In re F.S.

[Cite as In re F.S., 2021-Ohio-345.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
TWELFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT OF OHIO
FAYETTE COUNTY
IN RE: :
F.S., et al. : CASE NOS. CA2020-08-011
CA2020-08-012
:
OPINION
: 2/8/2021
:
:
APPEAL FROM FAYETTE COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
JUVENILE DIVISION
Case Nos. AND20180068, AND20180069, AND20180332, and AND20180333
Jess C. Weade, Fayette County Prosecuting Attorney, Sean M. Abbott, 110 East Court
Street, 1st Floor, Washington Court House, Ohio 43160, for appellee
Steven H. Eckstein, 1208 Bramble Avenue, Washington Court House, Ohio 43160, for
appellant, mother
Hapner Law Office, Kathryn Hapner, 127 North High Street, Hillsboro, Ohio 43160, for
appellant, father
HENDRICKSON, J.
{¶1} Appellants, the mother of F.S., S.K., B.K., and R.K. ("Mother") and the father
of S.K., B.K., and R.K. ("Father"), appeal the decision of the Fayette County Court of
Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, which granted permanent custody of the children to
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appellee, Fayette County Children Services ("FCCS"). For the reasons discussed below,
we affirm the juvenile court's decision.
I. Facts and Procedural History
A) Events Before the Permanent Custody Hearing
{¶2} This case involves four children: F.S., born in November 2011; S.K., born in
December 2016; B.K., born in June 2018; and R.K., born in June 2018.1 F.S.'s biological
father is not a party to this appeal.
{¶3} On February 1, 2018, FCCS filed a complaint alleging that F.S. and S.K. were
dependent and neglected children. In support of the complaint, FCCS alleged that the
children's home was in a deplorable condition with insect and vermin infestations and other
unsanitary factors that made the home unsafe. In addition to the complaint, FCCS also
moved the court for an emergency order to provide FCCS temporary custody. The juvenile
court granted the motion and awarded temporary custody of F.S. and S.K. to FCCS. FCCS
filed a case plan with the goal of reunification of the family. As part of the case plan,
appellants were required to seek suitable housing for the children, attend parenting classes,
and complete a mental health assessment. Because Mother was pregnant, the case plan
also required that she attend her medical appointments and follow her doctor's orders
regarding the pregnancy.
{¶4} On March 21, 2018, the juvenile court held an adjudicatory hearing.
Appellants admitted that the children were dependent.2 The juvenile court continued the
temporary custody order pending a dispositional hearing. Appellants stipulated that FCCS
had made reasonable efforts to prevent the continued removal of the children from their
1. B.K. and R.K. are twins who were born during the pendency of the dependency proceedings.
2. FCCS dismissed the neglect allegations.
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home. The juvenile court journalized the dependency adjudication on March 27, 2018.
{¶5} The juvenile court held a dispositional hearing on April 17, 2018 and
journalized the disposition entry on April 25, 2018. Appellants again stipulated that FCCS
had made reasonable efforts to eliminate the need for continued removal of the children
from the home. The juvenile court found that there was no other suitable person available
for alternative placement and that it was not in the best interest of the children to be returned
to the parents at that time. The juvenile court also adopted the case plan.
{¶6} B.K. and R.K. were born in mid-June 2018. On June 26, 2018, FCCS filed a
complaint alleging the twins were dependent and neglected and moved, ex parte, for an
emergency, temporary custody order for the newborns. The juvenile court granted the
motion. On August 28, 2018, the juvenile court held an adjudicatory hearing. Appellants
admitted to the facts in the complaint and the juvenile court adjudicated B.K. and R.K.
dependent children.3 The juvenile court further found that appellants waived a separate
disposition hearing and stipulated that it was in the best interests of R.K. and B.K to remain
in the temporary custody of FCCS. The juvenile court also found that FCCS made
reasonable efforts to prevent the continued removal of the newborn children. The juvenile
court adopted the case plan as amended to include the newborn children. The juvenile
court journalized the adjudicatory and dispositional entries on September 5, 2018.
{¶7} In August 2018, FCCS authorized appellants to have an extended home visit
with F.S. and S.K. However, various problems arose from this placement. F.S. began
exhibiting behavioral problems and improper hygiene. There were concerns that S.K.'s
motor skill were regressing, and she had contracted headlice. As a result of these concerns,
the extended visit was terminated and, in October 2018, the children were returned to foster
3. FCCS dismissed the neglect allegation.
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care.
{¶8} The juvenile court held several review hearings to monitor appellants'
progress with the case plan. From these review hearings, the juvenile court found that
appellants were completing the education recommendations in the case plan and
addressing the issues that led their children's removal. However, FCCS expressed concern
that appellants had difficulty retaining and utilizing the information learned from their
parenting classes. After each review hearing, the juvenile court found that FCCS had made
reasonable efforts to eliminate the continued removal of all the children.
{¶9} On August 20, 2019, FCCS moved for permanent custody of the four children.
