In Re: Adopt of: S.W.C., Appeal of: C.C., Father

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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
IN RE: ADOPTION OF S.W.C., IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
PENNSYLVANIA
APPEAL OF: C.C.,
Appellant No. 939 MDA 2014
Appeal from the Decree May 5, 2014
In the Court of Common Pleas of York County
Orphans' Court at No(s): 2013-0119
IN THE INTEREST OF: S.W.C., A MINOR, IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
PENNSYLVANIA
APPEAL OF: C.C., FATHER,
Appellant No. 933 MDA 2014
Appeal from the Order Entered May 6, 2014
In the Court of Common Pleas of York County
Juvenile Division at No(s): CP-67-DP-0000103-2012
BEFORE: BOWES, OTT, and STABILE, JJ.
MEMORANDUM BY BOWES, J.: FILED DECEMBER 15, 2014
C.C. (“Father”) appeals from the order wherein the trial court changed
the permanency goal for his son, S.W.C., from reunification to adoption and
also from the decree that terminated his parental rights. As the appeals flow
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from identical facts and Father submitted one brief that combined both
aspects of his arguments, we address the appeals collectively, and affirm.1
S.W.C. was born during May 2009 from an ongoing relationship
between R.L. (“Mother”) and Father. York County Office of Children and
Youth, Services (“CYS”) became involved with the family during May of 2012
due to allegations that Father sexually abused S.W.C.’s older half-sister over
a four-year period. Father was determined to be an indicated perpetrator of
abuse. On June 4, 2012, the victim, S.W.C., and another half-sibling, who
subsequently leveled allegations of abuse against Father, were placed
together in emergency shelter care. The latter allegations of abuse were
also substantiated. However, Father was never charged with any crimes as
a result of either allegation of sexual abuse. On June 11, 2012, the juvenile
court adjudicated the three children dependent. The children remained
together in the foster home, which is now a pre-adoptive resource.
The original permanency goal was reunification. In order to achieve
reunification, CYS crafted a family service plan (“FSP”) that directed Father,
inter alia, to maintain contact with CYS, complete a sex offender evaluation
and treatment recommendations, attend sex offender counseling until
successfully discharged, participate in joint counseling with Mother if deemed
necessary, and maintain a safe home. See CYS Exhibit 1. Three
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1
On the same date, the trial court terminated the parental rights of R.L.,
S.W.C.’s birth mother. We address the appeal from that order separately.
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permanency review hearings occurred at approximate six-month intervals
between the June 2012 adjudication and October 2013. See Stipulation of
Counsel, 1/3/14, at 2-3. During two hearings each, the juvenile court found
that Father was in moderate compliance with the plan and that he made
minimal progress toward alleviating the circumstances that necessitated
CYS’s intervention. Id. at 2-3. At all of the hearings, the juvenile court
determined that CYS made reasonable efforts to finalize S.W.C.’s
permanency goal, i.e., reunification. Id. at 2-3.
On October 30, 2013, CYS filed a petition to change S.W.C.’s
permanency goal from reunification to adoption and filed a petition to
terminate Mother and Father’s parental rights. The court convened
evidentiary hearings on January 10 and February 27, 2014. CYS presented
testimony from the family’s caseworker and a family advocate who was
associated with Catholic Charities. Father testified on his own behalf.
On May 5, 2014, the trial court granted CYS’s petition, terminated
Father’s parental rights, and changed S.W.C.’s permanency goal to adoption.
The trial court concluded that CYS established the statutory grounds to
terminate parental rights outlined in § 2511(a)(1), (2), (5), and (8) and (b).
This timely appeal and a concomitantly-filed Rule 1925(b) statement
followed.
Father asserts seven questions for our review. We condense the first
five issues, which Father argues collectively, into the following query:
Whether the trial court erred in finding that CYS established the statutory
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grounds for terminating his parental rights pursuant to § 2511(a)(1), (2),
(5), and (8) when Father cooperated with CYS, demonstrated his parenting
ability, and sought services to remedy the conditions that led to S.W.C.’s
placement due to CYS’s failure to provide him adequate assistance and
services. See Father’s brief at 5-6.
We reiterate the remaining issues as listed in Father’s statement of
questions presented.
VI. Whether the trial court erred in finding that [CYS]
established by clear and convincing evidence that termination of
parental rights would best serve the needs and welfare of the
child since the trial court discounted the bond the child had with
the Father.
VII. Whether the trial court erred in changing the goal from
reunification to placement for adoption where a bond exists
between the father and his child and the father continues to
work and cooperate with [CYS] to promote reunification despite
[CYS’s] failure to fully engage the father and provide services
that would aid reunification.
