence of drug or alcohol issues, and there is no evidence
pointing to violent or criminal behavior. There is every indication that Father
has the willingness and capability to parent. Caseworker Manning
acknowledged that Father requested visitation after Children were removed
from Mother’s care, but many of those requests were simply not “arranged.”
Further, even accepting that Father’s incarceration is determinative of
his incapacity and that his incapacity has caused Children to be without
essential parental care, control or subsistence necessary for their physical or
mental well-being, we cannot find that the record provides clear and
convincing evidence that the cause of the incapacity (incarceration) cannot
or will not be remedied.
The well-established requirement, that the evidence be clear and
convincing in order to prove termination under section 2511(a), exists to
further protect against government interference with the family relation and
the values it serves. Santosky v. Kramer, 455 U.S. 745 (1982); see also
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In re William L., 383 A.2d 1228, 1240 (Pa. 1978); In re P.S.S.C., 32 A.3d
1281 (Pa. Super. 2011); In re Rinker, 117 A.2d 780, 783 (Pa. Super.
1955) (“A family is an institution which preceded government. Its sanctity
was universally recognized before judges or statutes or constitutions or
welfare organizations were known to man.”).
Here, we are unable to conclude that any of the testimony was so
clear, direct, weighty and convincing on this point as to enable the trier of
fact to come to a clear conviction, without hesitation, that Father will be
incapable of parenting Children. See In re I.G., 939 A.2d 950, 951 (Pa.
Super. 2007) (“Where an incarcerated parent faces termination of parental
rights, it is critical that the fact of incarceration and the practical limits it
imposes on the parent/child relationship not obscure the focus of the
statutory inquiry.”). Cf. In re D.C.D.. 105 A.3d 662 (Pa. 2014) (trial court
did not abuse its discretion in determining father was incapable of providing
care for child and that incapacity would exist at least until father's minimum
release date of 2018 when the child would be seven years of age and where
there was absence of bond between father and child).
We reiterate that Father is no longer incarcerated; at the time of the
hearing he was in a halfway house and expected to transition to a home and
a job within the next few months. Father’s testimony establishes that he is
both willing and able to transition to reunification:
Q: Where are you residing now?
A: I’m in the Allentown CCC center in Allentown.
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Q: And for how long are you going to be there?
A: I’ll probably by there for another two weeks and then I’m
moving to Scranton.
Q: Is it your intent- is your intent to move to Scranton to be
near your children -
A: Yes.
Q: - or for other reasons?
A: Yes, I also have a job with my friend. He owns a construction
company. I’ve been doing it for like twenty years, and he said,
he can help me get a place to live, and he also- I got a job. You
know, so, that’s where I’m at.
Q: Do you love your children?
A: I love them with all my heart.
N.T. Hearing, supra at 72.
The evidence shows that Father was a hands-on parent prior to his 3-
year incarceration and that he worked steadily for thirty years. The
evidence also shows that Children were removed from Mother’s care when
Father was incarcerated, and that Mother brought Children to visit Father
every weekend of his first year of incarceration, but that these visits stopped
once Children were removed from Mother’s care and placed in the care of
Foster Parents. Further, the evidence shows that Father requested
visitation, and that although CYS acknowledged Father’s requests, it did not
follow through or “arrange” visitation while Father was incarcerated. Our
review of the record indicates that CYS has not proven by clear and
convincing evidence that Father’s incapacity “cannot or will not be
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remedied.” 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 2511(a)(2). This is not a question of credibility,
but rather one of insufficient evidence.9
Additionally, we find that the trial court erred when, after finding
termination under section 2511(a)(2), it failed to engage in any discussion
with respect to section 2511(b). See 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 2511(b) (“The court in
terminating the rights of a parent shall give primary consideration to the
developmental, physical and emotional needs and welfare of the child. The
rights of a parent shall not be terminated solely on the basis of
environmental factors such as inadequate housing, furnishings, income,
clothing and medical care if found to be beyond the control of the parent.”)
(emphasis added). Where, as here, the court determined termination was
warranted under subsection (a), it was required to go on to a needs and
welfare analysis under subsection 2511(b). See L.M., supra. Under
subsection (b), the court's focus is not on the parent's conduct, but on the
children and their needs. “This analysis includes weighing the needs and
welfare of the child, as well as an examination of the emotional bond
between parent and child. In re: D.W., 856 A.2d 1231, 1234 (Pa. Super.
2004). This “encompasses intangibles such as love, comfort, security, and
stability.” In re Adoption of R.J.S., 901 A.2d 502, 514 (Pa. Super. 2006).
____________________________________________
9
We note that the trial court’s management of this case has complicated our
appellate review. Father’s circumstances here are significantly different from
those of the father in K.A.P., Jr.’s case., but it appears the court combined
the hearings and conflated the issues. See footnote 4, supra.
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Here, the court states in its opinion that “termination of parental
rights would best serve the needs and welfare of the children[,]” but
provides no discussion or analysis to support this statement. See Trial
Court Opinion, supra at 3. “A proper Section 2511(b) analysis focuses on
whether termination of parental rights would best serve the developmental,
physical, and emotional needs and welfare of the child.” In re T.D., 949
A.2d 910, 920 (Pa. Super. 2008). “The court should examine intangibles
such as “love, comfort, security, and stability” when determining the needs
and welfare of the child.” Id. See also I.G., 939 A.2d at 951 (“the
subsection (b) evaluation must be given more than mere lip service.”).
Further, as noted in our decision, the court failed to engage in a
section 2511(b) analysis. Termination is controlled by statute and requires a
two-step analysis. Where, as here, the trial court determined Father’s
conduct warranted termination of his parental rights under section 2511(a),
the court was required to engage in the second part of the analysis under
section 2511(b).
As noted above, one major aspect of the needs and welfare analysis
concerns the nature and status of the emotional bond between parent and
child, “with close attention paid to the effect on the child of permanently
severing any such bond.” L.M., 923 A.2d at 511. CYS presented no
evidence on this issue, and the court made no mention of any bond between
Children and Father. This is not a case where we can assume no bond
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existed, especially in light of Father’s unrefuted testimony that there was a
bond between him and Children.
In light of the above, we are constrained to reverse.10
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 7/2/2015
____________________________________________
10
We are not unmindful, however, of the bonds that have developed
between Children and their half-sibling, K.A.P., Jr. We confront a vicious
cycle when CYS does not “follow through” when an incarcerated parent
affirmatively seeks visits and communication with his children. The
parent/child bond is diluted, and the bond the child may have with foster
parents and, like here, a half-sibling in the same foster home, is
strengthened. Although CYS may have believed it was best to keep these
children together and that the foster parents could provide a better life for
them, that is not the standard. Our focus is on Father, on his actions or
inactions, and whether CYS has proved grounds for termination by clear and
convincing evidence. We cannot lose sight of the focus of the statutory
inquiry. In re I.G., supra. We do recognize, however, that it may be in
the best interest of Children if the sibling bonds, which were formed prior to
Children’s and K.A.P., Jr.’s placement, could be maintained. Because CYS
will be involved in the reunification process in this case, we suggest that it
consider the history and relationship Children have with K.A.P., Jr.
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