THI RD DI VI SI ON

ELLI NGTON, P. J.

, DI LLA RD and M C FA DDEN, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a l s .us /r ule s

Nov em ber 16, 2015



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 5 A1 14 4 . IN THE INTEREST OF J . C., a ch il d

.

M C F A D D E N , J u d g e.

T h e m o th er o f J

. C. ap p eal s fro m t h e ju ven i l e co u rt ’ s M arch 5

, 2 0 1 4 o r d e r

t ran s ferri n g t em

p orary l eg al cu s t o dy o f t h e ch i l d

, t h en o ne-an d -a-h al f y ears o l d

, fro m

t h e m o t h er t o t he ch i ld ’ s au n t

. Becau s e t h ere was n ot cl ear an d co nv i n ci n g ev i d en ce

t h a t a t t h e t i m e o f t he tran s fer o rd er t h e ch i l d was p res en t l y dep ri v ed d ue t o t h e

m o th er’ s p aren t al u n fi t n es s

, we rev ers e.

Geo rg i a’ s fo rm er ju v en i l e co d e ap p l i es t o t h i s cas e b ecau s e i t was co m m en ced

i n 2 0 1 3. See g en eral l y In th e In t er es t o f G. R. B

. , 3 3 0 Ga. Ap p

. 6 9 3 n

. 1 (7 6 9 SE2 d

1 1 9 ) ( 2 0 1 5 ) (ex p l ai ni ng t h at n ew ju v en i le co d e ap p li es t o ju v en i l e p ro ceed i ng s

co m m en ced o n an d aft er J an u ary 1

, 2 01 4

, an d des cri b i n g ch an g e s m a d e b y n ew

ju v e n i l e co d e p ert ai n i n g t o d ep ri vat i o n p ro ceed i ng s ). Th e fo rm er ju v en i l e co d eau t h o ri zed a ju v en i l e co u rt to t ran s fer tem po rary l eg al cu s to d y of a ch i l d f r o m a

p aren t t o o n e o f s ev eral en u m erat ed p e r s o n s o r en t i t i es i f t he ch i l d was fo u n d t o b e

a d ep ri v ed ch i l d

. Fo rm er OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -5 5 (a) (2 ) (A).

A “ d ep ri v ed ch i ld ” i s a ch i l d wh o i s “ wi t h o u t p ro p er p aren t al care o r co n t ro l

,

s u b s i s t en ce, ed u cat i o n as req u i red b y l aw, o r o t h er care o r co n tro l n eces sary fo r t h e

ch i l d ’ s ph y s i cal

, m en tal

, o r em ot i o n al h eal t h o r m o ral s [.] ” Fo rm er OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -2

(8 ) (A). “ [A] n o rd er t em p o rari l y t ran s ferri n g cu s t o d y o f a ch i l d b as ed o n al l eg ed

d ep ri v at i o n m

us t be g ro u nd ed u p o n a fi n d i n g t h a t t h e c h i ld i s a t t h e p r es en t t i me a

d ep ri v ed ch i ld

, an d a fi n d i ng o f p aren t al un fi t n es s i s es s e n t i a l t o s u p p o rt an

ad ju d i cat i o n o f pr es en t d ep ri v at i o n .” In t h e In t er es t o f G. S

. , 2 7 9 Ga. Ap p

. 8 9

, 9 2

(6 3 0 SE2 d 6 07 ) (2 0 0 6 ) (ci t at io n s a n d p u nct u at i o n o m it t ed ; em p h as i s i n o ri g i n al );

acco rd In r e J. C. P.

, 16 7 Ga. Ap p

. 57 2

, 5 7 5 -5 7 6 (3 0 7 SE2 d 1) (1 9 8 3) (o n m o t i o n fo r

reco n s i d erat i on ). In o t h er wo rd s

,

[t ] o au t h o ri ze ev en a l o s s o f t em p orary cu s t o d y by a ch i l d’ s p aren t s, o n

t h e b as i s o f d ep ri v at i o n

, t h e d ep ri v at i on m u s t b e s h o wn t o h av e res u l ted

fro m u n f i t n e s s o n th e p art o f th e p aren t

, t h at i s ei th er in t en t i o nal o r

u n i n t en t i o n al m i s co n d u ct res u l t i n g i n t h e a b u s e o r neg l ect o f t h e ch i l d

o r b y wh at i s t an t am o un t t o ph y s i cal o r m en tal i ncap aci t y t o care fo r th e

ch i l d

.

2In t h e In t er es t o f S. S

. , 2 3 2 Ga. Ap p

. 2 8 7

, 28 9 (5 0 1 SE2 d 6 1 8 ) (1 9 9 8) (ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ).

1

. Fa ct s a n d p r o ced

ur a l h i s to r y.

Keep i n g t h e ab o v e st an d ard s i n m i n d

, we t u rn t o t h e ev i d en ce, wh i ch we v i ew

“ i n t h e l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e ju v en i l e co u rt ’ s ju d g m en t t o d et erm i n e wh et h er an y

rat i o nal t ri er o f fact co u l d h av e fo u n d b y cl ear an d co n v i n ci n g ev i den ce t h at t h e ch i ld

was d ep ri v ed .” In t h e In t er es t o f G. S

. , 2 7 9 Ga. Ap p. at 9 1 (ci t at io n an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ).

Vi ewed m o s t fav o rab l y t o t h e ju v en i le co urt ’ s ju d g m en t , t h e ev i d en ce s h o ws

t h at J

. C. was b o rn i n Bal t i m o re o n Sep t em b er 1

, 2 0 1 2

, wh en t he m o t h er was 2 3 y ears

o l d

. B efo re J

. C.’ s b i rt h

, t he m o t h er h ad l i ved w i t h h er o wn m o t h er, t h en m o v ed to

Bal t i m o re wh ere s h e l i ved at vari o u s t i m es wi t h h er s t ep fat h er (wh o ab u sed h er), wi th

a fo rm er b o y fri en d

, wi th fem al e fri en d s

, an d o n t h e s t reet s wo rk i ng as a p ro s t i t u t e. At

t h e t i m e o f J

. C.’ s b irt h

, th e m o th er l i v ed i n a h om el es s sh el t er. Sh e d i d n o t k n o w wi th

cert ai n ty t h e i d en t i t y o f J. C.’ s fat h er b u t b el i ev ed he co u l d hav e b een h er s t ep fat h er.

