In the Int. of: S.C., Appeal of: D.M. ( 2023 )


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  • J-A05028-23
    NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
    IN THE INTEREST OF: S.C., A              :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
    MINOR                                    :        PENNSYLVANIA
    :
    :
    APPEAL OF: D.M., MOTHER                  :
    :
    :
    :
    :   No. 2597 EDA 2022
    Appeal from the Order Entered October 4, 2022,
    in the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County,
    Civil Division at No(s): CP-46-DP-0000107-2022.
    BEFORE: LAZARUS, J., KUNSELMAN, J., and MURRAY, J.
    MEMORANDUM BY KUNSELMAN, J.:                        FILED AUGUST 21, 2023
    D.M. (Mother) appeals the order issued by the Montgomery County
    Court of Common Pleas, which dismissed the dependency petition filed by the
    Montgomery County Office of Children and Youth (Montgomery OCY) and
    granted sole custody of the parties’ six-year-old daughter, S.C. (the Child), to
    Z.C. (Father). See P.R.J.C.P. 1409(A)(2).     The juvenile court agreed with
    Montgomery OCY’s position that the Child would have been dependent but for
    the fact that Father was a ready, willing, and able parent. The juvenile court’s
    custody award effectively superseded the parties’ prior shared custody
    arrangement.    On appeal, Mother alleges the court lacked jurisdiction and
    failed to follow the Rules of Juvenile Court Procedure. After review, we affirm.
    The record discloses the following factual and procedural history. At the
    outset, we note that three separate child protective services agencies were
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    involved with the family: Bucks County Children and Youth Services (Bucks
    CYS); Lehigh County Children and Youth Services (Lehigh CYS); and
    Montgomery OCY, which was the agency that filed the subject dependency
    petition.
    In November 2021, the family was under the investigation of the Bucks
    CYS. Bucks CYS was investigating allegations that Father had sexually abused
    the Child, but that Mother had coached the Child into making these claims.
    Bucks CYS had previously dealt with sexual abuse allegations involving Father,
    and those allegations were deemed unfounded.          During its investigation,
    Bucks CYS removed the Child from Mother’s care and obtained an order
    placing the Child in the care of Paternal Grandfather. See N.T., 9/20/22 (Day
    1), at 34-35. At the time, Bucks CYS was unable to place the Child in Father’s
    care, because Mother had filed a Protection From Abuse petition against Father
    on behalf of herself and the Child, and that petition was still pending. Id. at
    35. Ultimately, Bucks CYS chose not to proceed with a dependency petition.
    The parents had left the county, and it was agreed that Father would have full
    custody of the Child, subject to Mother’s supervised visits. Bucks CYS still had
    concerns that Mother was coaching the Child into saying that Father sexually
    abused her. Id. at 38, 39. So at the closure of the Bucks CYS case, Mother
    and Father were ordered not to discuss allegations of sexual abuse with the
    Child. Id. at 38.
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    In May 2022, following a hearing officer’s recommendation, Mother and
    Father agreed to share custody of the Child. The agreement was reduced to
    a custody consent order.
    In June 2022, the family came to the attention of Montgomery OCY after
    it learned Mother went to multiple doctors’ offices alleging that Father sexually
    abused the Child. Id. at 50. The referral source also claimed that Mother was
    aggressive, and that she might be under the influence of drugs. Id. When a
    Montgomery OCY caseworker interviewed Mother and the Child, the Child
    stated that “Daddy touches me with his fingers,” but would not elaborate. Id.
    at 52. The caseworker passed along the disclosure to Lehigh CYS, which was
    also investigating allegations of Father’s sexual abuse.        In the interim,
    Montgomery OCY asked Mother to provide a drug screen, which came back
    positive for methamphetamine and THC. Id. at 53. Because Mother tested
    positive, and because Lehigh CYS was investigating Father, Montgomery OCY
    filed a dependency petition.
    The juvenile court set the adjudicatory hearing for August 2, 2022.
    When Mother and the Child failed to appear for the hearing, and their location
    could not be ascertained, the court issued a bench warrant. Mother and the
    Child were ultimately found in the home of an unrelated male. The court then
    issued an emergency protective order, which granted Montgomery OCY
    emergency custody and placed the Child with Paternal Grandfather.          Soon
    thereafter, Lehigh CYS determined that the sexual abuse allegations against
    Father were unfounded.
