Adoption of K.M.G., Appeal of: T.L.G. ( 2019 )

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2019 PA Super 281IN RE: ADOPTION OF K.M.G. : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
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APPEAL OF: T.L.G., MOTHER :
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:
:
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: No. 580 WDA 2018
Appeal from the Decree March 5, 2018
In the Court of Common Pleas of McKean County Orphans' Court at
No(s): 42-17-0239
IN RE: ADOPTION OF: A.M.G. : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
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APPEAL OF: T.L.G., MOTHER :
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: No. 581 WDA 2018
Appeal from the Decree March 5, 2018
In the Court of Common Pleas of McKean County Orphans' Court at
No(s): No. 42-17-0240
IN RE: ADOPTION OF S.A.G. : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
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APPEAL OF: T.L.G., MOTHER :
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: No. 582 WDA 2018
Appeal from the Decree March 5, 2018
In the Court of Common Pleas of McKean County Orphans' Court at
No(s): No. 42-17-0241
IN RE: ADOPTION OF J.C.C. : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
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APPEAL OF: T.L.G., MOTHER :
:
:
:
:
: No. 583 WDA 2018
Appeal from the Decree March 5, 2018
In the Court of Common Pleas of McKean County Orphans' Court at
No(s): 42-17-0242
BEFORE: PANELLA, P.J., BENDER, P.J.E., LAZARUS, J., OLSON, J., DUBOW,
J., KUNSELMAN, J., NICHOLS, J., MURRAY, J., and McLAUGHLIN,
J.
OPINION BY DUBOW, J.: FILED SEPTEMBER 13, 2019
In these consolidated appeals, Appellant, T.L.G. (“Mother”), appeals
from the Decrees that involuntarily terminated her parental rights to her four
minor children (“the Children”). This Court certified this case for en banc
review to determine whether, in reviewing involuntary termination of parental
rights decisions, this Court has the obligation to review sua sponte whether
the Guardian ad Litem (“GAL”) had a conflict.
We find that we do not have the authority to address the conflict issue
sua sponte. In so holding, we overrule In re Adoption of T.M.L.M., 184
A.3d 585 (Pa. Super. 2018).1 We also affirm the orphans’ court order
involuntarily terminating Mother’s parental rights.
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1“It is well settled that this Court, sitting en banc, may overrule the decision
of a three-judge panel of this Court.” Commonwealth v. Morris, 958 A.2d
569, 580 n.2 (Pa. Super. 2008) (citation omitted).
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On January 4, 2019, this Court certified this case for en banc review. On
January 4, 2019, this court certified this case for en banc review of the
following issues, slightly reframed for clarity:
1. Is it mandatory that the Superior Court, in an appeal from an
involuntary termination decision, review sua sponte whether the
child’s legal counsel and/or guardian ad litem [“GAL”] properly
represented the child’s legal interest, particularly in regard to
whether there was a conflict between GAL’s representation and
the child’s stated preference?
2. When a party properly raises the issue of whether a GAL has a
conflict before the orphans’ court, what is the standard of review
that Superior Court must use to review the decision of the trial
court?
3. When a party raises the issue that the GAL has an undisclosed
conflict for the first time on appeal before Superior Court, must
Superior Court remand the case to the orphans’ court to determine
whether a conflict exists or may Superior Court make its own
determination from the certified record?
4. What factors must the orphans’ court consider and findings the
orphans’ court must make in determining whether the child’s
preference differs from the child’s best interests and thus, the GAL
has a conflict?
The parties have filed supplemental Briefs addressing these issues.
SUPERIOR COURT’S AUTHORITY TO RAISE SUA SPONTE AN
UNDISCLOSED CONFLICT OF A GAL
In a dependency case, the trial court appoints a GAL who is “to represent
the legal interests and the best interests of the child.” 42 Pa.C.S. § 6311(a);
Pa.R.J.C.P. 1151(A). There will be times when the child’s best interest differs
from the child’s stated preferences. In such instances, the GAL has the
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professional obligation to notify the court of a conflict. See Rule of
Professional Conduct 1.7. When the GAL notifies the court of a conflict, the
court will appoint a separate attorney to represent the child’s stated interest.
