Case Title: In re J.C.L.

Citation: 

Docket Number: 336A19

State: north-carolina

Court: North Carolina Supreme Court

Date: 2020-07-17T00:00:00Z

Document:
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF NORTH CAROLINA 
No. 336A19 
Filed 17 July 2020 
IN THE MATTER OF: J.C.L. 
 
Appeal pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 7B-1001(a1)(1) from an order entered on 7 May 
2019 by Judge Emily G. Cowan in District Court, Henderson County. This matter 
was calendared for argument in the Supreme Court on 19 June 2020 but was 
determined on the record and briefs without oral argument pursuant to Rule 30(f) of 
the North Carolina Rules of Appellate Procedure. 
 
Susan F. Davis, Assistant County Attorney, for petitioner-appellee Henderson 
County Department of Social Services. 
 
Michelle FormyDuval Lynch, GAL Appellate Counsel, for appellee Guardian ad 
Litem. 
 
Anné C. Wright for respondent-appellant father. 
 
 
MORGAN, Justice.  
 
 
Respondent father appeals from an order terminating his parental rights to 
his minor child, J.C.L. (Josiah).1 We affirm the trial court’s determination. 
The Henderson County Department of Social Services (DSS) filed a petition on 
6 December 2016, alleging that Josiah was a neglected juvenile in that (1) respondent 
                                            
1 The minor child will be referenced throughout this opinion as “Josiah,” which is a 
pseudonym used to protect the child’s identity and for ease of reading.  
IN RE J.C.L. 
 
Opinion of the Court 
 
 
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and Josiah’s mother had used marijuana in front of Josiah and Josiah’s half-sibling; 
(2) respondent and the mother had committed the offense of shoplifting in the 
presence of the children; (3) respondent had engaged in acts of domestic violence 
against the children’s grandmother in their presence; and (4) the family did not have 
stable housing. DSS filed a supplemental petition on 27 February 2017, adding 
allegations that (1) respondent and the mother had taken Josiah and Josiah’s half-
sibling to Greenville, South Carolina, to avoid juvenile court proceedings; (2) 
respondent had used inappropriate discipline upon Josiah’s half-sibling; (3) 
respondent and the mother had not enrolled the children in school; (4) the mother 
had failed to appropriately supervise the children while living at a temporary shelter; 
(5) respondent and the mother were seen screaming at and hitting each other in the 
temporary shelter’s parking lot; and (6) the mother had tested positive for marijuana. 
DSS had initially left custody of Josiah with respondent and the mother but obtained 
nonsecure custody of him by order entered 27 February 2017.  
After a hearing on 1 June 2017, the trial court entered an order adjudicating 
Josiah to be a neglected juvenile. In its separate disposition order, the trial court 
continued custody of Josiah with DSS and granted weekly supervised visitation to 
respondent. The trial court ordered respondent to (1) submit to random drug and 
alcohol screenings as requested by DSS; (2) refrain from further criminal activity, 
including illegal drug use, in Josiah’s presence; (3) participate in family-centered 
therapy and comply with all referrals and recommendations; (4) address his anger 
IN RE J.C.L. 
 
Opinion of the Court 
 
 
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management issues in therapy; (5) demonstrate stable income sufficient to meet the 
family’s needs; (6) obtain and maintain an appropriate residence for the family; (7) 
maintain contact and cooperate with DSS; (8) participate in a formal budgeting 
counseling program and implement a monthly budget; (9) complete parenting classes 
and demonstrate age-appropriate parenting skills; (10) complete individual and/or 
family therapy if recommended by his mental health assessment; and (11) pay child 
support. 
By order entered 1 November 2017, the trial court established the primary 
permanent plan for Josiah as reunification with respondent and the mother and set 
the secondary permanent plan as adoption. The trial court continued with these plans 
until 10 September 2018, when it entered an order finding that both respondent and 
the mother had not made adequate progress under their plans, had not actively 
participated in their plans, had not cooperated with DSS, and had not cooperated 
with the guardian ad litem. The trial court changed Josiah’s primary permanent plan 
to adoption and his secondary permanent plan to guardianship.  
DSS filed a petition to terminate the parental rights of both parents to Josiah 
on 1 October 2018. As grounds for termination, DSS alleged the grounds of neglect 
and failure to make reasonable progress to correct the conditions that led to Josiah’s 
removal from the home. See N.C.G.S. § 7B-1111(a)(1)–(2) (2019). DSS filed an 
amended petition on 18 January 2019, adding additional factual allegations to 
support its alleged grounds. After a hearing which began on 7 March 2019 and ended 
IN RE J.C.L. 
 
