In Re The Dependency Of: T.f. Tara Jo Hawkins, App. v. State Of Wa., Dshs, Res. ( 2019 )


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  •         IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
    In the Matter of the Dependency of
    T.F.; L.F.; N.F.; and A.F.,                   No. 77714-9-1
    (Consolidated with Nos. 77715-7-1,
    STATE OF WASHINGTON,                          77716-5-1, and 77717-3-1)
    DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL AND                                                        v-
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    HEALTH SERVICES,                                                                          crn—
    Respondent,          DIVISION ONE                                 CO
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    V.                                                                                           • •           rj;
    T.H.,                                          UNPUBLISHED OPINION                               coD
    Appellant.       FILED: January 28, 2019
    ANDRUS, J. — T.H. appeals orders terminating her parental rights to four
    children. She contends substantial evidence does not support the trial court's
    finding that there is little likelihood she would remedy her parental deficiencies in
    the near future.       She also contends Washington's termination statutes are
    unconstitutional, facially and as applied to this case. We disagree and affirm the
    termination orders.
    FACTS
    T.H. is the mother of four children, ranging from 14 to 5 years of age: T.F.,
    L.F., N.F., and A.F.1 As a result of unsafe living conditions, law enforcement
    The parental rights of the children's father are not at issue in this appeal. Despite
    having notice and legal representation, the father did not appear at the termination hearing. The
    trial court terminated his parental rights as to each child on August 23, 2017, pursuant to CR
    43(f)(3).
    No. 77714-9-1/2
    removed the children from T.H.'s custody on September 25, 2015, and filed a
    dependency action on September 29, 2015.2                    On December 1, 2015, T.H.
    agreed with the Department of Social and Health Services3 (Department) to the
    entry of orders of dependency and admitted that "she must address substance
    abuse and mental health issues in order to safely parent her children."4 Exhibit
    (Ex.) 11 at 3.
    In March 2017, the Department filed petitions to terminate T.H.'s rights as
    to each child, alleging in relevant part, that there was little likelihood that
    conditions would be remedied so that the children can be returned toT.H. in the
    near future because she "has not demonstrated the ability to care for her"
    children and "does not understand and is incapable of providing for the child's
    emotional, physical, mental, and developmental needs." Clerk's Papers (CP) at
    136-40.
    Because T.H. does not challenge many of the facts established in the
    record below,5 we focus on the facts relating to whether T.H.'s parenting
    deficiencies improved from the initiation of the dependency to the termination
    2 In September 2015, the duplex in which the children were living had no running water or
    consistent electricity. The property was littered with piles of trash and drug paraphernalia. The
    yard contained human feces as the family apparently used it as a bathroom. The children came
    to school without lunch and wearing the same clothing. The children seemed to be malnourished
    and there was scarce food in the home. Moreover, law enforcement regularly raided the upstairs
    neighbor's apartment. T.H. was aware that this neighbor engaged in criminal activity and
    considered him dangerous. Although law enforcement had previously provided T.H. with
    alternative housing resources, she did not follow through to move her children to a safer location.
    The duplex in which the family resided burned down shortly after the children were removed.
    3 As of July 1, 2018, the "Department of Children, Youth, and Families" has assumed the
    functions and duties of the Department of Social and Health Services. See RCW 43.216.906.
    4 The allegations as to each child are identical, except for where the child's identifying
    information appears and the notation that counsel had been appointed for T.F. only.
    5 See In re Interest of J.F., 
    109 Wash. App. 718
    , 722, 
    37 P.3d 1227
    (2001)(unchallenged
    findings are verities on appeal).
    2
    No. 77714-9-1/3
    hearing, and whether T.H.'s deficiencies were capable of being remedied in the
    near future to support returning the children to her care.