See Pa.R.J.C.P. 1154 cmt.
Since the parties in a dependency proceeding are usually identical to
those in a hearing on a petition to involuntarily terminate parental rights, the
orphans’ court often appoints the dependency GAL to represent the child
during the termination proceedings. This is pursuant to Section 2313 of the
Adoption Act that requires the court to appoint “counsel” to represent the child
at the involuntary termination hearing. 23 Pa.C.S. 2313(a). There has been
much litigation recently about the term “counsel” and those instances in which
a GAL has a conflict and may not serve as “counsel.”2 See, e.g., In re:
Adoption of L.B.M., 161 A.3d 172 (Pa. 2017); In re: T.S., 192 A.3d 1080(Pa. 2018).
We are not defining today those situations in which a GAL has a conflict,
but rather the procedural issue of whether Superior Court must sua sponte
review every termination case to make an independent determination of
whether a GAL has a conflict.
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2 In a termination hearing in which the GAL is advocating that it is in the child’s
best interest for the orphans’ court to grant the termination petition, it is
typically a parent who will raise the issue that the GAL has a conflict. The
parent will argue that there is a conflict because the parent believes that the
child does not want to have the rights of his parent terminated and thus, the
child opposes a petition to terminate parental rights.
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A three-judge panel of this Court, in T.M.L.M., held that Superior Court
must sua sponte make an independent determination of whether a GAL has a
conflict in every involuntary termination case. T.M.L.M., 184 A.3d at 590. In
that case, the orphans’ court stated on the record that the appointment of the
GAL for the involuntary termination hearing complied with L.B.M. and, thus,
Section 2313(a). Id. at 588. No party on appeal contested this finding of the
orphans’ court. Yet, the panel in T.M.L.M. sua sponte reviewed the record,
found that the GAL may have a conflict, reversed the order terminating the
mother’s parental rights, and remanded the case for further proceedings. Id.
at 590. We now overrule T.M.L.M because the Superior Court only has the
authority to raise sua sponte the issue of whether the lower court appointed
any counsel for the child, and not the authority to delve into the quality of the
representation.
It is well established that an appellate court may not raise an issue sua
sponte, except when the issue addresses the subject-matter jurisdiction of the
court. In re Angeles Roca First Judicial Dist. Philadelphia Cty., 173 A.3d
1176, 1197 (Pa. 2017) (“It is foundational that jurisdictional questions may
be raised sua sponte.”); Commonwealth v. Parker, 173 A.3d 294, 296 (Pa.
Super. 2017) (“A court may consider the issue of jurisdiction sua sponte.”).
There are, however, a few discrete, limited non-jurisdictional issues that
the Supreme Court has authorized the lower courts to raise sua sponte, such
as waiver as a result of various briefing defects. See, e.g., Commonwealth
v. Passaro, 476 A.2d 346, 348 (Pa. 1984) (describing Pennsylvania’s practice
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of dismissing pending appeals of escaped prisoners, which the court may do
sua sponte); Berg v. Nationwide Mut. Ins. Co., Inc., 6 A.3d 1002, 1015
(Pa. 2010) (“failure to include issues in a Rule 1925(b) statement resulted in
‘automatic’ waiver, which could be found sua sponte by courts.”).
Likewise, the Superior Court has found that it has the authority to
consider sua sponte the failure of the trial court to conduct a Grazier hearing
to ensure that a defendant has knowingly and voluntarily waived his right to
counsel for his first PCRA petition. Commonwealth v. Stossel, 17 A.3d
1286, 1290 (Pa. Super. 2011). This Court based this conclusion on the fact
that the PCRA statute entitles an indigent defendant to counsel for his first
PCRA petition, and our Supreme Court has acknowledged that “PCRA relief
cannot stand unless the petitioner was afforded the assistance of counsel.”