Opinion of the Court 
 
 
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on 4 April 2019, the trial court entered an order on 7 May 2019 terminating both 
respondent and the mother’s parental rights to Josiah. The trial court concluded that 
both grounds existed to terminate parental rights as alleged by DSS and that 
termination of parental rights, including the parental rights of respondent as Josiah’s 
father, was in Josiah’s best interests.2 Respondent appeals.  
We review a trial court’s adjudication of the existence of grounds to terminate 
parental rights “to determine whether the findings are supported by clear, cogent and 
convincing evidence and the findings support the conclusions of law.” In re E.H.P., 
372 N.C. 388, 392, 831 S.E.2d 49, 52 (2019) (quoting In re Montgomery, 311 N.C. 101, 
111, 316 S.E.2d 246, 253 (1984)). “Unchallenged findings of fact made at the 
adjudicatory stage are binding on appeal.” In re Z.V.A., 373 N.C. 207, 211, 835 S.E.2d 
425, 429 (2019) (citing Koufman v. Koufman, 330 N.C. 93, 97, 408 S.E.2d 729, 731 
(1991)). Additionally, “[a] trial court’s finding of fact that is supported by clear, cogent, 
and convincing evidence is deemed conclusive even if the record contains evidence 
that would support a contrary finding.” In re B.O.A., 372 N.C. 372, 379, 831 S.E.2d 
305, 310 (2019) (citing In re Moore, 306 N.C. 394, 403−04, 293 S.E.2d 127, 132 (1982)). 
“The trial court’s conclusions of law are reviewable de novo on appeal.” In re C.B.C., 
373 N.C. 16, 19, 832 S.E.2d 692, 695 (2019). 
Adjudicatory Findings of Fact 
                                            
2 The trial court’s order also terminated the parental rights of Josiah’s mother, but 
she is not a party to this appeal. 
IN RE J.C.L. 
 
Opinion of the Court 
 
 
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We first address respondent’s challenges to several of the trial court’s findings 
of fact. Respondent first challenges Finding of Fact 52 which states: 
52. The parents have been late with rent several months 
[and] have received disconnect notices from the utility 
company. The parents have not been successful in 
connecting the gas in order for the heat in the home to 
function. For the past two winters they have not had heat 
except for one small space heater in the main living area, 
which did not adequately heat the home. 
 
Respondent contends that the portion of this finding that states that respondent’s 
home was only heated by one small space heater is unsupported by the evidence, 
because the social worker’s testimony regarding this fact was hearsay and was 
contradicted by other testimony. Respondent did not raise any objection, either on a 
hearsay ground or upon any other basis, to the social worker’s testimony at trial. He 
has thus waived his hearsay argument on appeal, and the social worker’s testimony 
must be considered to be competent evidence. N.C. R. App. P. 10(a)(1); See also, e.g., 
In re F.G.J., 200 N.C. App. 681, 693, 684 S.E.2d 745, 753–54 (2009) (holding “any 
objection has been waived, and the testimony must be considered competent 
evidence” where no objection on hearsay grounds was made by either parent at the 
hearing). Moreover, because the trial court’s finding is supported by the social 
worker’s testimony, it is deemed conclusive for appellate review purposes. 
Respondent does not challenge the remainder of Finding of Fact 52; accordingly, the 
entire finding of fact is binding on appeal. 
IN RE J.C.L. 
 
Opinion of the Court 
 
 
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Respondent next contends that Finding of Fact 40 is not supported by clear, 
cogent, and convincing evidence. In Findings of Fact 37 through 39, the trial court 
specified that respondent had received two alternative substance abuse treatment 
recommendations because his Medicaid insurance had been discontinued, that the 
social worker had told respondent that he needed to contact DSS to reinstate his 
insurance, that these discussions between the social worker and respondent had 
occurred repeatedly from 6 February to 16 April 2018, that respondent reapplied for 
his insurance on 17 April 2018, and that his insurance was reinstated on 18 April 
2018. In Finding of Fact 40, the trial court then determined: 
40. [Respondent] could have rectified his insurance 
(Medicaid) problems in early February 2018 if he had gone 
to Rutherford County DSS. However, it took him over two 
months to go to Rutherford County DSS to get his Medicaid 
reinstated. 
 