    The evidence at trial established that T.H. has a lengthy history of
    methamphetamine and substance abuse.                    After T.H. agreed to orders of
    dependency, the trial court ordered her to complete several services to help her
    overcome the parental deficiencies caused by her drug abuse, including
    participation in Project SafeCare;6 a drug and alcohol assessment; a mental
    health assessment, and random urinalysis testing (UAs). The trial court granted
    T.H. supervised visitation with the children and permitted her to visit them twice a
    week. The court order also required T.H., among other things, to keep the
    Department informed of her address and phone number and to notify the
    Department of any obstacles to accessing court-ordered services.
    T.H. testified that she did not feel a sense of urgency about complying with
    the court-ordered services during much of the dependency. The record bears
    this out. Although the Department provided T.H. with numerous referrals for a
    drug and alcohol assessment between December 2015 and August 2017, she
    never followed through in obtaining that evaluation. She never completed any
    random UAs. She acknowledged relapsing during the dependency and using
    drugs until June or July 2017. T.H. testified that she had scheduled a drug and
    alcohol evaluation for the first time for a date in September 2017.
    Similarly, T.H. was otherwise absent from all of the dependency
    proceedings. She failed to appear at the disposition hearing on December 22,
    2015, at the dependency review hearings in February 2016 and January 2017, or
    6 Project SafeCare   is a resource that helps families meet safe housing standards.
    - 3-
    No. 77714-9-1/4
    at the permanency planning meetings in July 2016 and June 2017. Critically, at
    each of these proceedings the trial court determined that T.H. was neither in
    compliance with the dependency orders nor making progress toward correcting
    the problems that necessitated the children's placement in out-of-home care.7
    T.H. testified that through 2016 and the spring of 2017, she experienced
    significant emotional problems, including restlessness, anxiety, and an inability to
    focus, shortness of breath, an increased heart rate, dizziness, and vision
    impairment. She "was pretty shut down" and slept for hours. She found having
    four children to be "overwhelming." She testified she obtained a mental health
    assessment in April 2017, but she provided the Department with no
    documentation to verify her participation in this assessment. T.H. acknowledged
    the assessment recommended that she engage in individual counseling, but she
    attended only one session with a counselor and did not to follow through with any
    additional counseling sessions. At the time of the termination hearing, she
    admitted she had not been back to see a counselor.
    T.H. acknowledged that securing adequate housing for her children was
    one of the primary concerns at the outset of the dependency.                         During the
    dependency, housing continued to be a struggle for T.H. As of February 2016,
    she reported to the Department she was living in a friend's basement, unsuitable
    housing for the children. T.H. testified that, in July 2017, she started living in a
    family friend's home. But she acknowledged that this house — in which at least
    four adults resided — was not a suitable location for her four children to live due to
    7 Though T.H. failed to attend any of these hearings, her trial counsel appeared at the
    proceedings and signed, as to form only, all of the resulting orders.
    -4-
    No. 77714-9-1/5
    "a spatial challenge." When asked how long she thought it would be until she
    had housing in which her children could reside, answered: "I currently am digging
    into the resource list that I have" but she was unable to provide a concrete
    timeframe.
    T.H.'s supervised visits with her children declined over the course of the
    dependency and reached a point at which she rarely visited them at all. Initially,
    when the children were placed with their maternal grandmother, T.H. visited them
    regularly. That changed in September 2016 when, due to the grandmother's
    declining health, the children had to be placed with other suitable caregivers.8
    T.H. never again visited N.F. after September 2016. She visited L.F. and A.F.
    only once.       Although she visited T.F. six or seven times in-person and
    communicated with T.F. several times through Facebook. T.H. did not respond
    to the Department's invitation to supervise a visit with her children in late August
    2017.
    The Department's social worker testified that before she could recommend
    reunification, T.H. would need to obtain and follow the recommendations from a
    drug and alcohol evaluation and mental health assessment, visit the children
    more consistently, and work towards obtaining appropriate housing for the
    family.8 Because T.H. had made no progress in following the court-ordered
    8 T.F., the oldest child, was placed with a family friend she knew and with whom she was
    comfortable. N.F. and A.F. were placed with a foster caregiver. While originally placed with
    siblings N.F. and A.F., L.F. was subsequently placed with a separate foster caregiver who was
    better able to address L.F.'s behavioral and medical needs.