In No vem ber 2 0 1 2

, t h e m o t h er an d J

. C. m o v ed i n t o t h e h ou s e o f t h e m o t h er’ s

s i st er (“ t h e au n t ”) i n Geo rg i a. W h i l e l i vi n g wi th t h e au n t

, t h e m o th er en gag ed i n s o m e

cu t t i n g b eh av i or. So m et i m es sh e wo u l d t ak e J

. C. acro s s t he s t reet t o s p en d t i m e wi th

3n ei g h b o rs wh o m t h e au nt d es cri b ed a s “ w r o n g p eo pl e” b ecau s e t h ey fo u g h t an d

d ran k

. Occas io n al l y t he au n t wo u l d s ee t h e m o t h er d ri n k al co h o l

, b ut s h e t es ti fi ed t h at

t h e m ot h er d i d n o t d ri n k m u ch

. Ho w ev er, t h e m o t h er s m o k ed m ari ju an a an d at s o m e

p o i n t

, at t h e m o t h er’ s req u es t

, th e au n t p ro v i d ed t he m o t h er wi th a u ri n e s p eci m en fo r

a dru g t es t

. Th e m o t h er d id no t g et al o n g wi t h t h e au n t an d p l an n ed t o m o v e b ack in

wi t h h er o wn m o t h er, b u t i n J an u ary 2 0 1 3 h er m o t h er p as sed away

.

In Feb ru ary 2 0 1 3

, t h e m o t h er an d t h e au n t g o t i n t o a v erb al arg u m en t, l ead i n g

t h e m o t her t o p ack h er an d J

. C.’ s b el o n gi n g s an d l eav e t h e h o us e t o s t ay wi t h fri en d s

.

T h e m o t h er had n o t ran sp o rt at io n

, t h e weat h er was v ery co l d, an d t h e au n t d i d n o t

k n o w wh ere t h e m o t h er was g o i n g

. Th e D ep art m e n t o f F a m i l y an d Ch i l d ren ’ s

Serv i ces (“ DFCS”) b ecam e i n vo l v ed ; t he ap p el l at e reco rd co n t ai n s s p ars e d et ai l s o n

t h i s p o i n t b u t d o es co n t ai n an u n ap p eal ed d ep ri v at i o n o rd er i n wh i ch t h e ju v en i l e

co u rt p ert i n en tl y

fo u n d

t h at [DFCS] recei ved al l eg at i o n s t hat t h e ch i l d w as b ei n g n eg l ect ed d ue

t o t h e m o t h er’ s m en t al i n s t ab il i ty

. Th e m o th er [h ad ] recen t l y at t em p ted

t o l ea v e [t h e au n t ’ s ] h o m e i n t h e rai n w h i l e h o l d i n g t h e ch il d aft er an

arg u m en t wi t h [t h e au n t ]

. D F C S a n d l aw en fo rcem en t arri v ed at th e

res i d en ce an d t h e m o t h er w a s b el l i g eren t an d verb al l y co m b at iv e.

. . .

Th e m o th er ad m i ts t o cu t t i n g h ers el f. Sh e r e p o r t s t h a t s h e y el l s at th e

b ab y b ut h as n ev er p hy s ical l y h arm ed h i m

.

4On M arch 3

, 2 0 1 3

, t h e m o t h er an d DFCS ag reed to an “ im p en d in g d an g er s afet y

p l an ” t h at d i d no t art i cu l at e an y s p eci fi c safet y t h reat s b u t s t at ed th at J

. C. wo u l d l i v e

w i t h t h e au n t an d th e m o t h er w o u l d h av e s u p erv is ed v i s i t s wi t h h i m at t h e au n t ’s

h o m e.

At a M ay 1 4

, 2 0 1 3

, ad ju d i cat o ry h eari n g t h e m o t her, act i ng p ro s e, s t i p u l at ed

t h at J

. C. was d ep ri v ed

. 1 (Th e ap p el l at e reco rd d o es n o t co n t ai n a t ran s cri p t o f t h at

1 Th e u n ap p eal ed d ep ri vat i o n o rd er s t at es t h at the m o the r w a i ve d c oun s el

. Fro m

co u ns el s ’ s t at em en t s at o ral arg u m en t, i t ap p ears t h at s uch wai v ers

, n eg o t i at ed wi th

DFCS, m ay b e a reg u l ar o ccu rren ce at ad ju di cat ory h eari n g s i n d ep ri v at i o n cas es in

s o m e ju ri s di ct i o ns

. Al t h ou g h t h e p ro p ri et y o f t h i s wai v er of co u ns el i s n o t rai s ed o n ap p e a l

, we

n o t e t h at Geo rg i a l aw e n t i tl ed t h e m o th er t o l eg al rep res en t at i on

, i n cl u d i n g co u rt

p ro v id ed co un s el i f s h e were fo u n d in d i g en t

, an d Geo rg i a law req ui red t he ju v en i l e

co u rt t o as cert ai n t h at t h e m o t h er was aware o f t h i s ri g ht

. Fo rm er OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -6

(b ). A wai v er o f t h i s st at ut o ry ri g h t t o co u n s el m u s t b e b o t h k n o w i ng an d v ol u n t ary

, In t h e In t er es t o

f B. B.

, 26 7 Ga. Ap p. 3 6 0

, 36 2 (2 ) (5 9 9 SE2 d 3 0 4 ) (2 0 0 4 ), an d i t m u s t

b e m ad e o n t h e reco rd

. In t h e In t er es t o f J. M. B.

