1 ... S eeTe x. R. App . P. 47. 4. 

## COURT OF APPEALS SECOND DISTRICTOFTEXAS FORT WORTH NO. 0 2 - 0 8 - 1 7 9 - CV IN T H E IN T E R E S TO FJ .L .W .

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FR O M THE 323RD DI STRI CT CO URT O F TARRA NT CO UN TY

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### M E M ORANDU M OP I NI ON 1

----- ----- -- I . I nt r oduc t i on I n t w o i ss ues , A ppe l l antD i aneR. ( her ei naft e r “M ot her ”) ap pea l s t he te rm i n a ti o n o f h e r p a re n ta l ri g h ts to J .L .W . W e a ffir m . II . F a c tu a la n d P ro c e d u ra lH i s to ry2 ... J. L. W . has W estSy ndr om e, w hi ch i nvol ves t hr ee separ at e di sor der s:

s e i z u re d i s o rd e r, d e v e l o p m e n ta l d e l a y , a n d m e n ta l re ta rd a ti o n . B ya g e fo u r, J. L. W . co ul d w al k, buthe co ul d not sp ea k or f ee d hi m se l f , he w asnotpott yt r ai ned , an d heope r at ed ata si x- m ont h- ol d l eve l . J. L. W . t ak es m edi ca t i on a nd r ec ei vesphy si ca l t her apyan d s pee ch t her apy .

3 ... M ot her r ecei ves servi ces f r om M H M R and A dul tPr ot ect i ve S er vi ces ( A PS) f r om t i m e t o t i m e. She r ec ei ves SS I be ca us e o fhe rdi sa bi l i t y. The M H M R t r u s tf u n d p a y s M o t h e r ’s re n t , w a t e rb ill, a n d lig h tb ill.

4 ... J. J. W . ’ s par ent al r i ght s t o J. L. W . w e re al so t er m i nat ed bel ow , but J .J .W . d o e s n o ta p p e a l. 2 J .L .W ., a m e n t a lly -r e t a r d e d s p e c ia l n e e d s c h ild , w a s b o r n t o M o t h e rin 2003. 2M o t h e rh a s f o u r c h ild r e n : B ., a t e n -y e a r -o ld g ir l; A ., a n in e -y e a r -o ld g ir l; J .L .W ., a fo u r-y e a r-o l d b o y ; a n d D ., a th re e -y e a r - o l d g i rl . A ., B ., a n d J .L .W . each have di f f er entf at her s. M ot herdoes nothave l egal cust ody o fany ofher chi l dr en. Pr i or t o J. L. W . ’ s r em ova l , M ot her , w ho i s al so m ent al l y r et ar ded , 3al r ea dy had a si gni f i canthi st or y w i t h C hi l d Pr ot e ct i ve S er vi ces ( C PS ) i nvol vi ng abu se di re ct ed atherand herol derdaugh t er s, A . and B . , by M ot her ’ s boyf r i ends. J. L. W . ’ s al l eged bi ol ogi cal f at her , J. J. W . , w as convi ct ed of assaul t i ng M ot her i n 2003, 4a n d A .’s fa th e r b e a t b o th B . a n d M o th e r. C PS’ s f i r str ef er r al i nvol vi ng J . L. W . oc cur r ed i n O ct obe r 2 0 0 4 , butt he e v e n ts th a t d i re c tl yl e d to th e te rm i n a ti o n o f M o th e r’s p a re n ta l ri g h ts to J .L .W . occ ur r ed i n M ar ch 200 7. CPS had al r ea dy b egu n a n i nve st i gat i on ofne gl i gen t5 ... C PS r ul ed out an ear l i err ef er r al f orphysi ca l abuse and physi cal

neg l ec tw i t h r ega r d t o M ot her app r opr i at el y m edi ca t i ng J. L. W . The ne gl i gen t supe rv is io n and phy si cal abuse r ef er r al i nvol ved f act s al l egi ng t hatP. J. had bee n t yi ng J . L. W . t o t he bed w i t h be d s heet s and t hatP. J. w asab us i ng M o th e r. P .J . a n d M o th e r i n fo rm e d C P S th a t th e yh a d j u s t b e e n tu c k i n g J .L .W . t i ghtl y i nt o bed so t hat he w oul d not get up atni ght. The casew or kert est i f i ed t hathe adv i se d t hem t hati ft her e w asa f i r e o rs om et hi ng, J. L. W . “ m i ghtnot b e a b le t o g e to u t , h e c o u l d s lip u n d e rt h e c o v e r s a n d s u f f o c a t e , e s p e c ia llyif th e yw e re ti g h t e n o u g h to c a u s e b ru i s e s o n h i s b o d y .” 3 su pervi si on a nd ph ys i ca l ab us e w hen i tr ec ei ved i nf or m at i on a boutan att ac k o n M ot herby herl i ve- i n boy f r i end , P. J. 5 FortW ort h Pol i ce O f f i ce rEr i c St ahu r a t es t i f i ed abo ut an as sa ul tby P. J. o n M o t h e ro n M a r c h 2 3 , 2 0 0 7 , a n d a s e c o n d assaul t t h e f o l l o wi n g d a y . He t est i f i ed t hatM ot hercal l ed t he pol i ce on M ar ch 2 4, t ol d th e m th atshe had been assaul t ed t he ni ght bef or e, and t ol d t hem “t hatshe w ant ed t o go t o her apart m entand get her bel ong i ngs and her chi l d. ” She i nf or m ed t he pol i ce t hat sh e a nd P. J. ha d gott en i nt o a n a r gum entw hen he ac cus ed her ofch ea t i ng on hi m and t hat he choked her unti l she becam e uncon sci ous. W hen she r egai ned c ons ci ous nes s, sh e bol t ed, l ea vi ng J. L. W . al one w i t h P. J. O f f i ce r S ta h u ra t es t i f i ed t hat M ot her sa i d t hat sh e di d not w ant t o pr es s cha r ges but t hats he nee ded an es cortbe ca us e s he w ass ca r ed ofP. J. M ot herga ve su bs t ant i al l y t he s a m e t es t i m ony. She t es t i f i ed, “ I w ent unc ons ci ousan d I w oke up and m y bab y [ J. L. W . ] w as st and i ng ove rm e. ” She4

