J - S68042 - 19

NON - PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37 IN THE INTEREST OF: M.R., A MINOR APPEAL OF: A.M., NATURAL MOTHER : : : : : : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF

PENNSYLVANIA
No. 1211 WDA 2019 Appeal from the Order Entered July 10, 2019 In the Court of C ommon Pleas of Allegheny County Orphans' Court at No(s): CP - 02 - AP - 040 - 2019 BEFORE: GANTMAN, P.J.E., LAZARUS, J., and PELLEGRINI, J. * MEMORANDUM BY GANTMAN, P.J.E.: FILED JANUARY 17, 2020 Appellant, A.M. (“Mother”), appeals from the order entered in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, which granted the petition of the Allegheny County Office of Children, Youth, and Families (“CYF”) for involuntary termination of Mother’s parental rights to her minor child, M.R. (“Child”). We affirm. The relevant facts and procedural history of this case are as follows. Mother and N.R. (“Father”) are the natural parents of Child, born in May 2013.

Child first came to the at tention of [CYF] in June 2014, when he was about a year old. Child experienced two relatively brief periods of placement in foster care when neither Parent was available to provide care for him. During both these periods, Mother was incarcerated and Fath er was in a work release program related to his criminal court matters. This [c]ourt adjudicated Child dependent in September 2014 and was able to return Child to Parents’ care in late October 2014 while Parents continued to pursue their drug treatment pr ograms. Parents successfully satisfied the

_________________ ____________________ _______ * Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.J - S68042 - 19

- 2 - [c]ourt’s and CYF’s expectations, and the first dependency matter concluded in May 2015. Unfortunately, Parents failed to maintain their recovery. Child again came to CYF’s attention in March 2018 when Child wa s not quite five years old, after CYF received a report that Mother appeared impaired at school drop - off and pick - up. Upon investigation, Mother screened positive for cocaine and opiates. Father was incarcerated at the time. CYF obtained an emergency cu stody authorization (“ECA”) and placed Child in foster care, where he has remained. On May 1, 2018, the [c]ourt again adjudicated...Child dependent, noting both Parents’ “need to engage in appropriate levels of [drug and alcohol] treatment and to re - establi sh and maintain sobriety” as well as both Parents’ need to “maintain their relationship” with Child. (Trial Court Opinion, filed September 26, 2019, at 2 - 3) (internal citations omitted). On February 25, 2019, CYF filed a petition to terminate p arents’ pa rental rights to Child. Following a hearing on July 9, 2019, the court entered an order on July 10, 2019, terminating Father’s and Mother’s parental rights. 1 On August 9, 2019, Mother filed a timely notice of appeal and a contemporaneous statement of err ors complained of on appeal per Pa.R.A.P. 1925. 2 Mother raises the following issue for our review: DID THE TRIAL COURT ABUSE ITS DISCRETION AND/OR ERR AS A MATTER OF L AW IN CONCLUDING THA T TERMINATION OF...MOTHE R’S PARENTAL RIGHTS WOULD SERVE THE NEEDS A ND WELFARE OF...CHILD PURSUANT TO

_________________ ____________________ _______ 1 Separate guardian ad litem (“GAL”) and legal counsel represented Child during the dependency/termination proceedings. 2 Father filed a separate appeal from the order, which is docketed at No. 1210 WDA 2019 (J - S68041 - 19).J - S68042 - 19

- 3 - 23 PA.C.S. § 2511(B) ? ( Mother ’s Brief at 6). A ppellate review of termination of parental rights cases implicates the following principles:

In cases involving termination of parental rights: “our standard of review is limited to determining whether the order of the trial court is supported by competent evidence, and whether the trial court gave adequate consideration to the effect of such a de cree on the welfare of the child.” In re Z.P. , 994 A.2d 1108, 1115 (Pa.Super. 2010) (quoting In re I.J. , 972 A.2d 5, 8 (Pa.Super. 2009)).

Absent an abuse of discretion, an error of law, or insufficient evidentiary support for the trial court’s decisio n, the decree must stand. ... We must employ a broad, comprehensive review of the record in order to determine whether the trial court’s decision is supported by competent evidence. In re B.L.W. , 843 A.2d 380, 383 (Pa.Super. 2004) ( en banc ), appeal deni ed , 581 Pa. 668, 863 A.2d 1141 (2004) (internal citations omitted). Furthermore, we note that the trial court, as the finder of fact, is the sole determiner of the credibility of witnesses and all conflicts in testimony are to be resolved by the finder o f fact. The burden of proof is on the party seeking termination to establish by clear and convincing evidence the existence of grounds for doing so. In re Adoption of A.C.H. , 803 A.2d 224, 228 (Pa.Super. 2002) (internal citations and quotation marks omitted). The standard of clear and convincing evidence means testimony that is so clear, direct, weighty, and convincing as to enable the trier of fact to come to a clear convict ion, without hesitation, of the truth of the precise facts in issue. In re J.D.W.M. , 810 A.2d 688, 690 (Pa.Super. 2002). We mayJ - S68042 - 19