, 2 9 6 Ga. Ap p

. 7 8 6

, 7 8 9 (6 7 6 SE2 d

9 ) (2 00 9 ). Pro ceed i n g s t h at m i g h t lead t o th e term i n at i o n o f a p aren t -ch i ld

rel at i o n s h i p al s o can i m

p l icat e d u e p ro ces s co n cern s

. See g en eral l y La s s i t er v. Dep t

.

o f S o ci a l S vcs

. , 4 5 2 U

. S. 1 8

, 3 1 -3 2 (II) (C) (1 0 1 SCt 2 1 53

, 6 8 LE2 d 6 4 0 ) (1 9 8 1 )

(ad o p t i n g s t an d ard s fo r d et erm i n i n g wh et h er du e p ro ces s en t it l ed p aren t t o co u n s el

i n t erm i nat i o n p ro ceed i n g ).

Th e i n s t an t cas e o ffers an ex am p l e o f t h e s i g n i fi can t

, d e t ri m en t al effect o f a

p aren t ’ s l ack of co u ns el i n d ep ri v at i o n p ro ceed i n g s

. In t he earl i er p ro ceed i n g t h e

m o t h er, w i t h o u t b en efi t o f co un s el

, s t i p u l at ed t h at t h e ch i l d was d ep ri ved

, t h a t t h e

at t en dan t ci rcu m s tan ces (s u ch as al l eg ed cu tt i n g beh av i or) co n st i tu t ed d ep ri v at i o n,

an d t h at t h e ch il d co u l d b e rem o v ed fro m h er care fo r u p t o a y ear. Th es e s t i p u l at i on s

h av e l i m i t ed t o s o m e d eg ree t h e arg u m en ts t he m o t h er h as b een ab l e to m ak e i n l at er

s t ag es o f t h e p ro ceed i n g s

, i n cl u d i n g i n t h i s ap p eal

. In fact

, t h e s t at e h as em p h as i zed

5h ear i n g

. ) On J u ne 6

, 2 0 13

, t h e ju v en i l e co u rt en t ered t h e ab o ve-m en t i o n ed

u n ap p eal ed d ep ri v at i o n o rd er t h at ad ju d i cat ed J

. C. d ep ri v ed b as ed o n fo u r cau s e s :

“ P e r p e t r a t i o n o f D o me s t i c V i o l e n c e ” ; “N e g l e c t / La c k o f S u p e r v i s i o n ” ;

“ Neg lect / In ad eq u at e Ho u si n g ”; an d “ M en t al / Ph ys i c a l Im p ai rm en t o f Paren t .” Th e

ju v en i l e co u rt ru l e d t h a t t h e m o t h er wo u ld ret ai n l eg al cu s to d y an d co n tro l o f J

. C.

p ro v id ed t h at s h e “ c o m

p l y wi t h t h e fam i l y p l an d ev i s ed b y [DFCS 2 ] an d fo l l o w al l

reco m m en d at i o ns an d referral s t o s erv ice pro v i ders

, in cl u d i n g

, bu t n o t l i m i t ed t o:

co u ns el i n g reco m

m en d ed b y [a p art i cu l ar s erv i ce p ro v i d er]

, p aren ti n g cl as ses

, cl ean

an d s u i tab l e h o us i n g an d ps y ch i at ri c ev al u at i o n[.] ” Th e ju v en i l e co urt hel d t h at t h e

au n t wo u l d h av e p h y si cal c u s t o d y o f J

. C. “ u n t i l s u ch t i m e as t h e m ot h er co m p li es

wi t h t h e t erm s o f [t h e j uv en i l e co u rt ’ s o rd er] ” an d t h at “ [p ] h y s i cal cu st od y o f t h e ch i ld

s h al l n o t ret u rn t o t h e m o th er w i t h o u t p ri o r o rd er o f t h i s [c] o u rt .” Th e ord er fu rt h er

s t at ed t h at it wo u l d “ ex p i re o n M ay 1 4

, 2 0 14

, u n les s s oo n er t erm i n at ed b y [o ] rd er o f

t h i s [c] o u rt .”

t h e m o t her’ s s t i p u l at i o n s i n i t s ap p el lat e arg u m en t s

, as s ert in g t h at

, “ ab o u t s ix m o n t h s

p ri o r t o t h e h eari n g o n [DFCS’ s ] m o ti o n to t ran s fer cu s t o dy

, [t h e m o t h er] h ad

s t ip u l at ed to t h e fact t h at J

. C. w as d ep r i v e d du e t o her m en t al i n s t ab i l i t y an d

co n sen t ed t o p l aci n g h i m i n t h e p h y s i cal cu s to d y

o f h i s m at ern al au n t.”

2 Th i s fam i l y

p l an i s n o t i n t h e ap p el lat e reco rd

.

6Th e m o t her d i d n o t ap p eal fro m t h i s d ep ri v at i o n ru l i n g

. W e n o t e, h owev er, t h at

t h e ju v en i l e co u rt l ack ed t h e au t h o ri ty t o award p h y si cal cu s t o d y o f th e ch i l d t o a

p ers o n o t h er t h an t h e ch i l d ’ s l eg al cu s t o di an

. See In t h e In t er es t o f A. N.

, 2 8 1 Ga. 5 8,

5 9 -6 1 (6 3 6 SE2 d 4 9 6 ) (2 0 0 6) (ju v en i l e co u rt ad d res s in g i s s u e o f tem p o rary cu s t o dy

was n o t au t h o ri zed t o im

p o s e u p o n g ran t of l eg al cu s t o dy a co n d i t io n t h at p h y s i cal

cu s t o d y b e g i v en t o a p art y o f t h e co u rt ’ s ch o o s i n g

, b ecau s e t h e co n cep t o f l eg al

cu s t o d y i n cl u d es t h e ri g h t t o d et erm i n e wh ere an d wi th w ho m ch i l d s hal l li v e); In r e

R. R. M. R

. , 1 6 9 G a. Ap p

. 3 73

, 3 7 4 -3 75 (1 ) (3 1 2 SE2 d 83 2 ) (1 9 8 3) (ju ven i l e co u rt

ad d res s i n g i s s u e o f tem

po rary cu s t od y w as no t au t h o ri zed to g ran t o n e p ers o n o r

ag en cy l eg al cu s t o d y o f ch i ld an d an o t h er pers o n o r ag en cy p h y s i cal cu s t o d y o f

ch i l d ).