adm i t t ed t h a t s h e l e f t h i m wi t h P . J . S h e s t a t e d t h a t s h e k n e w t h a t was a m i s ta k e : “ I w a s n ’t th i n k i n g a b o u t— I w a s — w h e n I c a m e to , I s a i d , l e t m e h u rry up a nd ge t out of her e, and I st art ed t hi nki ng I sh oul d hav e t ur ned ba ckar ound and w ent and got m y bab y and t ook m y bab y w i t h m e. ” She l eftt he apa rt m ent a r o u n d 5 :0 0 p . m ., d id n o tc a ll P .J . b e c a u s e s h e “ w a s s c a r e d t h a th e w o u ld kno w w her e [ sh e] w as , ” and di d not con t ac t t he pol i ce unt i l noon t he nex tda y. O f f i ce rS t a h u r a r e t u r n e d wi t h Mo t h e rt o h e ra p a rt me n t . Mo t h e r ’ s au nt (h e re i n a fte r “ A u n t” ) m e t th e m th e re to h e l p M o th e r. P .J .’s s i s te r h a d J .L .W . and br oughthi m t o t he apa rt m ent . O f f i ce rSt ahu r a s t at ed: W hi l e I w ast al ki ng t o [ P. J. ’ s si st er ] , an ot herve h i c l e dr ove up beh i nd m e a nd [ P. J .] g o t o utoft he veh i cl e a nd r an i nt o t he apa rt m entan d w enti ns i de and l ock ed t he door . . . . I kn ock ed on t he doo rand I hear d t he voi ce ofa young gi r l th a t w as t her e— I b e l i e v e i t w a s [M o th e r’s ] d a u g h te r. . . . S h e u n l o c k e d th e d o o r. I r a n i nt o t he apart m entand r an t o t he back bedroom w her e I obs erved [ P. J. ] l ayi ng do w n on t op of[ M ot her ] on t op of t he bed , h o l d i n g h e r a rm s a n d s h a k i n g h e r a n d s c re a m i n g a t h e r. . . . I be l i eve d i tw asa dan ger ous env i r onm ent . I had t o pul l hi m of fof h e r , a n d I g r a b b e d h im a n d p u s h e d h im a g a in s tt h e w a ll a n d t o ld h i m t o c a l m d o wn , a n d t h e n , a s I we n t t o e s c o rt h i m outoft he ro o m , h e tri e d p u l l i n g a w a yfro m m e a n d g o i n g b a c kto w a rd s h e r, to w a rd s [M o th e r], an d fro m th e re , I tri e d to ta k e c o n tro l o f h i m . I t r i ed t o do an ar m - bart ak e- dow n t o t ak e hi m dow n t o t he gr ound. I tdi dn’ tw o rk . W e st r uggl ed f ora l i t t l e b i t . I fI r em em ber , he pus hed m e, an d I w asev ent ual l y a bl e t o t ak e h i m d ow n on t he g r o u n d a n d w e s t r u g g le d o n t h e g r o u n d u n t il I w a s a b le t o t a k e h im i n c us t ody.6 ... M ot her ’ s C PS casew or ker noted t hat M ot her ’ s A P S c asew or ker

adv i se d h i m t h a tA P S wo u l d n o ta s s i s tMo t h e rwi t h h o u s i n g wi t h P . J . l i v i ng w i th h e r. 5 O f f i ce rSt ahu r a t es t i f i ed t hat he t al ke d w i t h M ot heraft ert he as sa ul tan d th a t s h e s ta te d th a t s h e d i d n o t w a n t to d o a n y th i n g a b o u t i t. O ffice r S ta h u ra te s ti fi e d th a t h e a rre s te d P .J . b e c a u s e h e h a d w i tn e s s e d th e a s s a u l t. M ot heran d P. J. a tte m pt ed t o e vad e CPS af t ert he as sa ul t , f or ci ng t he ca se w or ke rto tu rn th e c as e o vert o a pr i vat e i nve st i gat i on f i r m t o l oca t e t he fam i l y . A fter M o th e r w a s l o c a ted , C P S d i sc o v e red tha t sh e h a d d e c i d e d n o t t o f i l e f ora r est r ai ni ng or deragai nstP. J. o r to p re ss char ges f orassaul t ; her c a se w o rke r ad v i se d h e r th a t b e c a u se o f t h e d o m e sti c v i o l e n c e , P .J. n e e d e d to m ove outoft he hous e f orJ. L. W . ’ s pr ot ec t i on. 6J a m e s T e m p l e to n , M o th e r’s ca se w or ke ratt he t i m e, t es t i f i ed t hatM ot herco ope r at ed w i t h CPS i n pl ac i ng J. L. W . w i t h Aunt . Tw o of M ot her ’ s dau ght er s, A . and B. , hav e l i ved w i t h Aunt s i n c e th e yw e re o n e a n d tw o y e a rs o l d re s p e c ti v e l y . Tem pl et on, a r et i r ed pol i ce off ic er , st at ed t hathi s concer n w as t hat J. L. W . w oul d not und er st and w hat w as goi ng on i n a dom est ic v iol ence si t uat i on a nd c oul d ve r y ea si l y gethurti n a n a l t er ca t i on be t w ee n M ot heran d P . J . S u b s e q u e n tc a s e wo r k e r s a n d A u n tt e s t i f i e d t h a tt h e yh a d t h e s a me c o n c e r n s . P .J . h a d a ls o p r e v io u s ly a d m it t e d t o T e m p le t o n t h a th e o c c a s io n a lly6

u s e d m a ri h u a n a ; T e m p l e to n te s ti fi e d th a t th i s ra i s e d c o n c e rn s a b o u t J .L .W . bei ng l eftuns upe r vi se d w i t h s om eon e w ho w asi nca pac i t at ed. M o th e r co n ti n u e d to l i v e w i th P .J. A l th o u g h C P S r e f e r red M o th e r t o dom es t i c v i ol enc e c ouns el i ng a nd i ndi vi dua l t her apy , M ot her nev er w ent . O ne o f h e r C P S c a s e w o rk e rs te s ti fi e d , I asked heri fs h e had contact ed M H M R and A PS and conti nued t h o s e s e r v ic e s . S h e s a id s h e h a d n o t . I a s k e d h e r w h y . S h e s a id she di dn’ t k n o w; s h e j u s t h a d n ’ t . An d I a s k e d h e r wh e n t h e l ast t i m e w as w hen sh e sa w [ P. J. ] . She pau se d, and t hen s he sa i d s he st i l l t al kst o hi m , s he’ s goi ng t o c on ti n u e t o t al k t o hi m , an d I i n fo rm e d h e r th a t d u e to th e r e a s o n w h y[J .L .W .] c a m e i n to c a re t hatt hatw asnota good si t uat i on f or[ J. L. W . ] t o r et ur n t o, an d th a t a s l o n g a s s h e w a s c o n ti n u i n g to h a v e th a t c o n ta c t w i th [P .J .], I w asnotr ec om m end i ng t hat[ J. L. W . ] go b ac k t o her hom e, and I asked heri f s h e w oul d agr ee t hat[ P. J. ] w oul d have no cont act w i t h [ J. L. W . ] , and sh e agr ee d at t he t i m e t hat sh e w oul d notal l ow [P .J .] to h a v e a n yc o n ta c t w i th [J .L .W .] M ot herr es i st ed end i ng he rr el at i o n s h i p w i t h P. J. I n r es pons e t o one ca se w or ke r ’ s exp l ana t i on t hatCPS co ul d notr et ur n J. L. W . t o he rw hi l e P. J. l i v e d w i th h e r, M o th e r s ta te d th a t P .J . w a s h e r b o y fri e n d a n d th e yw e re t ogetherand t hey w er e goi ng t o be t ogether . She st at ed t hatal l m ar r i ages had i ssues, al l peopl e f i ght, and t hathersi t uat i on w i t h P. J. w as som et hi ng t hatw as nor m al . M ot hert es t i f i ed t hat sh e and P. J. pl ann ed t o get m ar r i ed and t hats he
w ant ed t o st ay w i t h hi m and w or k t he r el at i onshi p out. Sh e adm i t t ed t hatt hey had ha d phy si ca l f i ght s i n t he pas t , buts he st at ed t hats he had ne vergi ven an y7

