Jasmine Anderson v. Lynchburg Department of Social Services ( 2012 )

COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA
Present: Judges Humphreys, Huff and Senior Judge Clements
JASMINE ANDERSON
MEMORANDUM OPINION *
v. Record No. 2166-11-3 PER CURIAM
MARCH 27, 2012
LYNCHBURG DEPARMENT
OF SOCIAL SERVICES
FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE CITY OF LYNCHBURG
J. Leyburn Mosby, Jr., Judge
(Herbert E. Taylor, III; Herbert E. Taylor, III, P.C, on brief), for
appellant.
(Susan L. Hartman, Assistant City Attorney; David E. Mass,
Guardian ad litem for the minor children, on brief), for appellee.
By order entered on September 29, 2011, the trial court terminated the residual parental
rights of Jasmine Anderson, mother, to her minor children, D.D. and J.D., pursuant to Code
§ 16.1-283(C)(2). On appeal of this decision, mother challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to
support the terminations. Upon reviewing the record and briefs of the parties, we conclude this
appeal is without merit. Accordingly, we summarily affirm the decision of the trial court. See Rule
5A:27.
Background
On appeal, we view the evidence in the “‘light most favorable’ to the prevailing party in the
circuit court and grant to that party the benefit of ‘all reasonable inferences fairly deducible
therefrom.’” Toms v. Hanover Dep’t of Soc. Servs., 46 Va. App. 257, 262, 616 S.E.2d 765, 767
(2005) (quoting Logan v. Fairfax Cnty. Dep’t of Human Dev., 13 Va. App. 123, 128, 409 S.E.2d
*
Pursuant to Code § 17.1-413, this opinion is not designated for publication.
460, 463 (1991)). When reviewing a decision to terminate parental rights, we presume the circuit
court “‘thoroughly weighed all the evidence, considered the statutory requirements, and made its
determination based on the child’s best interests.’” Id. at 265-66, 616 S.E.2d at 769 (quoting Fields
v. Dinwiddie Cnty. Dep’t of Soc. Servs., 46 Va. App. 1, 7, 614 S.E.2d 656, 659 (2005)). “The trial
court’s judgment, ‘when based on evidence heard ore tenus, will not be disturbed on appeal unless
plainly wrong or without evidence to support it.’” Id. at 266, 616 S.E.2d at 769 (quoting Logan, 13
Va. App. at 128, 409 S.E.2d at 463 (citation omitted)). “In its capacity as factfinder, therefore, the
circuit court retains ‘broad discretion in making the decisions necessary to guard and to foster a
child’s best interests.’” Id. (quoting Farley v. Farley, 9 Va. App. 326, 328, 387 S.E.2d 794, 795
(1990)).
The minor children, D.D. and J.D., were first removed from the custody of mother on April
12, 2007 after mother had issues involving unstable housing, erratic employment, positive drug
screens, and domestic violence. Mother also failed to fully cooperate with the Lynchburg
Department of Social Services (DSS) in accordance with child protective orders entered by the
Lynchburg Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court (JDR court). In February 2009, the JDR
court entered orders terminating mother’s parental rights to D.D. and J.D. and approving foster care
plans with goals of adoption. Mother appealed the cases to the trial court, which on March 5, 2010,
entered orders dismissing the petitions for termination, finding mother had shown good cause for
her failure to make sufficient progress in her “individual counseling” and she had made some
progress in maintaining employment and housing. The trial court also ordered DSS to file new
foster care plans with goals of “return to home” and to arrange counseling for mother and visitation
with the children.
DSS began telephone contact between mother and the children and eventually visitation
with the children. DSS referred mother to a health care center for a medication management
-2-
appointment, but she failed to follow through. Mother resumed counseling and initially was more
consistent with attending the sessions.