Co n seq u en t l y

, i n t h e s u m m er o f 2 0 1 3 J

. C. rem ai n ed l i v i n g wi t h t h e au n t an d

i n i t i al l y t h e m o th er l i ved i n h er t ru c k

. Sh e b ri efl y l i v ed wi t h a p im p bu t d en i ed

p ro s t i t u t i n g fo r h i m

. Sh e th en m o v ed i n to an ag en cy -o perat ed s h el t er. Th e m o t h er

b eg an p aren t i n g cl as s es an d o b t ai n ed em pl o y m en t

, b u t i n Au g u s t 2 01 3 s h e s u s t ai n ed

an i n ju ry t h at p rev en t ed h er fro m

wo rk i n g.

On Au g u s t 1 6

, 2 0 1 3

, a l i cen s ed p s y ch o l o gi s t p erfo rm ed a fo u r-h o u r

p s y ch o lo g i cal / p aren t al fi t n es s ev al u at i o n o n t h e m o t h er. Th e m o t h er was v ery can d id

7i n t hei r i n t erv i ew. Sh e rel at ed t h at sh e was t h e v i ct i m of ch i l d h o o d s ex u al ab u s e, h ad

a h i s t ory o f p ro st i tu ti o n

, an d h ad a h i st o ry o f di ffi cu lt rel at i o n s h i p s wi t h ab u s i v e

p art n ers

. Sh e t o l d t h e p sy ch o l o g is t t h at s he s m o k ed m ari ju an a an d co n s um ed t wo

al co h o l i c d ri n k s a d ay

. Sh e d es cri b ed a cri m in al h is to ry (a b u rg l ary co n v i ct i o n wi th

a p ro b at ed s en t en ce an d fi rs t o ffen d er s t at u s ) an d a h i s to ry o f cu t ti n g b eh av i o r as a

t een ag er t h at s h e res u m ed aft er t h e arg u m en t wi t h t h e au nt

.

Th e m o t h er t o l d t h e p s y ch o l o g i s t t h at s h e h ad co m p l et ed p aren t i n g cl as s es an d

t h at s h e h ad b eg u n an g er m an ag em en t cl as s es b u t h ad n o t ret u rn ed b ecau s e s h e d id

n o t l i k e t h e o t h ers i n t h e cl as s an d b ecau s e t h e l ead er had s a i d s h e di d n o t n eed t h e

cl as s es

. Th e m o t h er a p p e a r e d t o t h e p s y ch o l o g i s t t o b e am en ab l e to t h erap y an d

m ak i n g an effo rt wi t h i t

.

Th e p sy ch o l og is t ad m i ni s t ered s ev eral t es ts t o t h e m o t h er. Th es e t es t s refl ect ed

t h at s he h ad an IQ o n t h e l o wer en d o f av erag e b u t n o t l o w en o ug h t o m en t al l y i m p ai r

h er an d t h at s h e h ad a hi gh p ro b ab i l i t y fo r s u b s t an ce ab u s e an d s el f-m ed i cat i o n

. Sh e

s co red h i g h on t es t s fo r trau m a, an x i et y

, dep res s i o n

, an d s u i ci dal i deat i o n

. Her s co re

o n a ch i l d ab u s e p o ten t i al i n v en t o ry refl ect ed t h at s he h ad p ers o n al it y ch aract eri s ti cs

i n co m m o n wi t h “ p eo p l e wh o h av e t y p i cal l y ab u s ed a ch i l d .” Sh e s co red l o w o n an

i n v en t o ry o f p aren ti n g as p ect s

, an d al t h o u g h s h e h ad a reas o n ab l e u n d ers t an d i n g o f

8ch i l d reari n g an d paren ti n g p ri n ci p l es

, t h e m ot her’ s ex p res sed i n t en t io n o f u s i n g

co rp o ral p u n i s h m en t rat her t h an t i m e-o u ts t o d is ci pl i n e J. C. i n th e fu t u re co n cern ed

t h e p s y ch o l o g i s t , i n l i g h t o f h er o t h er t es t s co res

.

Bas ed o n h i s i n t erv i ew an d t h e t e s t r e s u lt s

, t h e p sy ch o l o gi s t d i ag no s ed t h e

m o th er wi t h v ari o u s m en t al d i s o rd ers th at

, in h i s o p i n i o n, affect ed h er fu n ct i o n i n g

an d req u i red i m

m ed i at e t reat m en t

. He reco m m en ded t h at J. C. n o t b e ret u rn ed t o h i s

m o th er’ s care an d th at s h e h av e o n l y s u p erv i sed co n t act w i t h h i m u n t i l a t h erap i s t

d eem ed h er read y

fo r u n s up erv i s ed co n t act

.

Aft er recei v in g t h e p s y ch o l o g i s t ’ s rep o rt

, i n Oct o b e r 2 0 13

, D FCS pet i t i o n ed

t o t ran s fer tem

p o rary l eg al cu s t o d y o f J

. C. fro m t h e m o t h er t o t h e au n t

. Th e m o t h er,

at th at p oi n t rep res en ted b y co u n s el

, m o v ed to d is m i ss t h e p et i t i on an d fo r a ret u rn o f

p h y s i cal cu s to dy

t o h er.

On Decem

ber 10

, 20 1 3

, t h e ju ven i l e co u rt h el d an ev id en t i ary h eari n g

, at wh i ch

t h e ps y ch o l o g is t t es t i fi e d t o t h e fi n d i n g s fro m h i s Au gu s t 2 0 13 ev al u at i o n

. As

d et ai led b el o w, v ari o u s o t h er wi t n es ses t es ti fi ed t o act i o n s t h at t h e m o t h er h ad t ak en

s i nce t he ju v en i l e co u rt ’ s earl i er d ep ri v at i on fi n d i n g

.