t h o u g h tt o le a v in g h im a t a n y p o in t . S h e t e s t if ie d t h a ts h e lo s th e rh o u s in g in 2 0 0 5 b e c a u s e P .J . w a s l i v i n g w i th h e r. M ot herhad f ourvi si t s w i t h J. L. W . bef or e June 20 07 , but she onl y vi si t ed J .L .W . o n c e b e tw e e n J u n e 2 0 0 7 a n d F e b ru a ry2 0 0 8 , a fte r th e v i s i ts w e re m ove d f r om t he C PS of f i ce t o Aunt ’ s hous e. M ot hert es t i f i ed t hats he di d not vi si thi m dur i ng t hatt i m e bec aus e sh e di d notw antt o go t o Aunt ’ s hous e a nd because she had t o w or k. A f t er June 20 07 and pr i or t o M ar ch 20 08 , M ot her m ade no ef f ortt o vi si tJ. L. W . or t o w or k on herservi ce pl an, com pl ai ni ng t hat she had no t r ansport at i on. W hen C PS per f or m ed a hom e vi si ti n 2 00 8, M ot her di d not have anythi ng setup f orJ. L. W . The C PS casew or kert est i f i ed as f ol l ow s: Q . D i d y o u as kthe m o th e r ab o u t t h a t? A . I di d. Q . A nd w hatdi d s he t el l you ? A . She st at ed— I as ke d w her e w as[ J. L. W . ] goi ng t o be sl ee pi ng. She s h o w e d m e h erbe dr oom , an d s he st at ed t hats he and [ J. L. W . ] w oul d ha ve t he bed , an d th en I as ke d he r , I s ai d, w el l , w her e i s [ P. J. ] goi ng t o s l ee p? A nd s he st a te d to m e [t h a t ] h e w o u l d a ls o b e s le e p in g in t h e b e d u n t il t h e yc o u ld geta t oddl e r b e d ; s he w ast r yi ng t o f i nd a t oddl erbe d, but she coul dn’ tf i nd on e atthi s t i m e, butunt i l t he t odd l erbed w aspur cha se d, th e t hr ee oft hem w oul d bes l ee pi ng i n t he b e d to g e th e r. Q . I s t hatappr opr i at e?7 ... M ot herw or ks atM cD onal d’ s t w o days perw eek. 8 A . N o. Q . D i d yo u t al k t o he rab out[ P. J. ] be i ng a r ound t he chi l d? A . I di d. Q . A nd w hatdi d s he t el l you ? A . S h e s ta te d to m e th a t [ P . J .] l o v e s h e r c h i l d , l o v e s [J .L .W .], and w oul d not hurt [ J. L. W . ] . I asked her , put t i ng t hatasi de, i f som et hi ng w er e t o happ en, and she sai d she w o u ld t ake [J .L .W .] t o w o r kw it h h e ra n d ifs h e f e ltlik e s h e c o u ld pr ot ect[ J. L. W . ] , i fshe needed t o t ake hi m t o w or k, 7th a t’s w hats he w oul d hav e t o do; ot her w i se , sh e w asgoi ng t o be t h e r e , a n d s h e f e ltlik e s h e c o u ld p r o t e c th im . T h e C P S ca se w o rke r t e sti fi e d tha t J .L.W . w a s d o i n g rea l l y w e l l l i v i n g w i th A unt, and she r ecom m ended t hat M ot her ’ s par ent al r i ghts be t er m i nat ed so t hat A u n t c o u l d a d o p t J .L .W . A untt es t i f i ed t hats he an d he rhus ban d w antt o a doptJ. L. W . She t es t i f i ed t hat sh e d i d nott hi nk t hatM ot herha d t he abi l i t y t o c ar e f orJ. L. W . an d t hati tw oul d be dang er ous f or J. L. W . t o be r et ur ned t o M ot her . Sh e t est i f i ed t hatshe had cust ody o ft w o of M ot her ’ s ot herchi l dr en, A . and B . , “[ b] ecause ofM ot her ’ s poor choi ce of boyfr i ends. ” She expl ai ned t hatA . ’ s f at herabused B. and beatheruncon sci ous t w i ce bef or e B. w as t w o year s ol d, t hatA . ’ s f at her b e a tMo t h e r , a n d t h a t Mo t h e r wa s n o ta b l e t o p r o t e c tB . S h e s t a t e d , “ T o my9

know i ng, al l of[ M ot her ’ s] boyfr i ends ha[ ve] been abusi ve t o her , ” and st at ed t hatt hi s caused herconcer n f orJ. L. W . ’ s w el f ar e. A unt al so t est i f i ed t hatshe saw M ot her hi tB. w i t h a com b w hen M ot her
w asco m bi ng B. ’ s hai ran d B w oul dn’ t si t st i l l , “s o [ M ot her ] hi t her i n t he hea d”
w i t h t he com b. S he t est i f i ed t hatw hen A . and B . l i ved w i t h M ot her , M ot her negl ect ed t hem : “D i rt y cl ot hes, hai r w asn’ t com bed, and she w oul d l eave t hem t her e w i t h t hi s boy, w i t h t hi s m an. ” A unt st at ed t hats he had co nce r ns ab out M ot herl eavi ng herchi l dr en w i t h var i ous peop l e. M ot hert es t i f i ed t hati fJ. L. W . c o u l d n o tbe r et ur ned t o he r , t hen s he wo u l d wa n tA u n tt o t a k e c a r e o fh i m. The t r i al co urt t er m i nat ed M ot her ’ s par ent al r i ght s, f i ndi ng bycl ea ran d c o n v i n c i n g ev i d e n c e tha t sh e kn o w i n g l yp l a c e d o r k n o w i n g l yall o w e d J .L.W . to r em ai n i n c ondi t i onsors ur r oundi n g s t haten dan ger ed t he chi l d’ s phys i ca l or e m o ti o n a l w e l l -b e i n g ; th a t s h e e n g a g e d i n c o n d u c t o r k n o w i n g l y p l a c e d J .L .W . w i t h pe r so ns w ho e nga ged i n con duc t t hat end ang er ed t he chi l d’ s phys i ca l or e m o ti o n a l w e l l -b e i n g ; a n d th a t te rm i n a ti o n o f M o th e r’s p a re n ta l ri g h ts to J .L .W . w a s i n th e c h i l d ’sb e s t i n te re s t. S eeT e x . F a m . C o d e A n n . § § 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 )(D ), ( E) , 161. 001 ( 2) ( V er non Supp . 2008 ) . Thi s app ea l f ol l ow ed. I I I . Legaland Fact ualSu ff i ci ency10