    9 Although T.H. had initially been ordered to complete Project SafeCare, she was never
    eligible for that service because it is designed for parents that have physical custody of their
    children. In subsequent dependency orders, the requirement to participate in Project SafeCare
    was conditioned upon the mother's eligibility for the program.
    -5-
    No. 77714-9-1/6
    services or in maintaining consistent contact with the children, the social worker
    believed termination was in the children's best interest.
    The parties agreed the report of the volunteer guardian ad litem (VGAL)
    could be admitted into evidence in lieu of live testimony. According to the
    VGAL's report, T.F. wished to remain with the current placement; L.F. expressed
    little connection to T.H.; N.F. wished to remain with the current placement
    indefinitely and expressed little connection to T.H.; and A.F. was too young to
    express any desired wishes.         All of the children were doing well in their
    placements at the time of the termination hearing.             Ultimately, the VGAL
    recommended termination of T.H.'s rights to allow the children to become legally
    free. T.F., through appointed legal counsel, asked the trial court to terminate
    T.H.'s parental rights.
    All of the children, except for L.F., were in potentially permanent
    placements. L.F.'s placement was willing to provide long-term care but was not
    willing to adopt L.F. as of August 2017.
    In the three-day termination hearing of August 2017, the trial court
    considered the testimony of T.H., a Department social worker, the VGAL's report,
    and admitted 41 exhibits into evidence. In October 2017, the trial court entered
    findings of fact, conclusions of law, and orders terminating T.H.'s parental rights
    as to all four children. In key part, the trial court's orders determined:
    This is the tail end of a very old story dating back to the mother at
    the age of 12. I know there are a lot of issues in terminating, I do
    not consider that you failed. That is not the message I would ever
    want to give a parent. I do not want you to feel I have condemned
    you. That being said.
    6
    No. 77714-9-1/7
    A dependency petition was filed on September 29, 2015 pursuant
    to RCW 13.34.030(6)(b) and (c).. .
    (a) The child was found to be dependent pursuant to RCW
    13.34.030(6)(c) by order filed on December 1, 2015 as to the
    mother . . .
    (b) The Court entered dispositional orders pursuant to RCW
    13.34.130 on.. . December 23, 2015 as to the mother.
    (c) The child has been removed from the custody of the parent at
    the time of this hearing for a period of at least six months
    pursuant to a finding of dependency.
    The Court finds that the first three elements were proven by clear,
    cogent and convincing evidence.
    At the beginning of the case the issues of drug/alcohol, mental
    health that was not well understood, and parenting were to be
    addressed.
    The Department did make referrals for all services and the services
    were offered at all times to the mother.
    The mother completed a mental health assessment but did not
    follow up with recommended treatment and/or services.
    Seven referrals were made for drug/alcohol treatment. Mother did
    not complete a drug/alcohol assessment or treatment, and did not
    participate in random UA's. The mother had relapses and
    additional use and help was needed. At trial the mother testified
    she relapsed on methamphetamine in the summer of 2017.10 The
    mother did not participate in parenting services. A parenting
    assessment was never ordered and the mother never requested
    one. This service is normally offered when a child is closer to
    return home and this case never got to that point. The Court finds
    a parenting assessment was not a necessary service. The [C]ourt
    notes mother did not appear at a single dependency review hearing
    after her dependency order entered on December 1, 2015.
    (d) Services ordered under RCW 13.34.136 have been expressly
    and understandably offered or provided and all necessary
    10 T.H. argues that the trial court erred in finding: At trial the mother testified she
    relapsed on methamphetamine in the summer of 2017." App. Br. at 1,20. The record shows that
    T.H. testified to relapsing on methamphetamines between October 2016 and summer 2017. The
    reference to relapsing "in the summer of 2017" appears to be a harmless scrivener's error.
