O.G.M. v. Department of Family and Protective Services

Affirmed and Memorandum Opinion filed December 7, 2023.
In The
Fourteenth Court of Appeals
NO. 14-23-00424-CV
O.G.M., Appellant
V.
DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES, Appellee
On Appeal from the 314th District Court
Harris County, Texas
Trial Court Cause No. 2021-01609J
MEMORANDUM OPINION
This accelerated appeal arises from a final order in which, after a final
hearing tried to the bench,1 the trial court terminated the parental rights of appellant
O.G.M. (Mother) with respect to her son, J.G.,2 and appointed appellee Department
of Family and Protective Services (the Department) to be J.G.’s sole permanent
1
We refer to the final hearing as the “trial.”
2
To protect the minor’s identity, we do not use the actual names of the child, parents, or
other family members. See Tex. R. App. P. 9.8.
managing conservator. See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 109.002(a-1) (accelerated
appeals in parental-termination cases); Tex. R. App. P. 28.4 (same).3
In five issues, Mother argues: (1) she proved an affirmative defense under
the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); (2) the evidence was legally and
factually insufficient to support termination under subsection (E); (3) she proved
an affirmative defense under section 161.001(d), precluding termination of her
parental rights under subsection (O); (4) the evidence was factually insufficient to
support the finding that termination was in J.G.’s best interest; and (5) the trial
court abused its discretion by failing to appoint her as a possessory conservator.
We affirm the final order of the trial court.
I. BACKGROUND
According to the removal affidavit, in October 2021, law-enforcement
officers responding to a call from a resident in a hotel complex found J.G., who
was two-years old at the time, wandering alone in the hallway. The officers
eventually traced J.G. to Mother’s room. Because Mother did not answer the door,
the officers entered the room and found mother in a deep sleep. Law enforcement
referred the case to the Department over concerns for J.G.’s safety. Shortly
afterward, Investigator D. Massie from the Department arrived at the hotel to speak
with the officers.
Officer Garcia told Massie about his observations of “the mother’s
interactions with the child.” Specifically, Garcia told Massie that “[Mother] picked
up the child and tossed him onto a chair in the waiting area.” Garcia also observed
that Mother was not “engaging” with J.G. at all during the investigation and would
3
The trial court also terminated the parental rights of J.G.’s alleged father, O.L. The trial
court noted that O.L was not registered with the paternity registry and could not be contacted or
located. O.L. has not appealed the termination of his rights.
2
occasionally jerk J.G. Additionally, aside from a single juice box, Garcia noted that
the hotel room had no food, water, clothing, or diapers.
Massie then spoke with Mother. Mother initially denied using drugs or
alcohol, having any mental-health issues, or being a victim of domestic violence.
Mother acknowledged having a past Child Protective Services (CPS) case, but
claimed it was only because she was depressed. Mother claimed to no longer be
suffering from depression and reasserted that she had no mental-health issues.
Mother informed Massie that she has two other children who are living with their
biological fathers and grandparents. Mother further told Massie that she was
unemployed and receiving SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)
and Medicaid benefits.
When questioned about J.G. wandering alone in the hotel, Mother explained
that she had taken Nyquil because she was sick and under the impression that her
friend who dropped her off at the hotel was going to stay and watch J.G. while she
slept. However, Mother asserted the friend must have left during the night without
warning. Mother’s friend had paid for Mother to stay two nights at the hotel
because she did not want Mother staying at her home any longer. Mother admitted
that she had enough money to stay a few more nights but had no plans for when the
money ran out. Mother told Massie that she has no family support and that J.G.’s
father is not in their life.
Massie was concerned about several inconsistencies in Mother’s account.
First, while Massie was still conversing with Mother, she had Mother’s CPS
history searched, revealing the following:
• In May 2020, the Department received a referral for neglectful
supervision regarding one of Mother’s other children. At the time,
Mother was in a relationship with J.E. Law enforcement responded to a
3
domestic disturbance at Mother’s residence, where they found Mother
arguing with J.E. Mother grabbed a kitchen knife, locked herself in her
room, and began cutting herself on the wrist. After Mother received
treatment and successfully completed services, the case was closed.