I n he rf i r sti ss ue, M ot herco m pl a i n s t hatt he evi den ce i s l ega l l y a nd f a c t u a l l yi n s u f f i c i e n tt o s u p p o rtt h e t r i a l c o u rt ’ s f i n d i n g s u n d e rs u b s e c t i o n s ( D) and ( E) ofs ec t i on 1 6 1 . 001 ( 1) oft he f am i l y c ode . I n he rs ec ond i ss ue, s he ar gues t hatt he evi dence i s l egal l y and f act ual l y i nsuf f i ci ent t o suppo rtt he t r i al court ’ s f i ndi ng t hatt er m i nat i on of herpar ent al r i ghtsw as i n t he chi l d’ s b e st i nt er estundersect i on 1 61 . 00 1( 2) oft he f am i l y code. A . Standar d ofRev i ew A pa r ent ’ s r i ght s t o “ t he com pan i ons hi p, ca r e, cu st ody, an d m anagem ent ” ofherchi l d ar e const i t ut i onal i nt er est s “f arm or e pr eci ous t han any pr opert y r i ght. ” Santosky v. K ram er, 4 5 5 U .S . 7 4 5 , 7 5 8

– 5 9 , 1 0 2 S . C t. 1 3 8 8 , 1 3 9 7 (1 9 8 2 ); I n reM. S. , 1 1 5 S .W .3 d 5 3 4 , 5 4 7 (T e x . 2 0 0 3 ) . “ W h ile par ent al r i ghtsar e ofconst i t ut i onal m agni t ude, t hey ar e not absol ut e. Justas i ti s i m per at i ve f orco urt s t o r ec ogni z e t he con st i t ut i ona l unde r pi nni ngsoft he p a ren t- c h i l d rel a ti o n sh i p , i t i s a l so e ss e n ti a l th a t e m o ti o n a l a n d p h y sica l i n tere sts oft he c h il d not be sacr i f i ced m er el y t o pr eserve t hatr i ght. ” I nreC. H. , 89 S .W .3 d 1 7 , 2 6 ( T e x . 2 0 0 2 ). I n a te rm i n a ti o n c a se , th e S tate se e k s n o t j u st to lim itp a r e n t a l rig h t s b u tt o e n d t h e m p e r m a n e n t ly

— t o d iv e s t t h e p a r e n ta n d c h ild ofal l l egal r i ghts , pr i vi l eges, dut i es, and pow er s nor m al l y exi st i ng betw een t hem , ex ce ptf ort he chi l d’ s r i ght t o i nhe r i t . Tex. Fa m . Code Ann. § 161. 206 ( b) (V e rn o n S u p p . 2 0 0 8 ); Ho l i ckv. Sm ith , 6 8 5 S .W .2 d 1 8 , 2 0 (T e x . 1 9 8 5 ). W e11

s tri c tl ys c ru ti n i z e te rm i n a ti o n p ro c e e d i n g s a n d s tri c tl yc o n s tru e i n v o l u n ta ry te rm i n a ti o n s ta tu te s i n fa v o r o f th e p a re n t. Hol i ck , 685 S. W . 2d a t20–2 1; In reE. M. N. , 2 2 1 S .W .3 d 8 1 5 , 8 2 0 (T e x . A p p .— F o rt W o rth 2 0 0 7 , n o p e t.). I n pr oceedi ngs t o t er m i nat e t he par ent - chi l d r el at i onship br oug htunder se ct i on 161. 001 oft he f am i l y cod e, t he pet i t i one rm us tes t abl i sh onegr ound l i st ed unde rs ubdi vi si on ( 1) of t he st at ut e a nd m us tal so pr ove t hatt er m i nat i on i s i n th e b e s t i n te re s t o f th e c h i l d . T e x . F a m . C o d e A n n . § 1 6 1 .0 0 1 ; I n re J. L. , 163 S. W . 3d 79, 84 ( Tex. 2005 ) . Bot h e l em ent s m us tbe es t abl i s h e d; t er m i nat i on m ay not be based sol el y on t he besti nt er e s t o f th e chi l d as d e te rm i n e d b yth e t r i e r o f f a c t. Tex. D ep’tof Hum an Servs . v. Boyd, 727 S .W .2 d 5 3 1 , 5 3 3 (T e x . 1 9 8 7 ). Ter m i nat i on ofpa r ent al r i ght s i s a dr as t i c r em edyan d i s ofs uch w ei ght and gr avi t y t hatduepr oce ssr equ i r est he pet i t i one rto j u s ti fy t er m i nat i on by c l e a r a n d c o n v i n c i n g e v i d e n c e . T e x . F a m . C o d e A n n . § § 1 6 1 .0 0 1 , 1 6 1 .2 0 6 (a ); I nreJ. F. C. , 9 6 S .W .3 d 2 5 6 , 2 6 3 (T e x . 2 0 0 2 ). T h is in t e r m e d ia t e s t a n d a r d f a lls bet w ee n t he pr epo nde r anc e s t and ar d ofor di nary c i vi l pr oce edi ngsan d t he re a s o n a b l e d o u b t s ta n d a rd o f c r i m i n a l p ro c e e d i n g s . I nreG . M. , 596 S. W . 2d 8 4 6 , 8 4 7 (T e x . 1 9 8 0 ); I n reC. S. , 2 0 8 S .W .3 d 7 7 , 8 3 (T e x . A p p .— F o rtW o rt h 2 0 0 6 , p e t . d e n ie d ). Itis d e f in e d a s t h e “ m e a s u r e o r d e g r e e o f p r o o f t h a tw ill p rod u c e i n the m i n d o f t h e tr i e r of fac t a fi rm b e l i e f o r c o n v i c ti o n a s to th e tr u th12

oft hea l l e ga t i on s s ou gh t t o bee s t a bl i s he d. ” Te x. F a m . Cod e Ann . § 10 1. 007 (V e rn o n 2 0 0 2 ). I n r evi ew i ng t he evi den ce f orl ega l s uf f i ci enc y i n pa r ent al t er m i n at i on c a s e s , w e m u s t d e t e r m in e w h e t h e r t h e e v id e n c e is s u c h t h a ta f a c t f in d e rc o u ld r ea so nab l y f or m a f i r m be l i eforco nvi ct i o n th a tt he gr oundsf ort er m i nat i on w e r e p ro v e n . I

n reJ. P. B. , 18 0 S . W . 3d 57 0, 57 3 ( Tex . 20 05 ) . W e m ust rev i e w all th e ev i d e n c e i n the l i g h t m o st fav o rab l e to th e fi n d i n g an d j u d g m e n t. Id. Thi s m eans t hat w e m ustassum e t hatt he f act f i nderr esol ved any d i sput ed fa c ts i n fa v o r o f i ts fi n d i n g i f a re a s o n a b l e fa c tfin d e r c o u l d h a v e d o n e s o . Id. W e m us tal so di sr ega r d a l l ev i den ce t hata rea so nab l e f ac t f i nde rco ul d ha ve d i s b e l i e v e d . Id. W e m u s t c o n s id e r , h o w e v e r , u n d is p u t e d e v id e n c e e v e n ifitis c o n t r a ryto th e fi n d i n g . Id. T h a t i s, w e m u st c o n side r ev i d e n c e fav o rab l e to t er m in a tion i fa r easonabl e f act f i ndercoul d, and di sr egar d contr ar y evi dence u n l e s s a re a s o n a b l e fa c tfin d e r c o u l d n o t. Id. W e m u s t th e re fo re c o n s i d e r a l l o f th e e v i d e n c e , n o t j u s t th a t w h i c h fa v o rs th e j u d g m e n t. Id. But w e ca nnotw ei gh w i t nes s cr edi bi l i t y i ss uest hatde pen d o n th e a p p e a ra n c e a n d d e m e a n o r o f th e w i tn e s s e s , fo r th a t i s th e fa c tfin d e r’s p ro v i n c e . Id. at573, 574. And eve n w hen cr edi b i l i ty i s s u esap pea ri n t he a p p e l l a te re c o rd , w e m u s t d e f e r t o th e fa c tfin d e r’s det er m i nat i ons as l ong as th e ya re n o t u n re a s o n a b l e . Id. a t573.13