Id. (quoting from Commonwealth v. Albrecht, 720 A.2d 693, 699 (Pa.
1998)).
Similarly, when the orphans’ court fails to appoint any counsel for a
child in an involuntary termination hearing, Superior Court may raise this issue
sua sponte. In re: K.J.H., 180 A.3d 411, 413 (Pa. Super. 2018). In K.J.H.,
this Court reasoned that since the child had no counsel at the termination
hearing and Section 2313(a) requires the appointment of counsel, Superior
Court should raise the issue sua sponte in order to protect this statutorily-
mandated right of the child. Id.In contrast, however, our Supreme Court has specifically prohibited the
Superior and Commonwealth Courts from deciding certain issues sua sponte.
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For instance, the Superior Court cannot address constitutional issues sua
sponte. See Wiegand v. Wiegand, 337 A.2d 256, 257 (Pa. 1975) (criticizing
the Superior Court’s sua sponte consideration of a constitutional issue, which
“exceeded its proper appellate function of deciding controversies presented to
it.”).
Also, the intermediate appellate courts may not consider sua sponte
standing, recusal issues, or the need to file a dependency petition. See In re
Nomination Petition of deYoung, 903 A.2d 1164, 1168 (Pa. 2006) (noting
that our Supreme Court “has consistently held that a court is prohibited from
raising the issue of standing sua sponte. Whether a party has standing to
maintain an action is not a jurisdictional question.”); Commonwealth v.
Whitmore, 912 A.2d 827, 833 (Pa. 2006) (concluding that the Superior Court
erred when it sua sponte removed the trial judge where recusal had never
been raised by the parties). See also Fallaro v. Yeager, 528 A.2d 222, 228
(Pa. Super. 1987) (finding that a court may not make a sua sponte
determination of dependency in a custody action where no dependency
petition has been filed or in an action under the Child Protective Services Law).
The Supreme Court disfavors the intermediate appellate court’s
consideration of issues sua sponte because it is more important to respect
orderly judicial decision-making, afford counsel the opportunity to brief and
argue issues, permit the court to benefit from counsel’s advocacy, and uphold
issue preservation rules. Wiegand, supra.
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Although our Supreme Court has authorized the appellate courts to raise
sua sponte the issues above, it has not authorized the Superior Court to raise
sua sponte the issue of whether a GAL representing a child in an involuntary
termination hearing has a conflict in such representation. In fact, the most
recent Pennsylvania Supreme Court cases addressing the child’s statutory
right to legal counsel, as opposed to a GAL, in an involuntary termination
hearing pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S. § 2313(a) do not involve situations in which
thre Superior Court raised the issue sua sponte.
In L.B.M., the parents raised the issue of a conflict with the orphans’
court and appealed the issue to Superior Court. L.B.M., 161 A.3d at 176-77.
Similarly, in T.S., the parents raised the issue of a conflict in Superior Court.
T.S., 192 A.3d at 1085. In both cases, because the parents raised the conflict
issue before either the orphans’ court or Superior Court, there was no reason
for the Supreme Court to address whether Superior Court can raise the conflict
issue sua sponte. Thus, at this point, the Supreme Court has not authorized
Superior Court to raise the conflict issue sua sponte.
In this case, the orphans’ court provided the parties with an opportunity
to raise the issue of whether the GAL had a conflict, and no party responded.
In particular, the orphans’ court entered an order appointing the GAL who had
represented the Children in the dependency proceeding to represent the
Children in the termination hearing, finding that, pursuant to In re: D.L.B.,
166 A.3d 322 (Pa. Super. 2017), the GAL, “may adequately represent both
[Children’s] best interests and legal interests without conflict.” Order, 1/8/18.
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The orphans’ court then gave each party 10 days to object to the “dual
representation[.]” Id. No party objected.
Applying the current precedent to these facts, Superior Court has no
authority to raise sua sponte the issue of whether a GAL has a conflict. Rather,
as stated previously, this Court only has the authority to raise sua sponte the
trial court’s failure to appoint any counsel for the Child. See K.J.H., 180 A.3d
at 413. In this case, the orphans’ court did appoint counsel, the GAL, and we
have no authority to delve into the quality of the GAL’s representation. The
Supreme Court has not authorized us to do so.