The juvenile court appointed a guardian ad litem for the children in September 2019.
B) The Permanent Custody Hearing
{¶10} The matter was initially set for a hearing in December 2019, however, FCCS
moved to continue the matter.4 The juvenile court granted that motion and held an initial
hearing on February 7, 2020. The matter was continued in progress. Father moved to
postpone the subsequent hearing date due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The juvenile court
denied that motion. In addition, appellants moved, pursuant to R.C. 2151.281, for the
appointment of a guardian ad litem on their behalf.
{¶11} The permanent custody hearing was continued to April 30 and May 1, 2020.
On April 30, the juvenile court denied appellants' motion to appoint them a guardian ad
litem. Over the course of the three-day permanent custody hearing, the agency called four
witnesses to testify: a psychologist who performed a psychological evaluation of appellants,
two caseworkers who were involved in the case, and the foster Mother of the three younger
4. FCCS initially moved to continue the permanent custody hearing to give itself more time to investigate.
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children. 5
{¶12} Dr. Judith Skillings, the psychologist, testified that she was asked by the
agency to conduct an evaluation of appellants' cognitive abilities. For the evaluation,
Skillings administered three tests: the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale ("Wechsler"), the
Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory ("Millon"), and a "parenting questionnaire." The
Wechsler test measures a test subject's comprehension ability to derive an "IQ" score.
There are several subtests that comprise this test. Each subtest measures different indices,
such as verbal comprehension, perceptual reasoning, working memory, and processing
speed. These subtests are rated together to derive a composite IQ score. An average
person would score in the 90-100 range, a low average score range is 80-90, a score of 70-
80 indicates borderline impaired, and a score below 70 indicates intellectual disability. The
psychologist determined that Mother's composite score was 69 and Father's composite
score was 66. Therefore, the psychologist diagnosed both appellants with an intellectual
disability of mild severity. The psychologist opined that appellants had a cognitive age of
about ten years old. The psychologist testified that she was concerned that Mother's
cognitive ability only allowed her the ability to focus on one or two things at a time. If there
were more issues involved, it would present a situation too complex for Mother to process.
Regarding Father, the psychologist noted that he had an "exceptionally weak" working
memory. The psychologist then opined that these disabilities would negatively impact
appellants' parenting ability.
{¶13} Next the psychologist discussed the Millon test. She encountered difficulty
administering the test, because appellants could not adequately read the true/false
5. We note that there are different spellings of the witnesses' names in the record. The spellings used in this
opinion are taken directly from the transcript of the proceeding.
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questions to take the test. Instead, the psychologist read the questions to appellants. The
test results correlated with her findings about appellants' cognitive age. Mother's
personality is more reactive because she cannot understand the context of a situation. On
the other hand, Father demonstrated a coping mechanism of "I've got this."
{¶14} Finally, the psychologist testified about the parenting questionnaire. Normally
the test involves a set of 41 questions. However, the psychologist elected to terminate the
test after only ten questions upon finding appellants' answers to be inadequate. This testing
indicated that Mother would focus on one issue to the exclusion of others. By "centrating"
the issues, Mother would resolve one facet of the problem and ultimately ignore the others.
The psychologist found that Father had a similar tendency to limit the scope of the question.
The psychologist admitted that she could not determine one way or another if in-home
services would help appellants adequately parent. Ultimately, the psychologist opined that
based on the information FCCS provided and the evaluation she conducted, appellants
could not "master" parenting skills even with support.
{¶15} FCCS then called Ashely Ward, an agency case worker who worked with
appellants from April 2018 to January 2019. She testified that she was involved in F.S.'s
and S.K.'s removal and observed the deplorable home conditions. She explained that the
case plan required appellants to have no contact with Father's brother because he was a
registered sex offender. The plan included pregnancy and parenting classes. Finally,
appellants would have to clean their home. She testified that during her time with the case,
appellants completed the parenting classes and attended programs through "Help Me
Grow" and "Early Head Start." In addition, the condition of the home improved such that
the home was now "fine." She explained that FCCS had been involved in appellants' lives
since they were children and there were no family members suitable for alternative
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placement. FCCS's involvement increased in 2013, 2016, and 2017 when the agency
intervened on behalf of the children and performed alternative responses. Ward also
discussed why the older children were taken out of the home after appellants had been
granted an extended in-home visitation in 2018. F.S.'s school repeatedly called the agency
to raise different concerns about the child's behavior and hygiene. Also, it appeared that
S.K.'s motor skills were regressing despite having gone through corrective therapy. When
S.K. was removed, FCCS also discovered that she had headlice. Overall, the agency had
an issue with appellants' ability to demonstrate or implement the parenting techniques
taught in the various programs. There was also the issue of whether appellants could adapt
to their children's needs.
{¶16} The third witness for FCCS was Taryn Fraley, the agency caseworker at the
time of the hearing. She testified that she had been involved in the case since December
2019. She acknowledged that appellants completed the case plan. She discussed her
impression of several parent-child visits she observed. It seemed to her on these visits that
appellants had bizarre problem-solving techniques and the visits were chaotic. She
believed that appellants could not properly parent without support or aid of services.