I n r evi ew i ng t he evi den ce f orf ac t ual s uf f i ci enc y, w e m us tgi ve due d e fe re n c e to th e fa c tfin d e r’s f i ndi ngs and nots uppl antt he j udgm entw i t h our o w n . I nreH. R. M. , 209 S. W . 3d 105 , 108 ( Tex. 2006 ) . W e m us tde t er m i ne w h e th e r, o n th e e n ti re re c o rd , a fa c tfin d e r c o u l d re a s o n a b l yfo rm a fi rm con vi ct i on orbe l i eft hatt he par entvi ol at ed su bs ec t i ons( D ) or( E) ofs ec ti on 161 . 001 ( 1) an d t hatt h e te r m i nat i on oft he par ent ’ s par ent al r i ght s w oul d be i n th e b e s t i n te re s t o f th e c h i l d . C. H. , 8 9 S .W .3 d a t 2 8 . B. Enda nge r m entFi ndi ng I n he rf i rs ti ss ue, M ot hercl ai m s t hatt he evi den ce “ doe s nots how a patt er n ofvi ol enc e a nd a bus e i nvol vi ng [ her ] , nordoe s i ts how ot herpa t t er ns of [ her ] cond uct w hi ch w oul d endan ger t he chi l d’ s physi ca l o r e m o t i onal
w el l
- bei ng, such as cont i nuo us dr ug a b use, hom el essness , orem ot i onal in s t a b ilit y .” In s t e a d , s h e s t a t e s t h a t t h e e v id e n c e s h o w s t h a tp r io rC P S re f e r r a ls r egar di ng J. L. W . w er e unf oun ded and onl y one ph ysi cal al t er cat i on occu r r ed b e tw e e n h e r a n d h e r b o y fri e n d , P .J . T h e t r ia l c o u rtm a yo r d e r t e r m in a t io n o ft h e p a r e n t -c h ild re la t io n s h ip ifit f i nds by cl ea r and con vi nci ng evi den ce t hatt he par entha s kno w i ngl y pl ac ed or know i ngl y al l ow ed t he chi l d t o r em ai n i n cond i t i ons orsur r oun di ngs w hi ch end ang ert he phys i ca l orem ot i o n a l w el l
- bei ng oft he chi l d. Tex . Fa m . Code A nn. § 161. 001 ( 1) ( D ) . Enda nge r m ent i s def i ned asex pos i ng t o l os s ori nj ur y,14

to j e o p a rd i z e . I

nreJ. T

. G. , 1 2 1 S .W .3 d 1 1 7 , 1 2 5 ( T e x . A p p .— F o rtW o rt h 20 03 , no pet . ) . U ndersubsect i on ( D ) , i ti s n e c e s s a ry t o exam i ne evi dence r el at ed t o t he env i r onm entoft he chi l d t o de t er m i ne i ft he env i r onm entw ast he so ur ce ofen dan ger m entt o t he chi l d’ s phys i ca l or em ot i ona l w el l
- bei ng. I nre D. T. , 3 4 S .W .3 d 6 2 5 , 6 3 2 (T e x . A p p .— F o rt W o rth 2 0 0 0 , p e t. d e n i e d ). To s upporta f i ndi ng ofen dan ger m ent , t he p a r ent ’ s con duc tdoe s not necessar i l y have t o be di r ect ed att he chi l d nori s t he chi l d r equi r ed t o suf f er i n j u ry . Boyd, 72 7 S . W . 2d at53 3. I napp r opr i at e, abusi ve, orunl aw f ul condu ct by per sons w ho l i ve i n t he chi l d’ s hom e orw i t h w hom t he child i s com pel l ed t o a ss oci at e o n a r egu l arba si s i n hi s hom e i s a p artoft he “c ondi t i onsor s u rro u n d i n g s ” o f th e c h i l d ’s h o m e u n d e r s e c ti o n 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 )(D ). Castorenav. Tex. D ep’tof

Protec tive & Regul

atory Servs . , No. 03- 02- 00653

- CV , 2004W L 9 0 3 9 0 6 , a t * 8 (T e x . A p p .— A u s ti n A p r. 2 9 , 2 0 0 4 , n o p e t.) (m e m . o p .); Inre B. R. , 822 S . W . 2d 103, 10 6 (Tex. A pp. — Tyl er1992 , w r i tde ni ed) ( op. on re h ’g ); s e ea l

s o I n reW. S. , 8 9 9 S .W .2 d 7 7 2 , 7 7 6 ( T e x . A p p .— F o rtW o rt h 199 5, no w r i t ) ( “e nvi r onm ent ” r ef er s notonl y t o t he ac ce pt abi l i t y ofl i vi ng c o n d i ti o n s , b u t a l s o to th e p a re n t’s c o n d u c t i n th e h o m e ). T h e t r ia l c o u rtm a yo r d e r t e r m in a t io n o ft h e p a r e n t -c h ild re la t io n s h ip ifit f i nds by cl ear and convi nci ng evi dence t hatt he par enthas engaged i n cond uct orknow i ngl y pl aced t he chi l d w i t h pers o n s w h o engaged i n cond uctw hi ch15

end ang er s t he phys i ca l orem ot i ona l w el l
- bei ng o ft he chi l d. Tex . Fa m . Code A nn. § 1 61 . 00 1( 1) ( E) . U nd e rsubsect i on ( E) , t he r el evanti nqu i r y i s w het her evi dence exi st s t hatt he endan g e rm e ntoft he chi l d’ s physi cal orem ot i onal
w el l
- bei ng w as t he di r ectr e sul toft he par ent ’ s conduct, i ncl udi ng act s, o m i s s i o n s , a n d fa i l u re s to a c t. J.T .G . , 12 1 S . W . 3d at 12 5. Ter m i nat i on un der s u b s e c t i o n ( E ) m u s t b e b a s e d o n m o re th a n a s i n g l e a c t o r o m i s s i o n ; a v o lu n t a r y , d e lib e r a t e , a n d c o n s c i o u s c o u r s e o fc o n d u c tb yt h e p a r e n tis re q u i re d . Id. ; D. T. , 3 4 S .W .3 d a t6 3 4 . T o d e t e r m in e w h e t h e r t e r m in a t io n is necessar y, court s m ay l ook t o par ent al cond uct occur r i ng both bef or e and af t er th e c h i l d ’s b i rth . I

nreD . M. , 5 8 S .W .3 d 8 0 1 , 8 1 2 ( T e x . A p p .— F o rtW o rt h 200 1, no p et . ) . The m ann eri n w hi ch a p ar entt r ea ts o th erch i l dr en i n t he f am i l y c an al so be co ns i der ed i n d e ci di ng w het hert hatpa r enten gag ed i n a c o u rse o f co n d u c t t h a t en d a n g e red the p h y sica l o r em o ti o n a l w e ll
- b e in g o f a chi l d. Cervan tes -Peter so n v. Tex. D ep’tof F a m i ly & Protec tive Servs . , 221 S. W . 3d 244, 253 ( Tex. A p p .— H ous t on [ 1stD i st . ] 2006 , no p et . ) . The f act f i nder m ay i nf er f r om pastcondu ctendang er i ng t he chi l d’ s w el l
- bei ng t hat s i m i l a r c o n d u c t w i l l re c u r i f th e c h i l d i s re tu rn e d to th e p a re n t. S e eI nreD. L . N. , 9 5 8 S .W .2 d 9 3 4 , 9 4 1 (T e x . A p p .— W a c o 1 9 9 7 , p e t. d e n i e d ), di sapprove d on o th er gro un dsb yJ. F. C. , 9 6 S .W .3 d a t 2 5 6 , a n d C. H. , 8 9 S .W .3 d a t 1 7 .16