Id. at 6.
For judicial convenience, we review at the outset Father’s complaint
concerning the order changing S.W.C.’s permanency goal from reunification
to adoption. The following principles are relevant.
In cases involving a court’s order changing the [court-ordered]
goal . . . to adoption, our standard of review is abuse of
discretion. To hold that the trial court abused its discretion, we
must determine its judgment was manifestly unreasonable, that
the court disregarded the law, or that its action was a result of
partiality, prejudice, bias or ill will. While this Court is bound by
the facts determined in the trial court, we are not tied to the
court’s inferences, deductions and conclusions; we have a
responsibility to ensure that the record represents a
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comprehensive inquiry and that the hearing judge has applied
the appropriate legal principles to that record. Therefore, our
scope of review is broad.
In re S.B., 943 A.2d 973, 977 (Pa.Super. 2008) (citations omitted); see
also In re R.J.T., 9 A.3d 1179, 1190 (Pa. 2010).
Additionally, this issue is controlled by the Juvenile Act, 42 Pa.C.S.
§ 6301-6375, which was amended in 1998 to conform with the federal
Adoption and Safe Families Act (“ASFA”), 42 U.S.C. § 671-679. In In re
M.S., 980 A.2d 612, 615 (Pa.Super. 2009) citing 42 Pa.C.S. § 6301(b)(1),
we explained,
Both statutes are compatible pieces of legislation
seeking to benefit the best interest of the child, not
the parent. . . . ASFA promotes the reunification of
foster care children with their natural parents when
feasible. . . . Pennsylvania’s Juvenile Act focuses
upon reunification of the family, which means that
the unity of the family shall be preserved “whenever
possible.”
As such, child welfare agencies are required to make reasonable efforts to
return a foster child to his or her biological parent. In re N.C., 909 A.2d
818, 823 (Pa.Super. 2006). When those efforts fail, the agency “must
redirect its efforts towards placing the child in an adoptive home.” Id.
During permanency review hearings, trial courts must address the
following considerations relevant to the child’s well-being.
(f) Matters to be determined at permanency hearing.—
At each permanency hearing, a court shall determine all of the
following:
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(1) The continuing necessity for and appropriateness of
the placement.
(2) The appropriateness, feasibility and extent of
compliance with the permanency plan developed for the
child.
(3) The extent of progress made toward alleviating the
circumstances which necessitated the original placement.
(4) The appropriateness and feasibility of the
current placement goal for the child.
(5) The likely date by which the placement goal for the
child might be achieved.
(5.1) Whether reasonable efforts were made to finalize
the permanency plan in effect.
(6) Whether the child is safe.
....
(9) If the child has been in placement for at least 15 of
the last 22 months or the court has determined that
aggravated circumstances exist and that reasonable
efforts to prevent or eliminate the need to remove the
child from the child’s parent, guardian or custodian or to
preserve and reunify the family need not be made or
continue to be made, whether the county agency has filed
or sought to join a petition to terminate parental rights
and to identify, recruit, process and approve a qualified
family to adopt the child[.]
(f.1) Additional determination.--Based upon the
determinations made under subsection (f) and all relevant
evidence presented at the hearing, the court shall determine one
of the following:
(1) If and when the child will be returned to the
child's parent, guardian or custodian in cases where the
return of the child is best suited to the safety, protection
and physical, mental and moral welfare of the child.
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(2) If and when the child will be placed for
adoption, and the county agency will file for termination
of parental rights in cases where return to the child's
parent, guardian or custodian is not best suited to the
safety, protection and physical, mental and moral welfare
of the child.
42 Pa.C.S. § 6351(f)(1)-(6) and (9), (f.1) (1) and (2) (emphases added).
As we have indicated, “[t]hese statutory mandates clearly place the trial
court’s focus on the best interests of the child.” In re S.B., supra at 978
(citation omitted). Importantly, “[s]afety, permanency, and well-being of
the child must take precedence over all other considerations.” Id. (citation
omitted; emphasis in original). Moreover, the burden is on the child welfare
agency “to prove the change in goal would be in the child’s best interest.”
In re D.P., 972 A.2d 1221, 1227 (Pa.Super. 2009).