- 4 - uphold a termination decision if any proper basis exists for the result reached. In re C.S. , 761 A.2d 1197, 1201 (Pa.Super. 2 000) ( en banc ). If the court’s findings are supported by competent evidence, we must affirm the court’s decision, even if the record could support an opposite result. In re R.L.T.M. , 860 A.2d 190, 191 - 92 (Pa.Super. 2004). In re Z.P., supra at 1115 - 16 (quoting In re Adoption of K.J. , 936 A.2d 1128, 1131 - 32 (Pa.Super. 2007), appeal denied , 597 Pa. 718, 951 A.2d 1165 (2008)). After a thorough review of the record, the briefs of the parties, the applicable law, and the well - reasoned opinion o f the Honorable Eleanor L. Bush, we conclude Mother’s issue merits no relief. The trial court comprehensively discusses and properly disposes of the question presented. ( See Trial Court Opinion, filed September 26, 2019, at 9 - 11) (finding: as of terminati on hearing, Child had been in placement for 16 months; expert evaluator, Dr. Rosenblum, testified Child had sufficient contact with Mother through first 4 years of Child’s life to demonstrate some level of attachment to her ; Mother’s involvement with Child since Child’s placement, however, was inconsistent and unreliable ; Mother also did not make progress to overcome her substance abuse issues and admitted drug use as recently as spring 2019; Child has become attached to foster mother, who is responsive to Child’s emotional and developmental needs; Child is happy and thriving in foster home and relies on foster mother to meet his daily needs; thus, Dr. Rosenblum opined while Child might experience some degree of loss resulting fromJ - S68042 - 19

- 5 -

termination of Mother’s pa rental rights, Child had already begun to cope with that emotional loss; in light of Mother’s chronic substance abuse and lack of progress, court concluded Child’s need for safety, permanency, and stability outweigh s possible benefit to Child in maintain in g relationship with Mother; evidence showed termination of Mother’s parental rights to Child best served Child’s needs and welfare ). The record supports the court’s decision; therefore, we see no reason to disturb it. Accordingly, we affirm based on the trial court opinion. Order affirmed. Judgment Entered. Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq. Prothonotary Date: 1/17/2020Circulated 01/08/2020 03:12 PM

IN T H E C O U R T O F C O M M O N P L E A S O F AL L E G H ENY C O U NTY , P ENN S Y L V AN I A O RP HAN S ' C O U R T D I VI S I O N IN T H E INT E RE S T O F :

. M . R .. , M i n o r C h il d . AP P E AL O F : N . R. , F ath e r , an d A . M . , M o th e r . ·

B y : Th e H o n o rab l e E l e an o r L. B u s h Al l e g h e ny C o un ty C o urt o f C o mm o n

. P l e a s 4 4 0 R o s s S tr e e t , S u i t e 5 0 4 5 P i tt s b ur g h , P A 1 5 2 1 9 C H I L D REN ' S F A S T T RA C K A P P E A L C P - 0 2 - AP - 0 4 0 - 2 0 1 9 1 2 1 0 WD A 2 0 1 9 1 2 1 1 WD A 2 0 1 9 O P I N I O N C o p i e s t o : C o un s e l fo r ' C Y F � M e l an i e s h a Ab e rn athy , E s q . C Y F A d o p t i o n Le g a l U n i t F o rt P i tt C o mm o n s , Su i t e 1 0 1 4 4 5 F o rt P i tt B o u l e v ar d P itt s b ur g h , P A 1 5 2 1 9 C o un s e l fo r M . R . , C yn th i a B . M o o r e , E s q . Ki d s V o i c e

. 7 0 0 F r i c k B u il d i n g . 4 3 7 G r an t S tr e e t · P i tt s b ur g h , P A 1 5 2 1 9 C o un s e l fo r M o th e r , Ki e r s t e n M . F ran k o w s k i , E s q !

· A C B F Juv e n il e C o urt P ro

j e c t . K o p p e r s B u il d i n g , 1 i th F l o o r 4 3 6 S e v e n th A v e nu e P i tt s b ur g h , P A 1 5 2 1 9 C o un s e l fo r F ath e r , Th o m a s B ab i n s a c k , E s q . 5 4 2 E a s t 1 0 1 h A v e . T ar e n t um , P A 1 5 0 8 4

### IN T H E C O U R T O F C O M M O N P L E A S O F AL L E G H EN Y C O U N T Y , P ENN S Y L V AN I A O RP HAN S ' C O U R T D I V I S I O N IN T H E IN T E RE S T O F : M . R . . , M i n o r C h il d . 

### AP P E AL O F : 

### N . R . , F ath e r , an d A . M . , M o th e r .

B u s h , J . 

### C H I L D RE N ' S F A S T T RA C K A P P E AL C P - 0 2 - AP - 0 4 0 - 2 0 1 9 1 2 1 0 W D A 2 0 1 9 

### 1 2 1 1 WD A 2 0 1 9 

### O P I N I O N

O P I N I O N S e p t e mb e r 2 6 , 2 0 1 9 O n Ju l y 9 , 2 0 1 9 , f

o ll o w i n g a h e ari n g i n th e ab o v e c a p t i o n e d m att e r o n th e s am e d at e , th i s C o urt i s s u e d an o r d e r t e rmi n at i n g th e p ar e n t a l r i g h t s o f A . M . ( " M o th e r " ) an d 