• In September 2020, the Department received a second referral for
neglectful supervision regarding Mother. According to the report, Mother
punched J.E. in the face, but no arrests were made because it was
considered mutual combat. J.G. was home at the time of the violence.
• In April 2021, the Department received a third neglectful supervision
referral regarding Mother. According to the report, J.E. and Mother got
into a fight, leading to J.E. pulling out a gun and pointing it at Mother’s
head before firing several shots outside. J.E. then hit Mother in the head
with a speaker box and cut her stomach with a knife. This all occurred in
J.G.’s presence.
Massie asked Mother why she initially withheld this information, but Mother
did not respond. Massie found no evidence of a Nyquil bottle in the hotel room.
Massie also confirmed that Mother was not receiving SNAP benefits.
Based on Massie’s affidavit, J.G. was removed from Mother’s care, and the
Department was appointed as J.G.’s temporary managing conservator. In
December 2021, a family-service plan was approved by the trial court for Mother.
The plan required that she: (1) provide her CPS caseworker with proof of income
and stable housing; (2) participate in a domestic-violence assessment and follow all
recommendations; (3) participate in all scheduled visits with J.G.; (4) complete a
psychiatric and psychosocial assessment; (5) sign a release of information;
(6) submit to random drug screenings; and (7) if any drug screenings yielded
positive results, participate in a substance-abuse assessment and follow all
4
pertinent recommendations.
The permanency progress report
In March 2023, the Department filed a permanency progress report detailing
J.G.’s progress during the suit and Mother’s participation in her family-service
plan. The report included Mother’s result from her December 2021 psychosocial
assessment, which indicated that Mother’s “thought content and thought process
appeared to be within normal limits.” The assessment included additional
observations, such as noting that Mother seemed to be unaware that the level of
alcohol she admitted to consuming could affect her ability to safely supervise J.G.
The assessment also indicated that Mother took the Adult-Adolescent Parenting
Inventory and that “four of her scores were in the high-risk category.”
Accordingly, the assessment recommended that she participate in a
drug-and-alcohol assessment and that she follow all recommendations given as a
result of the assessment.
In April 2022, Mother completed a substance-abuse assessment, which
recommended individual counseling, group counseling, and random drug testing.
Mother attended counseling but was discharged from counseling in June 2022 for
“lack of attendance.” In early October 2022, Mother was sent back to individual
drug-abuse counseling, which she regularly attended through November 2022. In
December 2022, she started missing a few appointments, and then she stopped
attending completely in January 2023.
The permanency report also indicated that since January 2022, Mother only
appeared for two of her drug tests—June and August 2022—and missed all the
others. When Mother appeared for testing in June 2022, she tested positive for
marijuana and cocaine; in August 2022, she tested positive for marijuana.
5
Evidence at trial
Trial commenced in March 2023. The Department’s goal was to have J.G.
remain with his maternal aunt, but J.G.’s attorney ad litem asked for a 30-day
recess, explaining that the aunt was no longer interested in a permanent placement.
After the 30-day recess, the Department informed the trial court that the aunt was
interested in serving as a permanent placement for J.G.
The Department called Kyle Sanders, the conservatorship caseworker, to
testify regarding Mother’s overall progress on her family-service plan. Sanders
testified that in early 2022, Mother had been enrolled in several services, including
individual counseling, substance-abuse group therapy, and substance-abuse
individual counseling. However, in June 2022, Mother was removed from those
services for lack of attendance. She began again in October but was again removed
in early January 2023 for lack of attendance.
Sanders confirmed that Mother was largely noncompliant in submitting to
drug testing. He testified that he even offered to drive her to some of the drug tests,
but every time he tried, “[s]he would become unavailable.” He further described
Mother’s visitation with J.G. as “spotty”; sometimes she would show up multiple
times a month, but other months she would not show up at all. Although Mother
completed her psychological evaluation in September 2022, Sanders testified that
the Department had no knowledge of the results of the evaluation until January
2023. The evaluation indicated that Mother’s IQ was in the 50s, which is
significantly below average. However, Sanders testified that Mother was able to
easily express herself, did not appear to have difficulty understanding what was
being asked of her, and expressed understanding by asking clarification questions.