Respondent contends that this finding is not supported by the evidence, because 
respondent testified that the required appointment could not be made for the same 
day and that sometimes there is a waiting period of several months to get an 
appointment. Respondent’s testimony, however, was presented in the context of 
Josiah’s need for therapy due to respondent’s failure to complete his case plan in the 
preceding twenty-four months: 
Q. . . . Do you think [Josiah] would need therapy? 
 
A. Of course. After what he’s been through, I’m sure. As 
with 
[Josiah’s 
half-sibling], 
being 
bounced 
around 
everywhere. 
IN RE J.C.L. 
 
Opinion of the Court 
 
 
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Q. Well, wouldn’t it be true, sir, that if you all had finished 
your case plan sooner than 24 months, they wouldn’t have 
been bounced around? 
 
. . . . 
 
[A]: I don’t think it’s the case plan. I think it’s the constant 
continuances in this case. It’s not our fault. Things happen 
in life, you know. Medicaid appointments can’t be made the 
same day. Sometimes appointments are six months away. 
 
Nothing in respondent’s testimony suggests that respondent attempted to contact 
DSS before 17 April 2018 to reinstate his Medicaid insurance, or that the 
appointments to which respondent was referring in this portion of his testimony were 
with DSS for the purpose of reinstating his Medicaid insurance as opposed to an 
attempt to schedule therapy appointments for Josiah. Consequently, we hold that the 
trial court’s Finding of Fact 40 is supported by the social worker’s testimony and thus 
binding on appeal. 
Respondent also argues that the completion timeframe set forth in Finding of 
Fact 41 is not supported by the evidence. This factual finding states: 
41. [Respondent] completed a basic level substance abuse 
course six weeks ago, however this course did not include[] 
group or individual counseling. 
 
The certification of completion of the course in question displays a completion date of 
19 December 2018. To the extent that this finding of fact recognizes respondent’s 
completion date was later than 19 December 2018, we agree with respondent. On the 
other hand, respondent does not challenge the portion of Finding of Fact 41 that his 
IN RE J.C.L. 
 
Opinion of the Court 
 
 
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substance abuse course did not include group or individual counseling, and this 
segment of the factual finding is binding on appeal. 
Respondent next challenges Finding of Fact 50: 
50. [Respondent] struggles with recurrent anger issues, 
and has become inappropriately belligerent with the Social 
Worker, the Social Worker Supervisor and the Program 
Manager on multiple occasions. [Respondent’s] main 
reaction to conflict or to things that make him angry or 
frustrated is to remove himself from the situation, leaving 
in a fit, and not dealing with whatever it is that has him 
upset. This at times, leads to an inability to obtain 
necessary information as it relates to the juvenile. 
 
To the extent that this finding stands for the proposition that he was displaying 
issues with anger in the period leading up to, or at the time of, the termination 
hearing, respondent asserts that Finding of Fact 50 is unsupported by the evidence. 
The social worker’s testimony, however, establishes that respondent struggled with 
recurrent anger issues, became belligerent with DSS employees, stormed out of rooms 
during meetings with DSS personnel, and generally dealt with situations that 
angered him by leaving the situation. Although the social worker testified that she 
had seen a “slight change over the last several months” with regard to respondent’s 
anger issues, this improvement was due in part to the social worker’s new discussion 
tactics by avoiding opposition with respondent.  
Respondent also asserts that his decision to leave frustrating situations is a 
technique developed in conjunction with the Family Centered Treatment (FCT) 
clinician with whom respondent had worked in order to help respondent to deal with 
IN RE J.C.L. 
 