Instantly, Father argues that, since he showed an interest in his son,
complied with some components of the FSP, and proffered evidence that he
could satisfy the child’s housing needs, he made sufficient progress toward
reunification to warrant maintaining the status quo. Father’s assertion
highlights the juvenile court’s two findings of Father’s “moderate”
compliance following the permanency review hearings. Father stresses that
his development occurred despite homelessness and what he characterizes
as a dearth of assistance from CYS. Thus, he argues that the juvenile court
committed an abuse of discretion in changing S.W.C.’s permanency goal
from reunification to adoption. He concludes, “The weight of the evidence
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indicates that [he] . . . appeared very close to reunification with the minor
child.” Father’s brief at 30. For the following reasons, we disagree.
Notwithstanding Father’s protestations to the contrary, the certified
record demonstrates that Father was not on the verge of reunification with
S.W.C. Indeed, while Father’s compliance with the protocols outlined in
the FSP was twice determined to be moderate, his progress toward actually
alleviating the circumstances that necessitated CYS’s intervention was found
to be minimal on two occasions. See Stipulation of Counsel, 1/3/14, at 2-3.
Moreover, we reject Father’s attempt to transfer the blame for his
ineffectiveness to CYS. As we discuss further, infra, the agency provided
Father every service that he requested and nothing was refused or denied.
Additionally, while Father complains that CYS failed to form a “reunification
team” to assist him, he never requested that relief. N.T., 1/10/14, at 39-40.
In fact, although Father ultimately followed his counsel’s cues and testified
that he believed he would have benefited from a team of providers, Father’s
initial reaction to counsel’s inquiry about the prospects of a team approach
was, “Well, I like to do things on my own.” N.T., 2/27/14, at 100-101.
Likewise, Father failed to complete the sex offender evaluation that he
started with the Commonwealth Clinical Group. Id. at 97, 116-117. He
initiated the evaluation process, but he was discharged after he failed to
respect appropriate boundaries with his therapist. Id. at 116-117.
Approximately fourteen months after the adjudication of dependency, Father
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eventually completed a sexual abuse evaluation through a different service
provider. N.T., 2/27/14, at 97-98. Even then, however, he failed to fulfill
the recommended outpatient sex-offender treatment or therapeutic
polygraph evaluation. N.T., 1/10/14, at 39; N.T., 2/27/14, at 100.
Apparently, by the time he completed the sexual abuse evaluation, he
believed that the loss of his son was a fait accompli. N.T., 2/27/14, at 118.
S.W.C. was adjudicated dependent during June 2012, when he was
three years old. Approximately two years later, when CYS filed the petition
for the goal change, he remained in foster care with no firm prospect of
reunification with Father. S.W.C. is currently five years old and deserves
permanency. The trial court considered the factors outlined in § 6351(f)(1)-
(9), and concluded that it was in S.W.C.’s best interest to change his
permanency goal from reunification to adoption. The juvenile court
acknowledged that Father attended visitation regularly, held stable
employment for approximately one year, and eventually completed the
required sexual abuse evaluation, albeit late. However, during that same
period that his son languished in what is now a pre-adoptive foster home,
Father failed to maintain stable housing, refused to accept responsibility for
his sexual abuse of S.W.C.’s older half-sisters, and declined to complete the
recommended sexual offender’s treatment regimen. Based on the
foregoing, we conclude that the juvenile court properly weighed S.W.C.’s
need for safety and permanency over all other considerations, and that it did
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not abuse its discretion in concluding that changing the placement goal to
adoption served his best interests. Accordingly, we will not disturb it.
Next, we address whether the trial court erred in terminating Father’s
parental rights pursuant to Pa.C.S. § 2511(a) and (b). We apply the
following standard of review to an order terminating parental rights:
In cases concerning the involuntary termination of parental
rights, our review is limited to a determination of whether the
decree of the termination court is supported by competent
evidence. Adoption of B.D.S., 494 Pa. 171, 431 A.2d 203, 207
(1981). The party petitioning for termination “must prove the
statutory criteria for that termination by at least clear and
convincing evidence.” In re T.R., 502 Pa. 165, 465 A.2d 642,
644 (1983). Clear and convincing evidence is defined as
“testimony that is so clear, direct, weighty, and convincing as to
enable the trier of fact to come to a clear conviction, without
hesitancy, of the truth of the precise facts in issue.” Matter of
Sylvester, 521 Pa. 300, 555 A.2d 1202, 1203–04 (1989).
In re Adoption of L.J.B., 18 A.3d 1098, 1107 (Pa. 2011). As the ultimate
trier of fact, the trial court is empowered to make all determinations of
credibility, resolve conflicts in the evidence, and believe all, part, or none of
the evidence presented. In re A.S., 11 A.3d 473, 477 (Pa.Super. 2010).