9A DFCS cas e m an ag er t es t i fi ed at t h e heari n g th at DFCS h ad d ev el o p ed a cas e

p l an 3 fo r t he m o t h er t h at s et go al s fo r h er t o c o n t in u e co un s el in g

, at t en d an g er

m an ag em en t cl as ses

, fo l lo w t he p s ych o lo g i s t ’ s reco m m en d at i o n s

, an d o b t ai n an

ev al u at i on fro m a l icen s ed ps y ch i at ri s t

. Th e cas e m an ag er des cri b ed h er k n o wl ed g e

o f t h e m o t h er’ s p ro gres s in t h es e areas : t h e m o t h er was in t h e i ni t i a l p h a s e s o f

i n d i v i d u al co u n s e l i n g

, s h e h ad n o t fi n is h ed an g er m an ag em en t cl as s es b u t h ad

ex p res s ed h er i n t en t t o at t en d a s eri es o f cl as s es th at h ad n ot y et b eg u n

, an d s h e h ad

n o t y et h ad a p s y ch i at ri c ev al u at i o n

. Th e cas e m an ag er ex p l ai n ed t h at t h e m ot h er was

res p o n s i b l e fo r fi n d i ng h er o wn p s y ch i at ri s t an d t h at DFCS h ad n o t referred t h e

m o th er t o a p s y ch i at ri s t

. Th e cas e m an ag er al s o t es t i fi ed t h at t h e m o t h er w as wo rk i n g

wi t h a n ew s erv i ce pro v i der; t h e n ew p ro vi d er h ad no t g i v en DFCS i n fo rm at i o n ab o ut

t h e m o th er’ s pro g res s an d D FCS h ad n o t g i v en t h e n ew p ro v id er t h e p s y ch o l o g i st ’ s

Au g u s t 2 0 1 3 ev al u at i o n

.

T h e DFCS cas e m an ag er m et wi t h t h e m o t h er reg u l arl y

. Sh e tes t ifi ed t h at

, a t

t h e t i m e o f t h e h eari n g

, t h e m o t h er was o n m ed i cal l eav e fro m em p lo y m en t an d t h at

i n Sep t em b er 2 0 1 3 s h e had m ov ed i n t o a t h ree-b ed ro o m t rai l er t h at was cl ean an d h ad

3 It i s n o t cl ear i f t h i s i s t h e “ fam i l y p l an ” t o wh i ch t h e ju v en il e co u rt referred

i n h i s e a r l i e r d e p r i vat i o n o rd er; i n an y ev en t

, t h i s p l an i s n ot p art o f t h e ap p el l at e

reco rd

.

10ro o m fo r J

. C.; s he recei v ed h el p i n p ay in g h er ren t an d u t i li t ies fro m t he ag en cy t h at

o p erat ed t h e s h el t er wh ere s h e h ad s t ay ed

. Th e m o t h er l i v ed al o n e i n th e t rai l er,

al t h o u g h s o m et i m es s h e wo u l d h av e fri en d s v i s i t ; t h e m o th er i n t ro d u ced h er fri en d s

t o t he cas e m an ag er u s i n g n i ck nam es

, an d t h e cas e m an ag er d i d n ot k n o w wh et h er o r

n o t t h e m o t h er k n ew t h e fri en d s’ act u al n am es

. Th e m o t h er had v i s i t s wi t h J

. C. t h at

were arran g ed an d s u p erv i s ed b y t he au n t

.

Th e cas e m an ag er t es t i fi ed t h at

, at s om e p o i n t d u ri n g t h e l at e s u m m er o f 2 0 1 3,

a fi re eru p t ed wh i l e t h e m o t h er was co o ki n g at t h e au n t ’ s ho u s e. Th e m o th er t o l d t h e

cas e m an ag er t h at s h e h ad m o m en t ari l y en t ert ai n ed t h e t h o ug h t o f l et t i n g th e h o u s e

b u rn d o wn b u t

, real i zi n g t h at J

. C. wo u ld n o t h av e a p l ace to s tay

, sh e cal l ed t h e fi re

d ep art m en t

.

Wh en as k ed wh y DFCS s ou g h t t h e t ran s fer o f t em po rary cu s t o d y fro m t h e

m o th er t o t h e au n t

, th e cas e m an ag er res p on d ed : “ I feel t h at M o m i s n o t m ak i n g an y

b eh av i o r c h a n g e i n reg ard s t o h er p aren ti n g sk i l l s o r h er ch i l d ’ s w el l b ei n g .” Sh e

n o t ed t h at t h e m o th er b lam ed ot h ers fo r DFCS’ s in v o l v em en t an d h a d n e v e r l i v ed

wi t h J

. C. o n h er o wn

. T h e cas e m an ag er t es t i fi ed t h at t h e m o th er h ad s t at ed s h e d id

n o t i n t en d t o co nt i n u e a rel at i o n s h i p wi t h J

. C

. i f t he au n t w as gi v en cu s t o d y o f t h e

b o y

.

11Th e au n t tes t ifi ed at t h e heari n g t h at J

. C. was l i vi n g wi t h h er, t hat t h e m o t h er

v i s i t ed J

. C. reg u l arl y

, an d t h at t h e m o t h er at t en d ed d o ct or ap p o i nt m en t s wi t h t h e b o y

.

Th e au nt h ad d i scret i o n o v e r t h e v i s it at i o n s ch ed u l e. Th e rel at i o ns h i p b et ween t h e

au n t an d t h e m o th er was st rai n ed

, an d t h e au n t t es t i fi ed t hat t h e m o t h er had l au g h ed

ab o ut t h e h o u s eh o l d fi re i n ci d en t

. Ho wev er, t h e au n t h el p ed t h e m ot h er m o v e i n t o h er

n ew res i den ce, wh i ch t h e au n t d e s c r i b ed as l iv ab l e an d cl ean

. T h e au n t o p i n ed t h at

t h e m o t h er was un ab l e t o care fo r J

. C., no t i n g t h at t h e m o t her h ad n ev er t ak en care

o f t h e b o y w i t ho u t h el p fro m o t h ers

, s h e w as “ n ot st ab l e,” an d s he s o ci al i zed wi th

u n d es i rab l e p eo p l e.