Opinion of the Court 
 
 
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his anger management issues, thereby showing that respondent was making 
reasonable progress toward satisfying the requirements of his case plan. However, 
the clinician’s testimony focused only upon the manner in which respondent dealt 
with anger when respondent was under stress due to interactions with Josiah and 
did not address more generalized situations which might invoke respondent’s anger. 
In the limited circumstances about which the social worker testified, respondent was 
reported to have handed Josiah to his mother while stepping away until respondent 
could calm down. The trial court’s finding of fact at issue, in contrast, relates to 
respondent’s general reactions when he became angry—particularly with adults 
involved in the case—and how respondent reacted inappropriately by leaving the 
situation in an enraged state. We hold that the trial court’s Finding of Fact 50 
regarding respondent’s inability to restrain his emotions when interacting with the 
DSS employees who were working to ensure Josiah’s care and attempting to reunify 
Josiah with respondent is supported by the social worker’s testimony. 
Next, respondent challenges Finding of Fact 28 which states: 
28. [Respondent’s 10 January 2018 Comprehensive 
Clinical Assessment] recommended that [respondent] 
engage with outpatient substance abuse therapy including 
group and individual counseling as well as to follow 
through with his physical health needs through regular 
care by his physician. 
 
IN RE J.C.L. 
 
Opinion of the Court 
 
 
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Respondent represents that the recommendations from the 10 January 2018 
assessment referenced in Finding of Fact 28 are instead correctly stated in Finding 
of Fact 36: 
36. The CCA completed by [respondent] on January 10, 
2018 recommended two avenues in which to address his 
substance abuse issues. [Respondent] was to participate in 
basic level substance abuse services to address his 
diagnoses of Cannabis Use Disorder, Moderate[;] and 
Stimulant Use Disorder (Methamphetamines) Mild as well 
as to identify preliminary goals and corresponding stages 
of change and complete a relapse prevention plan; OR 
engage in individual therapy to address his diagnoses of 
Cannabis Use Disorder, Moderate[;] and Stimulant Use 
Disorder (Methamphetamines) Mild as well as to identify 
preliminary goals and corresponding stages of change and 
to complete a relapse prevention plan. In addition, if 
[respondent] is unsuccessful in abstaining from illegal 
substance[s] or legal substances not prescribed, he shall 
participate in Substance Abuse Intensive Outpatient 
Services. 
 
We agree with respondent that Finding of Fact 36 accurately sets forth the 
recommendations of his 10 January 2018 Comprehensive Clinical Assessment. 
Finding of Fact 28 also includes recommendations from respondent’s FCT clinician, 
from whose program respondent was terminated at the end of August 2018. This 
Court will further consider this portion of Finding of Fact 28 accordingly. 
Respondent additionally submits that Finding of Fact 42 is not supported by 
the evidence. This finding of fact states: 
42. [Respondent] has not completed individual and group 
counseling/therapy. 
 
IN RE J.C.L. 
 
Opinion of the Court 
 
 
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Respondent contends that the recommendation made by his FCT clinician at the time 
that respondent was terminated from the Family Centered Treatment program was 
that he “continue” participating in substance abuse treatment with group and 
individual counseling, which respondent completed in December 2018. However, the 
trial court found that respondent’s basic level substance abuse course did not 
encompass group or individual counseling, and respondent has not challenged this 
finding. Although respondent testified that he was engaged in some individual 
therapy, respondent could not articulate the services that he received from the 
therapist apart from his statement that she provided “safe, you know, practices and, 
you know, solutions, recommended agencies or groups that we can take.” Accordingly, 
we are not persuaded by respondent’s challenge to Finding of Fact 42. 
The Court next addresses respondent’s objections to Findings of Fact 72 and 
74. The findings state: 
72. [Respondent] blames his lack of completing the court’s 
reunification requirements on other people. 
 
. . . .  
 
74. The juvenile has been out of the home for 769 days. The 
parents are not taking responsibility for why the juvenile 
came into custody, nor have they completed the court’s 
reunification requirements. 
 