“If competent evidence supports the trial court's findings, we will affirm even
if the record could also support the opposite result.” Id.
Requests to involuntarily terminate a biological parent’s parental rights
are governed by 23 Pa.C.S. § 2511, which provides in pertinent part as
follows:
(a) General rule.--The rights of a parent in regard to a child
may be terminated after a petition filed on any of the following
grounds:
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(1) The parent by conduct continuing for a period of at
least six months immediately preceding the filing of the
petition either has evidenced a settled purpose of
relinquishing parental claim to a child or has refused or
failed to perform parental duties.
(2) The repeated and continued incapacity, abuse,
neglect or refusal of the parent has caused the child to be
without essential parental care, control or subsistence
necessary for his physical or mental well-being and the
conditions and causes of the incapacity, abuse, neglect or
refusal cannot or will not be remedied by the parent.
....
(5) The child has been removed from the care of the
parent by the court or under a voluntary agreement with
an agency for a period of at least six months, the
conditions which led to the removal or placement of the
child continue to exist, the parent cannot or will not
remedy those conditions within a reasonable period of
time, the services or assistance reasonably available to the
parent are not likely to remedy the conditions which led to
the removal or placement of the child within a reasonable
period of time and termination of the parental rights would
best serve the needs and welfare of the child.
....
(8) The child has been removed from the care of the
parent by the court or under a voluntary agreement with
an agency, 12 months or more have elapsed from the date
of removal or placement, the conditions which led to the
removal or placement of the child continue to exist and
termination of parental rights would best serve the needs
and welfare of the child.
....
(b) Other considerations.--The court in terminating the rights
of a parent shall give primary consideration to the
developmental, physical and emotional needs and welfare of the
child. The rights of a parent shall not be terminated solely on
the basis of environmental factors such as inadequate housing,
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furnishings, income, clothing and medical care if found to be
beyond the control of the parent. With respect to any petition
filed pursuant to subsection (a)(1), (6) or (8), the court shall not
consider any efforts by the parent to remedy the conditions
described therein which are first initiated subsequent to the
giving of notice of the filing of the petition.
23 Pa.C.S. § 2511.
The test for terminating parental rights consists of two parts. In In re
L.M., 923 A.2d 505, 511 (Pa.Super. 2007), we explained:
Initially, the focus is on the conduct of the parent. The party
seeking termination must prove by clear and convincing
evidence that the parent's conduct satisfies the statutory
grounds for termination delineated in Section 2511(a). Only if
the court determines that the parent's conduct warrants
termination of his or her parental rights does the court engage in
the second part of the analysis pursuant to Section 2511(b):
determination of the needs and welfare of the child under the
standard of best interests of the child. One major aspect of the
needs and welfare analysis concerns the nature and status of the
emotional bond between parent and child, with close attention
paid to the effect on the child of permanently severing any such
bond.
We need only agree with the trial court’s decision as to one subsection of 23
Pa.C.S. § 2511(a) and the subsection (b) analysis in order to affirm the
termination of parental rights. In re B.L.W., 843 A.2d 380, 384 (Pa.Super.
2004) (en banc). Herein, the certified record supports the trial court’s
determination that CYS established the statutory grounds to terminate
Father’s parental rights pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S. § 2511(a)(8) and (b).
Hence, we do not address the remaining statutory grounds.
We have explained our review of the evidence pursuant to
§ 2511(a)(8), as follows:
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In order to terminate parental rights pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S.A.
§ 2511(a)(8), the following factors must be demonstrated: (1)
The child has been removed from parental care for 12 months or
more from the date of removal; (2) the conditions which led to
the removal or placement of the child continue to exist; and (3)
termination of parental rights would best serve the needs and
welfare of the child.
In Re Adoption of M.E.P., 825 A.2d 1266, 1275-1276 (Pa.Super. 2003).
Thus, in order to satisfy the requirements of § 2511(a)(8) in the case
at bar, CYS was required to produce clear and convincing evidence that: (1)
S.W.C. has been removed from Father for at least twelve months; (2) the
conditions which led to the child’s removal continue to exist; and (3)
involuntary termination of parental rights would best serve S.W.C.’s needs
and welfare. See In re Adoption of R.J.S., 901 A.2d 502 (Pa.Super.
2006).
Similar to the arguments leveled in opposition to the order changing
S.W.C.’s permanency goal, Father argues that terminating his parental rights
is not warranted because he maintained visitation, purchased gifts for his
son’s birthday, overcame the obstacles associated with homelessness,
completed sex offender evaluation, and endured the lack of CYS assistance.