{¶17} The last witness called by FCCS was Bethany Heath, the foster mother to the
three younger children. She testified about the children's developing life skills, for example,
S.K.'s toilet training and the twins' language development. The foster Mother explained that
the twins each have a third kidney which requires annual check-ups by a doctor. She
testified that she intended to seek adoption of the children should they become available
for adoption.
{¶18} Appellants, together, called 13 witnesses to testify. Appellants witnesses
included the agency administrator for FCCS who supervised appellants' caseworkers, one
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of appellants' former case workers, a parent-monitor from the Fayette County school
system, two visitation monitors from the visitation center, the children's guardian ad litem,
and several people from the various support services appellants used – Early Head Start,
LIFE Pregnancy Center, and Scioto Paint Valley Mental Health center – during the
pendency of the case.
{¶19} Appellants' first witness was Beth Potts, the Fayette County Children Services
administrator who supervised the agency caseworkers. She testified that it appeared from
the beginning that appellants had some kind of intellectual disability. At a meeting with one
of appellants' attorneys, Potts suggested contacting the National Youth Advocacy Program
for in-home services. Otherwise, Potts directed the case workers to locate and contact any
other potential services. The agency could not find any additional services for appellants.
{¶20} The second witness for appellants was Tracey Perry. She was the agency's
caseworker for appellants from April 2019 to December 2019. She testified that appellants'
home condition had improved when she took the case, appellants had completed case plan
services in her time, and appellants acted appropriately during their visits with the children.
She increased appellants' visitation with the children following a request by one of
appellants' attorneys. She explained that there were no in-home services available in the
county because out-of-county providers would not cross county lines or there were payment
issues. Regarding the agency's decision to seek permanent custody, Perry acknowledged
that appellants followed the agency's recommendations, however it appeared there was a
constant and continuing need for support services to aid appellants in parenting. She
conceded that based on the statutory timetable for the case it appeared that permanent
custody was the only option left.
{¶21} The third witness called by appellants was Pam Thornburg, an Ohio parent
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mentor for Fayette County schools. She previously worked at the visitation center and had
observed appellants interact with their children during their visits. Thornburg did not note
any concerns arising during the visits. However, because she had only observed the short
visits between appellants and the children, she was unwilling to comment on whether
appellants could successfully parent independently. She testified that some services could
be provided through the school system, but Thornburg did not know which services would
be available because she did not know if appellants had applied or would qualify.
{¶22} The fourth witness called by appellants was Shawn Lachat, the executive
director for LIFE Pregnancy Center. The center provides material support, parenting
education, and emotional/spiritual support to parents but is generally geared to parents of
children under the age of three. Lachat testified that she had known Mother since 2011
through Mother's enrollment in the center's various programs. Mother completed two
separate parenting programs in 2018. Together these programs lasted a total of 24 weeks.
In addition, Mother completed around 62 other, voluntary consultations through the center.
Lachat believed that appellants did successfully learn and retain the information from the
programs but acknowledged that some support system was necessary for appellants to be
able to independently parent.
{¶23} Appellants' fifth witness was Meghan Dimario, a teacher from Head Start. She
met appellants when she worked with them from February 2018 to July 2019, providing in-
home services. Dimario testified that she believed Mother successfully implemented her
training although she was only able to observe Mother within the confines of the visitation
center parent-child interaction. Dimario acknowledged that Head Start was a voluntary day
program and the teacher would not be on call after business hours. While she did not think
appellants needed assistance, she had never observed them independently parent.
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{¶24} The sixth and seventh witnesses were Carmilla Bennett and Lori McClarren,
both of whom worked at the visitation center as visitation monitors. Both witnesses testified
that they supervised the visits between appellants and their children since August 2019.
They had no issues with the visits, although that was the extent of their observation of
appellants with the children
{¶25} The next five witnesses all worked in different capacities at the Scioto Paint
Valley Mental Health Center. The first of these witnesses was Lisa Wolf, Mother's
psychiatric nurse practitioner. She testified that Mother was diagnosed with depression and
was taking medication for it. She explained that Mother learned from her counseling
sessions and was a cooperative patient. She did not observe Mother parent any of the
children.
{¶26} The next witness was Luann Beedy, a case manager at the center who taught
Mother in some treatment groups. She testified that she taught Mother life skills. In the
group, Mother was engaged and supportive. Beedy had seen Mother for at least four
months prior to the clinic shutting down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She did not
observe Mother interact with the children.
{¶27} The following witness was Julie Ream, a substance abuse/mental health
specialist. She treated Mother with cognitive behavioral therapy at least once a week since
March 2019 and also saw Mother around three times a week through other therapy groups
in which Mother participates. Ream stated that she has no issues with Mother's ability to
learn, although she takes extra measures to help Mother understand the lesson. She was
involved with both appellants in an "active parenting" class that lasted around 15 weeks.