The two children struggled after resuming contact with mother. Dr. Joseph C. Conley, Jr.,
Ph.D., performed a neuropsychological evaluation of D.D. In his opinion, it appeared likely that the
resumption of contact with mother had “re-aroused intense underlying emotional conflicts generated
by the nature/quality of his relationship” with mother. Dr. Conley found it “reasonable to conclude
that curtailment of further contact with mother” would be in D.D.’s best interests. However,
because the goals of the foster care plans were “return to home,” DSS worked closely with
counselors for both mother and the children in an effort to continue the visitations. The children
returned to mother’s home on a trial basis on July 30, 2010.
Jennifer Taylor, a foster care worker at DSS, testified that after the children returned to
mother’s home, they exhibited aggressive behavior and began to lie and steal. One of the children
displayed sexualized behavior, and the other became anxious and fearful. Taylor also determined
that mother had not followed through with daycare arrangements made by DSS and mother had not
been working. In addition, Taylor learned mother had filed domestic violence charges against
Donte Dorsey, Sr., who was seen in the home on several occasions.
Mary Rice, a licensed professional counselor, provided counseling services to mother
starting in January 2010. She stated mother attended the sessions regularly until March 2010 when
her attendance became more sporadic. Rice learned that Dorsey had been released from jail in
February or March 2010. Rice stated she typically scheduled weekly appointments with mother,
but mother attended only seven appointments in a five-month time period and canceled several
appointments in August 2010. Rice stated that in counseling mother addressed issues of prioritizing
the needs of her children and domestic violence and its effect on the lives of her children, among
-3-
other topics. Rice stated mother was making progress with her counseling, but Rice became
concerned mother would fall back into the cycle of abuse when Dorsey was back in the home.
Tara Nunley, a licensed professional counselor, worked with D.D. and J.D. She testified
that contact with mother caused the two children to have outbursts, temper tantrums, and exhibit
aggressive behaviors. D.D. was placed in Krise-6 for evaluation. After extensive work with the
children, they were transitioned into mother’s home, but upon their return to mother’s home, their
behaviors escalated to the point that mother called Nunley for assistance. Nunley stated the children
were defiant, disrespectful, and non-responsive toward her when she went to mother’s home.
Nunley later learned the children had been having contact with Dorsey, which mother had not told
Nunley.
The children were returned to foster care after residing with mother for ten days. They were
removed from the home because of the contact the children had with Dorsey, the behaviors
exhibited by the children, and because mother had not been attending all of her counseling sessions.
After the children were returned to foster care, Nunley re-established full intensive services with a
team of therapists working with each child for ten hours per week. Nunley stated the behavior of
the children “got to the point where they could have put themselves or others in danger.” She
worked with the children until April 2011 when they were no longer displaying the behaviors that
required intensive services. Nunley stated the children were doing “very well” in foster care and it
would be detrimental to remove them from their foster home.
The evidence showed mother had two different jobs and three residences since 2009. She
was evicted from one residence for non-payment of rent and on one occasion, her landlord was
posting an eviction notice when a DSS employee was visiting the home.
Mother testified she did not have a relationship with Dorsey and she had seen him only on
one occasion between February 2010 and August 2010. She also stated she had made false charges
-4-
against Dorsey and she lied under oath to a magistrate when she told him Dorsey had been staying
with her. She also admitted she lied in court regarding a domestic violence charge against Dorsey.
When counsel for DSS asked mother whether she was lying then or lying now, mother replied,
“That’s for you to figure out.”
The trial court found DSS provided services to mother allowing her time to correct the
situations, obtain additional counseling, and provide stability for the children so they could be
returned to her. The court noted that when Dorsey was released from custody, mother’s attendance
in counseling decreased, and Dorsey had been a “bad influence” on the children, causing negative
reactions when they had contact with him. The trial court cited to testimony from counselors that
the children had negative behaviors and reactions after being placed back in mother’s home. The
trial court also stated that mother’s credibility was “severely impeached” at the hearing when she
admitted she had lied under oath in other courts.
Expressing concern for the best interests of the children, the court noted the children had
been in and out of foster care for four years and were doing well in foster care. The children were
also performing well in school. The trial court stated it was time for stability and permanency in the
lives of D.D. and J.D., and it found mother had not corrected the situation “in a timely manner.”
The trial court terminated mother’s parental rights to both D.D. and J.D., and it ordered a change in
goals in the foster care plans to adoption.