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    The juvenile court held the rescheduled adjudicatory hearing on
    September 20 and October 4, 2022.                At the hearing, Montgomery OCY
    recommended that the juvenile court dismiss the dependency petition and
    grant Father sole custody of the Child. The court agreed and issued such an
    order on October 4, 2022.           Mother timely filed1 an appeal, wherein she
    presents the following issues for our review:
    1. Did the trial court abuse its discretion or err as a
    matter of law when, despite the withdrawal on the
    record of the dependency petition by the solicitor of
    the Office of Children and Youth, the juvenile court
    awarded sole legal and physical custody of the child
    to Father in contravention of the order of the family
    court that had ordered sole physical custody to
    Mother?
    2. Did the trial court abuse its discretion and/or err as a
    matter of law by finding Mother to be a drug addict
    after jurisdiction was withdrawn from the juvenile
    court by the withdrawal of the dependency petition on
    the record by the solicitor for the Office of Children
    and Youth?
    3. Did the trial court abuse its discretion and/or err as a
    matter of law by finding the Child was without
    appropriate care, protection and support while in
    Mother’s care after jurisdiction was withdrawn from
    the juvenile court by the withdrawal of the
    dependency petition on the record by the solicitor for
    the Office of Children and Youth?
    ____________________________________________
    1 In a children’s fast track case, the appellant’s concise statement of matters
    complained of on appeal must be filed concomitantly with the notice of appeal.
    See Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b). Mother failed to comply with this Rule when she filed
    her concise statement two weeks after her notice. However, we decline to
    dismiss Mother’s appeal notwithstanding the circumvention. See In re
    K.T.E.L., 
    983 A.2d 745
     (Pa. Super. 2009).
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    Mother’s Brief at 1.
    Notwithstanding the presentation of three separate claims, Mother only
    advances two arguments in her Brief; insofar as we can discern, Mother
    collapses her second and third issue into a single contention.2 First, Mother
    argues that the juvenile court lacked jurisdiction to award Father sole custody.
    Second, Mother argues that even if the juvenile court had jurisdiction, its order
    was erroneous because the court failed to make the requisite findings before
    it could award Father sole custody. Both arguments present questions of law.
    Thus, we begin with our observation of the appropriate scope and standard of
    review:
    We review orders in dependency cases by accepting the
    findings of fact and credibility determinations of the trial
    court if they are supported by the record. See In re R.J.T.,
    
    9 A.3d 1179
    , 1190 (Pa. 2010). We are not, however,
    required to accept the trial court’s inferences or conclusions
    of law. See 
    id.
     The appellate court must ensure that the
    record represents a comprehensive inquiry and that the trial
    court has applied the appropriate legal principles to the
    record. See In re L.B., 
    229 A.3d 971
    , 977 (Pa. Super.
    2020). If the question before us is a question of law, […]
    the scope of review is plenary. See in re K.L.S., 
    934 A.2d 1244
    , 1246 (Pa. 2007).
    Interest of J.B., 
    247 A.3d 447
    , 448 (Pa. Super. 2021).
    ____________________________________________
    2 We caution counsel to be mindful of Pa.R.A.P. 2119(a) (providing that the
    argument section of the brief shall be divided into as many parts as there are
    questions to be argued).
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    We add that when the question presented is a question of law, the
    standard of review is de novo. See, e.g., In re G.D., 
    61 A.3d 1031
    , 1036 (Pa.
    Super. 2013).
    1. Whether the juvenile court had jurisdiction to enter its
    order dismissing the dependency petition and granting
    Father custody of the Child.
    The Juvenile Act defines a dependent child as, inter alia:
    A child who:
    (1)     is without proper parental care or control,
    subsistence, education as required by law, or other
    care or control necessary for his physical, mental, or
    emotional health, or morals. A determination that
    there is a lack of proper parental care or control may
    be based upon evidence of conduct by the parent,
    guardian or other custodian that places the health,
    safety or welfare of the child at risk, including
    evidence of the parent's, guardian's or other
    custodian's use of alcohol or a controlled substance
    that places the health, safety or welfare of the child at
    risk;
    […]
    42 Pa.C.S.A. § 6302.
    Following an adjudicatory hearing, the court shall enter an order as to
    whether the child is dependent. See Pa.R.J.C.P. 1409(A). At that point, the
    court may make one of two determinations. Either the court finds the child is
    dependent under Rule 1409(A)(1), or the court finds the child is not dependent
    under Rule 1409(A)(2), which provides:
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    (2)       No dependency. If the court finds the child not to be
    dependent or the court finds a parent ready,
    willing, and able to provide proper parental care
    or control, the court shall:
    (a)     dismiss the petition;
    (b)     order the child to be discharged from custody and
    any restrictions ordered in the proceedings; and
    (c)     enter an order identifying individual(s) who will
    have the legal and physical custody until such
    order is modified by further order of the court.