Sanders testified that Mother never completed her domestic-violence
assessment. The Department was concerned with Mother’s history of domestic
6
violence and her refusal to address the domestic-violence concerns.
Mother, via video conference, testified that she now lives with her sister and
works as a painter, but she also admitted she did not complete the parenting classes
or substance-abuse classes. When asked why she had not completed most of her
services, she responded, “I can’t answer that question, ma’am. I’m sorry.” Mother
also asserted that working multiple services simultaneously was difficult for her;
when asked to clarify, Mother explained, “[s]ometimes I couldn’t pay off my
phone. Sometimes it was just difficult for me.”
When Mother mentioned that the father of her other child had passed away,
the attorney ad litem asked Mother how he had died. After the trial court overruled
Mother’s objection, Mother stated, “You know what? I give up on this. Y’all keep
my kid. I don’t care anymore. Bye. Keep the kids.” Mother immediately logged off
of the video conference; the trial continued without her.
Tranasha Gibbs, the conservatorship supervisor, testified that Mother had
ample opportunity to complete her services. She testified that the Department made
all the necessary referrals for Mother to complete the services, and that if Mother
had requested accommodations, the Department would have tried to assist her.
The trial court made the predicate findings to terminate Mother’s parental
rights to J.G. pursuant to subsections (E) and (O) and found that terminating her
rights was in J.G.’s best interest. Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 161.001(b)(1)(E), (O).
Mother filed a timely notice of appeal.
II. ANALYSIS
A. Standards of review
Due to the severity and permanency of terminating the parental relationship,
the law in Texas requires clear-and-convincing evidence to support such an order.
7
See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 161.001(b); In re J.F.C., 96 S.W.3d 256, 263–64 (Tex.
2002). “Clear and convincing evidence” means “the measure or degree of proof
that will produce in the mind of the trier of fact a firm belief or conviction as to the
truth of the allegations sought to be established.” Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 101.007;
see J.F.C., 96 S.W.3d at 264.
The heightened burden of proof in termination cases results in a heightened
standard of review. See J.F.C., 96 S.W.3d at 266–67. We review the legal
sufficiency of the evidence by considering all evidence in the light most favorable
to the finding to determine whether a reasonable fact-finder could have formed a
firm belief or conviction that its finding was true. Id. at 266. We must assume the
fact-finder resolved disputed facts in favor of its finding if a reasonable fact-finder
could do so, and we disregard all evidence a reasonable fact-finder could have
disbelieved or found incredible. Id. However, this does not compel us to disregard
all evidence that does not support the finding. Id. Because of the heightened
standard, we are also mindful of any undisputed evidence contrary to the finding
and consider that evidence in our analysis. Id.
In reviewing the factual sufficiency of the evidence under the
clear-and-convincing burden, we consider and weigh all of the evidence, including
disputed or conflicting evidence. See In re J.O.A., 283 S.W.3d 336, 345 (Tex.
2009). “If, in light of the entire record, the disputed evidence that a reasonable
factfinder could not have credited in favor of the finding is so significant that a
factfinder could not reasonably have formed a firm belief or conviction, then the
evidence is factually insufficient.” J.F.C., 96 S.W.3d at 266. We give due
deference to the fact-finder’s findings, and we cannot substitute our own judgment
for that of the fact-finder. In re H.R.M., 209 S.W.3d 105, 108 (Tex. 2006) (per
curiam).
8
B. Predicate termination grounds
The trial court made predicate termination findings that Mother had
committed acts establishing the grounds set out in subsections (E) and (O) of
section 161.001(b)(1), which provides for termination of parental rights if the
fact-finder finds by clear-and-convincing evidence that the parent has:
(E) engaged in conduct or knowingly placed the child with
persons who engaged in conduct which endangers the physical or
emotional well-being of the child;
....