Respondent claims that these findings are not supported by clear, cogent, and 
convincing evidence, because the FCT clinician testified that the clinician observed 
the parents “progressing and taking responsibility for DSS’s involvement,” the 
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Opinion of the Court 
 
 
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October 2018 letter from the FCT clinician identified behaviors displayed by 
respondent of “ownership” and “less blaming,” and respondent testified that 
respondent had learned not to blame other people. Although respondent may have 
shown some behaviors characterized by “ownership” and “less blaming” in sessions 
with the FCT clinician, at the hearing, respondent blamed the continuances allowed 
in the case, rather than respondent’s inability to meet the requirements of his case 
plan, as the reason why the case had gone on for so long. Respondent further stated 
that the delay was not his fault. The social worker added testimony that, during the 
entirety of the case, respondent never accepted any responsibility for the 
circumstances that led to Josiah coming into DSS custody. These findings of fact 
numbered 72 and 74 are thus supported by record evidence. 
Respondent likewise challenges Finding of Fact 60 which provides: 
60. The juvenile has special needs. He is physically 
aggressive (biting, kicking, hitting). He has extreme 
tantrum behaviors that can last from minutes to hours 
especially if he is not getting his way or is being told no. He 
recently has begun being aggressive with animals in the 
foster home (throwing and hitting them with toys, pulling 
tails and ears and kicking) despite all attempts at 
redirection. 
 
Respondent contends that there is no evidence to support the portion of this finding 
which recites that Josiah had kicked any animals or hit them with toys. We agree 
with respondent’s contention and therefore disregard said portion of Finding of Fact 
60. Respondent otherwise concedes that this factual finding is supported by the 
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Opinion of the Court 
 
 
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evidence, but offers that Josiah’s behaviors are merely the normal behaviors of a two-
year-old child and are not likely to be long-lasting.3 This argument is entirely 
speculative and unsupported by any evidence presented at the hearing. Rather, the 
evidence showed that Josiah’s behaviors were extreme for a child of his age and were 
serious enough to require Josiah to begin occupational therapy and behavior therapy 
treatments.  
Respondent poses challenges to Findings of Fact 70 and 71, which included 
these determinations of the trial court: 
70. Neither parent has taken the opportunity to learn 
about the special needs of the juvenile. 
 
71. [Respondent] does not know the special needs of the 
juvenile. He blames DSS for any problems associated with 
the juvenile. 
 
Respondent posits that it is unclear to what opportunities the trial court refers in 
Finding of Fact 70, because there was no evidence presented at the hearing regarding 
any opportunities for respondent to learn more about Josiah’s special needs other 
than at the termination hearing itself. Respondent also claims that he was rightfully 
confused about what special needs Josiah has, because there is no definition of the 
term “special needs” in the North Carolina General Statutes; as a result, the meaning 
of this term is fluid and dependent upon the context in which it is used. Respondent 
                                            
3 Josiah was three years old at the time of the termination hearing.  
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Opinion of the Court 
 
 
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further argues that there is no evidence that he blamed DSS for Josiah’s special 
needs.  
In making this argument, respondent ignores the thirteen Child and Family 
Team Meetings DSS held or attempted to hold with him over the course of the case 
in an effort to discuss Josiah’s needs. Respondent either failed to attend, refused to 
attend, or cancelled nine of these thirteen sessions. The uncontroverted evidence in 
this case establishes that Josiah has special needs. Respondent admitted that he did 
not know what those needs were and rejected the fact that Josiah had special needs, 
asserting that he thought special needs were “like autism or Downs Syndrome.” He 
blamed Josiah’s aggressive behavior on Josiah’s placement in daycare while in DSS 
custody and, although he admitted Josiah would need therapy, he asserted that this 
need was due to Josiah being “bounced around everywhere” while in DSS custody. 
Respondent refused to take any ownership of his role in Josiah’s placement with DSS. 
The evidence shows that respondent was given numerous opportunities over the 
duration of the matter to learn about Josiah’s special needs, but respondent failed to 
do so and instead blamed Josiah’s problems on DSS. Any confusion held by 
respondent about Josiah’s special needs is the consequence of respondent’s failure to 
engage in his case plan and is not the result of the lack of a statutory definition for 
the term “special needs” as applied to Josiah. Accordingly, we hold that Findings of 
Fact 70 and 71 are supported by clear, cogent, and convincing evidence. 
Respondent lastly challenges Findings of Fact 44 and 69: 
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Opinion of the Court 
 
 
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44. [Respondent] has stated he will not take any 
medications for any reason to assist him in managing 
mental health symptoms. 
 
. . . . 
 