### N . R . ( " F ath e r " ) t o th e i r c h il d , 

### M . R . ( th e " C h il d " ) . 1 T h e C o urt f o un d th at g ro un d s t o t e rm i n at e M o th e r ' s p ar e n t a l r i g h t s e x i s t e d p ur s u an t t o 2 3 P a . C . S . § 2 5 1 1 ( a ) ( 2 ) an d ( a ) ( 5 ) . T h e C o urt fo un d th at g ro un d s t o t e rm i n at e F ath e r ' s p ar e n t a l - · r i g h t s e x i s t e d p ur s u an t t o 2 3 P a . C . S . § 2 5 1 1 ( a ) ( l ) , ( a ) ( 2 ) , an d ( a ) ( S ) . T h e C o urt th e n c o n cl u d e d th a t t e rm i n a t i n g P ar e n t s ' p ar e n t a l r i g h t s s e rv e d th e C h il d ' s n e e d s

1 T h e C o urt ' s O r d e r w a s d o c k e t e d o n Ju l y 10 , 2 0 1 9 .

### an d w e l far e p ur s u an t t o 2 3 P a . C . S . § 

### 2 5 1 l ( b ) . M o th e r an d F a th e r e a c h fi l e d t i m e l y

a p p e a l s . F ath e r a s s e rt s th at th e C o urt e rr e d w h e n i t c o n c l u d e d th at th e e v i d e n c e e s t ab li s h e d g ro un d s fo r t e rm i n at io n o f h i s r i g h t s . M o th e r a s s e rt s th at th e C o urt e r r e d w h e n i t c o n cl u d e d th at th e e v i d e n c e e s t ab li s h e d th at t e rm i n at i n g h e r ri g h t s s e rv e d th e C h il d ' s n e e d s an d w e l far e . I. 

### B a c k g r o u n d D ur i n g C h il d ' s s i x y e ar s o f li fe , 

### P ar e n t s h av e s tru g g l e d t o r e c o v e r fr o m c h r o n ic s ub s t an c e a

b u s e . C h il d h a s tw i c e b e e n a d j u d ic at e d d e p e n d e n t , d

u e p ri m ar il y t o P ar e n t s ' s ub s t an c e ab u s e i s s u e s an d r e l at e d p ro b l e m s . C h il d fi r s t c am e t o th e att e n t i o n o f th e Al l e g h e ny C o un ty O f fi c e o f C h i l dr e n , Y o uth & 

### F ami li e s ( " C Y F " ) i n Jun e 2 0 1 4 , w h e n h e w a s ab o ut a y e ar o l d . C h il d e xp e ri e n c e d tw o r e l at i v e l y b r i e f p e r i o d s o f p l a c e m e n t i n f o s t e r c ar e w h e n n e i th e r P ar e n t w a s av a il ab l e t o p r o v i d e c ar e fo r h i m . D ur i n g b o th th e s e p e r i o d s , M o th e r w a s i n c ar c e rat e d an d F ath e r w a s i n a w o rk - r e l e a s e p ro g r am r e l at e d t o h i s c ri m i n a l c o urt m att e r s . 2 

### T h i s C o urt a d j u d i c at e d th e C h i l d d e p e n d e n t i n S e p t e mb e r 2 0 1 4 

### an d w a s ab l e t o r e t

ur n C h i l d t o P ar e n t s ' c ar e i n l at e O c t o b e r 2 0 1 4 w h il e P ar e n t s c o n t i nu e d t o p ur s u e th e i r dru g tr e atm e n t p ro g ram s . 3 

### P ar e n t s s u c ce s s fu ll y s at i s fi e d

2 S e e Jo i n t E x h i b i t A : S t i p ul a t i o n s , r,r 8 , 10 . 3 S e e C Y F E x h i b i t 1 : O r d e r o f A d j u d i c a t i o n an d D i s p o s i t i o n ( S e p t e mb e r 10 , 2 01 4 ) . 2th e C o urt ' s an d C Y F ' s e xp e c t at i o n s , an d th e fi r s t d e p e n d e n c y m att e r c o n cl u d e d i n

M ay 2 0 1 5 . U n fo rt un at e l y , P ar e n t s fa il e d t o m a i n t a i n th e ir r e c o v e r y . C h il d a g a i n c am e t o C Y F ' s att e n t i o n i n M ar c h 2 0 1 8 w h e n C h il d w a s n o t qu i t e fi v e y e ar s o l d , a f t e r C Y F r e c e i v e d a r e p o rt th at M o th e r a p p e ar e d i mp a i r e d at s c h o o l dr o p - o ff an d p i c k - u p . " Up o n i n v e s t i g at i o n , M o th e r s c r e e n e d p o s i t i v e fo r c o c ai n e an d o p i at e s . 5 F ath e r w a s i n c ar c e ra t e d at th e t i m e . C Y F o b t a i n e d an e m e r g e n c y c u s t o dy auth o r i z at i o n ( " E C A " ) an d p l a c e d C h il d i n f o s t e r c ar e , w h e r e h e h a s r e m a i n e d . 6 O n M ay 1 , 2 0 1 8 th e C o urt a g a i n a d

j u d i c at e d th e C h il d d e p e n d e n t , n o t i n g b o th P ar e n t s ' " n e e d t o e n g a g e i n a

p p r o p ri at e l e v e l s o f D & A tr e atm e n t an d t o r e - e s t ab li s h an d m a i n t ai n s o b r i e ty " a s w e ll a s b o th P ar e n t s ' n e e d t o " m a i n t a i n th e ir r e l at i o n s h i p " w i th C h il d . 7 D ur i n g th e t e rm i n at i o n h e ari n g o n Ju l y 9 , 2 0 1 9 , th e C o urt h e ar d t e s t i m o ny fr o m C Y F C a s e w o rk e r S t a ce y P o li ci c c h i o , e xp e rt e v a l u at o r D r . N e il R o s e nb l um , A u b e r l e T h e r a

p i s t H ann ah B e rk o w t i z , A u b e r l e C a s e M an a g e r C h r i s t i R o s k o v , an d F ath e r . T h e C o urt a dm i tt e d th e fo ll o w i n g e x h i b i t s i n t o th e r e c o r d : J o i n t A : S t i p u l at i o n s ; C Y F 1 : C e rt i fi e d Juv e n il e C o urt O r d e r s fo r M . R. ;