    -7-
    No. 77714-9-1/8
    services, reasonably available, capable of correcting the
    parental deficiencies within the foreseeable future have been
    expressly and understandably offered or provided. The Court
    finds that this element was proven by clear, cogent and
    convincing evidence.
    * * *
    (f) Continuation of the parent-child relationship clearly diminishes
    the child's prospect for early integration into a stable and
    permanent home. The Court finds that this element was proven
    by clear, cogent and convincing evidence, even for [L.F.].
    The court finds it is in the best interest of the child that all of the
    parental rights of [T.H.] be terminated under RCW 13.34.180 and
    190. This was not a close case and the Court is convinced by a
    preponderance of the evidence and likely even more.
    CP at 40-41.
    She now appeals as to each child.11
    ANALYSIS
    A.      Standard of Review
    Parental rights are a fundamental liberty interest protected by the United
    States Constitution. See Santosky v. Kramer, 
    455 U.S. 745
    , 753, 
    102 S. Ct. 1388
    , 
    71 L. Ed. 2d 599
    (1982). However, "the State has an equally compelling
    interest in protecting the physical, mental, and emotional health of the children."
    In re Dependency of H.W., 
    70 Wash. App. 552
    , 555, 
    854 P.2d 1100
    (1993)(citing
    In re Sego, 
    82 Wash. 2d 736
    , 738, 
    513 P.2d 831
    (1973)). In order to terminate the
    parent-child relationship, the Department must first prove the following six
    statutory elements by clear, cogent, and convincing evidence12:
    (a) That the child has been found to be a dependent child;
    11 T.H. objected to multiple findings of fact and a conclusion of law immediately prior to
    the trial court's entry of the termination orders. She now challenges only one finding on appeal.
    Unchallenged findings are accepted as true on appeal.
    12 "Clear, cogent, and convincing" means highly probable. In re Welfare of M.R.H., 
    145 Wash. App. 10
    , 24, 188 P.3d 510(2008).
    8-
    No. 77714-9-1/9
    (b) That the court has entered a dispositional order pursuant to
    RCW 13.34.130;
    (c) That the child has been removed or will, at the time of the
    hearing, have been removed from the custody of the parent for a
    period of at least six months pursuant to a finding of dependency;
    (d) That the services ordered under RCW 13.34.136 have been
    expressly and understandably offered or provided and all
    necessary services, reasonably available, capable of correcting the
    parental deficiencies within the foreseeable future have been
    expressly and understandably offered or provided;
    (e) That there is little likelihood that conditions will be remedied so
    that the child can be returned to the parent in the near future . . .
    and
    (f) That continuation of the parent and child relationship clearly
    diminishes the child's prospects for early integration into a stable
    and permanent home.
    RCW 13.34.180(1). Next, due process requires the trial court to expressly or
    impliedly find by clear, cogent, and convincing evidence that the parent is
    currently unfit. In re Welfare of A.B., 
    168 Wash. 2d 908
    , 918-19, 
    232 P.3d 1104
    (2010). If all of these elements are proven, the trial court must also find by a
    preponderance of the evidence that termination is in the "best interests" of the
    child. RCW 13.34.190(1).
    On review, we ask only whether the court's findings of fact are supported
    by "substantial evidence"13 and whether those findings support the court's
    conclusions of law. In re Dependency of P.D., 
    58 Wash. App. 18
    , 25, 
    792 P.2d 159
    (1990). Our Supreme Court has instructed that "[i]f there is substantial evidence
    13 "Substantial evidence exists if the record contains evidence of sufficient quantity to
    persuade a fair-minded, rational person of the truth of the declared premise." Bering v. SHARE,
    
    106 Wash. 2d 212
    , 220, 
    721 P.2d 918
    (1986)(citing In re Snyder, 
    85 Wash. 2d 182
    , 185-86, 
    532 P.2d 278
    (1975)).