    Pa.R.J.C.P. 1409(A)(2)(a)-(c) (emphasis added).
    Instantly, the juvenile court determined that Father was ready, willing,
    and able to provide proper parental care and control under Rule 1409(A)(2).
    Consequently, the court dismissed the dependency petition under Rule
    1409(A)(2)(a) and entered an order granting Father custody under Rule
    1409(A)(2)(b)-(c).
    In her first appellate issue, Mother argues the juvenile court lacked
    jurisdiction to award Father custody. Her argument is predicated on the fact
    that the assistant solicitor for Montgomery OCY used imprecise terminology
    during the adjudicatory hearing.               At various points throughout the
    proceedings, the assistant solicitor stated it was Montgomery OCY’s position
    that the dependency petition had been, or should be, “withdrawn.” See, e.g.,
    N.T. (Day 1) at 7; 87.3      Mother claims that because Montgomery OCY sought
    ____________________________________________
    3 Specifically, the Montgomery OCY Solicitor stated: “…our recommendation
    today is that the dependency petition shall be withdrawn and father is a fit
    and willing parent to take custody of this child.” See N.T. (Day 1) at 7.
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    to withdraw its petition, the juvenile court lacked jurisdiction to issue an order
    under the Juvenile Act superseding the parties’ prior shared custody order.
    Mother’s argument strains credulity.          The position of the assistant
    solicitor was clear: Montgomery OCY recommended that the court find Father
    to be a ready, willing, and able parent; and that the court dismiss the petition
    in accordance with Rule 1409(A)(2)(a).          Notwithstanding the assistant
    solicitor’s occasional use of the term “withdraw,” there could be no confusion
    as to what Montgomery OCY actually sought. The assistant solicitor made its
    position clear from the outset of the proceedings. See id., at 3, 7. Indeed,
    the   assistant    solicitor   used   the   terms    “withdraw”   and   “dismiss”
    interchangeably:
    The court:       So you [(assistant solicitor)] are essentially
    asking that the dependency petition be
    dismissed and if there are any custody issues
    that need to be changed that they be handled
    by the family court unit. Is that essentially
    what ---.
    Solicitor:       That’s correct, Your Honor. That is exactly
    what we are asking. That the court dismiss
    the petition and place custody with Father
    and any other issues with regard to that go
    to family court and notice to all parties with
    regard to any future hearings as [well] as
    court orders are provided when it goes to
    family court, so the judge knows what is
    going on when they have to address any
    issues with regards to custody.
    Id. at 83-84.
    The court:       But at the point – if I go along with [OCY’s]
    proposal, you are asking me to allow physical
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    and legal custody to be placed with Father;
    therefore, OCY is out of the picture?
    Solicitor:        Correct, Your Honor. We are asking the court
    to dismiss the petition.        It has been
    withdrawn by OCY. We are asking that it
    be dismissed and the court orders that
    pursuant to Rule 1409 that Father is a fit and
    willing parent and then they can go fight it
    out all they want in family court.
    Id. at 87 (emphasis added).
    This was not a case where, say, an agency had of change of heart and
    sought to stop the adjudicatory hearing in its tracks – only for the juvenile
    court to take the reins away from the moving party and charge full steam
    ahead. Nor was it the case, as Mother alleges, that Montgomery OCY resorted
    to “semantical word games” to help Father obtain a backdoor custody
    modification. See Mother’s Brief at 4, 8-9. According to Mother, Montgomery
    OCY “in collusion with Father, used the juvenile court to gain custody of S.C.
    and avoid an evidentiary hearing on custody in family court.” Id. at 16.