4 S e e Jo i n t E x h i b i t A : S t i p u l at io n s ,r ,r 1 4 - 1 5 . 5 J d . 6 I d . 7 I d at ,r 1 6 ; s e e a l

s o C Y F E x h i b i t 1 : O r d e r o f A d j u d i c at i o n an d D i s p o s i t i o n ( M ay 1 , 2 01 8 ) , F i n d i n g s ,r 2 6 . 3

### C Y F 2 : C Y F F am il y S e rv ic e P l an s ;

C Y F 3 : D r . R o s e nb l um ' s R e p o rt ; C Y F 4 : C e rt i fi e d C r i m i n a l R e c o r d s fo r M o th e r ; C Y F 5 : C e rt i fi e d C ri m i n a l R e c o r d s fo r F ath e r . S i n ce C h il d ' s r e m o v a l , F ath e r h a s fa il e d t o r e m e dy th e n e e d s i d e n t i fi e d b y th e C o urt at th e t i m e o f a d

j u d i c at i o n . H e co n t i nu e s t o n e e d dru g an d a lc o h o l tr e atm e n t an d h a s o n l y r e c e n tl y r e - e n g a g e d i n tr e atm e n t. 8 

### A t th e t i m e o f th e t e rm i n at i o n h e ar i n g , F ath e r w a s d e t a i n e d at th e A C T A p r o g r am , th e s am e w o rk r e l e a s e p r o g r am h e att e n d e d i n 2 0 1 4 w h e n C h il d e n t e r e d f o s t e r c ar e fo r th e fi r s t t i m e . 9 

### F ath e r h a s a l s o fa il e d t o m a i n t a i n h i s r e l at i o n s h i p w i th C h il d , e xp l a i n i n g h i s a l m o s t c o mp l e t e l a c k o f v i s it s a s d u e t o b e i n g e ith e r i n c ar c e r at e d o r " p ro b ab l y u s i n g dr u g s . " ? " F a th e r ' s fa il ur e t o m a i n t a i n h i s r e l at i o n s h i p w i th C h i l d r e s u l t e d i n th e C o urt ' s o r d e r o f J anu ar y 2 3 , 2 0 1 9 i n C h i l d ' s d e p e n d e n c y m att e r fi n d i n g th at th i s fa il ur e e s t ab li s h e d a g g rav at e d ci r c um s t an c e s . 1 1 

### F ath e r d i d n o t a p p e a l th i s o r d e r . M o th e r , t o o , h a s fa il e d t o r e m e dy th e n e e d s i d e n t i fi e d b y th e C o urt. S h e fa il e d t o c o mp l e t e a dru g an d a lc o h o l tr e atm e n t p r o g ram an d h a s fa i l e d t o att e n d

8 T r . 2 7 , 3 7 , 3 9 , 6 7 ( Ju l y 9 , 2 0 1 9 ) . 9 S e e J o i n t Ex h i b i t A : S t i p u l at i o n s ,r 2 0 ; s e e a l s o T r. 8 3 ( Ju l y 9 , 2 0 1 9 ) . 1 0 T r . 8 2 ( Ju l y 9 , 2 01 9 ) . 11 S e e J o i n t E x h i b i t A : S t i p u l ati o n s ,r 2 0 ( c ) ( i v ) . 4

### m o s t r an d o m l y r e qu e s t e d dru g s c r e e n s . 1 2 

### M o th e r h a s v i s i t e d C h i l d i n fr e qu e n t l y an d

i n c o n s i s t e n tl y , att e n d i n g o n l y 3 3 o f 

### a s c h e d u l e d 1 4 1 v i s i t s . 1 3 

### M o th e r a l s o fa il e d t o att e n d a p ar e n t i n g p r o g r am r e c o mm e n d e d af t e r c o n c e rn s ar o s e r e g ar d i n g h e r i n t e r a c t i o n s w i th C h i l d at s o m e o f th e v i s i t s s h e att e n d e d . 1 4 

### M o th e r h a s n o t p ro g r e s s e d b e y o n d s u

p e rv i s e d v i s it s . 1 5 

### W h il e P ar e n t s h av e s tru g g l e d , C h il d h a s th r i v e d i n h i s fo s t e r h o m e . F o s t e r M o th e r i s r e s p o n s i v e t o C h il d ' s e m o t i o n a l an d d e v e l o p m e n t a l n e e d s , i s i n v o l v e d i n h i s s c h o o l , e n s ur e s th at h e e n g a g e s i n a p p r o p ri at e a c t i v i t i e s , an d i s w i lli n g t o a d o p t h i m . 1 6 

### C h il d i s c o m f

o rt ab l e i n h i s r e l at i o n s h i p w i th F o s t e r M o th e r an d r e li e s o n h e r t o m e e th i s n e e d s . 1 7 