(O) failed to comply with the provisions of a court order that
specifically established the actions necessary for the parent to obtain
the return of the child who has been in the permanent or temporary
managing conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective
Services for not less than nine months as a result of the child’s
removal from the parent under Chapter 262 for the abuse or neglect of
the child[.]
Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 161.001(b)(1)(E), (O).
Only one predicate finding under section 161.001(b)(1) is necessary to
support a judgment of termination when there also is a finding that termination is
in the child’s best interest. See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 161.001(b)(1); In re A.V.,
113 S.W.3d 355, 362 (Tex. 2003).
Due process requires, however, that when a parent has raised the issue of
insufficiency of the evidence to support the trial court’s findings under Family
Code section 161.001(b)(1)(D) or (E), an appellate court must address those
endangerment findings to ensure a meaningful appeal due to the collateral
consequences of a finding under those subsections. In re N.G., 577 S.W.3d 230,
237 (Tex. 2019). Due-process and due-course-of-law requirements also mandate
that an appellate court detail its analysis for an appeal of termination of parental
9
rights under Family Code section 161.001(b)(1)(D) or (E). Id. Accordingly, we
first address Mother’s second issue by reviewing the trial court’s endangerment
findings under section 161.001(b)(1)(E). See Tex. Fam. Code Ann.
§ 161.001(b)(1)(E).
1. Endangerment under subsection (E)
“Endanger” means to expose a child to loss or injury or to jeopardize a
child’s emotional or physical health. See In re M.C., 917 S.W.2d 268, 269 (Tex.
1996) (per curiam); In re S.R., 452 S.W.3d 351, 360 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th
Dist.] 2014, pet. denied). A finding of endangerment under subsection (E) requires
evidence that the endangerment was the result of the parent’s conduct, including
acts, omissions, or failure to act. S.R., 452 S.W.3d at 360. Termination under
subsection (E) must be based on more than a single act or omission; the statute
requires a voluntary, deliberate, and conscious course of conduct by the parent. Id.“While endangerment often involves physical endangerment, the statute does not
require that conduct be directed at a child or that the child actually suffers injury;
rather, the specific danger to the child’s well-being may be inferred from parents’
misconduct alone.” Id. at 360 (citing Texas Dep’t of Human Servs. v. Boyd, 727
S.W.2d 531, 533 (Tex. 1987)).
A court may consider actions and inactions occurring both before and after a
child’s birth to establish a “course of conduct.” In re V.A., 598 S.W.3d 317, 331
(Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2020, pet. denied). A parent’s past endangering
conduct may create an inference that the past conduct may recur and further
jeopardize the child’s present or future physical or emotional well-being. See S.R.,
452 S.W.3d at 366–67; In re M.T.R., 579 S.W.3d 548, 568 (Tex. App.—Houston
[14th Dist.] 2019, pet. denied). “As a general rule, conduct that subjects a child to a
life of uncertainty and instability endangers the physical and emotional well-being
10
of a child.” In re R.W., 129 S.W.3d 732, 739 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2004, pet.
denied).
Mother argues there was legally- and factually-insufficient evidence to
support a finding under subsection (E). Mother argues that drug use alone cannot
support termination under subsection (E). Additionally, she reiterates there is no
evidence that she was ever arrested, engaged in criminal behavior, or kept the
company of dangerous people. She insists that one incident of alleged neglectful
supervision—referring to the night J.G. was found wandering alone at the hotel—
cannot be considered a course of conduct that endangered J.G. Although Mother is
correct that one incident cannot justify removal, the Department did not rely solely
on that night to show a course of conduct. Instead, the evidence, when taken as a
whole, demonstrates that Mother engaged in conduct or knowingly placed the child
with persons who engaged in conduct that endangered the physical or emotional
well-being of J.G.
