Gwinup v. Ark. Dep't of Human Servs.

Cite as 2014 Ark. App. 337
ARKANSAS COURT OF APPEALS
DIVISION IV
No. CV-13-1107
ASHLEY GWINUP Opinion Delivered May 28, 2014
APPELLANT
APPEAL FROM THE BENTON
V. COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
[NO. J-2012-377-C/N]
ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF HONORABLE THOMAS E. SMITH,
HUMAN SERVICES and L.R., MINOR JUDGE
CHILD
APPELLEES AFFIRMED
PHILLIP T. WHITEAKER, Judge
Ashley Gwinup appeals from a Benton County Circuit Court order terminating her
parental rights to her daughter, L.R. Gwinup challenges the trial court’s finding that it was
in the child’s best interest to terminate her parental rights. We find no error and affirm.
We review termination-of-parental-rights cases de novo. Dinkins v. Ark. Dep’t of
Human Servs., 344 Ark. 207, 40 S.W.3d 286 (2001). Termination of parental rights is an
extreme remedy and in derogation of the natural rights of parents, but parental rights will not
be enforced to the detriment or destruction of the health and well-being of the child. Id.
Grounds for termination of parental rights must be proved by clear and convincing evidence.
Camarillo-Cox v. Ark. Dep’t of Human Servs., 360 Ark. 340, 201 S.W.3d 391 (2005). Clear and
convincing evidence is that degree of proof that will produce in the fact-finder a firm
conviction as to the allegation sought to be established. Anderson v. Douglas, 310 Ark. 633, 839
Cite as 2014 Ark. App. 337
S.W.2d 196 (1992). When the burden of proving a disputed fact is by clear and convincing
evidence, the appellate inquiry is whether the trial court’s finding that the disputed fact was
proved by clear and convincing evidence is clearly erroneous. J.T. v. Ark. Dep’t of Human
Servs., 329 Ark. 243, 947 S.W.2d 761 (1997). We give due regard to the opportunity of the
trial court to judge the credibility of the witnesses. Id. A finding is clearly erroneous when,
although there is evidence to support it, the reviewing court on the entire evidence is left
with a definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been made. Id.
In order to terminate parental rights, it must be proved that termination is in the
children’s best interest. Smith v. Ark. Dep’t of Health & Human Servs., 100 Ark. App. 74, 264
S.W.3d 559 (2007). This includes consideration of the likelihood that the child will be
adopted and the potential harm caused by returning custody of the child to the parent. Ark.
Code Ann. § 9-27-341(b)(3)(A) (Supp. 2013). In considering the potential harm caused by
returning the child to the parent, the court is not required to find that actual harm would
result or to affirmatively identify a potential harm. Welch v. Ark. Dep’t of Human Servs., 2010
Ark. App. 798, 378 S.W.3d 290. Potential harm must be viewed in a forward-looking manner
and in broad terms. Collins v. Ark. Dep’t of Human Servs., 2013 Ark. App. 90. Additionally,
the risk for potential harm is but a factor for the court to consider in its analysis. Carroll v. Ark.
Dep’t of Human Servs., 85 Ark. App. 255, 148 S.W.3d 780 (2004).
Gwinup concedes that the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) sufficiently
established a statutory ground for termination—the prior involuntary termination of her
parental rights to another child. Her only challenge to the termination is the court’s
2
Cite as 2014 Ark. App. 337
determination that potential harm would befall the child if custody were returned to her.
Thus, the only issue on appeal is whether the trial court’s best-interest finding was supported
by clear and convincing evidence.
In October 2011, DHS opened a protective-services case without court involvement
based on Gwinup’s history with DHS1 and concerns that Gwinup was unable to properly care
for or protect the child. Approximately six months later, DHS removed L.R. from Gwinup’s
custody after L.R. was discovered living in unsanitary conditions and amid reports that
Gwinup was not adequately supervising the child despite being provided resources by DHS.
In August 2012, the court adjudicated L.R. dependent-neglected. The court
specifically found that Gwinup was “incapable of providing a clean, sanitary, and stable living
arrangement that protects the child’s health and safety” and that she was “incapable of
adequately supervising the juvenile.” Gwinup stipulated to the dependency-neglect finding
due to her inability to provide the child with stability.
In June 2013, DHS filed a petition for the termination of Gwinup’s parental rights.
The petition alleged the following statutory grounds for termination: (1) that her parental
rights had previously been involuntarily terminated to another child, and (2) that the child had
been out of Gwinup’s custody for twelve months and Gwinup had failed to correct the
conditions causing removal.
1
In November 2007, the Washington County Circuit Court entered an order
terminating Gwinup’s parental rights to another child, M.B., after M.B’s sibling died in a
suspicious house fire.
3
Cite as 2014 Ark. App. 337
In October 2013, the trial court entered an amended order terminating Gwinup’s
parental rights, finding that DHS had proved statutory grounds for termination and that
termination was in the best interest of the child. Gwinup appeals the order of termination,
arguing that there was no evidence presented of (1) a current lack of parental capacity to
provide for L.R., (2) an indifference to remedy the cause for removal, or (3) any harm to L.R.
if contact with Gwinup was continued. In essence, Gwinup maintains that she had taken great
strides to make positive and long-lasting changes in her life after L.R. had been removed from
her home and while she was incarcerated. She further contends that she had taken significant
action toward rectifying the issues that would keep her from regaining custody of her
daughter and that she should not be disparaged for her past deficiencies.
Evidence that a parent begins to make improvement as termination becomes imminent
will not outweigh other evidence demonstrating a failure to comply and to remedy the
situation that caused the children to be removed in the first place. Lewis v. Ark. Dep’t of
Human Servs., 364 Ark. 243, 217 S.W.3d 788 (2005). It is true that Gwinup began to make
strides with the case plan toward the very end. However, she failed to comply early on and
failed to prove that she could provide the child with a safe and stable home environment.
Terminating parental rights based solely on past behavior may not be appropriate, but that
behavior cannot be ignored when determining whether return of the child to the parent is in
the child’s best interest. Here, Gwinup had already had her parental rights to one child
involuntarily terminated due to the death of another child—a death that was found to be
caused by Gwinup. There was also a true finding of abuse and neglect regarding the battery
4
Cite as 2014 Ark. App. 337
of a separate child with a closed fist. Despite the recent progress, she has a lengthy history of
drug use, unstable housing and employment, and criminal activity, including incarceration at
the time of the termination hearing. Due to her incarceration, her chance to continue to show
progress in these areas has been interrupted. Upon her release, there would still need to be
substantial time to show that she can continue with that progress and that the child would not
be placed in any danger. This child is young and adoptable. Based on these facts, the trial
court’s finding that it was in the best interest of the child to terminate parental rights was not
clearly erroneous.
Affirmed.
GRUBER and GLOVER, JJ., agree.
Dusti Standridge, for appellant.
Tabitha Baertels McNulty, DHS Office of Policy and Legal Services; and Chrestman
Group, PLLC, by: Keith Chrestman, for appellees.
5