Appellants completed the class in 2019. She had not observed appellants with the children.
{¶28} The next witness called by appellants was Mary Jo Legg, Mother's case
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manager at the center and a community psychiatric support treatment worker. She has
worked with Mother since September 2019 to instruct Mother on life skills such as managing
bills and parenting. Initially she provided in-home services but that tapered off because she
did not have any concerns with the home and otherwise appellants did not have children
living in the home. However, she explained that she would be available for in-home services
in the future if the children were there. She would not commit one way or another on
whether Mother was mentally incompetent because she did not have the licensure but
explained that Mother is able to do things for herself such as cook, clean, and pay bills.
She did not believe Mother's disabilities were severe enough to prevent Mother from
parenting, although she acknowledged that Mother would need help.
{¶29} The last of the witnesses from Scioto Paint Valley Mental Health was
Cameron Quigley, Father's mental health case manager at the center. He testified that he
has been assigned to Father since November 2019. Like Legg, he provided in-home
services and had met Father at least once a week. He testified that he saw no concerns
with the home and believed Father learned and retained the parenting and life skills being
taught. He conceded that Father needed a mentor for parenting. He hoped that the
services could be tapered off eventually, though he could not predict when that would be.
Quigley also testified that the center does not currently have a parent-mentor program but
both he and Legg had suggested developing one at the center. Quigley also explained that
prior to working at the center he was a caseworker for Fayette County Children Services
and had been involved in the agency's prior alternative response with appellants in 2016
and 2017. The issues back then were similar to the issue that led to the instant removal in
2018, that is, the unsanitary condition of the home.
{¶30} The final witness called by appellants was the guardian ad litem for the
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children. She testified that she reviewed the court documents, visitation center records,
agency file, and conducted some interviews. The guardian ad litem testified that she did
not ask the three younger children about their desire to be returned to appellants because
they were too young. F.S. liked visiting with appellants. The guardian observed appellants
interact with the children during a single two-hour visit. She opined that it was in the
children's best interest for the agency to have permanent custody. She was primarily
concerned with appellants' ability to respond to a crisis, especially one that could occur at
odd hours when it would be less likely to receive outside help. She also discussed her
concern about appellants' parenting style from her observation of the visit. Specifically, she
noted that appellants did not seem to notice certain problem behaviors such as S.K. leaving
the room or one of the infants banging his head on the ground during a temper tantrum.
The guardian ad litem also discussed how it appeared that appellants were coached on
what to say during her interview with them because they immediately directed her attention
to first-aid kits they had in the home and explained to her how they would react to different
situations when the guardian had not inquired about those issues.
{¶31} On August 6, 2020, the juvenile court granted FCCS's motion for permanent
custody. The juvenile court found that the children had been in the temporary custody of
FCCS for 12 out of 22 consecutive months and that it was in the children's best interest for
FCCS to have permanent custody. Additionally, the juvenile court journalized its denial of
appellants' motion to appoint a guardian ad litem on their behalf. The juvenile court found
that appellants' motion was untimely. Otherwise, the juvenile court determined that
appellants failed to show that they appeared to be mentally incompetent.
II. Appeal
{¶32} Mother and Father appealed. They collectively raise eight assignments of
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error for review. For ease of analysis, we will discuss similarly assigned errors together and
discuss the assignments out of order.
A) Constitutional Challenge to R.C. 2151.281
{¶33} Mother's Assignment of Error No. 2:
{¶34} THE R.C. 2151.281(C) IS VOID FOR VAGUENESS
{¶35} In her second assignment of error, Mother challenges the constitutionality of
R.C. 2151.281(C). R.C. 2151.281(C) requires a court to appoint a guardian ad litem to
protect the interest of a parent where that parent "appears to be mentally incompetent."
Mother argues that neither this section nor R.C. Chapter 2151 define "mentally
incompetent" and that by failing to articulate a specific definition, courts are left to guess the
meaning to be applied. Consequently, the statute fails to provide a sufficient standard to
prevent arbitrary enforcement and is void for vagueness.
{¶36} Mother concedes that she did not contest the constitutionality of R.C.
2151.281(C) before the juvenile court.6 "Generally, an appellate court will not consider any
error that counsel could have called but did not call to the trial court's attention at a time
when such error could have been avoided or corrected by the trial court." State v. Peagler,
76 Ohio St. 3d 496, 499 (1996); accord State v. Awan, 22 Ohio St. 3d 120, 122 (1986) (the
question of the constitutionality of a statute must generally be raised at the first opportunity
at the trial level). We decline to address this assigned error on the basis that Mother did
not raise the constitutionality of the statute before the juvenile court.7 Therefore we overrule
6. In the motion before the juvenile court, appellants cited R.C. 2151.281(B), instead of R.C. 2151.281(C).
R.C. 2151.281(B) does not provide for the appointment of a guardian ad litem to a parent, therefore it was
incorrectly cited.