    Mother’s forceful repudiation of the Agency’s position evinces a
    misunderstanding      of   the   Agency’s   duty   to   protect   children   of   the
    Commonwealth.      At the hearing, Montgomery OCY took the position that
    Mother posed a risk to the Child’s safety, but that government intervention
    was ultimately not appropriate, because Father was available to provide
    suitable care. The assistant solicitor explained that the only reason the Child
    had not been returned to Father’s care sooner, was because of the open
    investigation with Lehigh CYS. See N.T., 10/4/22 (Day 2) at 3. By the time
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    the court held the adjudicatory hearing, Lehigh CYS had determined that the
    allegations against Father were unfounded, and Montgomery OCY had no
    other concerns about Father’s ability to care for the Child. Id. at 3-4. Still, by
    virtue of its dependency petition, Montgomery OCY hedged; if the court
    disagreed with the Agency’s belief that Father was an appropriate caregiver,
    then the Agency was prepared to go forward due to its concerns about
    Mother’s ability to care for the Child. Simply because the respective positions
    of Father and the Agency aligned at the hearing, does not mean the two were
    nefarious confederates attempting to deprive Mother of custody without due
    process. The position of Montgomery OCY was perfectly reasonable. And as
    we explain below, Mother’s rights were safeguarded by proper procedures.
    We do not deny that law often turns on exact language, that something
    as simple as a comma could have consequences which are as drastic and they
    are unforeseeable.4 Here, however, we decline to put form over substance
    and reverse a juvenile court’s careful determinations regarding the safety of
    the Child, simply because the assistant solicitor misspoke. For these reasons,
    we find Mother’s first appellate issue is entirely without merit.
    ____________________________________________
    4 Indeed, we question whether it would have been more grammatically
    appropriate for Rule 1409(A)(2)(a) to provide for the “denial” of the petition,
    as opposed to its “dismissal.” See also Interest of J.B., 
    247 A.3d 447
     (Pa.
    Super. 2021) (referring to the “discharge” of the dependency petition, under
    Rule 1409(A)(2)(a)).
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    2. Whether the juvenile court committed a procedural error when
    it dismissed the dependency petition without first determining
    Mother could not provide proper care to the Child?
    Regarding her second and third appellate issues, Mother argues that the
    juvenile court’s order was erroneous, because it failed to follow proper
    procedures.    Mother maintains that before the court could dismiss the
    dependency petition and award Father custody, the court had to first
    determine that Mother could not properly care for the Child. According to
    Mother, the court failed to make this requisite finding and thus its order was
    erroneous.
    We agree with Mother’s interpretation of the law, up to a point. A court
    is empowered by 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 6341(a) and (c) to make a finding that a child
    is dependent, if the child meets the statutory definition by clear and convincing
    evidence. However, the definition of a dependent child contained in Section
    6302 clearly states that a child must lack a parent (or guardian or other legal
    custodian) who can provide appropriate care to the child. A child whose non-
    custodial parent is ready, willing and able to provide such care does not meet
    this definition. See In re M.L., 
    757 A.2d 849
    , 851 (Pa. 2000).
    This Court has explained:
    [I]t is the duty of the trial court to determine whether the
    non-custodial parent is capable and willing to render proper
    parental control prior to adjudicating a child dependent. If
    the court determines that the custodial parent is unable to
    provide proper parental care and control “at this moment”
    and that the non-custodial parent is “immediately available”
    to provide such care, the child is not dependent under the
    provisions of the Juvenile Act. Consequently, the court must
    grant custody of the allegedly dependent child to the non-
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    custodial parent. Once custody is granted to the non-
    custodial parent, “the care, protection, and wholesome
    mental and physical development of the child” can occur in
    a family environment as the purpose of the Juvenile Act
    directs. 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 6301(b).
    In Interest of Justin S., 
    543 A.2d 1192
    , 1200 (Pa. Super. 1988); see also
    M.L., 757 A.2d at 851.
    Courts are keenly aware of “the implications of saddling a parent with
    the state involvement that accompanies an adjudication of dependency when
    such an intrusion is unwarranted.” Interest of J.B., 
    247 A.3d 447
    , 451 (Pa.
    Super. 2021). Courts are also aware how so-called “crossover cases” – i.e.,
    cases involving both the family court and the juvenile court – may necessitate
    orders that undo the family’s prior custody arrangement. We can appreciate
    how it must seem unfair to Mother, that a child protective services agency can
    intervene in the family’s custody dispute, put a thumb on the scale such that
    the court deprives her of custody, only for the agency to bow out after the
    entry of the order.
    However, the Rules of Juvenile Court Procedure anticipate the existence
    of prior custody orders and safeguard against undue intervention.        Before a
    juvenile court can issue an order modifying a family’s prior custody
    arrangement under Rule 1409(A)(2), the court must first render heightened
    findings.