    9
    No. 77714-9-1/10
    which the lower court could reasonably have found to be clear, cogent and
    convincing, an appellate court should not disturb the trial court's findings." In re
    Aschauer's Welfare, 
    93 Wash. 2d 689
    , 695, 
    611 P.2d 1245
    (1980).
    B.     Likelihood Parental Deficiencies will be Remedied
    T.H. first contends that the Department failed to prove by clear, cogent
    and convincing evidence that there was little likelihood that her parental
    deficiencies could be remedied in the near future. Consequently, she claims, the
    trial court erred when it entered the following finding in the termination orders:
    (e) There is little likelihood that conditions will be remedied so that
    the child can be returned to a parent in the near future. The
    Court finds that this element was proven by clear, cogent and
    convincing evidence. A parent's failure to substantially improve
    parental deficiencies within twelve months following entry of the
    dispositional order shall give rise to a rebuttable presumption
    that there is little likelihood that conditions will be remedied so
    that the child can be returned to the parent in the near future. In
    this case, there is a presumption that the mother did not
    overcome the conditions that led to the removal of her children.
    However, even without the presumption there is no evidence
    that the child could be retuned in the near future.
    The Court finds that the mother is unfit to parent and that this
    element was proven by clear, cogent and convincing evidence.
    The focus of the RCW 13.34.180(1)(e) is "whether parental deficiencies
    have been corrected." In re Dependency of K.R., 
    128 Wash. 2d 129
    , 144, 
    904 P.2d 1132
    (1995). If the Department proves that all necessary services reasonably
    capable of correcting the parental deficiencies within the foreseeable future were
    offered or provided, and the parental deficiencies are not substantially improved
    within 12 months of the dependency order, a rebuttable presumption arises that
    this factor is established. RCW 13.34.180(1)(e).
    -10-
    No. 77714-9-1/11
    T.H. argues that she made significant progress in the weeks before the
    termination hearing. She highlights that she found stable housing for herself,
    obtained a part-time job, stopped her drug use in the summer of 2017, and
    secured an appointment for a drug and alcohol assessment (scheduled for a few
    weeks after the termination hearing). She contends that these improvements are
    similar to those of the parent in In re Welfare of C.B., 
    134 Wash. App. 942
    , 
    143 P.3d 846
    (2006), and rebuts the presumption that she could not correct parental
    deficiencies in the foreseeable future.
    A review of C.B., however, shows that these two cases are not alike. In
    C.B., during much of the dependency, the mother "was an unfit parent who did
    not take advantage of the services that the State offered her[,]" but about six
    months before the termination hearing "she did begin taking advantage of the
    State-offered services and was progressing." 
    C.B., 134 Wash. App. at 953-54
    . In
    that case, the Department even conceded that the mother appeared to be "doing
    what she is supposed to be doing, she has engaged in treatment . . . it appears
    that she is maintaining in her aftercare program and that she is doing meetings."
    
    C.B., 134 Wash. App. at 956
    . The mother "completed the recommended parenting
    classes[,]" and "completed her inpatient drug treatment," and there was no
    indication in the record that her "current residence was unsafe[.]" C.B., 134 Wn.
    App. at 957. The mother presented concrete evidence that she was improving
    over a period of months before the termination hearing and the trial court
    recognized her improvements. 
    C.B., 134 Wash. App. at 953
    .
    -11-
    No. 77714-9-1/12
    The court held that "where a parent produces evidence that she has been
    improving over a four-month period after the State files a termination petition but
    before the termination hearing, the State may not rely solely on past performance
    to prove" there is little likelihood a parent will be reunited with her child in the
    near future. 
    C.B., 134 Wash. App. at 953
    . Because the State failed to meet its
    burden of proof, the court reversed the trial court's termination order. 
    C.B., 134 Wash. App. at 959
    .
    But here, unlike in C.B., there is no evidence that T.H. had steadily
    improved over a period of months. And the Department was not relying solely on
    past parental unfitness. It presented evidence of T.H.'s ongoing failure to take
    steps to fulfill her parental obligations. T.H. was required to obtain a drug and
    alcohol evaluation, which she had not done; participate in mental health
    counseling, which she had not done; and complete random UAs, which she had
    not done. She did not attend a single dependency hearing after the entry of the
    orders of dependency.      As the State argued, she essentially "sat out" the
    dependency.