7. We further question why Mother challenges the constitutionality of a statute that she sought to invoke for
her benefit. If this court were to hold that the provision is void for vagueness, it would render the provision
unenforceable and Mother could not rely upon the statute as a basis for appointment of a guardian ad litem.
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Mother's constitutional challenge to R.C. 2151.281(C).
B) The Juvenile Court's Decision to Deny Appointment of a Guardian ad Litem
{¶37} Mother's Assignment of Error No. 1:
{¶38} THE TRIAL COURT ERRED AND/OR ABUSED ITS DISCRETION BY NOT
APPOINTING A G.A.L. FOR MOTHER-APPELLANT.
{¶39} Father's Assignment of Error No. 1:
{¶40} THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION BY FAILING TO APPOINT
A GUARDIAN AD LITEM TO REPRESENT FATHER-APPELLANT'S INTERESTS AS
REQUIRED BY ORC 2151.281 AND JUVENILE RULE 4.
{¶41} In their respective first assignments of error, appellants argue that the juvenile
court abused its discretion when it denied their motions to appoint a guardian ad litem on
their behalf in accordance with R.C. 2151.281(C) and Juv.R. 4.
{¶42} Both R.C. 2151.281(C) and Juv.R. 4(B)(3) mandate that the court appoint a
guardian ad litem to protect the interests of a parent who appears mentally incompetent. In
re Baby Girl Baxter, 17 Ohio St. 3d 229, 232 (1985). It is within the discretion of the juvenile
court to determine whether the parent meets the requirements to have a guardian ad litem
appointed. See In re K.R., 11th Dist. Trumbull No. 2015-T-0008, 2015-Ohio-2819, ¶ 27.
We review the decision to deny appointment of a guardian ad litem for an abuse of
discretion. Id. An abuse of discretion is more than an error of law or judgment, it implies
that the attitude of the court is unreasonable, arbitrary, or unconscionable. Blakemore v.
Blakemore, 5 Ohio St. 3d 217, 219 (1983).
{¶43} In deciding whether to appoint a guardian ad litem, the inquiry is whether the
parent appears to be mentally incompetent. In re H.M.B., 7th Dist. Belmont No. 16 BE
0004, 2016-Ohio-5702, ¶ 68. Other appellate districts have added a prejudice prong to the
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overall inquiry. However, that prong was generally included when the parents failed to raise
the issue at the trial level and the appellate courts considered the issue under a plain error
standard of review. See e.g., In re Amber G. & Josie G., 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-04-1091,
2004-Ohio-5665, ¶ 6; In re King-Bolen, 9th Dist. Medina Nos. 3196-M, 3231-M, 3200-M,
and 3201-M, 2001 Ohio App. LEXIS 4551, *28 (Oct. 10, 2001); In re T.R.-B., 8th Dist.
Cuyahoga No. 106071, 2018-Ohio-3044. Here, appellants raised the issue before the
juvenile court, so it is not subject to a plain error review. At any rate, a parent will not suffer
prejudice if the parent is represented by counsel and that counsel "safeguards the parent's
rights and advocates for reunification in accordance with the parent's wishes." In re M.T.,
6th Dist. Lucas No. L-09-1197, 2009-Ohio-6674, ¶ 17. We find that counsel for appellants
provided such advocacy.
{¶44} Other districts have interpreted "incompetent" to mean a person who cannot
understand the nature of, and participate in, the proceedings. In re D.C.H., 9th Dist. Summit
No. 22648, 2005-Ohio-4257, ¶ 8; In re C.C., 11th Dist. Trumbull Nos. 2016-T-0050 and
2016-T-0058, 2016-Ohio-7447, ¶ 122; In re H. Children, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-190630,
2020-Ohio-774, ¶ 32-33. Similarly, R.C. 2111.01(D) provides that "incompetence" requires
a determination that the person is incapable of taking care of himself or herself, or his or
her property.
{¶45} After review of the record, we hold that the juvenile court did not abuse its
discretion by denying appellants' motion to appoint a guardian ad litem on their behalf. The
juvenile court reasonably determined that there was no showing of an appearance of mental
incompetence. The fact that a person may be mildly intellectually disabled does not, in and
of itself, conclusively determine whether a person is mentally incompetent. See In re Amber
G., 2004-Ohio-5665 at ¶ 19, citing In re King-Bolen, 2001 Ohio App. LEXIS 4551 at *30.
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There is no indication that either appellant failed to understand the nature of the
proceedings or inadequately participated in the matter. There was also no evidence that
appellants were incapable of taking care of themselves. On the contrary, the record shows
that appellants were not only receptive to the case plan requirements, but they were also
cooperative and compliant with the case planning. Several of the FCCS caseworkers
testified that appellants successfully completed their case plan requirements and were
actively visiting their children. Additionally, the witnesses who had worked with appellants
through in-home services testified that appellants were capable of taking care of
themselves, such as cooking, cleaning, and paying bills. It was not unreasonable, arbitrary,
or unconscionable for the juvenile court to deny the motion for an appointment of a guardian
ad litem because appellants did not appear to be mentally incompetent. We further find
that it was not unreasonable for the juvenile court to determine that the motion was untimely
because appellants raised the issue only a few days before the second day of the
permanent custody hearing.