    Specifically, the court must determine, after an evidentiary hearing, that
    the custodial parent is currently unable to provide proper parental care. J.B.,
    247 A.3d. at 451, 455; see also Pa.R.J.C.P. 1409 – Comment (“A trial court
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    has the authority to transfer custody or modify custody to the child’s non-
    custodial parent without a finding of dependency if sufficient evidence of
    dependency would have existed but for the availability of the non-custodial
    parent. In Interest of Justin S., 
    543 A.2d 1192
     (Pa. Super. 1988.”)). We
    reiterate that the burden of proof in a dependency proceeding is on the
    petitioner to demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that a child meets
    the statutory definition of dependency. Interest of A.C., 
    237 A.3d 553
    , 563
    (Pa. Super. 2020) (citation omitted).5 Thus, to modify a custody order in favor
    of the non-custodial parent, the court must first determine, based on clear
    and convincing evidence, that the child would have met the statutory
    definition of a dependent child, but for the availability of the non-custodial
    parent.
    In addition to these heightened findings, we note that the Rules
    anticipate that such an award will be revisited.        As noted above, Rule
    1409(A)(2)(c) requires the juvenile court to identify the “individual(s) who will
    have legal and physical custody until such order is modified by further
    order of court.” Pa.R.J.C.P. 1409(A)(2)(c) (emphasis added).
    On appeal, Mother argues the juvenile court never made the requisite
    finding that the Child would have been dependent (due to Mother’s inability to
    care for the Child) but for the availability of Father. See Mother’s Brief at 20.
    ____________________________________________
    5 “Clear and convincing evidence” is “evidence that is so clear, direct, weighty,
    and convincing as to enable the trier of fact to come to a clear conviction,
    without hesitancy, of the truth of the precise facts in issue.” A.C., 237 A.3d at
    558 (citation omitted).
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    Mother claims that Montgomery OCY did not provide “a scintilla of evidence”
    to prove its case. Id. at 22.
    Contrary to      Mother’s    characterization, the   juvenile   court   made
    considerable findings that the Child would have been dependent but for
    Father’s availability. See Trial Court Opinion (T.C.O.), 12/1/22, at 4 (infra).
    Critically, the court rendered these findings after an evidentiary hearing. See
    J.B., 247 A.3d at 451, 455. The question becomes whether those findings
    constituted sufficient evidence that Mother was unable to provide “proper
    parental care or control, subsistence, education as required by law, or other
    care or control necessary for his physical, mental, or emotional health, or
    morals.” See 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 6302 (defining “dependent child”).
    The juvenile court determined:
    Following Rule 1409(A) guidelines, the court looked at
    several pieces of evidence to determine that the Child was
    not [] dependent and awarded custody to Father, not
    Mother. The allegations against Father were unfounded,
    thereby making Father a fit and able parent pursuant to Rule
    1631(B)[Footnote omitted]. For Mother, however, OCY presented
    several pieces of evidence to the court to make a sufficient
    determination that Mother was not a willing and fit parent
    to the Child.
    One was Mother’s positive drug test result for
    Methamphetamine and THC.[6]         There is substantial
    evidence on the record that supports the court’s ruling on
    Mother’s drug test results. Counsel for OCY introduced
    evidence that Mother’s drug test results tested positive for
    Methamphetamine and THC. Mother tried to offer evidence
    ____________________________________________
    6 We note that Mother’s doctor testified that Mother has a medical marijuana
    card. See N.T. (Day 1), at 24.
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    that the medication [(Adderall)] being taken for her ADD
    could produce a false positive. However, OCY offered expert
    testimony in the form of a toxicologist, Erika Walker, directly
    rebutting Mother’s argument by testifying that the drug test
    went through a confirmatory process of the results and ruled
    out possibilities of false positives.
    Mother failed to offer any compelling evidence to conclude
    otherwise. The only evidence Mother was able to offer was
    testimony from her family Doctor Thomas G. Wilson, who is
    not a certified expert toxicologist. Dr. Wilson testified that
    he prescribed her Adderall to treat Mother’s ADD. Dr.
    Wilson confirmed that Adderall will test positive for
    Amphetamine, not Methamphetamine.
    In addition, Mother’s history of conduct with the court
    supports a determination of the court finding Mother unfit.
    Mother failed to appear at an adjudication hearing on August
    2, 2022 and a bench warrant was issued for Mother’s arrest
    for failing to appear and taking the Child to an unknown
    location. (The Child told the caseworker that she was hiding
    with an unrelated male, [J.A.], for the past week because
    Mother told her they had to hide from the caseworker and
    the police.) Mother also had a history of making false sexual
    abuse allegations against Father, all of which were deemed
    unfounded.