    There was simply no evidence she was progressing toward the
    assumption of her parental obligations. Recognized parental obligations include
    expressing love and affection to one's children; expressing personal concern
    over their health, education and welfare; supplying the necessary food, clothing
    and medical care; providing an adequate domicile; and furnishing social or
    religious guidance. In re Adoption of Lvbbert, 
    75 Wash. 2d 671
    , 674, 
    453 P.2d 650
    (1969). At the time of the termination hearing, T.H. was taking no steps to fulfill
    - 12 -
    No. 77714-9-1/13
    any of these obligations. Despite being provided multiple referrals, T.H. never
    secured adequate housing sufficient for even one, much less all four, of her
    children to reside if they were returned to her care. She had little to no contact
    with the children for an extended period of time, including the weeks immediately
    preceding the termination hearing. In short, based on the evidence presented at
    the termination hearing, T.H. had done nothing to remedy her parental
    deficiencies. Substantial evidence supports the trial court's finding of there being
    little likelihood that the children could be returned to T.H. in the near future.
    C.      Facial Constitutional Challenge
    Next, T.H. contends Washington's termination statutes are facially
    unconstitutional." Specifically, she argues that RCW 13.34.180 and .190 violate
    substantive due process and interfere with the fundamental rights of parents to
    the care and custody of their children because the statutes are not narrowly
    tailored to achieve permanency placement for children.
    Although not yet published when the parties prepared their briefs in this
    case, we subsequently rejected this exact facial challenge to the constitutionality
    of the termination statues in In re Dependency of M.-A.F.-S., 4 Wn. App.2d 425,
    
    421 P.3d 482
    , review denied, 
    191 Wash. 2d 1024
    , 
    428 P.3d 1191
    (2018).
    In M.-A.F.-S., a trial court terminated the mother's parental rights to her
    two children following a lengthy dependency in which the mother failed to
    substantially address her drug addiction. M.-A.F.-S., 4 Wn. App.2d at 440-44.
    14 The result of holding a statute unconstitutional on its face is to render the statute
    "utterly inoperative" and, therefore, Washington courts must reject facial challenges "unless there
    exists no set of circumstances in which the statute can constitutionally be applied." Tunstall v.
    Bergeson 
    141 Wash. 2d 201
    , 221, 
    5 P.3d 691
    (2000)(emphasis in original)(quoting In re Detention
    of Turay, 
    139 Wash. 2d 379
    , 417 n. 27, 986 P.2d 790(1999)
    -13-
    No. 77714-9-1/14
    She claimed that the termination statutes are unconstitutional on their face and
    as applied. M.-A.F.-S., 4 Wn. App.2d at 444. In rejecting the facial challenge,
    we held that "the absence of an immediate permanent placement does not
    undermine the compelling interest of the State to prevent harm to the child from
    continuation of the parental relationship." M.-A.F.-S., 4 Wn. App.2d at 452.
    T.H. has not advanced any arguments that would compel us to depart
    from our holding in M.-A.F.-S.                Consequently, T.H.'s facial constitutional
    challenge to RCW 13.34.180 and .190 fails.
    D.      Constitutionality of Termination Statutes as Applied
    Lastly, T.H. contends the termination statutes are unconstitutional as
    applied to her case and as to L.F. in particular. Washington courts presume
    statutes are constitutional. In re Dependency of C.B., 
    79 Wash. App. 686
    , 689, 
    904 P.2d 1171
    (1995). The party challenging a statute's constitutionality has the
    burden of proving otherwise. 
    C.B., 79 Wash. App. at 689
    . A party challenging the
    constitutionality of a statute as applied must show "that application of the statute
    in the specific context of the party's actions or intended actions is
    unconstitutional."15 City of Redmond v. Moore, 
    151 Wash. 2d 664
    , 668-69, 
    91 P.3d 875
    (2004).