Additionally, in an attempt to support the proposition that the conditions that
led to S.W.C.’s placement ceased to exist, he points to his employment
history and recent procurement of appropriate housing. Again, no relief is
due.
Initially, we observe that the record does not sustain Father’s claims
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that CYS abandoned him or failed to provide him adequate assistance. As it
relates to Father’s housing predicament throughout the dependency
proceedings, the following facts are relevant. Father was incarcerated
briefly during May 2012 for violating a protection from abuse order that
precluded him from contacting Mother and her children. He was released
but later re-incarcerated for a parole violation between October 31, 2012
and December 29, 2012. After his release from prison, Father lived for more
than one year with acquaintances in Biglerville, Pennsylvania. Prior to his
incarceration, Father was essentially homeless between the spring and fall of
2012. However, by the time that Father testified at the evidentiary hearing
on CYS’s petition to terminate his parental rights, Father had obtained a
two-bedroom residence in Fairfield, Pennsylvania.
Father criticizes CYS for failing to proffer an array of reunification
services to assist him in finding an appropriate residence. Karen Beard, the
caseworker assigned to S.W.C., confirmed that Father was not provided
assistance to rectify his homelessness. N.T., 1/10/14, at 96. To her
knowledge, CYS did not assign a team to help him obtain housing. Id. Nor
did she know whether Father was referred to any housing assistance
programs. Id. at 96. However, she explained that CYS did, in fact, perform
background checks on Father’s housemates, Mindy Caski and Charles
Bowers. Id. at 96-97. Although the investigations did not return any prior
criminal records, the home was never considered as a placement option for
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S.W.C. because, by the time Father found a stable home with his friends, he
was no longer a viable placement option. Id. at 97-98. Accordingly, she
never inspected that home to determine if it would be a suitable residence
for S.W.C. Id. at 97.
Moreover, to the extent that Father assails CYS’s efforts generally, the
record reveals that CYS provided Father a range of case management
services, referrals to Commonwealth Clinical Group and Triad Treatment
Specialists, and transportation to and supervision of visitations. Id. at 39.
Father eventually completed the sex offender evaluation through Triad
Treatment Specialists, but he nonetheless failed to enroll in the
recommended treatment programs. Furthermore, Ms. Beard testified that,
to her knowledge, Father did not request that the agency assign a service
team to assist him. Id. at 39-40. Likewise, she could not identify any
requested services that the agency refused to provide to Father. Id. at 39-
40.
In relation to Father’s specific complaints regarding the manner in
which the agency conducted visitation and administered the FSP, Ms. Beard
testified that she supervised Father’s visitations with S.W.C. since July of
2013. Id. at 87. She explained that the supervised visitation never
progressed beyond agency supervision because Father’s housemates, whom
Father proposed to supervise the visitations, were not committed to the
supervision procedures and Father did not proffer any other alternatives.
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Id. at 118, 125.
Ms. Beard also outlined her interactions with Father during the
dependency proceedings. She received the assignment during June of 2013
and first met Father on July 25, 2013. Id. at 87. While she spoke with
Father briefly to reschedule a visitation, she explained that she never
reviewed the FSP goals with Father because the plan had been
communicated to him before she was assigned to the family. Id. at 88, 89-
90. Instead, following the September 17, 2013 permanency meeting
attended by Father, Ms. Beard advised Father’s then-counsel to instruct
Father to adhere to the agency’s directions. Id. at 88-89. In total, CYS
mailed three FSPs to Father, and he never contacted the agency about the
documents or requested clarification. Id. at 124. Additionally, he never
mentioned the FSPs during the weekly visitations with S.W.C. Id.
CYS is not entirely blameless. Ms. Beard confirmed that Father was
not invited to the blended perspectives meeting during February 2013 or a
family group decision-making meeting that occurred the ensuing April.
Similarly, CYS failed to inform Father of S.W.C.’s mental health evaluation
scheduled for October 9, 2013, and it does not appear from CYS’s
documentation that Father was provided a copy of the evaluation report.
Id. at 114. Upon further examination, however, Ms. Beard clarified that the
child’s evaluator mailed to Father a copy of the letter scheduling the
evaluation. Id. at 121. Nevertheless, Father failed to contact CYS in order
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to address the pending evaluation. Id. In fact, during the nineteen months
prior to the evidentiary hearing that S.W.C. was in placement, Father failed
to ask CYS about any specific concerns or issues with his son. Id. at 122.