Moreover, we do not see the need to do so because numerous
protections exist to ensure that the GAL does not have a conflict at an
involuntary termination hearing. First, a GAL has a professional responsibility
to notify the court if there is a conflict so that the court may appoint separate
counsel. See Rule of Professional Responsibility 1.7. Second, any party has
standing to raise the issue of a potential conflict before the orphans’ court or
Superior Court. See, e.g., L.B.M., 161 A.3d at 176-77; T.S., 192 A.3d at
1085. Finally, orphans’ court, as in T.M.L.M. and this case, often decides this
issue. Thus, there are many mechanisms to protect a child’s right to counsel
who does not have a conflict at a termination hearing.
Accordingly, we overrule T.M.L.M., and hold that this Court does not
have the authority review sua sponte whether a conflict existed between
counsel’s representation and the child’s stated preference in an involuntary
termination of parental rights proceeding. Rather, pursuant to K.J.H., this
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Court’s authority is limited to raising sua sponte the issue of whether the
orphans’ court violated Section 2313(a) by failing to appoint any counsel for
the Child in a termination hearing. K.J.H., 180 A.3d at 413.
We next address the second issue certified for en banc review and
consider the standard of review that the Superior Court must apply when
reviewing an orphans’ court decision that the GAL does not have a conflict
and, thus, the orphans’ court does not need to appoint a separate attorney to
represent the child’s stated preference at a termination hearing. Since the
determination that a GAL does not have a conflict is a factual one, we hold
that we should use the same standard of review when reviewing any factual
determination of the orphans’ court and give great deference to those factual
findings.
It is well settled that when we review an order granting or denying
termination of parental rights, “we accept factual findings and credibility
determinations supported by the record, and we assess whether the common
pleas court abused its discretion or committed an error of law.” T.S., 192
A.3d at 1087. We may not reverse merely because the record could support
a different result. In re T.S.M., 71 A.3d 251, 267 (Pa. 2013). We give great
deference to the orphans’ courts “that often have first-hand observations of
the parties spanning multiple hearings.” Id. Moreover, the orphans’ court “is
free to believe all, part, or none of the evidence presented, and is likewise
free to make all credibility determinations and resolve conflicts in the
evidence.” In re M.G., 855 A.2d 68, 73-74 (Pa. Super. 2004) (citation
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omitted). Thus, we must give great deference to orphans’ court credibility
determinations and weight that the orphans’ court places on the evidence
regarding a potential conflict.
The third issue certified is the standard of review the Superior Court
must use when a party fails to raise the conflict issue before the orphans’ court
and raises it for the first time on appeal. In such cases, the Superior Court
should review the record to determine if the record is clear and undisputed
about whether the child is able to express “a subjective, articulable
preference” and if so, whether the child’s preferred outcome differed from the
child’s best interest. See T.S., 192 A.3d at 1089.
Our final question that we certified for en banc review addresses the
best practices for the orphans’ court in determining whether the GAL has a
conflict; i.e., for a child who can express “a subjective, articulable preference,”
whether the child’s best interests differs from the child’s preferred outcome.
Id. In other words, the issue is whether the child’s preferred outcome is that
the orphans’ court deny the involuntary termination petition while the GAL
advocates that it is in the child’s best interest for the orphans’ court to grant
the petition. The orphans’ court should first determine whether the GAL has
spoken with the child about the child’s preferences regarding the termination
petition and whether such inquiry results in the GAL having a conflict. If the
GAL represents to the court that he or she has made the inquiry and there is
not a conflict, the orphans’ court should permit any other party to present
evidence to support that party’s position that the GAL has a conflict. If the
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orphans’ court at that point decides that it is necessary to question the child,
the orphans’ court should do so in the manner that is least difficult for the
child. If it is possible, however, to obtain the information from a mental health
provider who is working with the child, we would suggest that the orphans’
court hear that testimony in lieu of questioning the child.