B e c a u s e t h e e v id e n c e p e rt a in in g t o s u b s e c t io n s 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 )( D ) a n d (E ) is i n te rre l a te d , w e m a yc o n d u c t a c o n s o l i d a te d re v i e w . I n reM. C. T. , 250 S. W . 3d 1 6 1 , 1 6 9 (T e x . A p p .— F o rt W o rth 2 0 0 8 , n o p e t.); s e ea l s o I n reM. R. , 243 S .W .3 d 8 0 7 , 8 1 9 (T e x . A p p .— F o rt W o rth 2 0 0 7 , n o p e t.) (h o l d i n g th a t th e re w asl ega l l y a nd f ac t ual l y s uf f i ci entev i den ce ofbot h e nda nge r m entgr oun ds
w hen, am ong ot hert hi ngs, t he evi dence show ed t hat t he m ot herexposed her chi l dr en t o dom est i c vi ol ence and r ef used t o part i ci pat e i n herC PS servi ce p l a n ). M ot herr el i eson her ow n t es t i m ony t hat( 1) he rl as tphy si ca l al t er ca t i on w i th P .J . o c c u rre d w h e n J .L .W . w a s fi rs t re m o v e d fro m h e r a n d (2 ) th a t A .’s f at herneverhi thert o suppo rtherar gum entt hat t he S t at e f ai l ed t o est abl i sh a p a tte rn o f a b u s e o r v i o l e n c e th a t w o u l d re s u l t i n e n d a n g e rm e n t to J .L .W .’s p h y s i c a l o r e m o ti o n a l w e l l -b e i n g . A l th o u g h M ot hert es t i f i ed t hatP. J. ha d notab us ed hers i nceCPS r e m o v e d J .L .W . a n d t h a tA .’ s f a t h e rn e v e ra b u s e d h e r , t h e t r ia l c o u rtc o u ld hav e r ea so nab l y di sb el i eve d t hi s t es t i m ony b a s ed on Aunt ’ s con t r ove rt i ng te s ti m o n yth a t a l l o f M o th e r’s b o y fri e n d s h a d a b u s e d h e r, i n c l u d i n g A .’s fa th e r; th e e v i d e n c e a l s o s h o w e d J .L .W .’s fa th e r’s c o n v i c ti o n fo r a s s a u l ti n g M o th e r. O t herevi dence at t r i al est abl i shed a pat t er n of dom est i c abuse di r ect ed prim a ril y atM ot her , butal so atherchi l dr en, by M ot her ’ s boyf r i ends. I tal so17

e sta b l i sh e d tha t M o th e r w a s u n a b l e to re c o g n i ze o r ac k n o w l e d g e the d a n g e r t o h e rs e l f a n d h e r c h i l d re n o r to ta k e a n y s o rt o f a c ti o n to p ro te c t t h e c h i l d re n : sh e r ef us ed t o pr es s cha r gesag ai ns tP. J. f or ei t her as sa ul t i n M ar ch 200 7, s he aba ndone d J. L. W . i n t he apa rt m entw i t h P. J. aft ert he f i rs tatt ac k, s he att em pt ed t o hi de J. L. W . f r om CPS aft ert he as sa ul t , an d s he f ai l ed t o a t t end d o m e sti c v i o l e n c e co u n se l i n g . I n ste a d , M o th e r t e sti fi e d tha t sh e p l a n n e d to m ar r y P. J. an d t hats he had nev er gi ven anyt hough tt o l ea vi ng hi m . And A unt t est i f i ed t hatM ot herbot h f ai l ed t o pr ot ect a n d a ls o negl ect ed herot her chi l dr en. T h e C P S c a s e w o rk e rs i n v o l v e d w i th J .L .W .’s c a s e te s ti fi e d th a t th e yw e re concer ned t hatJ. L. W . , a del i cat e speci al needs c h il d , c o ul d gethurt ; M ot her r ef used t o acknow l edge t hi s danger o th e r t han t o st at e t hatshe w oul d t ake J. L. W . t o w or k w i t h her i f she needed t o and t hat she f el t l i ke she coul d pr ot ect h i m . S ee I

n reD. R. , N o. 02- 06- 001 46- C V , 200 7 W L 174 351 , at*1, 7 ( Tex. A pp. — FortW ort h J a n . 25, 2007 , no p et . ) ( m em . op. ) ( hol di ng e vi den ce of end ang er m entl eg a l l y a n d f ac t ual l y s uf f i ci entw i t h r ega r d t o m ot hers uf f er i ng f r o m s e v e r e m e n t a l re t a r d a t io n b e c a u s e “ [t ]h e p a r e n tn e e d n o tk n o w t h a th is orhe row n c onduc ti s dan ger ousf ora t er m i nat i o n o rd e r p ur su antt o s ec t i on 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 )(E ) to b e p ro p e r” ).18

Furt her m or e, M ot herf ai l ed t o m ake any ef f ort s t o per f or m herservi ce pl an unt i l a m ont h bef or e t he t er m i nat i on t r i al , and sh e di d not vi si t J. L. W . f or e i g h t m o n th s , e n d a n g e r i n g h i s e m o ti o n a l w e l l -b e i n g . Cf . D. T. , 34 S. W . 3d at 6 4 0 (h o l di ng t hatt he evi den ce ofen dan ger m entw asnotf ac t ual l y s uf f i ci ent w hen m ot herco n ta c te d t he St at e i n or dert o e ns ur e h erch i l d’ s sa f et y a nd com pl i ed as f ul l y as pos si bl e w i t h t he goa l s r equ i r ed t o f ac i l i t at e r eun i f i ca t i on w i th h e r c h i l d ); Cl

ay v. Tex . D ep’tof

Hum an Res . , 748 S. W . 2d 598, 600– 01 ( Tex. A pp. — W ac o 1988, no w r i t ) ( r eve r si ng t er m i nat i on on en d a n g e rm ent gr ound w hen m ot hert es t i f i ed sh e w asge t t i ng a di vor ce f r om he rab us i ve h u s b a n d a n d w o u ld n o tg o b a c kt o h im , a n d s h e m a d e r e g u la r v is it s , p a id c h ild s u p p o rt, a n d m a d e e v e ry e f f o r t to c o m p l yw i th th e c o u rt a n d D H S ’s re q u i re m e n ts ); D or