{¶46} Accordingly, both of appellants' first assignments of error are overruled.
C) The Juvenile Court's Decision to Grant Permanent Custody to FCCS.
{¶47} Mother Assignment of Error No. 3:
{¶48} THE AWARD OF PERMANENT CUSTODY TO FAYETTE COUNTY
CHILDREN'S SERVICES WAS ERROR BECAUSE THE AGENCY FAILED TO PROVE BY
CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE THAT PERMANENT CUSTODY WAS IN THE
BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILDREN.
{¶49} Mother's Assignment of Error No. 4:
{¶50} THE GRANT OF PERMANENT CUSTODY IS AGAINST THE MANIFEST
WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE.
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{¶51} Mother's Assignment of Error No. 5:
{¶52} THE TRIAL COURT'S FINDING THAT FCCS USED REASONABLE
EFFORTS TO REUNITE THE FAMILY IS AGAINST THE MANIFEST WEIGHT OF THE
EVIDENCE.
{¶53} Father's Assignment of Error No. 2:
{¶54} THE TRIAL COURT'S AWARD OF PERMANENT CUSTODY TO THE
AGENCY WAS AGAINST THE MANIFEST WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE AND THUS
CONSTITUTES REVERSABLE [sic] ERROR.
{¶55} Father Assignment of Error No. 3:
{¶56} THE AGENCY DID NOT USE REASONABLE EFFORTS TO PREVENT
REMOVAL OR TO REUNITE THE CHILDREN TO FATHER-APPELLANT.
{¶57} In their remaining assignments of error, appellants argue that the juvenile
court erred when it granted permanent custody of the children to FCCS. In support of their
argument, appellants assert that there was insufficient evidence to grant permanent custody
and even if there were some, competent credible evidence, the decision was against the
manifest weight of the evidence because FCCS did not seek out enough services for
appellants. Appellants further contend that FCCS failed to make reasonable efforts to
prevent the continued removal of the children from appellants' home pursuant to R.C.
2151.419.
1) Permanent Custody
{¶58} A parent has a constitutionally protected liberty interest to the care and
custody of his or her children. In re Thompkins, 115 Ohio St. 3d 409, 2007-Ohio-5238, ¶
10; In re K.H., 119 Ohio St. 3d 538, 2008-Ohio-4825, ¶ 39. In order to terminate those
parental rights, the state is required to prove by clear and convincing evidence that the
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statutory standards for permanent custody have been met. In re K.W., 12th Dist. Butler No.
CA2015-06-124, 2015-Ohio-4315, ¶ 11; In re G.C., 12th Dist. Butler Nos. CA2016-12-237
thru CA2016-12-240, 2017-Ohio-4226, ¶ 32. At issue in this case are the statutory
standards for permanent custody found in R.C. 2151.414(B).
{¶59} Subject to R.C. 2151.414(B)(1), the juvenile court may terminate parental
rights and award permanent custody of a child to a children services agency if the court
finds that (1) permanent custody is in the best interest of the child and (2) one of the
following R.C. 2151.414(B)(1)(a)-(e) factors exists: the child is abandoned; the child is
orphaned; the child has been in the temporary custody of the agency for at least 12 months
of a consecutive 22-month period; or where the preceding three factors do not apply, the
child cannot be placed with either parent within a reasonable time or should not be placed
with either parent; or on three separate occasions the child or another child in the custody
of the parent from whose custody the child has been removed has been adjudicated an
abused, neglected, or dependent child. In re M.A., 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2019-08-129,
2019-Ohio-5367, ¶ 13. To determine the best interest of the child, the juvenile court shall
consider the factors in R.C. 2151.414(D)(1). In re C.D., 12th Dist. Clermont No. CA2019-
02-014, 2019-Ohio-4911, ¶ 14. These R.C. 2151.414(D)(1) factors are
(a) The interaction and interrelationship of the child with the child's
parents, siblings, relatives, foster caregivers and out-of-home
providers, and any other person who may significantly affect the
child;
(b) The wishes of the child, as expressed directly by the child or
through the child's guardian ad litem, with due regard for the
maturity of the child;
(c) The custodial history of the child, including whether the child has
been in the temporary custody of one or more public children
services agencies or private child placing agencies for twelve or
more months of a consecutive twenty-two-month period, or the
child has been in the temporary custody of one or more public
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children services agencies or private child placing agencies for
twelve or more months of a consecutive twenty-two-month
period and, as described in division (D)(1) of section 2151.413
of the Revised Code, the child was previously in the temporary
custody of an equivalent agency in another state;
(d) The child's need for a legally secure permanent placement and
whether that type of placement can be achieved without a grant
of permanent custody to the agency;
(e) Whether any of the factors in divisions (E)(7) to (11) of this
section apply in relation to the parents and child.