### W hi l e C h il d m ay w e ll e xp e r i e n c e s o m e d e g r e e o f l o s s fr o m t e rm i n at i o n o f M o th e r ' s ri g h t s , h e h a s a l r e a dy b e gun t o a d j u s t t o th at e m o t i o n a l l o s s an d fe e l s s a fe an d h a

p p y i n h i s fo s t e r h o m e . 1 8 It 

### w a s a g a i n s t th i s b a c k g r o un d th at th i s C o urt d e t e rmi n e d t o t e rm i n at e F ath e r ' s p ar e n t a l r i g h t s p ur s u an t t o 2 3 P a . C . S . § 

### 2 5 1 l ( a ) ( 1 ) , ( 2 ) an d ( 5 ) an d t o t e rmi n at e M o th e r ' s p ar e n t al r i gh t s p ur s u an t t o 2 3 P a . C. S . § 

### 2 5 1 1 ( a ) ( 2 ) an d ( 5 ) .

1 2 S e e J o i n t Ex h i b i t A : S t i p u l a t i o n s ,n 7 ( a ) . 1 3 T r . 9 5 ( Ju l y 9 , 2 01 9 ) . 1 4 S e e Jo i n t Ex h i b i t A : S ti p u l a t i o n s � 1 7 ( c ) . 1 5 S e e J o i n t E x h i b i t A : S t i p u l a t i o n s ,i t 7 ( d ) . 1 6 T r . 2 9 , 4 3 - 4 4 (Ju l y 9 , 2 0 1 9 ) . 1 7 T r . 4 4 ( Ju l y 9 , 2 0 1 9 ) . 1 8 T r . 5 2 , 7 9 ( Ju l y 9 , 2 0 1 9 ) . 5

### II . · I s s u e s o n A p p e a l

F ath e r a s s e rt s th e f

ol l o w i n g c h a ll e n g e s t o th e C o urt ' s o r d e r o f Ju l y 9 , 2 0 1 9 : 1. T h e C o urt e rr e d i n g r an t i n g C Y F ' s p e t i t i o n t o i n v o l un t ar il y t e rm i n at e F ath e r ' s p ar e n t a l r i g h t s p ur s u an t t o 2 3 P a . C . S . § 2 5 1 1 ( a ) ( 2 ) ; 2 . T h e C o urt e rr e d i n g r an t i n g C Y F ' s p e t it io n t o i n v o l un t ari l y t e rm i n at e F ath e r ' s p ar e n t a l ri g h t s p ur s u an t t o 2 3 P a . C . S . § 2 5 1 l ( a ) ( 5 ) ; 3 . T h e C o urt e rr e d i n g ran t i n g C Y F ' s p e t i t i o n t o i n v o l un t ar il y t e rm i n at e F ath e r ' s p ar e n t a l ri g h t s p ur s u an t t o 2 3 P a . C . S . § 2 5 1 1 ( a ) ( 8 ) . 1 9 M o th e r a s s e rt s th e fo ll o w i n g c h a ll e n g e t o th e C o urt ' s o r d e r o f Ju l y 9 , 2 0 1 9 : 1 . T h e C o urt e rr e d i n c o n cl u d i n g th at t e rmi n at i o n o f M o th e r ' s p ar e n t a l ri g h t s w o u l d s e rv e th e n e e d s an d w e l far e o f th e C h i l d p ur s u an t t o 2 3 P a . C . S . § 2 5 1 1 ( b ) . 2 0

1 9 S e e F a th e r ' s C o n ci s e S t at e m e n t o f M att e r s C o mp l a i n e d o f o n Ap p e a l ,r 1 - 3 . 2 0 S e e M o th e r ' s C o n ci s e S t at e m e n t o f M att e r s C o mp l a i n e d o f o n .Ap p e a l ,r 1. 6

### II I. D i s c u s s i o n

A . T h e E v i d e n c e E s t a b li s h e d G r o u n d s t o T e r m i n a t e F a t h e r ' s P a r e n t a l Ri g h t s . T h e S u p e ri o r C o urt n e e d n o t d i r e c t l y a d dr e s s F ath e r ' s i s s u e s i n o r d e r t o d i s mi s s th e m . T h i s C o urt f o un d th at C Y F e s t ab li s h e d th r e e s e p arat e g ro un d s fo r t e rmi n a t i o n o f F ath e r ' s p ar e n t a l r i g h t s , b a s e d o n 2 3 P a . C . S . § 2 5 1 1 ( a ) ( 1 ) , ( 2 ) an d ( 5 ) . 2 1 F ath e r c h a ll e n g e s th e s u f fi c i e n c y o f th e e v i d e n c e o n o n l y tw o o f th o s e th r e e g ro un d s . O f c o ur s e , th i s C o urt n e e d o n l y fi n d th at o n e g ro un d un d e r § 2 5 1 1 ( a ) h a s b e e n e s t ab li s h e d i n o r d e r t o t e rmi n at e p ar e n t a l r i g h t s . T hu s , th e S u p e ri o r C o urt n e e d n o t r e v i e w th e e v i d e n c e r e g ar d i n g § 2 5 1 1 ( a ) ( 2 ) an d ( 5 ) i f th e e v i d e n c e r e g ar d i n g § 2 5 1 1 ( a ) ( 1 ) s u

p p o rt s th e C o urt ' s o r d e r . 2 2 F ath e r h a s n o t d i s p ut e d th e C o urt' s c o n cl u s i o n th at th e r e c o r d e s t ab li s h e d g ro un d s f o r t e rmi n at i o n p ur s u an t t o § 2 5 l l ( a ) ( l ) , an d h a s c o n s e qu e n tl y w a i v e d any c h al l e n g e r e g ar d i n g i t. N e v e rth e l e s s , th i s C o urt w ill p ro v i d e a b ri e f r e v i e w o f th e amp l e e v i d e n c e th at s u

p p o rt e d th e C o urt ' s c o n cl u s i o n .