MOTHER’S ISSUES ON APPEAL REGARDING INVOLUNTARY
TERMINATION OF HER PARENTAL RIGHTS
Having determined that Superior Court is not authorized to raise sua
sponte the issue of whether the GAL had a conflict that it did not disclose, we
will address the merits of Mother’s appeal that the orphans’ court erroneously
granted the petition to terminate her parental rights involuntarily.
McKean County Children and Youth Services (“CYS”) became involved
with the Children because of Mother’s inability to address the Children’s
significant medical needs, extensive dental problems, ongoing head lice and
serious bowel disease. Also, Mother was unable to ensure that the Children
attended school.
Additionally, Mother was living in subsidized housing with her paramour,
who is a Tier II sex offender, and his children. One of the paramour’s children
sexually abused one of Mother’s children; yet Mother continued to live with
the paramour, attempting to hide it from CYS. Mother’s relationship with her
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paramour has also jeopardized her ability to remain in subsidized housing for
the Children. Memorandum and Order, filed 1/25/19 at 11-12.3
CYS provided numerous services to Mother to alleviate the issues that
led to the adjudication of dependency and the subsequent placement of
Children in kinship care. Over two years after the trial court adjudicated
Children dependent, however, CYS filed a Petition for Involuntary Termination
of Parental Rights (“TPR Petition”) pursuant to § 2511(a)(1), (2), (5), and (8)
and (b) of the Adoption Act.
On February 12, 2018, the orphans’ court held a hearing on CYS’ TPR
Petition. On March 5, 2018, the orphans’ court granted the TPR Petition and
involuntarily terminated Mother’s parental rights to Children.4
Mother timely appealed. Both Mother and the orphans’ court complied
with Pa.R.A.P. 1925.
Mother raises the following issues on appeal:
1. Whether the [orphans’] court erred in finding that [CYS] had
proven by clear and convincing evidence that grounds for the
involuntary termination of [Mother’s] parental rights existed
when [Mother]: was substantially in compliance with the
[CYS]’s reunification plan; had made efforts to correct the
identified problems which led to the placement of [Children];
when no evidence as submitted that [Mother] failed or refused
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3 The orphans’ court filed four nearly identical Memorandum and Orders, one
for each child, only changing the individual child’s name when appropriate.
For ease of disposition, we will only cite to one Memorandum and Order.
4Father, who is not a subject to this appeal, filed a Petition to Voluntarily
Relinquish his Parental Rights to Children, which the orphans’ court granted
on April 5, 2018.
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to perform parental duties, and; when [CYS] did not otherwise
prove grounds existed to terminate [Mother]’s parental rights?
2. Whether the [orphans’] court erred in not giving primary
consideration to the effect of this termination on the
developmental and emotional needs and welfare of [Child]
pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S. [§] 2511(b).
Mother’s Brief at 11.
When we review a decision of orphans’ court to terminate parental
rights, we must accept the findings of fact and credibility determinations of
the orphans’ court if the record supports them. T.S.M., 71 A.3d at 267. “If
the factual findings are supported, appellate courts review to determine if the
trial court made an error of law or abused its discretion.” Id. (citation
omitted). “Absent an abuse of discretion, an error of law, or insufficient
evidentiary support for the trial court's decision, the decree must stand.” In
re R.N.J., 985 A.2d 273, 276 (Pa. Super. 2009) (citation omitted). We may
not reverse merely because the record could support a different result.
T.S.M., 71 A.3d at 267. We give great deference to the trial courts “that often
have first-hand observations of the parties spanning multiple hearings.” Id.
Moreover, “[t]he trial court is free to believe all, part, or none of the evidence
presented, and is likewise free to make all credibility determinations and
resolve conflicts in the evidence.” M.G., 855 A.2d at 73-74 (citation omitted).