The night J.G. was removed from Mother was not an isolated event; it was
the fourth time the Department had received a referral for neglectful supervision
regarding Mother. All three of the prior referrals involved domestic violence in the
presence of J.G. The first referral involved an argument between Mother and J.E.,
leading to Mother grabbing a kitchen knife and cutting her wrists. The Department
received a second referral, approximately four months later, when J.E. and Mother
mutually assaulted one another. The third referral came after J.E. pointed a loaded
gun at Mother, fired rounds outside, hit Mother in the head, and then cut her
stomach with a knife. Mother also acknowledged that J.E. had previously been
incarcerated for almost one year due to domestic violence.
In summary, the Department presented clear-and-convincing evidence that
Mother engaged in conduct or knowingly placed the child with persons who
11
engaged in conduct which endangers the physical or emotional well-being of J.G.
We conclude that the evidence was legally sufficient to support termination under
subsection (E); we also conclude the evidence was not factually insufficient to
support termination under subsection (E).
Accordingly, we overrule Mother’s second issue.
2. Affirmative defense to subsection (O) finding
In her third issue, Mother argues she proved an affirmative defense to
termination under subsection (O). However, because we have concluded the
evidence was sufficient to support termination under subsection (E) and only a
single predicate ground is necessary to support termination, we need not address
Mother’s third issue. See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 161.001(b)(1).
C. Affirmative defense under the ADA
In her first issue, Mother argues that the trial court erred by terminating her
parental rights because she proved by way of affirmative defense that she has a
disability and that the Department discriminated against her in violation of her
rights under the ADA. See 42 U.S.C. § 12132. However, Mother never actually
explained to the trial court what disability she had, what accommodations were
necessitated by her disability, or what specific provisions of the ADA were
violated. And the record does not reflect that she requested accommodations.
Therefore, we conclude that Mother has not preserved this complaint for appellate
review. Tex. R. App. P. 33.1(a)(1).4
4
We also note that to the extent that Texas appellate courts have recognized alleged
ADA violations as an affirmative defense in termination proceedings, such an affirmative
defense is only relevant to termination under subsection (O). See, e.g., J. G. v. Tex. Dep’t of
Family & Protective Servs., No. 03-22-00790-CV, 2023 WL 3634364, at *7 (Tex. App.—Austin
May 25, 2023, no pet.). Thus, the Department’s alleged violations of Mother’s rights under the
ADA would have no effect on the trial court’s subsection (E) finding, which we upheld above.
12
C. Best interest of the child
1. Legal standard
In her fourth issue, Mother challenges the factual sufficiency of the evidence
to support the trial court’s finding that termination of her parental rights is in the
best interest of J.G.5 See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 161.001(b)(2).
There is a strong presumption that the best interest of a child is served by
keeping the child with a parent. In re R.R., 209 S.W.3d 112, 116 (Tex. 2006) (per
curiam) (citing Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 153.131(b)). However, prompt and
permanent placement of children in a safe environment is also presumed to be in
the children’s best interest. Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 263.307(a). The considerations
the fact-finder may use to determine the best interest of the children, known as the
Holley factors, include:
(1) the desires of the child;
(2) the present and future physical and emotional needs of the child;
(3) the present and future physical and emotional danger to the child;
(4) the parental abilities of the person seeking custody;
(5) the programs available to assist the person seeking custody in
promoting the best interest of the children;
(6) the plans for the child by the individuals or agency seeking
custody;
(7) the stability of the home or proposed placement;
(8) acts or omissions of the parent that may indicate the existing
parent-child relationship is not appropriate; and
(9) any excuse for the parent’s acts or omissions.
See Holley v. Adams, 544 S.W.2d 367, 371–72 (Tex. 1976); see also Tex. Fam.
5
Mother does not challenge the legal sufficiency of the evidence that termination was in
J.G.’s best interest.
13
Code Ann. § 263.307(b) (listing factors to be considered in evaluating “whether
the child’s parents are willing and able to provide the child with a safe
environment”). A best-interest finding does not require proof of any unique set of
factors or limit proof to any specific factors. See Holley, 544 S.W.2d at 371–72.
In reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence to support the trial court’s
finding on best interest, we are mindful the focus in a best-interest analysis is not
only on the parent’s acts or omissions, but also on the nature of the relationship the
children have with the parent. See In re E.N.C., 384 S.W.3d 796, 808 (Tex. 2012).
2. Sufficiency of the evidence
a. Desires of the child
J.G. was too young at the time of the trial to express any desires. Under
these circumstances, the fact-finder may consider with whom the child has bonded,
whether the child is receiving good care in that placement, and whether the child
has spent minimal time with a parent. See In re J.D., 436 S.W.3d 105, 118 (Tex.
App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2014, no pet.). The Department concedes that at the
time of trial, J.G.’s only bonds were with Mother’s biological family members and
that a permanent placement for J.G. had not been secured. The record also
demonstrates that J.G. was receiving good care from his aunt.
We conclude this factor weighs against termination.
b. Physical and emotional needs of the child
Evidence of a parent’s unstable lifestyle can support a fact-finder’s
conclusion that termination of parental rights is in the child’s best interest. In re
S.B., 207 S.W.3d 877, 887 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2006, no pet.). Lack of
stability, including a stable home, supports a finding that the parent is unable to
provide for a child’s emotional and physical needs. See In re G.M.G., 444 S.W.3d
1446, 60 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2014, no pet.); see also Doyle v. Tex.
Dep’t of Protective & Regulatory Servs., 16 S.W.3d 390, 398 (Tex. App.—El Paso
2000, pet. denied) (parent’s failure to provide stable home and provide for child’s
needs may contribute to finding that termination of parental rights is in child’s best
interest).
Mother had no job when J.G. was initially removed, but at the time of trial,
Mother testified that she worked as a painter. However, the record reflects that in
the six months preceding trial, Mother had moved three times. Mother also
acknowledged that at the time of the trial, she lived with her sister and that if J.G.
were returned to her at that time, there was no room for J.G. The record also
demonstrated that Mother failed to complete parenting classes offered to her.
Overall, this factor weighs in favor of terminating Mother’s rights.
c. Parenting abilities
It is true, as Mother asserts, that no testimony exists alleging her behavior
was inappropriate during her visits with J.G. However, there were concerns about
Mother’s treatment of J.G. when he was found wandering around the hotel. The
Department’s investigator averred that after J.G. began crying, she tossed him on a
chair, and then failed to engage with him throughout the investigation.
In discussing her results on the Adult-Adolescent Parenting Inventory, the
“parenting skills” section of her psychosocial assessment indicated that one of her
scores was in the medium-risk category and four were in the high-risk category.
Her scores included the following notes:
B) Low Level of Empathy (1): . . . Lacks nurturing skills. May be
unable to handle parenting stresses.
...
D) Reverses Family Roles (1): Tends to use children to meet
15
self-needs. Children perceived as objects for adult
gratification. . . .
As indicated above, Mother did not attend the parenting classes the
Department made available to her. She also did not complete her
domestic-violence assessment. And on the last day of trial, Mother became
overwhelmed and logged out of the video conference, exclaiming, “I give up on
this. Y’all keep my kid. I don’t care anymore. Bye. Keep my kids.”
These facts strongly support termination.
d. Current placement and the Department’s plan for J.G.
J.G. was placed with his maternal aunt for most of the time between his
removal from Mother and trial. The Department’s original plan was to keep J.G.
with the maternal aunt if J.G. could not be reunited with Mother. As trial began, it
was revealed that the aunt was not interested in a permanent placement. After a
one-month recess, the caseworker explained the aunt’s final position:
[The aunt is] concerned that people aren’t being caring enough about
her stances, her positions, and her needs in the situation. She said that
she’s unable to keep [J.G.] long-term, that she made it clear to
everybody that long-term placement with her was not her goal at all.
She asked if we could potentially do the paperwork in her boyfriend’s
name . . . so if they ever broke up, [J.G.] could just go with him so
she’s not on the hook in the event another case [got] called in.