2 1 F ath e r ' s th i r d i s s u e o n a p p e a l a p p e ar s t o b e b a s e d o n a m i s r e a d i n g o f th e C o urt ' s o r d e r . F ath e r c h a ll e n g e s t e rm i n at i o n o f h i s p ar e n t a l r i gh t s b a s e d o n 2 3 P a . C. S . § 2 5 11 ( a ) ( 8 ) . H o w e v e r , th e C o urt d i d n o t i n cl u d e th i s g ro un d a s a b a s i s fo r i t s or d e r . 2 2 I n r e A d o p t i o n o f R .J . S . , 9 0 1 A . 2 d 5 0 2 , 5 1 6 . n .3 ( P a . S u p e r 2 0 0 6 ) ( " W e e mp h a s i z e th a t s a t i s fa c ti o n o f th e r e qu i r e m e n t s i n o n l y o n e s ub s e c ti o n o f S e c t i o n 2 5 11 ( a ) , a l o n g w i th c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f th e p ro v i s i o n s i n S e c t i o n 2 5 11 (b ) , i s s u ffi ci e n t fo r t e rm i n at i o n " [ e mp h a s i s i n o r i g i n a l ]) . 7I n o r d e r t o t e rm i n at e p ar e n t a l r i g h t s p ur s u an t t o 2 3 P a . C . S . § 2 5 1 1 ( a ) ( l ) ,

C Y F mu s t e s t ab li s h b y cl e ar an d co n v i n ci n g e v i d e n c e th at: [ t ] h e p ar e n t b y c o n d

u c t c o n t i nu i n g fo r a p e ri o d o f at l e a s t s i x m o n th s i m m e d i at e l y p r e c e d i n g th e fi li n g o f th e p e t it i o n e ith e r h a s e v i d e n c e d a s e ttl e d p urp o s e o f r e li n qu i s h i n g p ar e n t a l cl a i m t o a c h i l d o r h a s r e fu s e d o r f ai l e d t o p e r fo rm p ar e n t a l d ut i e s . 2 3 D ur i n g th e s t at

ut o r y s i x - m o n th p e ri o d - fr o m A u gu s t 2 5 , 2 0 1 8 t o F e b ru ar y 2 5 , 2 0 1 9 , F ath e r w a s a l m o s t c o mp l e t e l y a b s e n t fr o m C h il d ' s li f

e . A t m o s t , h e v i s i t e d C h il d tw o t i m e s i n th i s e n t i r e p e ri o d , o n c e i n D e c e mb e r 2 0 1 8 an d p e r h a p s o n e o th e r t i m e . 2 4 O th e r th an th o s e tw o v i s i t s , F ath e r t o o k n o o th e r a c t i o n t o fu l fi ll h i s p ar e n t al d

ut i e s . H e d i d n o t s e n d C hi l d any c ar d s , l e tt e r s , o r fi n an ci a l s u p p o rt. 2 5 H e d i d n o t att e n d any m e d ic a l o r d e n t a l a p p o i n tm e n t s . 2 6 H e d i d n o t m ak e i n qu i r i e s r e g ar d i n g C h il d . B y h i s o w n a dm i s s i o n , F ath e r g e n e ra ll y w a s e i th e r i n c ar c e rat e d o r

" p r o b ab l y u s i n g dru g s " a s o p p o s e d t o f un c t i o n i n g a s a p ar e n t. 2 7 N o th i n g i n th e r e c o r d s u g g e s t s th at F ath e r ' s c o n d u c t at t i m e s e i th e r b e fo r e o r a f t e r th e a p p li c a b l e s i x - m o n th p e r i o d s o m e h o w c ur e d o r c o mp e n s at e d f o r h i s d i s e n g a g e m e n t d

ur i n g th at t i m e . 2 8 R ath e r , th e r e c o r d e s t a b li s h e d th at F ath e r ' s

2 3 2 3 P a . C . S . § 2 5 11 ( a ) ( l ) . 2 4 T r . 9 8 ( Ju l y 9 , 2 0 1 9 ) . F ath e r v i s i t e d o n l y th r e e t i m e s s i n c e C h il d ' s r e m o v a l. T h e tw o kn o w n v i s i t s o c c ur

r e d i n Ap r il 2 0 1 8 an d D e c e mb e r 2 0 1 8 . T h e d at e o f th e th ir d v i s i t i s un kn o w n , s o i t c o u l d h av e o c c ur

r e d d ur i n g th e s i x - m o n th p e ri o d i m m e d i at e l y p r e c e d i n g fi li n g o f C YF ' s p e t i t i o n . 2 5 T r . 2 7 (Ju l y 9 , 2 01 9 ) . 2 6 T r . 8 1 ( Ju l y 9 , 2 01 9 ) . 2 7 T r . 8 2 ( Ju l y 9 , 2 0 1 9 ) . 2 8 S e e I n r e I. J . , 9 7 2 A. 2 d 5 , 10 ( P a . S u