69. The parents missed 90% of the meetings that have to 
do with the juvenile’s special needs. 
 
 
We agree with respondent’s arguments concerning these referenced findings of fact. 
With regard to Finding of Fact 44, the social worker testified that over the course of 
respondent’s participation in FCT, respondent was never prescribed medication to 
manage any mental health symptoms, thus rendering respondent’s statement that 
he would refuse to take medications, if prescribed, to be irrelevant with respect to his 
progress on his case plan. With regard to Finding of Fact 69, as noted above, the 
uncontroverted evidence was that respondent missed or cancelled nine of thirteen 
meetings intended to address the juvenile’s special needs—a rate of 70% rather than 
90%.  Consequently, we disregard Findings of Fact 44 and 69 in our analysis of the 
trial court’s adjudicatory conclusions of law.  
Conclusion of the Existence of the Ground of Neglect 
This Court now addresses respondent’s argument that the trial court erred in 
concluding that grounds exist to terminate his parental rights based on neglect. A 
trial court may terminate parental rights when it concludes that the parent has 
neglected the juvenile within the meaning of N.C.G.S. § 7B-101. N.C.G.S. § 7B-
1111(a)(1) (2019). A neglected juvenile is defined, in pertinent part, as a juvenile 
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Opinion of the Court 
 
 
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“whose parent, guardian, custodian, or caretaker does not provide proper care, 
supervision, or discipline; . . . or who lives in an environment injurious to the 
juvenile’s welfare . . . .” N.C.G.S. § 7B-101(15) (2019). 
Termination of parental rights based upon this statutory 
ground requires a showing of neglect at the time of the 
termination hearing or, if the child has been separated 
from the parent for a long period of time, there must be a 
showing of past neglect and a likelihood of future neglect 
by the parent. 
 
In re D.L.W., 368 N.C. 835, 843, 788 S.E.2d 162, 167 (2016) (citing In re Ballard, 311 
N.C. 708, 713–15, 319 S.E.2d 227, 231–32 (1984)). “When determining whether such 
future neglect is likely, the district court must consider evidence of changed 
circumstances occurring between the period of past neglect and the time of the 
termination hearing.” In re Z.V.A., 373 N.C. 207, 212, 835 S.E.2d 425, 430 (2019) 
(citing Ballard, 311 N.C. at 715, 319 S.E.2d at 232). We agree that “[a] parent’s failure 
to make progress in completing a case plan is indicative of a likelihood of future 
neglect.” In re M.J.S.M., 257 N.C. App. 633, 637, 810 S.E.2d 370, 373 (2018) (citing 
In re D.M.W., 173 N.C. App. 679, 688–89, 619 S.E.2d 910, 917 (2005)). 
By orders entered 7 July 2017, the trial court adjudicated Josiah to be a 
neglected juvenile and established a case plan for respondent. In its termination 
order, the trial court made numerous findings which demonstrated respondent’s lack 
of progress and concluded that there was a reasonable likelihood that the neglect 
would reoccur if Josiah were returned to respondent’s care. As discussed in part 
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above, the trial court found: (1) respondent engaged in Family Centered Treatment, 
which is traditionally a nine- to twelve-month program, from August 2016 to August 
2018, and completed only two of the four phases of the program, struggled with 
ownership of past trauma and experiences, never followed through with the 
requirements to progress in the program, and was discharged due to his inability to 
complete his goals; (2) after the commencement of the termination proceeding, 
respondent enrolled in a parenting program that was not sanctioned by DSS, 
attended four classes, and failed to complete the program; (3) respondent completed 
a Comprehensive Clinical Assessment on 10 January 2018 that recommended two 
different avenues by which he could responsibly address his substance abuse issues, 
but respondent prolonged his engagement of substance abuse services due in part to 
his willful delay in reinstating his Medicaid insurance coverage; (4) respondent 
completed a basic level substance abuse course in December 2018 but it did not 
include group or individual counseling, which had been recommended when he was 
discharged from the FCT program; (5) respondent informed the social worker that he 
would never really stop smoking marijuana, respondent was arrested for possession 
of marijuana and methamphetamine on 2 December 2017, respondent was convicted 
of said charges on 10 May 2018, and respondent was incarcerated for these 
convictions until 9 July 2018; (6) DSS requested that respondent submit to twenty-
three drug screens, of which eight were positive for marijuana—including one taken 
the day after he was released from incarceration—eight of which were negative, and 
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seven to which respondent refused to submit; (7) respondent struggled with recurrent 
anger issues and his main reaction to conflict, or situations that angered or frustrated 
him, was to remove himself from the situation, leaving in an enraged state and not 
addressing the issue that made him angry; (8) although respondent lived in the same 
home since September 2017, he was late with rent several months, he received 
several disconnect notices from the utility company, and he was not able to have gas 
connected to the residence as the home’s source for heat, thus leading to respondent’s 
use of a space heater that inadequately heated the home; (9) respondent did not enroll 
in a formal budgeting program as ordered, even though he was referred to three 
different programs; (10) respondent attended only one appointment with Foothills 
Credit Counseling on 10 April 2018, with said appointment revealing that 
respondent’s budget operated with a monthly deficit, that respondent’s budget did 
not include the cost of having Josiah or Josiah’s half-sibling in the home, that 
respondent’s expenses had increased since the analysis of his budget, and that 
respondent’s financial situation continued to be extremely tenuous; (11) respondent 
did not know the details of Josiah’s special needs and failed or refused to attend eight 
of thirteen Child and Family Team Meetings to discuss Josiah’s needs; (12) 
respondent continued to deny the reasons for DSS’s custody of Josiah through 22 
January 2019, blamed DSS for Josiah’s issues, and blamed others for respondent’s 
failure to complete components of his court-ordered case plan; and (13) respondent 
did not take responsibility for the reasons for Josiah’s custody with DSS, and 
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Opinion of the Court 
 