Sanders testified that the Department believed termination was in J.G.’s best
interest because the aunt’s response was “unacceptable” for the caregiver of a
three-year old and there were no other viable family members to take care of J.G.;
thus, they needed to terminate Mother’s rights so that J.G. could find a permanent
home. A reasonable fact-finder could conclude that the Department’s plan for J.G.
was his best chance for finding a permanent placement with the resources and
active interest in caring for him long-term.
16
This factor weighs in favor of termination.
d. Endangerment
We have already concluded that Mother’s pattern of conduct endangered
J.G. such that termination was appropriate. J.G. was repeatedly exposed to
domestic violence. Mother had no home of her own, had moved three times in six
months, and admitted to there not being room for J.G. where she was staying at the
time of trial, all of which subjected J.G. to instability and uncertainty.
e. Mother’s family-service plan
The record shows that Mother failed to appear for numerous drug tests. In
Interest of E.R.W., 528 S.W.3d 251, 265 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2017,
no pet.) (“[A] fact finder reasonably can infer that a parent’s failure to submit to
court-ordered drug tests indicates the parent is avoiding testing because they were
using illegal drugs.”). Likewise, even though the record demonstrated that she
appeared for numerous visits with J.G., she also missed numerous appointments.
Mother’s attendance for substance-abuse counseling and therapy was similarly
inconsistent; she was discontinued from those services for lack of attendance,
resent to those services, and then once again discontinued for lack of attendance.
Mother’s lack of interest or inability to prioritize services required for
reunification weighs in favor of the trial court’s finding that termination was in
J.G.’s best interest.
f. Excuses for Mother’s acts and omissions
Mother complains that the Department did not adequately accommodate her
and her disability. However, as discussed above, the record does not reflect that
Mother ever informed the Department of her disability or requested any form of
accommodation. When asked why she had not completed her services, Mother
17
responded, “I can’t answer that question, ma’am. I’m sorry.” Without much
clarification, she asserted that doing multiple services simultaneously was difficult.
When asked if there was a reason why she could not have worked on completing
her services one at a time before focusing on the next service, she responded, “It’s
hard to concentrate.” After Mother proclaimed she is doing a “great job” of being a
mom, she admitted that none of her children are currently in her care or live with
her. The attorney ad litem asked if this is something that happens to a person who
is a great mom, and Mother responded, “I can’t answer you—it’s [my] lot in life.”
We conclude this factor weighs in favor of termination.
g. Summary
Considering and weighing the disputed evidence contrary to the best-interest
determination against all the evidence favoring the best-interest determination,
giving due deference to the trial court’s findings, and after an exacting review of
the entire record with a healthy regard for the constitutional interests at stake, we
conclude the evidence is such that a fact-finder could reasonably form a firm belief
or conviction that termination of Mother’s parental rights was in J.G.’s best
interest. J.F.C., 96 S.W.3d at 266. Thus, the evidence is not factually insufficient
regarding the trial court’s best-interest determination. Id.
We overrule Mother’s fourth issue.
D. Possessory conservatorship
In her fifth issue, Mother asserts the trial court abused its discretion by not
appointing Mother as the possessory conservator.
We review a trial court's appointment of a non-parent as sole managing
conservator for an abuse of discretion and reverse only if we determine that the
appointment is arbitrary or unreasonable. In re J.A.J., 243 S.W.3d 611, 616 (Tex.
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2007). When the parents’ rights are terminated, section 161.207 controls the
appointment of a managing conservator. See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 161.207(a).
Section 161.207 states, “[i]f the court terminates the parent-child relationship with
respect to both parents or to the only living parent, the court shall appoint a
suitable, competent adult, the [Department], or a licensed child-placing agency as
managing conservator of the child.” Id.Having found the evidence sufficient to support the trial court’s subsection
(E) and best-interest findings, we conclude the trial court did not abuse its
discretion in appointing the Department as J.G.’s sole managing conservator.
We overrule Mother's fifth issue.
III. CONCLUSION
We affirm the final order as challenged on appeal.
/s Charles A. Spain
Justice
Panel consists of Justices Jewell, Spain, and Wilson.
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