Th e ju v en i l e co u r t h e a rd t es t i m o n y fro m an em p lo y ee of th e ag en cy t h at

o p erat ed t h e s hel t er wh ere t h e m o t h er h ad l i v ed i n t h e s u m m e r o f 2 0 1 3 a n d fro m

wh i ch t h e m o t h er co nt in u ed t o recei v e s u p po rt

. Th i s wi t n es s t es t i fi ed t h at t h e m o t h er

h a d b eg u n p aren t i n g cl as s es

, h ad fo u n d s t ab l e h o u s i n g, an d h ad b eg u n i n d i v i d u al

co u ns el i n g

. Sh e t es t i fi ed t h a t s h e had seen i m p ro v em en t s i n th e m o th er’ s ab i l i t y to

m an ag e an g er, n ot in g t h at t h e m o t h er h ad “ b een t h ro u g h a l o t t h a t m a k e s p e o p l e

an g ry ” an d d es cri b i n g

, as an ex am p l e o f t h e m o t h er’ s i m

p ro ved s ki l l s in t h is area, an

i n ci d en t “ wh ere a res i d en t [o f t h e s h el t er] tri ed t o act u al l y fi g h t wi th h er, an d i n s t ead

12o f f

i g h t i n g wi th t h e ot h er res i d en t [t h e m o t h er] cam e an d t o l d t h e s t aff an d t ri e d t o

res o l ve th e s i tu at i o n.” In t h e ag en cy em p l o y ee’ s o p i n i o n

, t h e m o t h er h ad “ ev o l v ed .”

A wi t n es s wh o h ad b eco m e a cl o s e fri en d o f t h e m o t h er i n t h e s u m m er o f 2 0 1 3

t es t i fi ed t h at s h e s pen t t i m e wi t h t h e m o t h er ev ery d ay

, p ro v i d e d h e r wi t h s o m e

fi nan ci al as s i s t an ce, an d reg u l arl y t o o k h er t o t h erap y an d co u n sel i n g ap p o i n t m en t s

.

Sh e s t at ed t h at t h e m o th er was s ch ed u l ed t o b eg i n an g er m a n ag em en t cl as s es

.

Al t h o u g h t h e m o t h er s p o k e ab o u t h er p as t cu t t i n g b eh av i o r, th e f r i e n d s aw n o

ev i d en ce o f cu rren t cu t t i ng

. Th e fri en d h ad o b s erv ed th e m o t h er i n t eract w i t h J

. C. at

d o ct o r ap p o i n t m e n t s an d t he au n t ’ s h o u s e, an d sh e d es cri b ed t h e two as h av i n g a

l o v i n g bo n d. T h e fri en d tes ti fi ed t o ch an g es s h e had o bs erv ed i n t h e m o th er b et ween

t h e s u m m er o f 2 0 1 3 an d t he h eari n g i n Decem ber 2 0 13

. In i ti al ly t h e m o t h er h ad b een

v ery an g ry

, b u t t h e wi t n es s h ad seen t h e m o t h er’ s p ers on al g ro wt h

. Sh e h ad wi t n es s ed

t h e m o th er g et fru st rat ed w i t ho u t l o s i n g h er t em p er. Th e fri en d t es t i fi ed : “ [S] h e i s a

v ery l o v i ng p ers o n . Sh e h as a g o o d h eart

. Sh e . . . d i d h av e t ru st i s s u es b ut n o w s h e

h as g ro wn t o t h e p o i n t t h at s h e d o es t ru s t

. A n d t h at ’ s wh y I feel l i k e wi t h h er t h at

s h e’ s m o re l ik e a d au g h t er t h an ju s t a fri en d .” Th e fri en d s t at ed t h at t he m o t h er h ad

a p o s i t i ve s u pp ort s y s t em t h at i n cl u d ed h er, t h e fam il y vi o l en ce ag en cy em p l o y ee, an d

13a rel at i v e. Sh e t es t i fi ed to h er b el i ef t h at t h e m o t h er was cap ab l e o f t ak i ng care o f J

.

C. an d s h e co m

m i t t ed t o h el p t h e m o t her t o t h at en d

.

Th e m o t h er t es t ifi ed at t h e h eari n g t h at

, s i n ce m ov i n g o u t o f th e au n t ’ s h o u s e,

s h e h ad co m

p l et ed p aren t i n g cl as s es an d beg u n co u ns el i n g

. Becau s e J. C. d id n o t l i v e

wi t h h er, s he was n o t p res en t l y el i g i b l e fo r an i n

- h o m e p aren t i n g cl as s

. Sh e h ad an

ap p oi n t m en t fo r a p s y ch i at ri c ev al u at i o n s et fo r s ev eral d ay s aft er t h e h eari n g an d was

t ak i n g pres cri bed m ed icat i o n fo r d ep res s i o n

. Sh e h ad reg i st ered fo r a s eri es o f an g er

m an ag em en t cl as s es t h at w o u l d b e g i n t h e fo ll o wi ng m o n t h, an d s h e al s o was

s ch ed u l ed t o b eg i n s u b s t an ce ab u s e treat m en t

. Th e m o th er p res en t ed p ho t og rap h s o f

h er t h ree-b ed ro o m t rai l er h om e, i n wh i ch s he had p l aced a cri b an d o th er i t em s fo r J

.

C. Th e m o t h er ad m i t t ed t o o n e i n s t an ce o f cu tt i ng beh av i or s i n ce J

. C.’ s b i rt h

. Sh e

ad m i t t e d t o s m ok i n g m ari ju an a an d d es cri b ed o b t ai n i n g t h e d ru g fro m s t ran g ers

o u t s i d e o f co n v en i en ce s t o res

. An o t h er wi t n es s wh o ad m i n i st ered a d ru g t es t t o t h e

m o th er t es t i fi ed t hat s h e h ad t es t ed p o s i t i v e fo r m ari ju an a an d co cai n e.