In this case, the orphans’ court found that CYS met its burden of proof
under 23 Pa.C.S. § 2511(a)(1), (2), (5), (8), and (b); we need only agree
with its decision as to any one subsection of Section 2511(a) and subsection
(b) in order to affirm the termination of parental rights. See In re B.L.W.,
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843 A.2d 380, 384 (Pa. Super. 2004) (citation omitted). For the following
reasons, we conclude that the orphans’ court correctly determined that CYS
met its burden of proof under 23 Pa.C.S. § 2511(a)(2) and (b).
Termination Pursuant to Section 2511(a)(2)
We first conclude that the orphans’ court properly exercised its
discretion by terminating Mother’s parental rights pursuant to Section
2511(a)(2).
In order to terminate parental rights pursuant to Section 2511(a)(2),
the moving party must prove by clear and convicting evidence:
(1) the parent’s repeated and continued incapacity, abuse, neglect or
refusal;
(2) that such incapacity, abuse, neglect or refusal 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.
In re Adoption of C.D.R., 111 A.3d 1212, 1216 (Pa. Super. 2015).
The grounds for termination under Section 2511(a)(2) are not limited
to a parent’s affirmative misconduct, but rather a parental incapacity that a
parent cannot remedy. In re Z.P., 994 A.2d 1108, 1117 (Pa. Super. 2010).
Parents have an “affirmative duty” to work towards the return of their
children. In re Julissa O., 746 A.2d 1137, 1141 (Pa. Super. 2000). This
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“affirmative duty,” at a minimum, requires a parent to cooperate with the
Child and Youth Agencies and complete the rehabilitative services necessary
so that the parent can perform his parental duties and responsibilities. Id.Additionally, the statute does not provide a parent with an unlimited
period time to overcome the incapacity that led to the adjudication of the
child; rather, a parent must make a diligent effort towards overcoming the
incapacity so that the parent can assume his parental duties within a
reasonable period of time after the adjudication of dependency. Z.P., 994
A.2d at 1117.
This Court has explained, Section 2511(a)(2) does not focus on a
parent's refusal or failure to perform parental duties, “but instead emphasizes
the child's present and future need for essential parental care, control or
subsistence necessary for his physical or mental well-being.” In re E.A.P.,
944 A.2d 79, 82 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2008) (internal quotation marks omitted).
Therefore, when addressing the requirements of Subsection (a)(2), the
orphans’ court should not ignore a child's need “for a stable home and strong,
continuous parental ties[.]” Id. (emphasis in original). This factor is
particularly important when the “disruption of the family has already occurred
and there is no reasonable prospect for reuniting it[.]” Id. (citation omitted).
Applying these principles, the orphans’ court concluded that Mother’s
continued incapacity to parent the Children caused them to be without
essential parental care, control or subsistence. The orphans’ court first found
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that Mother, even with the support of CYS, was not able to address
consistently the Children’s serious medical needs. This failure harmed the
Children:
[An] older sibling suffered with serious bowel condition/symptoms
that continued much longer than they had to due to lack of
treatment. The [C]hildren had many teeth pulled and extensive
pain and will continue to have difficulty and complications from
the lack of appropriate initial dental hygiene and follow through.
The [C]hildren have suffered from the frequent lice infestations
including an older child bullied at school.
Memorandum and Order at 11.
The court also found that Mother chose her relationship with her
paramour “over the safety of her biological children.” Id. at 12. As discussed
above, Mother’s paramour is a sex offender, which precludes him from having
unsupervised contact with children. Mother permitted such unsupervised
contact and one of her paramour’s children sexually assaulted one of the
Children. Id. at 4. Even after this occurred, Mother continued to live with her
paramour and his children. Id. at 12.
Also, CYS assisted Mother in obtaining subsidized housing. Id. at 11.
Mother’s paramour, however, is not permitted to live there. Nevertheless,
Mother continues to live there with her paramour and his children, even
though it is likely that she will lose her housing and have no housing for her
Children:
Mother was provided assistance for housing but she utilized this
assistance to provide a home for her paramour and his children.