2) Appellate Standard of Review
{¶60} Generally, an appellate court is limited to considering whether sufficient
credible evidence exists to support the juvenile court's permanent custody decision. In re
D.P., 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2020-07-074, 2020-Ohio-6663, ¶ 13. Under this standard of
review, an appellate court will reverse a juvenile court's decision only if there is a sufficient
conflict in the evidence presented. In re L.S., 12th Dist. Brown Nos. CA2019-03-001 and
CA2019-03-002, 2019-Ohio-3143, ¶ 17.
{¶61} Even if there is sufficient evidence, an appellate court may nevertheless
reverse a permanent custody judgment if it finds the judgment to be against the manifest
weight of the evidence. In re C.S., 12th Dist. Clinton No. CA2020-04-006, 2020-Ohio-4414,
¶ 15. In evaluating whether the judgment is against the manifest weight of the evidence,
an appellate court considers the credibility of the witnesses and weighs the evidence to
determine whether the finder of fact clearly lost its way resolving any conflicts in the
evidence and created a manifest miscarriage of justice. In re T.P., 12th Dist. Butler No.
CA2015-08-164, 2016-Ohio-72, ¶ 19, citing Eastley v. Volkman, 132 Ohio St. 3d 328, 2012-
Ohio-2179, ¶ 20. If an appellate court concludes that the judgment is against the manifest
weight of the evidence, the judgment must be reversed, and a new trial ordered. In re D.P.,
2020-Ohio-6663, ¶ 14. When weighing the evidence, an appellate court must be mindful of
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the presumption in favor of the findings made by the finder of fact and that any evidence
susceptible to more than one construction will be construed to sustain the judgment. In re
C.Y., 12th Dist. Butler Nos. CA2014-11-231 and CA2014-11-236 through CA2014-11-238,
2015-Ohio-1343, ¶ 25.
3) Juvenile Court's Decision
{¶62} In its decision granting permanent custody to FCCS, the juvenile court found
that FCCS had been involved with appellants on several occasions since 2013. More
recently, FCCS initiated alternative responses in February 2016 and March 2017 because
of unsanitary conditions the agency found in appellants' home. As part of the instant case,
the juvenile court found that the case plan required appellants to obtain suitable housing,
participate in parenting education classes, undergo a mental health assessment, and have
no contact with Father's brother. Throughout the pendency of the case, the juvenile court
noted that appellants attended the scheduled visits with the children. However, the juvenile
court found that appellants' extended home visit with the two older children was
unsuccessful and the children were again removed from the home and placed in foster care.
The juvenile court further found that appellants completed several parenting education
classes, participated in personal counseling, and received in-home services to aid in their
development.
{¶63} In awarding permanent custody to FCCS, the juvenile court appropriately
applied the R.C. 2151.414(B) test to find that permanent custody was in the best interest of
the children. The juvenile court found that all the children had shown beneficial
development from their placement with foster families. The juvenile court also determined
that all of the children had been in the custody of FCCS for 12 out of 22 consecutive months.
In addition to those findings, the juvenile court found that
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[t]he children cannot be placed with any of their parents within a
reasonable time, and should not be placed with any of their parents.
[Mother] and [Father] do not possess the cognitive abilities to care
for the children.
Finally, the juvenile court found that FCCS had made reasonable efforts to reunify the
family.
4) Analysis
{¶64} After thoroughly reviewing the record, we hold that the decision to award
permanent custody to FCCS was supported by clear and convincing evidence and not
against the manifest weight of the evidence.
{¶65} Appellants do not dispute the juvenile court's R.C. 2151.414(B)(1)(d) finding
that the children had been in the temporary care of FCCS for 12 out of 22 consecutive
months.8 Furthermore, R.C. 2151.414(E) provides guidelines for the juvenile court to
determine whether the children can be placed with the parents within a reasonable time. In
re D.A., 113 Ohio St. 3d 88, 2007-Ohio-1105, ¶ 17. Pursuant to R.C. 2151.414(E)(2), the
juvenile court may determine that an intellectual disability is so severe that it makes a parent
unable to provide an adequate permanent home for the child at the present time and, as
anticipated, within one year after the court holds the permanent custody hearing. By finding
that appellants "do not possess the cognitive abilities to care for the children," the juvenile
8. We note that the two younger children, R.K. and B.K., have not been in the temporary custody of FCCS
for a complete 12 months. Instead, at the time FCCS filed for permanent custody they were five days short
of the 12-month period. To calculate the starting date for temporary custody the court shall use the earlier of
60 days after removal or the date the child is adjudicated pursuant to R.C. 2151.28. See R.C.