i a v. Tex . D ep’tof

Hum an Res . , 747 S. W . 2d 953, 958– 59 (T e x . A p p .— C o rp u s C h ri s ti 1 9 8 8 , n o w ri t) (re v e rs i n g te rm i n a ti o n w h e re re c o rd i ndi cat ed, am ong ot herf act or s, t hat“despi t e appel l ant ’ s l ow i nt el l i gence, l ack o fs k i l l s , t r a n s p o rt a t io n p r o b le m s a n d p o v e rt y [, ]” s h e a t t e n d e d p a r e n t a l s k ill cl as se s, w or ke d t w o pa rt - t i m e j obs , su bs t ant i al l y c or r ec t ed t he def ec t s i n t he hom e, v i s i t e d t h e c h i l d r e n , a n d e n d e d h e rr e l a t i o n s h i p wi t h h e ra b u si ve b o y fri e n d ). Revi ew i n g a l l oft he evi den ce i n t he l i ghtm os tf avo r abl e t o t he f i ndi ng a n d ju d g m e n t , a n d a s s u m in g t h a t t h e t r ia l c o u rtre s o lv e d a n yd is p u t e d f a c t s in8 ... M ot herar gue s t hat herca sei s di st i ngui sh abl e f r om J. T . G. , i n w hi ch w e uphel d a t er m i nat i on on end anger m entgr oun ds w hen t he m ot hert est i f i ed t hats he had be en abu se d byt he f at her s of herch i l dr en and t hatdur i ng on e o f th e a l te rc a ti o n s , o n e o f th e c h i l d re n h a d b e e n h u rt. S ee 121 S . W . 3d a t126. S he ar gues t hatw e al so r el i ed on evi dence of t he m ot her ’ s cont i nued dr ug use, herem ot i ona l i ns t abi l i t y, an d her su i ci dal t end enc i es t o uph ol d t he t er m i nat i on, a n d th a t, i n c o n t r a s t, n o n e o f th i s a p p l i e s i n h e r c a s e . S e ei d. a t126– 27. H ow eve r , t he evi den ce her e, w hi l e d i f f er entf r om J. T . G. , w oul d st i l l al l ow t he f ac t f i nde rt o r ea so nab l y f or m a fi rm be l i eforco nvi ct i on t hata patt er n of endan ger i ng beh avi ori n an endan ger i ng env i r onm entexi st s. 19 f avorofi t s fin d in g if itcoul d have r easonabl y don e so, w e hol d t hatt he t r i al c ou rt c ou l d ha ve r e a s on a bl y f or m e d a f i r m be l i e f or c on vi c t i on t hat b o th M o th e r’sc o n d u c t a n d h e r e n v i ro n m e n t e n d a n g e re d J .L .W . S ee J. P. B. , 180 S .W .3 d at 5 7 3 . T h e refo re, w e h o l d tha t t h e ev i d e n c e is l e g a l l ysu ffi c i e n t t o su pportbot h oft he t r i al cou rt ’ s end ang er m ent f i ndi ngs . L i ke w i se , gi vi ng du e def ere n c e to th e t r i al courtas f act f i nder , w e hol d t hatt he evi dence i s al so f act ual l y suf f i ci entt o suppo rtbot h of t he t r i al court ’ s endanger m entf i ndi ngs. 8 W e over r ul e M ot her ’ s f i r sti ssue. C . Bes tI nt er es tFi ndi ng M ot her ar gue s t hatal t hough s he con t i nue d a r el at i ons hi p w i t h P. J. an d al t hough t he evi den ce m ay sh ow t hat J. L. W . w oul d l i ve a bett erl i f e w i t h t he ado pt i ve f am i l y, ( 1) t he evi den ce pr es ent s no f i r m f ac t s su pport i ng t he f i ndi ng th a t te rm i n a ti o n i s i n J .L .W .’s b e s t i n te re s t o u ts i d e o f h e r re l a ti o n s h i p w i th P .J ., a n d ( 2 ) o n l ysc a n t ev i d e n c e o f ea c h rel e v a n t Hol leyf act orexi st s i n t hi s case.20

P r o m p ta n d p e r m a n e n tp la c e m e n to ft h e c h il d i n a s a f e e n v ir o n m e n tis pr esum ed t o be i n t he chi l d’ s besti nt er est . Tex. Fam . C ode A nn. § 2 63 . 30 7( a) (V e rno n 2 0 0 2 ). T h e re i s a l so a s tr o n g p res u m p ti o n tha t ke e p i n g a c h i l d w i th a par ent i s i n t he chi l d’ s besti nt er est . I n reR. R. , 209 S . W . 3d 112, 116 ( Tex. 20 06 ) . N onexcl usi ve f act or s t hatt he t r i er of f acti n a t er m i nat i on case m ay use i n de t er m i ni ng t he b e s t i nt er es toft he chi l d i ncl ude : t he des i r esoft he chi l d; t he chi l d’ s em ot i onal and physi cal needs now and i n t he f ut ur e; t he em ot i onal and phy si ca l da nge rt o t he chi l d now an d i n t he f ut ur e; t he par ent al ab i l i t i esof t he i ndi vi dual s seeki ng cust ody; t he pr ogr am s avai l abl e t o assi stt hese i ndi vi dua l s t o pr om ot e t he bes ti nt er es toft he chi l d; t he pl ansf ort he chi l d by t hes e i ndi vi dua l s orby t he age ncys ee ki ng c us t od y ; t he st abi l i t y oft he hom e o r pro p o se d p l a c e m e n t; the a c ts o r om i ss i o n s o f t h e p a ren t w h i c h m a yi n d i c a te t hatt he exi st i ng par ent - chi l d r el at i onshi p i s not a pr operone; and any excu se fo r th e ac ts o r om i ss i o n s o f t h e p a ren t. Ho l le yv. A da ms , 544 S. W . 2d 367, 3 7 1

– 7 2 (T e x . 1 9 7 6 ). T h e s e fa c to rs a re n o t e x h a u s ti v e ; so m e l i s te d fa c to rs m ay be i nap pl i ca bl e t o s om e c as es ; ot herf ac t or s noton t he l i stm ay al so be c o n s i d e re d w h e n a p p ro p ri a te . C.H . , 89 S. W . 3d at27 . Furt he rm o re, u n d i sp u ted ev i d e n c e o f j u st o n e fac to r m a y b e su ffi c i e n t i n a p a rt i c u l a r ca se to s u p p o rt a fi n d i n g th a t te rm i n a ti o n i s i n th e b e s t i n te re s t o f th e c h i l d . Id. O n t he21