In the same manner that Father failed to take the initiative to become
involved in his son’s mental health evaluation, Father willfully stood on the
sidelines throughout most of the dependency proceedings. Stated simply,
the record bears out that Father never asked CYS about any of the
information that he now claims the agency withheld from him. N.T.,
2/27/14, at 113. He did not attempt to identify S.W.C.’s physicians or
request that CYS inform him when the child was scheduled for appointments
or therapy. Id. He also conceded that, although he consistently attended
the permanency review hearings, he failed to assert during those
proceedings that he felt that CYS was failing him. Id. at 114. Moreover,
Father was fully aware of his right to ask questions and proffer statements
during the hearings. Id. at 133. Accordingly, for all of the foregoing
reasons, and mindful of the juvenile court’s consistent findings that CYS
made reasonable efforts to assist reunification, we reject Father’s attempt to
call CYS’s administration of this case into question. While the agency’s
interaction with Father was not the desired model of communication, the
agency certainly did not abandon Father in his efforts to reunify with S.W.C.
Father’s argument to the contrary is unpersuasive.
Next, we examine whether the trial court erred in concluding that CYS
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satisfied its burden of proving the statutory grounds to terminate Father’s
parental rights under § 2511(a)(8). First, it is undisputed that CYS satisfied
the threshold requirement of § 2511(a)(8) since S.W.C. had been removed
for approximately seventeen months on the date that CYS filed its petition to
terminate Father’s parental rights. Furthermore, as discussed below, the
certified record reveals that the pertinent condition that led to S.W.C.’s
removal from the home in June 2012, i.e., the risks associated with Father’s
untreated sexual proclivities, continued to exist and that terminating
Father’s parental rights would best serve S.W.C.’s needs and welfare.
Between October 2012 and October 2013, Father provided S.W.C. a
bicycle for his birthday and children’s books. N.T., 1/10/14, at 43-44. He
did not send him any other gifts or cards during that period. Id. at 43.
Father was not involved in his son’s preschool activities beyond one
Winterfest event at the child’s Head Start program. Id. at 45, 92. Likewise,
he did not participate in S.W.C.’s therapy sessions or inquire about when the
sessions or other medical appointments were scheduled. Id. at 46.
Additionally, Father was not involved with his son’s then-recent diagnoses of
oppositional defiant disorder (“ODD”) and adjustment disorder with anxiety.
Id. at 45-46. While there is a concern that S.W.C. also may have attention
deficit hyperactivity disorder (“ADHD”), his scheduled neuropsychological
evaluation had not occurred when the evidence was presented. Id. at 46.
Although Ms. Beard informed Father of the appointment, she did not invite
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him to the evaluation because the future of Father’s parental status was
uncertain. Id. at 92.
Father attended sex offender counseling with Commonwealth Clinical
Group, but he was unsuccessfully discharged during November 2012
following an incident where he made physical contact with a therapist. Id.
at 107-108, 113-114; N.T., 2/27/14, at 115-116. Additionally, the agency
does not have any documentation that he completed sexual offender
therapy, the sexual history polygraph test, or the ABEL sexual offender
screen as recommended by the FSP. N.T., 1/10/14, at 122-123. Critically,
since the initial phase of the FSP, Father’s inability to finish the sex offender
evaluation was an ongoing issue. Id. at 123. CYS transmitted information
to Father concerning a sex offender assessment at Triad Treatment
Specialists as an alternative to the evaluation terminated by Commonwealth
Clinical Group. Nevertheless, Father did not comply with the requirement for
his sexual evaluation until August 2013, approximately six weeks before CYS
filed the underlying petitions. Id. at 123. By that juncture, however, the
agency was no longer in a position to commit further resources to Father.
Id. at 123, 135.
Upon learning of the agency’s decision to shift its focus toward
adoption, Father declined to submit to the therapeutic polygraph or to
pursue the treatment regimen recommend by the Triad Treatment
evaluators. N.T., 2/27/14, at 118. Hence, Father not only failed to make
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progress addressing the issues that led to S.W.C.’s placement, but also
failed to avail himself of the services that the agency could have provided.
He delayed completing the sexual offender evaluation, and, upon completing
that assessment, he refused to engage in the recommended treatment
regimen. Father’s rejection of the treatment protocols underscores the fact
that he has yet to resolve the issues that prevented him from caring for his
son.