 
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respondent’s progress over the course of two years to resolve the issues which led to 
Josiah’s custody with DSS was not sufficient for the trial court to have found that 
Josiah would receive proper care and supervision from respondent during an 
unsupervised visit or trial home placement.  
Although respondent made some progress toward completing his court-ordered 
case plan, his success was extremely limited and insufficient in light of Josiah’s 
placement in DSS custody for over two years. We agree with the trial court that its 
findings demonstrate that there is a likelihood of repetition of neglect in the event 
that Josiah is returned to respondent’s care and custody. This Court therefore affirms 
the trial court’s adjudication on the ground of neglect to terminate respondent’s 
parental rights.4 
Due to our conclusion that the trial court did not err in adjudicating the ground 
of neglect, we need not address respondent’s arguments regarding the ground of 
                                            
4  
We note that respondent also expressly argues that the trial court’s findings regarding 
respondent’s tenuous financial situation are insufficient to support a finding of the likelihood 
of repetition of neglect. In support of his argument, respondent cites In re Nesbitt, 147 N.C. 
App. 349, 555 S.E.2d 659 (2001), in which the Court of Appeals concluded that a parent’s 
inability to “mak[e] ends meet from month to month” is not “a legitimate basis upon which to 
terminate parental rights” on the ground of failure to make reasonable progress pursuant to 
N.C.G.S. § 7B-1111(a)(2). Id. at 358–59, 555 S.E.2d at 665–66. Nesbitt, however, is inapposite 
here, because, while N.C.G.S. § 7B-1111(a)(2) states in part that “[n]o parental rights . . . 
shall be terminated for the sole reason that the parents are unable to care for the juvenile on 
account of their poverty,” id., the ground of neglect does not have a similar prohibition, see 
N.C.G.S. § 7B-101(15), -1111(a)(1). Moreover, the trial court did not premise its finding of 
neglect solely on respondent’s tenuous financial situation, which is only one of several factors 
supporting the trial court’s conclusion that there is a likelihood of repetition of neglect should 
Josiah be returned to respondent’s care and custody.   
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failure to make reasonable progress pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 7B-1111(a)(2). See In re 
A.R.A., 373 N.C. 190, 194, 835 S.E.2d 417, 421 (2019). 
Best Interests Determination 
Respondent argues that the trial court abused its discretion in concluding that 
it was in Josiah’s best interests to terminate respondent’s parental rights. We 
disagree with respondent’s contention. 
Once a trial court has adjudicated that grounds exist to terminate parental 
rights, it proceeds to the dispositional stage of a termination of parental rights 
hearing. N.C.G.S. § 7B-1110 (2019). At disposition, a trial court must consider the 
following factors and make findings as to any of them which it deems relevant: 
(1) The age of the juvenile. 
 
(2) The likelihood of adoption of the juvenile. 
 