p e r . 2 0 0 9 ) ( tr i a l c o urt mu s t c o n s i d e r t o t al i ty o f ci r c um s t an c e s , n o t m e c h an ic a ll y a p p l y s i x - m o n th s t at

ut o r y p r o v i s i o n ) . 8r e p e at e d p e r i o d s o f i n c ar c e rat i o n , s u b s t an c e ab u s e , an d l a c k o f i n v o l v e m e n t i n C h il d ' s li fe s t art e d w e ll b e fo r e C h il d e n t e r e d fo s t e r c ar e p l a c e m e n t an d h av e c o n t i nu e d s i n c e th e n . 2 9 T hu s , th e r e c o r d cl e arl y s u p p o rt s th e C o urt ' s c o n cl u s i o n th at th e e v i d e n c e e s t ab li s h e d g r o un d s t o t e rm i n at e F ath e r ' s p ar e n t a l ri g h t s p ur s u an t t o 2 3 P a . C . S . § 2 5 1 1 ( a ) ( l ) . 

### B . Th e E v i d e n c e E s t a b li s h e d t h a t T e r m i n a t i n g M o t h e r ' s Ri g h t s M e e t s C h il d ' s N e e d s a n d W e l f a r e . O n a p p e a l , M o th e r d o e s n o t c o n t e s t th at g ro un d s e x i s t e d t o t e rm i n at e h e r p ar e n t a l r i g h t s . S h e o n l y c o n t e s t s th e C o urt ' s c o n cl u s i o n th at t e rm i n at i o n o f h e r p ar e n t a l ri g h t s m e e t s th e n e e d s an d w e l far e o f h e r C h i l d . B e c au s e M o th e r d o e s n o t c o n t e s t th at g ro un d s e x i s t f o r t e rmi n at i o n , th e r e v i e w i n g c o urt n e e d o n l y c o n s i d e r w h e th e r th i s C o urt ' s d e c i s i o n th at t e rm i n a t i o n b e s t s e rv e s th e C h i l d ' s d e v e l o p m e n t a l , p h y s i c a l , an d e m o t i o n a l n e e d s an d w e l far e w a s s u p p o rt e d b y c o mp e t e n t e v i d e n c e . " A s d i s c u s s e d i n/

n r e N . A . M . , 3 1 th e i n qu i r

y i n t o w h e th e r t e rm i n at i n g a p ar e n t' s r i gh t s s e rv e s th e c h il d ' s n e e d s an d w e lf ar e n e c e s s ar i l y i n cl u d e s i n qu ir y i n t o th e

2 9 S e e J o i n t Ex h i b i t A : S t i p u l a t i o n s ,r 2 2 ( li s t i n g F ath e r ' s r e p e at e d p e ri o d s o f i n c ar c e r at i o n thr o u gh o u t th e C h il d ' s li fe ) ; s e e a l s o T r . 6 8 ( F ath e r a dm i t s th a t a ll o f h i s i n c ar c e rat i o n s ar e d u e t o h i s s u b s t an c e a b u s e p ro b l e m s an d " fi n d i n g w ay s t o g e t h i gh " ) . 3 0 S e e I n r e J . F .M . , 71 A . 3 d 9 8 9 ( P a . S u

p e r . 2 0 1 3 ) ( d i s c u s s i n g tw o - s t e p an a l y s i s b y w h i c h th e c o urt mu s t fi r s t fi n d th at gr o un d s t o t e rm i n at e un d e r 2 3 P a . C . S . § 2 5 11 ( a ) e x i s t b e fo r e a d dr e s s i n g c h il d ' s n e e d s an d w e l far e un d e r 2 3 P a . C. S . § 2 5 11 ( b ) ) . 3 1 3 3 A. 3 d 9 5 ( P a . S u

p e r . 2 0 11 ) . 9

### n at

ur e an d s t at

u s o f any b o n d b e tw e e n th e p ar e n t an d c h il d an d th e e f fe c t o n th e c h i l d o f s e v e ri n g th at b o n d , i f it 

### e x i s t s : H o w e v e r , th e e x t e n t o f th e b o n d - e ff e c t an a l y s i s n e c e s s ar il y d e p e n d s o n th e ci r c um s t an c e s o f th e p art ic u l ar c a s e . I n 

### r e K . Z . S . , 

### 9 4 6 A . 2 d 7 5 3 , 7 6 3 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 0 8 ) . W h i l e a p ar e n t ' s e m o t i o n a l b o n d w i th h i s o r h e r c h il d i s a m a j o r a s p e c t o f th e s ub s e c t i o n 2 5 1 1 (b ) b e s t - i n t e r e s t an a l y s i s , i t i s n o n e th e l e s s o n l y o n e o f m any fa c t o r s t o b e co n s i d e r e d b y th e c o urt w h e n d e t e rm i n i n g w h at i s i n th e b e s t i n t e r e s t o f th e c h il d . I n 

### r e K . K . R . - S . , 

### 9 5 8 A . 2 d 5 2 9 , 5 3 3 - 5 3 6 

### ( P a . S u

p e r . 2 0 0 8 ) . T h e m e r e e x i s t e n c e o f an e m o t i o n a l b o n d d o e s n o t p r e cl u d e th e t e rmi n at i o n o f p ar e n t a l ri g h t s . 