She has had a longtime relationship with [her paramour], a Tier
II sex offender, and this relationship will continue. Mother will
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likely lose her housing because she is allowing [her paramour] and
his children to reside there.
Id. at 12.
Additionally, CYS made reasonable efforts to assist Mother so that the
orphans’ court could return the Children to her. CYS assisted Mother in
obtaining housing, mental health services, parenting classes and attending
the Children’s medical and dental appointments. Mother, however, failed to
take advantage of these services. Memorandum and Order, p. 3-6. Also,
Mother did not consistently visit with the Children. Id.
Finally, the Children’s lives “have dramatically improved” since CYS
placed them with their kinship parents. Id. at 6. Their hygiene, dental and
medical conditions, and behavior have all improved. Id.
Our review of the record supports the findings of the orphans’ court and
we agree that Mother lacks the continued capacity to care for the Children
because she, even with the assistance of CYS, is unable to meet the Children’s
significant medical and dental issues. She also is unable to place her
relationship with her Children ahead of her relationship with her paramour,
who poses a significant threat to the Children. It is also reasonable for the
orphans’ court to conclude from this evidence that Mother will not overcome
these issues in the near future.
Moreover, the Children’s mental and physical health have improved
dramatically since CYS placed them with the kinship provider. Thus, we agree
with the orphans’ court that CYS met its burden under Section 2511(a)(2).
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Mother argues that the orphans’ court erred because she was
substantially in compliance with the reunification plan and made efforts to
correct the identified problems that led to the placement of Children. Mother’s
Br. at 21. The orphans’ Court, however, chose to place weight on the evidence
that Mother was not in compliance with the reunification plan because she
failed to consistently attend mental health treatment, visit with the Children
regularly, and dependably attend the Children’s medical and dental
appointments. Memorandum and Order at 3-6, 11-12. Since we will not re-
weigh the evidence, this argument fails.
Mother also argues that there was no evidence that Mother failed or
refused to perform parental duties. Mother’s Br. at 11. Once again, as we
have already discussed, the orphans’ court found that Mother, in fact, failed
and refused to perform parental duties. Since the record supports these
findings, this argument fails as well.
In sum, we find that record supports the finding of orphans’ court that
Mother demonstrated a continued incapacity to parent the Children and
Mother was unwilling or unable to remedy the incapacity in the near future.
Thus, we conclude that orphans’ court did not abuse its discretion when it
concluded that CYS met its burden pursuant to Section 2511(a)(2).
Termination Pursuant to Section 2511(b)
In her last issue, Mother contends that the orphans’ court abused its
discretion when it determined that it was in Children’s best interest to
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terminate Mother’s parental rights pursuant to Section 2511(b). Mother’s Br.
at 21. We find, however, that the evidence supports this conclusion of the
orphans’ court.
With respect to Section 2511(b), our analysis focuses on the effect that
terminating the parental bond will have on the child. In particular, we review
whether “termination of parental rights would best serve the developmental,
physical, and emotional needs and welfare of the child.” In re Adoption of
J.M., 991 A.2d 321, 324 (Pa. Super. 2010). It is well settled that
“[i]ntangibles such as love, comfort, security, and stability are involved in the
inquiry into needs and welfare of the child.” In re C.M.S., 884 A.2d 1284,
1287 (Pa. Super. 2005) (citation omitted).
One major aspect of the “needs and welfare” analysis concerns the
nature and status of the emotional bond that the child has with the parent,
“with close attention paid to the effect on the child of permanently severing
any such bond.” In re Adoption of N.N.H., 197 A.3d 777, 783 (Pa Super.
2018) (citation omitted). Moreover, the fact that a child has a bond with a
parent does not preclude the termination of parental rights. In re A.D., 93
A.3d 888, 897 (Pa. Super. 2014) (citation omitted). Rather, the orphans’
court must examine the depth of the bond to determine whether the bond is
so meaningful to the child that its termination would destroy an existing,
necessary and beneficial relationship. Id. at 898.