Mother appealed the judgment of the trial court to this Court.
Analysis
Mother contends the evidence was insufficient to support the termination of her parental
rights because she made substantial progress toward remedying the conditions that brought the
children into foster care.
-5-
Pursuant to Code § 16.1-283(C)(2), a parent’s residual parental rights “of a child placed in
foster care . . . may be terminated if the court finds, based upon clear and convincing evidence, that
it is in the best interests of the child” and that
[t]he parent . . ., without good cause, ha[s] been unwilling or
unable within a reasonable period of time not to exceed twelve
months from the date the child was placed in foster care to remedy
substantially the conditions which led to or required continuation
of the child’s foster care placement, notwithstanding the
reasonable and appropriate efforts of social, medical, mental health
or other rehabilitative agencies to such end. . . .
In determining what is in the best interests of a child, this Court has stated
a court must evaluate and consider many factors, including the age
and physical and mental condition of the child or children; the age
and physical and mental condition of the parents; the relationship
existing between each parent and each child; the needs of the child
or children; the role which each parent has played, and will play in
the future, in the upbringing and care of the child or children; and
such other factors as are necessary in determining the best interests
of the child or children.
Barkey v. Commonwealth, 2 Va. App. 662, 668, 347 S.E.2d 188, 191 (1986).
Clear and convincing evidence proved that termination of mother’s parental rights was in
the best interests of both D.D. and J.D. At the time of the termination hearing, the two children had
been in foster care for the better part of four years. The children were thriving in the care of their
foster home which was a potential adoptive placement. They were performing well in school.
Mother initially made some progress, particularly when she regularly attended her counseling
sessions prior to March 2010. However, she then began to miss her scheduled counseling sessions.
DSS employees also reported encounters with Dorsey at mother’s home, and there were allegations
of domestic violence between mother and Dorsey. Mother was less than forthcoming about her
relationship with Dorsey, and she stated she had lied under oath in court concerning abuse
allegations she made against him.
-6-
Perhaps most importantly, when the children were returned to mother for only ten days, they
exhibited negative and aggressive behaviors that their counselor described as being potentially
dangerous to themselves and others. The children underwent intensive therapy for more than six
months after the trial return to mother’s home. In addition, the neuropsychologist opined that a
resumption of contact between D.D. and mother had “re-aroused intense underlying emotional
conflicts generated by the nature/quality of his relationship” with mother and he suggested it would
be in the best interests of the child to have no contact with mother. Moreover, “‘past actions and
relationships over a meaningful period serve as good indicators of what the future may be expected
to hold.’” Winfield v. Urquhart, 25 Va. App. 688, 695-96, 492 S.E.2d 464, 467 (1997) (quoting
Linkous v. Kingery, 10 Va. App. 45, 46, 390 S.E.2d 188, 194 (1990)).
In addition, DSS explored several possible relative placements for the children. However,
none were found to be appropriate. Both the JDR court and the trial court dismissed the petitions
from great-grandparents of the children.
We recognize that “‘[t]he termination of [residual] parental rights is a grave, drastic and
irreversible action.’” Helen W. v. Fairfax Cnty. Dep’t of Human Dev., 12 Va. App. 877, 883, 407
S.E.2d 25, 28-29 (1991) (quoting Lowe v. Dep’t of Pub. Welfare of Richmond, 231 Va. 277, 280,
343 S.E.2d 70, 72 (1986)). However, “[i]t is clearly not in the best interests of a child to spend a
lengthy period of time waiting to find out when, or even if, a parent will be capable of resuming his
[or her] responsibilities.” Kaywood v. Halifax Cnty. Dep’t of Soc. Servs., 10 Va. App. 535, 540,
394 S.E.2d 492, 495 (1990).
-7-
The facts and circumstances supported the trial court’s findings, by clear and convincing
evidence, that termination of mother’s parental rights was in the best interests of D.D. and J.D.
pursuant to Code § 16.1-283(C)(2).
Accordingly, we affirm the decision terminating mother’s parental rights.
Affirmed.
-8-