### S e e I n 

### r e T .D . , 9 4 9 A . 2 d 9 1 0 ( P a . S u

p e r . 2 0 0 8 ) ( tri a l c o urt ' s d e ci s io n t o t e rmi n at e p ar e n t s ' p ar e n t a l ri g h t s w a s a f

fi rm e d w h e r e c o urt b a l an c e d s tro n g e m o t i o n a l b o n d a g ai n s t p ar e n t s ' i n ab ili ty t o s e rv e n e e d s o f c h i l d ) . R ath e r , th e o rp h an s ' c o urt mu s t e x am i n e th e s t at u s o f th e b o n d t o d e t e rm i n e w h e th e r i t s t e rmi n at i o n " w o u l d d e s tro y an e x i s t i n g , n e c e s s ary an d b e n e fi c i a l r e l at i o n s h i p . I n r e A d o p ti o n o f T . B . B . , 

### 8 3 5 A . 2 d 3 8 7 , 3 9 7 · ( P a . S u p e r. 2 0 0 3 ) . " 3 2 

### I n th i s m att e r , th e e v i d e n c e amp l y s u p p o rt e d th e C o urt ' s c o n cl u s i o n th at t e rm i n at i o n o f M o th e r ' s p ar e n t a l ri g h t s s e rv e d th e C h i l d ' s n e e d s an d w e l far e . A t th e t i m e o f th e h e ari n g , th e C h i l d h a d b e e n i n p l a c e m e n t fo r s i x t e e n m o n th s an d w a s 6 y e ar s o l d . A s d e s c ri b e d b y D r . R o s e nb l um , w h o p e r fo rm e d e v a l u at i o n s i n th i s m a tt e r , C h il d h a s e xp e r i e n c e d s u f fi ci e n t c o n t a c t w i th M o th e r th ro u g h th e fi r s t fo ur y e ar s o f h i s li fe 

### fo r h i m t o c o n t i nu e t o d e m o n s tr at e s o m e l e v e l o f att a c h m e n t t o h e r. 3 3 

### H o w e v e r , M o th e r ' s i n v o l v e m e n t s i n c e C h i l d ' s

3 2 I n r e N . A. M, 3 3 A .3 d at 10 3 . 3 3 T r . 4 5 (Ju l y 9 , 2 0 1 9 ) . 1 0

### p l a c e m e n t h a s b e e n i n co n s i s t e n t an d unr e li ab l e . M o th e r att e n d e d l e s s th an 2 5 % o f

h e r s c h e d u l e d v i s i t s w ith C h il d . 3 4 

### F urth e r , M o th e r h a s n o t m a d e p ro g r e s s t o w ar d o v e r c o mi n g h e r s ub s t an c e a b u s e i s s u e s . I n d e e d , at th e t i m e o f h e r e v a l u at i o n a p p o i n tm e n t w i th D r . R o s e nb l um , M o th e r a dm i tt e d t o b o th h e r o i n an d c o c a i n e u s e a s r e c e n tl y a s s p ri n g o f 2 0 1 9 . 3 5 

### W h il e M o th e r h a s c o n t i nu e d t o s tru g g l e w i th h e r a d d i c t i o n , C h i l d h a s b e c o m e att a c h e d t o F o s t e r M o th e r . F o s t e r M o th e r i s v e r y r e s p o n s i v e t o C h i l d ' s e m o t i o n a l an d d e v e l o p m e n t a l n e e d s . C h il d h a s m a d e a p o s i t i v e a d j u s tm e n t t o h e r h o m e , i s h a

p p y th e r e , an d i s d o i n g w e l l. 3 6 

### C h il d h a s c o m e t o r e l y o n F o s t e r M o th e r t o m e e t h i s d a i l y n e e d s . 3 7 

### T hu s , w h il e C h il d m ay e xp e r i e n c e s o m e d e g r e e o f l o s s r e s u lt i n g fr o m t e rmi n at i o n o f M o th e r ' s p ar e n t a l r i g h t s , D r . R o s e nb l um o p i n e d th at C h il d h a s a l r e a dy b e g un t o a d j u s t t o th at e m o ti o n a l l o s s . 3 8 

### G i v e n M o th e r ' s c h r o n i c s ub s t an ce ab u s e an d l a c k o f p ro g r e s s , th e C o urt j u s t i fi ab l y c o n cl u d e d th at C h il d ' s n e e d f o r s a fe ty , p e rm an e n c y an d s t ab ili ty o utw e i g h s th e p o s s i b l e b e n e fi t t o C h il d o f m a i n t a i n i n g h i s r e l at i o n s h i p w i th M o th e r .

3 4 T r . 9 5 (Ju l y 9 , 2 0 1 9 ) . 3 5 T r . 4 6 ( Ju l y 9 , 2 0 1 9 ) ; s e e a l s o C Y F E x h i b i t 3 : D r . R o s e nb l um ' s R e p o rt , 8 . 3 6 T r. 4 3 - 44 ( Ju l y 9 , 2 0 1 9 ) . 3 7 T r . 4 5 ( Ju l y 9 , 2 0 1 9 ) . 3 8 T r . 5 2 (Ju l y 9 , 2 0 1 9 ) . 1 1

### I V . C O N C L U S I O N

F o r th e fo r e g o i n g r e a s o n s th e S u p e r i o r C o urt s h o u l d d i s m i s s b o th P ar e n t s ' a p p e a l s an d a f

fi rm th i s C o urt ' s o r d e r o f Ju l y 9 , 2 0 1 9 .

B y 

### th e C o urt :

1 2