ot herha nd, t he pr es enc e o fs ca ntev i den ce r el eva ntt o e a c h f ac t orw i l l not s u p p o rt s u c h a fi n d i n g . Id. W e m ay al so co ns i derad di t i ona l f ac t or s l i st ed i n s ec t i on 263. 307 oft he fa m i l yc o d e . S eeT e x . F a m . C o d e A n n . § 2 6 3 .3 0 7 . R e l e v a n t fa c to rs h e re i ncl ude t he f ol l ow i ng: t he chi l d’ s age and physi cal and m ent al vul ner abi l i t ies;
w h e t h e r t h e r e is a h is t o r yo fa b u s iv e o ra s s a u lt iv e c o n d u c tb yt h e c h ild ’s f a m ily orot her s w ho ha ve ac ce sst o t he chi l d’ s hom e; t he w i l l i ngne s s an d a bi l i t y of t h e c h ild ’s f a m ilyt o e f f e c tp o s it iv e e n v ir o n m e n t a l a n d p e r s o n a l c h a n g e s w it h in a r easonabl e per i od of t i m e; and w het hert he chi l d’ s f am i l y dem onst r at es adequ at e par ent i ng ski l l s, i ncl udi ng pr ovi di ng t he chi l d and otherchi l dr en und er t he fa m il y’ s car e w i t h pr ot ect i on f r om r epeat ed expo sur e t o vi ol ence even th o u g h th e v i o l e n c e m a yn o t b e d i re c te d a t th e c h i l d . See i d. M o t h e rt e s t if ie d t h a ts h e w a s a w a r e o fh e rc h ild ’s d is a b ilit ya n d w o u ld conti nue t o pr ovi de hi m w i t h pr operservi ces and school i ng i fhe w er e r et ur ned t o h e r ; t h a tP .J . lo v e s J .L .W . a n d t h a ts h e p la n s t o c o n t in u e h e rre la t io n s h ip
w i t h P. J. ; t hatshe had not been i nvol ved in a n y vi ol ence orabuse si nce J .L .W .’ s r e m o v a l; t h a t s h e h a d o b t a in e d a s t a b le liv in g e n v ir o n m e n ta n d s t a b le e m p l o y m e n t; an d tha t sh e h a d s u p p o rtthro u g h M H M R an d A P S to h e l p w i th herdi sabi l i t y and J. L. W . ’ s.22

A s a c hi l d w i t h W es tSyndr om e, J. L. W . ha s si gni f i ca ntphy si ca l an d m ent al di sabi l i t i es and w i l l conti nue t o have t hem . Based on the t est i m ony at t r ia l b y A u n t , O f f ic e r S t a h u r a , a n d t h e C P S c a s e w o r k e r s , t h e t r ia l c o u rtc o u ld h a v e fo u n d th a t to re tu rn J .L .W . to M o th e r (a n d to P .J . a c c o rd i n g to M o th e r’s t es t i m ony) w oul d r i skJ. L. W ’ s em ot i ona l an d phy si ca l w el l
- bei ng be ca us e o ft he cou pl e’ s pas thi st or y of dom es t i c a bus e, M ot her ’ s i ndi vi dua l hi st or y ofab us i ve rel a ti o n sh i p s, M o th e r’ s fai l u re to p rote c t he r oth e r ch i l d ren fr o m the m e n w i th
w h o m s h e h a d h a d a b u s iv e r e la t io n s h ip s , a n d M o t h e r ’s in a b ilit y t o r e t a in se r vi ce s orhous i ng be ca us e o fhe r c ont i nue d r el at i ons hi p w i t h P. J. F u rth e rm o re , th e e v i d e n c e a t tri a l re v e a l e d th a t M o th e r h a s b e e n u n a b l e to c a re f orany ofherf ourchi l dr en, t hatM ot herf ai l ed t o at t end do m est i c vi ol ence cou ns el i ng, an d t hatM ot her ’ s pl an f orJ. L. W . w ast o s har e h erbe d, w hi ch sh e al r ea dy s har ed w i t h P. J. , w i t h J. L. W . unt i l sh e cou l d ac qui r e a t oddl erbe d f or h i m. I n c ont r as t , A unt , al r ea dy c ar et ak erf ort w o ofM ot her ’ s f ourch i l dr en, t ookJ. L. W . i nt o he rhom e a nd s oughtt o a dopthi m . The St at e’ s pl an f or J. L. W . w as f orA unt t o adop thi m . W hen asked w het her J. L. W . w as bonded
w i t h Auntan d hi s ot hers i bl i ngsi n Aunt ’ s hom e, t he C PS cas ew or ke rr epl i ed: Yes, he i s, an d t he r ea so n t hat I s ay, w hen I f i r stm et[ J. L. W . ] , he w asats cho ol , an d I obs erved hi s pl ay, an d he doe s notats cho ol i n tera c t w i th the o th e r ch i l d ren too w e l l . Y o u k n o w , h e ’s n o t a23

pr obl em , buthe ’ s j us ta l one r . He w ant s t o be by hi m se l f . And I h a d o b s e r v e d t h a tin t e r a c t i o n f o rt h e lo n g e s t , a n d w h e n I f in a lly h a d a n o p p o rt u n it yt o g e to u tt o [A u n t ’s ] h o m e a n d t o s e e h im r es pond t o her , he sm i l es , he kno w s her , he goe s t o her , he kno w s t hat he hast w o s i st er s, he ’ s very w el l
- at t ac hed t o t he hom e, an d has m ade gr eatpr ogr ess i n t he hom e. Becau se ofJ. L. W . ’ s speci al needs, one oft he C PS casew or ker s t est i f i ed th a t i t w a s v e ryi m p o rta n t th a t A u n t b e a b l e to a d o p t J .L .W . so th a t J .L .W .’s M edi ca i d w oul d con t i nue . She t es t i f i ed, “b ec aus e i tt ak ess o m uch t o c ar e f or [ J. L. W . ] , t hathe i s goi ng t o need t he subsi dy and al l t hat com es w i t h t hatso t h a t s h e c a n b e a b l e t o c o n t i n u e t o p r o v i d e t h e e x c e l l e n t c a r e a n d g i ve t he s e r v ic e s in h e rh o m e t o p r o v id e f o r[J .L .W .] ” A u n tre c e iv e s n o f in a n c ia l h e lp a ta ll w it h re g a r d t o M o t h e r ’s o t h e rt w o c h ild r e n . W h e n a s k e d w h o s h e w o u ld
w antt o t ak e ca r e of J. L. W . i f he cou l d not be r et ur ned t o her , M ot herr epl i ed,

“ [A u n t].” R e v i e w i n g th i s a n d a l l o f t h e o t h e re v i d e n c e p re s e n te d a t tri a l , w e con cl ude t hatt he t r i al co urtco ul d h a v e re a so nab l y f or m ed a f i r m be l i efor c o n v ic t io n t h a tt e r m in a t io n o fM o t h e r ’s p a r e n t a l r i g h t s t o J .L .W . w a s in J . L . W . ’ s b e s t i n te re s t. H.R.M., 2 0 9 S .W .3 d a t 1 0 8 ; J. P. B. , 1 8 0 S . W . 3 d at 5 7 3 . T h e refo re, w e h o l d th a t th e e v i d e n c e i s l e g a l l y a n d fac tu a l l ysu ffi c i e n t t o s u p p o rtt he t r i al co urt ’ s bes ti nt er es tf i ndi ngs . W e o ver r ul e M ot her ’ s se con d i ssue.24 I V . Concl us i on H a v i n g o v e rru l e d b o th o f M o t h e r’s i s s u e s , w e a ffir m th e tri a l c o u rt’s j u d g m e n t. P E R CU R I AM PA N EL: M C C O Y, G A RD N ER, an d W A LKER, JJ. DEL I VERE D: Nov e m be r20, 2008