2151.414(B)(1)(e). The earlier time here is sixty days after the removal of the children, which would be August
25, 2018. Thus, in order for the 12 of 22 factor to apply, the motion for permanent custody relating to R.K.
and B.K. should not have been filed prior to August 25, 2019. The motions for permanent custody relating to
R.K. and B.K. were filed on August 20, 2019. An agency may not file for permanent custody before the 12-
month period has elapsed. In re C.W., 104 Ohio St. 3d 163, 2004-Ohio-6411, ¶ 26. As discussed, appellants
did not contest the juvenile court's timing determination and we do not find this five-day discrepancy rises to
the level of plain error. Moreover, by making the R.C. 2151.414(E)(2) finding, the juvenile court essentially
found the alternative R.C 2151.414(B)(1)(a) factor applied which dispenses with the need for any other R.C.
2151.414(B)(1) factor. In re C.S., 2020-Ohio-4414 at ¶ 19.
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court determined that the children cannot be placed with either Mother or Father pursuant
to R.C. 2151.414(E)(2).
{¶66} The record clearly and convincingly supports the juvenile court's
determination. Despite interventions in 2013, 2016, and 2017 to remedy the conditions
necessitating placement of the children outside of their home, appellants' home repeatedly
relapsed into the condition prompting the intervention. After six months in foster care, F.S.
and S.K. were permitted to return home for an extended visit, however, the extended visit
had to be terminated due to the children's regressive behaviors.
{¶67} Numerous witnesses testified that they believed appellants would be unable
to successfully parent without some kind of in-home mentoring system in place to provide
continuous support because of appellants' intellectual disabilities. This belief was shared
by appellants' case managers from the Scioto Paint Valley Mental Health Center that
provided them with ongoing in-home support services. Even though the case managers
thought that eventually monitoring could be tapered off, they were unable to predict how
long the support would be necessary. Appellants' mental health professionals
acknowledged that it would take more time for appellants to develop the skills to be able to
independently parent the children. The psychologist also opined that she believed
appellants would never be able to master parenting skills.
{¶68} Although there was evidence that appellants had completed their case plan
requirements, "the key concern is not whether the parent has successfully completed the
case plan, but whether the parent has substantially remedied the concerns that caused the
child's removal from the parent's custody." (Emphasis sic.) In re S.M., 12th Dist. Clermont
No. CA2015-01-003, 2015-Ohio-2318, ¶ 24. "[A] parent's successful completion of the
terms of a case plan is not dispositive on the issue of reunification, as the case plan is
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simply a means to a goal, but not the goal itself." In re A.R., 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2015-
08-143, 2016-Ohio-4919, ¶ 18. Also, case plan compliance does not prove that appellants
may function within their intellectual disabilities in such a manner that they could provide an
adequate permanent home for the children within one year from the date of the permanent
custody hearing. See In re M.H., 4th Dist. Pike No. 17CA882, 2017-Ohio-7365, ¶ 102.
{¶69} As to the children's best interests, the evidence supports the juvenile court's
finding that the children were progressing well in their foster placements and that permanent
custody was in their best interests. The best interests of the children are served by being
placed in a permanent situation that fosters growth, stability, and security. In re D.P., 2020-
Ohio-6663 at ¶ 26. No one disputed that appellants loved their children, instead the concern
was appellants' ability to maintain a safe home and successfully provide for the children's
needs. See e.g. In re N.L., 9th Dist. Summit No. 27784, 2015-Ohio-4165, ¶ 31 (permanent
custody to a children services agency was appropriate where an intellectually disabled
parent could not provide for the safe and appropriate care of her child without consistently
relying on the assistance and judgment of others). The juvenile court's decision was based
on appellants' capability to parent their four children adequately and safely. We find that
there was sufficient evidence to support the juvenile court's decision to grant permanent
custody and the decision was not against the manifest weight of the evidence. Accordingly,
Mother's third and fourth and Father's second assignments of error are overruled.
{¶70} Next, we find that appellants' argument that FCCS failed to use reasonable
efforts lacks merit. The Ohio Supreme Court has held that the reasonable efforts finding
mandated by R.C. 2151.419 is not required in a permanent custody proceeding unless the
juvenile court has previously failed to make such a finding. In re C.F., 113 Ohio St. 3d 73,
2007-Ohio-1104, ¶ 4. The record reflects that the juvenile court made reasonable-effort
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findings at various points throughout the case for all the children as demonstrated in the
adjudicatory, dispositional, and review journal entries. Consequently, the agency did not
need to prove at the permanent custody hearing that it made reasonable reunification
efforts. Id. at ¶ 45; See also In re K.C., 4th Dist. Athens No. 20CA8, 2021-Ohio-184, ¶ 34-
35. Notwithstanding our determination that the finding was unnecessary, in its decision the
juvenile court found that FCCS made reasonable efforts to reunify the family. This court
has explained that reasonable efforts does not mean all available efforts. In re K.B., 12th
Dist. Clermont Nos. CA2015-01-011 and CA2015-01-012, 2015-Ohio-2732, ¶ 50. Mother's
fifth and Father's third assignments of error are overruled.
{¶71} Judgment affirmed.
PIPER, P.J., and M. POWELL, J., concur.
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