    T.H.'s as-applied challenge rests on the argument that L.F.'s prospects for
    adoption into a stable, permanent home were "entirely speculative." App. Br. at
    38.    She argues that although L.F. was in a potentially long-term foster
    placement at the time of the termination hearing, L.F. did not have prospects for
    15 The result of determining a statute unconstitutional as applied forbids future application
    of the statute under similar circumstances, but such a determination does not totally invalidate the
    statute. 
    Moore, 151 Wash. 2d at 669
    .
    - 14 -
    No. 77714-9-1/15
    an imminent adoption or permanent placement. Therefore, according to T.H.,
    "no legitimate—let alone compelling—[S]tate interest [is served] in permanently
    severing all ties" between L.F. and her. App. Br. at 38-40.
    But T.H.'s claim overlooks that the State also has an interest in protecting
    children from harmful parental relationships irrespective of permanency
    placement. See In re Esgate, 
    99 Wash. 2d 210
    , 214, 
    660 P.2d 758
    (1983)("[T]he
    State established that continuation of the parent/child relationship often created
    feelings of insecurity and instability in the child.   Under such circumstances,
    termination was proper regardless of the child's adoptability."); In re Dependency
    of K.D.S., 
    176 Wash. 2d 644
    , 658, 
    294 P.3d 695
    (2013)("The State does not have
    to prove that a stable and permanent home is available at the time of
    termination.") (quoting In re Dependency of K.S.C., 
    137 Wash. 2d 918
    , 927, 976
    P.2d 113(1999)).
    L.F., born in 2006, was initially placed with siblings with T.H.'s mother.
    When T.H.'s mother became too ill to care for the children, the Department
    placed the siblings in a foster home. It subsequently removed L.F. from that
    placement because L.F. began to exhibit behavioral issues the foster parents
    were unable to control, including bed-wetting, aggression, and self-harm. The
    VGAL noted that L.F. had experienced significant trauma before being removed
    from T.H.'s home and struggled to cope with that trauma. The VGAL believes
    L.F. needs consistent professional care because of her "fragile state." Ex. 59 at
    5. T.H., however, had not visited L.F. since February or March 2017. She
    -15-
    No. 77714-9-1/16
    acknowledged it was emotionally abusive on her part not to have visited L.F. for
    months.
    By the time of the termination trial, L.F. was regularly attending counseling
    sessions and was dealing with bed-wetting and her past self-harming behaviors.
    L.F.'s demeanor had "calmed down dramatically" in the few months before the
    hearing, which the VGAL attributed to the regularity of the treatment she was
    receiving. Ex. 59 at 5-6. L.F. was in a stable, long-term placement. She was
    able to complete her homework, become an avid reader and develop close
    friendships at school with no behavioral issues.
    According to the unchallenged findings of fact:
    Continuation of the parent-child relationship clearly diminishes the
    child's prospect for early integration into a stable and permanent
    home. The Court finds that this element was proven by clear,
    cogent and convincing evidence, even for [L.F.].
    CP 41. While the Department may not yet have a permanent adoptive home for
    L.F., it has a clear interest in ensuring her health and welfare by providing a
    stable home environment and attending to her medical and educational needs.
    There is nothing in the record to support the contention that T.H. was in any
    position to provide the stability and care L.F. needs, and continuing the
    relationship would only harm, rather than help L.F. achieve permanency. Under
    these facts, the lack of an adoptive home for L.F. does not render the termination
    statute unconstitutional.
    In conclusion, substantial evidence supports the trial court's findings as to
    all six RCW 13.34.180(1) factors.        Washington's termination statutes are
    - 16-
    No. 77714-9-1/17
    constitutional, both facially and as applied to this case. We affirm the trial court's
    termination orders.
    WE CONCUR:
    Li                                             V
    ila,Lirl I   4- Cir-
    - 17-