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In addition to evaluating whether the child’s bond to the parent is
meaningful, the orphans’ court can “equally emphasize the safety needs of
the child, particularly in cases involving physical or sexual abuse, severe child
neglect or abandonment, or children with special needs.” In re K.Z.S., 946
A.2d 753, 763 (Pa. Super. 2008) (emphasis in original). Finally, the orphans’
court should also consider the child’s relationship with his foster parents and
whether the foster parent provides to the child “the intangibles such as [] love,
comfort, security, and stability.” Id.Finally, Section 2511(b) provides, “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.” 23 Pa.C.S. § 2511(b).
In this case, the orphans’ court acknowledged that Children have a bond
with Mother, but found that “this bond has been harmful at times as Mother
has also missed visits and declined to have more contact even though the
opportunity existed. This has resulted in anguish to the [C]hildren when they
expect to see Mother and that doesn’t occur.” Memorandum and Order at 11.
Further, the orphans’ court emphasized that Mother, who lives with her
paramour and his children, has chosen “her relationship with [her paramour]
over the safety of her biological children.” Id. at 12. This choice of Mother’s
has already endangered one of the Children who was sexually assaulted by
one of her boyfriend’s children. Id. Since Mother’s boyfriend is a registered
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sex offender, Mother will most likely lose her subsidized housing. The orphans’
court also concluded that “there will be no change in the future.” Id.
Thus, Mother has demonstrated that she will not provide safety, security
and stability for the Children and thus, any expectation that the Children may
have that Mother will protect them will be frustrated.
In contrast, the Children are “doing very well in the [] kinship home.”
Id. at 12. The kinship parents ensure that the Children receive the necessary
medical and dental care, provide stability for the Children and are working
with services providers. Id.
Based on these factors, the orphans’ court concluded that terminating
Mother’s parental right would best serve Children’s “developmental, physical
and emotional needs and welfare.” Id.
Our review of the record supports the factual findings of the orphans’
and we agree that with the conclusion of orphans’ court that terminating
Mother’s parental rights is in the best interest of the Children.
Mother avers that Mother and Children enjoy a close bond and CYS
failed to present evidence that severing that bond would be in Children’s best
interest. Mother’s Br. at 29. Mother argues that the evidence presented
suggests that she has frequent contact with Children, a good relationship with
Children, and Children are always happy to see her. Id. at 29. Mother
contends that the medical, lice, and housing issues were due to poverty and
insurance issues out of her control. Id. The record belies these claims.
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CYS offered services to Mother for eighteen months prior to removing
Children from her care, including assistance with obtaining mental health
services, scheduling medical appointments and transporting Mother and
Children to them, and mitigating the Children’s lice issues. Mother did not
fully take advantage of the services. Id. at 2-4.
Additionally, Mother’s possible lack of housing is due to her own actions.
CYS assisted Mother in obtaining subsidizing housing. Mother, however, chose
to allow her paramour, who is a sex offender and not permitted to live in
subsidized housing, to live there. If Mother loses housing, it is not because of
Mother’s poverty, but because she chose to allow her paramour to live in the
housing.
Accordingly, the record reflects that Mother’s medical, lice, and housing
issues were not the result of poverty out of her control, but, rather, her own
actions. Accordingly, Mother’s argument lacks merit.
CONCLUSION
In sum, for the reasons stated above, we overrule T.M.L.M., and hold
that this Court does not have the authority to review sua sponte whether a
conflict existed between counsel’s representation and the child’s stated
preference in an involuntarily termination of parental rights proceeding. In
addition, our review of the record reveals that the orphans’ court properly
found that CYS provided clear and convincing evidence to support the
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termination of Mother’s parental rights pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S. §§ 2511(a)(2)
and (b).
Decree affirmed.
President Judge Panella, and Judges Lazarus, and Murray join this
Opinion.
Judge Nichols concurs in the result.
Judge Olson files a Concurring/Dissenting Opinion in which Judge
Nichols joins.
President Judge Emeritus Bender files a Dissenting Opinion in which
Judges Kunselman and McLaughlin join.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 9/13/2019
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