(3) Whether the termination of parental rights will aid in 
the accomplishment of the permanent plan for the 
juvenile. 
 
(4) The bond between the juvenile and the parent. 
 
(5) The quality of the relationship between the juvenile and 
the proposed adoptive parent, guardian, custodian, or 
other permanent placement. 
 
(6) Any relevant consideration. 
 
Id. A trial court’s determination of whether termination of parental rights is in a 
juvenile’s best interests “is reviewed solely for abuse of discretion.” In re A.U.D., 373 
N.C. 3, 6, 832 S.E.2d 698, 700 (2019) (citing In re D.L.W., 368 N.C. 835, 842, 788 
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S.E.2d 162, 167 (2016)). This high standard of review requires a showing that “the 
court’s ruling is manifestly unsupported by reason or is so arbitrary that it could not 
have been the result of a reasoned decision.” In re T.L.H., 368 N.C. 101, 107, 772 
S.E.2d 451, 455 (2015). 
In the present case, the trial court made the following findings of fact in 
support of its conclusion that termination of respondent’s parental rights was in 
Josiah’s best interests: 
1. The juvenile is three years of age. 
 
2. There is a high likelihood that the juvenile will be 
adopted. The juvenile was placed in a pre-adoptive home 
on January 18, 2019. 
 
3. This [c]ourt has previously adopted a permanency plan 
for this juvenile of adoption, and termination of the 
parental rights as ordered herein will aid in the 
accomplishment of this plan. 
 
4. As to the bond between the juvenile and [his parents,] 
the [c]ourt finds as follows: There is a bond between the 
juvenile and his parents. However, the parents have not 
raised the juvenile since he was six months of age. The 
parents do not know his special needs, much less how to 
appropriately address those needs. 
 
5. As to the relationship between the juvenile and the 
prospective adoptive parents, the [c]ourt finds as follows: 
[T]he juvenile refers to the prospective adoptive parents as 
Mom and Dad. He consistently relies on them to meet his 
basic needs, goes to them for comfort and has a secure 
attachment to them. The prospective adoptive parents 
ensure that the juvenile attends occupational therapy and 
behavioral therapy. 
 
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6. The juvenile is in the same pre-adoptive home as his 
half-brother. 
 
Respondent only challenges the trial court’s findings that there is a “high likelihood” 
that Josiah will be adopted and that he was “placed in a pre-adoptive home on 
January 18, 2019.” Respondent represents that the evidence only established that 
Josiah’s placement was in a “potential pre-adoptive” home, and not a “pre-adoptive” 
home. This argument rests upon a distinction without a difference, as all pre-adoptive 
homes are by their nature inherently potential. The social worker testified that 
Josiah’s current placement providers had expressed an interest in adopting Josiah 
and his half-sibling, that the home of these providers was considered a “therapeutic 
home” for Josiah’s half-sibling, that the providers were participating in the half-
sibling’s therapy appointments, and that the providers were taking Josiah to his own 
appointments. Additionally, although Josiah had been placed with his current 
placement providers for less than three months, he was already referring to them as 
“Mom” and “Dad.” This evidence supports the trial court’s findings that Josiah had 
been placed in a pre-adoptive home, and that there was a high likelihood of Josiah’s 
adoption. 
Respondent further argues that the trial court abused its discretion in 
concluding that termination of parental rights is in Josiah’s best interests in light of 
respondent’s strong bond with Josiah, Josiah’s loving and affectionate relationship 
with his paternal grandmother, the period of less than three months that Josiah had 
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been in the pre-adoptive home, and the FCT clinician’s opinion that, given more time, 
respondent potentially could have completed all of the steps of the clinical process. 
While we recognize that the record in this case contains some evidence and the trial 
court’s order contains some findings of fact that support respondent’s position, 
nonetheless it is the province of the trial court to weigh the relevant factors in 
determining Josiah’s best interests. See In re Z.L.W., 372 N.C. 432, 437, 831 S.E.2d 
62, 66 (2019). The trial court’s findings show a reasoned conclusion which was not 
reached arbitrarily. Accordingly, we hold that the trial court did not abuse its 
discretion in determining that termination of respondent’s parental rights is in 
Josiah’s best interests. Therefore, we affirm the trial court’s order. 
AFFIRMED.