At t h e en d o f t h e h eari n g

, t h e p s y ch o l o g i s t

, w h o h a d l i s t en ed t o al l o f t h e

t es t i m o ny

, ret u rn ed t o th e s t an d an d tes t i fi ed th at t h e m o t h er “ ap p ears [t o b e] i n a v ery

s i m i l ar s i t u at i o n ” as s h e was wh en h e ev al u at ed h er fo u r m o n t h s earl i er, if n ot a wo rs e

s i tu at i o n d u e t o t h e p os i t iv e d ru g t es t

, al th o ug h h e ack n o wl ed g ed t h at t h e m ot h er h ad

14d ev el o p ed a s up p o rt n et wo rk an d b eg u n tak i n g m ed i cat i o n fo r h er p sy ch o l o g i cal

co n di t i o n s

. He h ad n o t h ad fu rt h er co n t act w i t h t h e m ot h er aft er t h e A u g u s t 2 0 1 3

ev al u at i on

, an d h e t es t i fi ed t h at h e d id n o t “ k n o w f o r s u re” w h et h er h er p aren t al

fi tn es s h ad i m

pro ved o r h er s co r e s wo u l d h av e ch an g ed on th e as s es s m en t t es t s h e

h a d p rev i o u s l y ad m i n i s t ered

. Th e ps y ch o lo gi s t t es t i fi ed th at h e h ad co n cern s ab o u t

J

. C. b ei n g ret u rn ed t o h i s m o t h er’ s care b ecau s e, wi t h ou t co u n s el i n g, t h e m o t h er’ s

co n di t i o n wo u l d n o t i m

p ro v e. He al s o tes t ifi ed th at t h e au n t s h o u ld n o t su p erv i s e

co n tact b et ween t h e m ot h er an d J . C.

On M arch 5, 2 0 1 4

, t h e ju v en i l e co urt en t ered t h e o rd er at i s s u e on ap p eal

. In

t h at o rd er, t h e j u v en i l e co u rt fo u n d t h at J

. C. rem ai ned dep ri v ed “ as p rev io u s l y fo u n d

b y t h i s [c] o u rt o n M ay 1 4

, 2 0 1 3

, [an d ] t h at t he [m ] ot h er h as n o t y et rem ed i ed h er

i s su es t h at res u l t ed i n a d ep ri v at i o n fi nd i n g in M ay 2 0 1 3 [.] ” Th e j u v en i l e co u rt d en i ed

t h e m o th er’ s m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s an d h er m o t i o n fo r a ret urn o f p h y s i cal cu s t o d y

, an d

i n s t ead t ran s ferred t em

p orary l eg al cu s t od y o f J. C. fro m t h e m o t h er t o th e au n t

. Th e

m o th er ap p eal s fro m

t h i s o rd er.

2

. Pr es en t

d ep r i va ti o n.

As s tat ed ab o ve, fo r a t ran s fer o f ev en t em p o rary l eg al cu s t o d y o f J

. C. fro m t h e

m o th er t o t h e au n t

, DFCS was req u i red t o s ho w b y cl ear an d co nv i nci n g ev i d en ce t h at

15J . C. was p res en tl y d ep ri v ed . See In t h e In t er es t o f G. S

. , 2 7 9 Ga. Ap p

. at 9 1 . In h i s

M arch 5

, 2 01 4

, o rd er t he ju v en i l e co u rt fo u nd J

. C. d ep ri ved b ecau s e t h e m o t h er h ad

n o t rem ed i ed t h e cau s es of d ep ri v at i o n i d en ti fi ed i n th e earl ier d ep ri v at i o n o rd er. See

g en eral l y In t h e In t er es t o f M. T. F.

, 3 1 8 Ga. Ap p

. 1 3 5

, 1 4 5 -1 46 (1 ) (7 3 3 SE2 d 4 3 2 )

(2 0 1 2) (wh ere ch il d i s n ot i n p aren t ’ s p h y s i cal cu s t o d y

, DF CS m ay s h o w p res en t

d ep ri v at i o n b y s h o wi n g th at

, i f ch i l d were ret urn ed t o p aren t at t i m e of h eari n g

, ch i ld

wo u l d b e d ep ri ved ). T h o s e cau s e s were: “ Perp et rat i o n of Do m es t i c V i o l en ce”;

“ N e gle c t/L a c k of S upe r

vision” ; “ Neg l ect / In ad e qua te H ousing” ; a nd “ M e n t a l/P hy sic a l

Im p ai rm en t of Paren t .” W e m u s t v i ew t h e ea r l i e r

, u n ap p eal ed d ep ri vat i o n o rd er as

es t ab l i s h in g t h at t h o s e cau ses o f d ep ri v at i o n ex i s t ed at t h e t im e o f t h e earl i er o rd er.

See In t h e In ter es t o

f P. D. W

. , 2 9 6 Ga. Ap p

. 18 9

, 1 9 2 (1 ) (a) (6 7 4 SE2 d 3 38 ) (2 0 0 9 )

(u n ap p eal ed o rd er ad

ju d i cat i n g ch i l d d ep ri v ed b i n ds p aren t t o fi nd i n g t h at at t i m e o f

o rd er ch i l d was d e p r i v ed fo r reas o n s gi v en t h erei n ). Pres en t d ep ri v at i o n “ m ay b e

e s t ab l i s h ed b y s ho wi ng t h at t h e co n d i ti o n s u p o n wh i ch an earl i er fi n d i n g o f

d ep ri v at i o n was b as ed s t il l ex i s t [ed ] at t h e t i m e o f t h e t erm i n at i o n h eari n g.” In t h e

In t er es t o f M. T. F. , 3 1 8 Ga. Ap p . at 1 4 6 (1 ) (ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed ).

Th e ap p el l at e reco r d

, h o wev er, o ffers li t tl e m ean i ng fu l in s i g h t i n t o t h e

co n di t i o n s g i v i n g ri s e to t he p ri o r d e p ri v at i o n fi n d i n g s

, wh i ch t h e ju v en i l e co u rt

16en t ered aft er a h eari ng at wh i ch t h e m o t h er s t i p u l at ed to d ep ri vat i on w i t h o u t t h e

b e n e f i t o f co u n s el

. Th e p au ci ty o f t h e reco rd o n t h i s p oi n t h am pers o u r ab i l i t y t o

d et erm i n e wh et h er t h ere i s ev i d en ce t h at th o s e co n d i t i o n s s t i l l ex i s t ed at t h e t i m e o f

t h e d ep ri v at i on ru l i n g at is s u e i n t h i s ap peal

. As d et ai l ed b el ow, th e reco rd

, a s i t

ex i s t s, d o es n o t co nt ai n cl ear an d co n v i n ci n g ev i d e n c e t o s u p p o rt t h e t ri al co urt ’ s

co n cl u s i o n t h at , i n Decem b er 2 0 1 3 , J . C. rem ai n ed p res en t l y d ep ri v ed

.