    Trial Court Opinion (T.C.O.), 12/1/22, at 4 (citations to the record and original
    footnote omitted)(style adjusted).
    As the record stands, Mother’s use of marijuana does not seem
    particularly worrisome, especially in light of the fact that she had a valid
    medical marijuana card. The positive test for methamphetamines was more
    troubling. On that point, we acknowledge that the testimony was contested.
    The toxicologist explained that when there is a presumptive positive test, as
    there was here for methamphetamine, the sample is put through a
    confirmatory process. The expert toxicologist stated that in her experience,
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    she has never seen Adderall produce a false positive for methamphetamine.
    See N.T. (Day 1) at 19.
    According to the juvenile court, Mother’s doctor testified that Mother’s
    prescribed Adderall will not result in a positive test for methamphetamine.
    See T.C.O. at 4. But that averment was not the doctor’s complete testimony.
    The doctor clarified on re-direct examination that he has seen Adderall cause
    a false positive for methamphetamine enough times that it concerns him. See
    N.T. (Day 1) at 30-31. Be that as it may, the juvenile court was free to weigh
    the toxicologist’s expert testimony more heavily than that of Mother’s family
    doctor. The court’s reliance on the toxicologist’s testimony, over the family
    doctor’s, was not improper.
    Upon review, we conclude that the juvenile court followed the
    appropriate procedures when it dismissed the dependency petition and
    awarded Father custody of the Child.     First, the court held an evidentiary
    hearing and determined there was sufficient evidence of dependency due to
    Mother’s lack of proper parental care. The Juvenile Act provides that evidence
    of a lack of proper parental care includes evidence of a parent’s use of
    controlled substances. See 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 6302. The court was persuaded by
    the toxicologist’s testimony that Mother’s positive test for methamphetamines
    was not a result of her prescribed medication. Moreover, proper parental care
    includes care necessary to the Child’s physical and mental health. See id. We
    do not ignore the finding that Mother has caused the Child to endure emotional
    distress by coaxing the Child into making false allegations of sexual abuse
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    against Father. Next, the court determined that the Child did not meet the
    definition of dependency, because Father was an available to provide proper
    parental care. The court was persuaded by the testimony that the allegations
    of Father’s sexual abuse were false.         Lastly, in accordance with Rule
    1409(A)(2)(c), the court indicated that Mother may seek modification of
    Father’s custody award in family court. See Order of Court, 10/4/22 at ¶18.
    Briefly, we mention Mother’s secondary argument that the juvenile court
    erred, because the Agency never made reasonable efforts at reunification.
    See Mother’s Brief at 25. For support, Mother relies on Section 6351 of the
    Juvenile Act, which mandates that courts must ascertain whether the child
    protective services agency made reasonable efforts to prevent or eliminate
    the need for removal from the child’s home, prior to the placement of the child
    outside of the home. See 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 6351(b)(2). Mother seems to reason
    that, because Montgomery OCY did not make any efforts to alleviate its
    concerns about Mother’s care, the court was barred from placing the Child
    with Father. But Mother misconstrues this subsection. Section 6351(b) refers
    to requisite placement findings that the juvenile court must make after the
    child is found to be dependent, but before the court enters a dispositional
    order pursuant to Section 6351(a)(1), (2), (2.1), or (3). As the Child was
    never found to be dependent, this subsection does not come into play.
    Mother’s argument is without merit because it puts the cart before the horse.
    To conclude: the juvenile court did not err when it dismissed the
    dependency petition and awarded Father custody of the Child, pursuant to
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    PA.R.J.C.P. 1409(A)(2).      The court had jurisdiction to issue its order
    notwithstanding the assistant solicitor’s inadvertent use of the term
    “withdraw” as it relates to the dependency petition.   Moreover, the court
    followed proper juvenile court procedure. It held an evidentiary hearing and
    thereafter determined that the Child would have been dependent but for the
    availability of the non-custodial parent.
    Order affirmed.
    Judgment Entered.
    Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
    Prothonotary
    Date: 8/21/2023
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Document Info

Docket Number: 2597 EDA 2022

Judges: Kunselman, J.

Filed Date: 8/21/2023

Precedential Status: Precedential

Modified Date: 8/21/2023