In light of these facts, Ms. Beard concluded that it was in S.W.C.’s best
interest to prepare the child for adoption into a safe and stable home where
he would receive adequate care and protection. N.T., 1/10/14, at 58. She
agreed that “fundamentally we’re in the same position today as we were
when the agency became involved with this family in
addressing . . . [Father’s] sexual abuse issues[.]” Id. at 59. She testified
that there is still a lot that remains to be accomplished and that she cannot
discern a light at the end of the tunnel. Id.
The foregoing evidence sustains the trial court’s determination that
CYS proved by clear and convincing evidence the statutory grounds to
terminate Father’s parental rights to S.W.C. pursuant to § 2511(a)(8).
S.W.C. has been removed from Father for at least twelve months; the
conditions that led to S.W.C.’s removal continue to exist; and, as discussed
infra, involuntary termination of parental rights would best serve S.W.C.’s
needs and welfare. Accordingly, we find that the record supports the trial
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court’s conclusion that CYS satisfied the statutory requirements to terminate
Father’s parental rights pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S. § 2511(a)(8).
Next, we address whether the trial court abused its discretion in
finding that CYS presented sufficient evidence to demonstrate by clear and
convincing evidence that terminating Father’s parental rights and
permanently severing the existing bond between him and S.W.C. would best
serve the child’s needs and welfare pursuant to § 2511(b). While the
Adoption Act does not mandate that the trial court consider the effect of
permanently severing parental bonds, our case law requires it where a bond
exists to some extent. See In re E.M., 620 A.2d 481, 485 (Pa. 1993).
The extent of the trial court’s bond-effect analysis depends upon the
circumstances of a particular case. In re K.Z.S., 946 A.2d 753, 763
(Pa.Super. 2008). We have emphasized that, while a parent’s emotional
bond with his child is a major aspect of the § 2511(b) best-interest analysis,
it is nonetheless only one of many factors to be considered by the trial court
when determining what is in the best interest of the child. In re K.K.R.-S.,
958 A.2d 529, 535-536 (Pa.Super. 2008). Indeed, the mere existence of an
emotional bond does not preclude the termination of parental rights. See In
re T.D., 949 A.2d 910 (Pa.Super. 2008) (trial court’s decision to terminate
parental rights was affirmed where court balanced strong emotional bond
against parents’ inability to serve needs of child).
As we explained in In re K.Z.S., supra at 763 (emphasis omitted),
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In addition to a bond examination, the court may equally
emphasize the safety needs of the child under subsection (b),
particularly in cases involving physical or sexual abuse, severe
child neglect or abandonment, or children with special needs.
The trial court should also examine the intangibles such as the
love, comfort, security and stability the child might have with the
foster parent. Another consideration is the importance of
continuity of relationships to the child and whether the parent
child bond, if it exists, can be severed without detrimental
effects on the child. All of these factors can contribute to the
inquiry about the needs and welfare of the child.
See also In re A.S., 11 A.3d 473, 483 (Pa.Super. 2010) (orphans’ court
can emphasize safety needs, consider intangibles, such as love, comfort,
security, and stability child might have with the foster parent, and
importance of continuity of existing relationships).
Herein, the trial court concluded that severing the parental bond and
freeing S.W.C. for adoption was in the child’s best interest because the
parental bond that nurtures safety, security, and permanency exists
between S.W.C. and his foster parents rather than with Father. See Trial
Court Opinion, 5/6/14, at 32. Our review of the certified record confirms the
trial court’s conclusion.
Initially, we review Ms. Beard’s testimony concerning S.W.C.’s
development in foster care. Ms. Beard related that S.W.C. was four years
old as of the date of the evidentiary hearing. N.T., 1/10/14, at 44. He
engages in negative behaviors associated with his ODD, adjustment
disorder, and potential ADHD diagnosis. Id. at 46. His scheduled
neuropsychological evaluation had not occurred when the evidence was
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presented. Id. S.W.C. was referred for play therapy but remains on a
waiting list. He has been in a Head Start program since September 2013.
Id. at 44. He is excelling in the classroom; however, he still experiences
disruptive outbursts. N.T., 2/27/14, at 12.
Next, we address the nature of S.W.C.’s bond with Father. Ms. Beard
testified that Father has weekly supervised visitation with S.W.C. from 6:00
p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday evenings, and that Father attended the
visitations consistently when he was not incarcerated. N.T., 1/10/14, at 29,
122. The visitations were briefly scheduled for twice per week, but it was
scaled back after the schedule proved too demanding for S.W.C. Id. at 102.
Ms. Beard supervised approximately seven of Father’s visitations with
S.W.C. Id. at 99. S.W.C. is happy to see Father during the visitations and
greets him excitedly, “daddy, daddy, daddy.” Id. at 34. Although
Ms. Beard observed a bond between Father and S.W.C., she characterized
that relationship as akin to playmates. Id. at 35, 100. She explained,
“[Father] appears sometimes like they [have] more like a playmate bond,
like sometimes he also appears a little hesitant to discipline [S.W.C.] or be
firm with him at times.” Id. For example, on one occasion, Father failed to
admonish his son for running down the hallway in the agency’s offices. Id.
at 100. When Father does correct his son, it takes multiple prompts to get
the child back on track. Id. at 35. There was also an issue with Father
ignoring CYS’s request to bring more appropriate snacks than candy and
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junk food for his son to eat during the evening visitations. Id. at 100-101.
Despite the agency’s appeal for healthier options, Father persisted in
supplying S.W.C. with large quantities of junk food, chocolate, and sugary
snacks. Id. at 101-102.
Emily Verschoor, the family advocate that Catholic Charities assigned
to this matter, testified that she was involved with the case between July
2013 and December 2013. Id. at 138. Her duties were, inter alia, to assist
with reunification and support CYS generally. Id. at 139. While she never
supervised any of Father’s visitations with his son, she noted that, during
the first two months of supervising Mother’s scheduled biweekly visitations
with S.W.C. and his sisters, she observed that S.W.C. consistently requested
to visit Father during those periods. Id. at 173. She further noted that
S.W.C. was “crestfallen” when the requests were denied. Id. at 174.
In relation to the connections S.W.C. shares with his half-sisters and
pre-adoptive foster family, Ms. Beard stated that she visited S.W.C. and his
half-sisters in the family’s home once per month since she received this
assignment. Id. at 33. She indicated that S.W.C. is particularly attached to
his half-sisters, especially the younger girl, and the foster parents are
committed to adopting all three children. Id. at 36, 49-50. Similarly,
Ms. Beard testified that S.W.C. bonded with all of the members of the foster
family, and he is very happy in the home. Id. at 33. Ms. Beard added that
S.W.C. enjoyed a particularly close relationship with his foster father, and
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that, unlike his relationship with Father, S.W.C. followed his foster parents’
prompts. Id. at 35. Ms. Beard also pointed out that S.W.C. has never
inquired about Father during her visits to the foster home. Id. at 35. In
fact, she opined the child’s bonds were comparatively stronger with his
foster parents than Father. Id. at 36. In sum, she concluded that S.W.C.
would not suffer any long-term negative impacts if the court terminated
Father’s parental rights. Id. at 36, 59.
As highlighted by the foregoing evidence, the certified record supports
the trial court’s needs and welfare analysis pursuant to § 2511(b). Although
a bond exists between S.W.C. and Father, that bond is analogous to
playmates rather than a father and son. While S.W.C. is excited to see
Father during the supervised visitations and clearly prefers that interaction
over Mother’s company, S.W.C. does not look to either parent for guidance
and he did not ask about Father outside of the supervised visitation. Id. at
35.
The evidence confirms that, in contrast to the affable relationship and
playful interactions that S.W.C. enjoys with Father, S.W.C.’s primary
attachments are to his pre-adoptive foster parents and his two half-siblings,
whose adoption into the same family is pending. The meaningful bonds with
the foster family reveal the hallmarks of healthy parent-child and sibling
relationships, including closeness, security and emotional attachment. The
fact that S.W.C.’s primary emotional attachment is with his foster parents
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rather than Father is a significant factor in evaluating his developmental and
emotional needs and welfare. See In re K.Z.S., supra (“the bond between
[the child] and [foster mother] is the primary bond to protect, given [the
child’s] young age and his very limited contact with Mother”). Hence, we do
not disturb the trial court’s determination that permanently severing the
friendship-type bond between Father and S.W.C. will not be detrimental to
the child.
In sum, mindful of the additional factors that we indicated should be
emphasized during the needs-and-welfare analysis in In re K.Z.S., supra at
763, such as “the love, comfort, security and stability the child might have
with the foster parent” and the importance of continuing that beneficial
relationship, we find that the record confirms that terminating Father’s
parental rights best satisfies S.W.C.’s developmental, physical, and
emotional needs and welfare. We emphasize that it is highly beneficial that
S.W.C. and his half-sisters share the same pre-adoptive foster home.
For all of the foregoing reasons, we affirm the trial court order
changing S.W.C.’s permanency goal and the decree terminating Father’s
parental rights to S.W.C. pursuant to § 2511(a)(8) and (b).
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Order and decree affirmed.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 12/15/2014
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