(a) Per p et r a ti o n o

f d o mes t i c vi o len ce.

Th e reco rd d o es no t co n t ai n cl ear an d co n vi n ci n g ev i d en ce th at t h e m o t h er h ad

co n ti n u ed t o perp et rat e d o m es t i c v i o l en ce. To b eg i n wi t h

, t h e reco rd d oes n o t cl earl y

i d en t i fy t h e v i ct i m o f t h e d o m es t i c v i o l en ce t h at th e ju v en i l e co urt fo u nd t h e m o t h er

t o hav e p erp et rat ed i n t h e May 2 0 1 3 o rd er. Th at o rd er refers t o t h e arg u m en t b et ween

t h e m o t h er an d t h e au n t an d al so s t at es th at t h e m o t h er h ad y el l ed at t h e i n fan t J

. C.,

b u t t h e o r d e r d o es n ot d es cri b e an y act s o f v i o l en ce an d t h e au n t m ad e cl ear i n h er

l at er t es t i m o n y th at h er arg u m en t wi t h t h e m o t h er wa s n o t ph y s ical b ut was “ ju s t

wo rd s .”

Reg ard l es s o f t h e i d en t i t y o f t h e v i ct im o f t h e do m es t ic v io l en ce i n i t i al l y fo u n d

b y t h e ju v en i l e co u rt

, th e reco rd co n t ai n s n o ev i d en ce w h at s o ev er t h at t h e m o t h er h ad

co n ti n u ed t o p erp et rat e do m es t i c v i o l en ce ag ai n s t an y o n e. At t he t i m e o f t h e

17Decem

b er 2 0 1 3 h eari n g

, t h e m o t h er li v ed al o n e, th ere i s n o ev i d en ce th at s h e was

i n v o l v ed i n a ro m an t i c o r s ex u al rel at i o n s hi p wi t h an y on e, an d t h ere i s n o ev i d en ce

t h at s h e h ad en g ag ed i n an y v i o l en t act s wh at s o ev er t o ward t h e au n t

, to ward J

. C., o r

t o ward an y o t h er p ers o n

. At m o s t

, t h e ev i d en ce s h owed t h at wh en t h e h o u seh o l d fi re

eru p t ed t h e m o t h er b ri efl y en t ert ai ned t he th ou g h t o f l et t i n g t h e ho u s e b u rn do wn b ut

d i d n o t act o n t hi s th o u g ht

. E v en i f t h e m o t h e r ’s i n it i al t ho u g h t reg ard i n g t h e fi re

co u ld b e co n s t ru ed as an act o f “ d o m es t i c v i o l en ce,” i t w as a si n g le i nci d en t t h at d o es

n o t s up p o rt a fi n d in g of p res en t d ep ri v at i o n

. See In t h e In t er es t of H

. B

. , 3 2 4 Ga. Ap p.

3 6

, 38 (1 ) (7 4 9 SE2 d 3 8 ) (2 0 1 3 ) ( s i n g l e i n ci d en t o f d o m es t i c v i o len ce d i d n ot

d em o n s t rat e d ep ri v at i o n ).

(b ) Neg l ect

/ l a ck o f s u p er vi s i o n

.

Th e reco rd d o es n o t co nt ai n cl ear an d co n v i n ci n g ev i d en ce t hat

, i n Decem b er

2 0 1 3

, J

. C. was d ep ri v ed d ue t o l ack o f s u p erv i s i o n. Th e reco rd d o es n o t d es cri b e t h e

ci rcu m s t an ces t h at t h e ju v en i l e co u rt fo u n d t o c o n s t i t u t e l ack o f s u p erv i s i o n i n t h e

s p ri n g o f 2 0 13 , an d co n s eq u en t l y we can n o t d et erm i n e wh et her t h ere was ev i d en ce

t h at t h o s e ci rcu m st an ces s t i l l ex i s t ed

. Si m i larl y

, al t h o u g h t h e ps y ch ol o g i s t ’ s Au g u s t

2 0 1 3 wri t t en rep ort i ncl u d ed “ n eg lect o f ch il d

– p erp et rat or” as o n e o f h i s d i ag n o st i c

i m p res s i o n s of t h e m o t her, n ei t h er h i s rep o rt n o r h i s t es t i m o ny i d en t ifi ed th e s p eci fi c

18ci rcu m s t an ces t h at res ul ted i n t h at d i ag n o s i s

, an d t h us we can n o t d et erm i n e i f t h o s e

ci rcu m s t an ces p ers is t ed i n Decem b er 2 01 3

.

Th e ju v en i le co u rt ’ s o rd er al s o d o es n o t ex p l ai n h o w t h e m o t h er wo u l d fai l to

s u p erv i s e J

. C. i f h e were ret ur n ed t o h er care. Th e o rd er in cl u d ed s o m e fact u al

fi nd i ng s cri t i cal of t he m o t h er’ s p rev i o u s l i fes t y l e, i n cl u di n g her cu t t i n g b eh av i o r, t h e

t i m e sh e s p en t w i t h u n d e s i r a b l e p ers o n s

, an d h er wo rk i n g as a pro s t i t u te. Bu t we

d i s cern fro m t h e reco rd “ n o ev id en ce o f ab u se o r ab an d o nm en t ,” In t h e In t er es t o f E.

M.

, 2 6 4 Ga. Ap p

. 2 77

, 2 8 1 (5 9 0 S E 2 d 2 4 1 ) ( 2 0 0 3) (ci t at i o ns o m i t t ed ), an d t h e

ju v en i l e co u rt d i d n ot ex p l ai n wh et h er o r h o w t h e m o t h er’ s earl ier b eh av i o rs wo u ld

l ead to a fai l u re t o s u p erv i s e t h e b o y

. Cf. In t h e In t er es t o f D. E

. K.

, 2 3 6 Ga. A p p

. 5 7 4,

5 7 7 -5 7 8 (5 1 2 SE2 d 6 9 0) (1 9 9 9 ) (ev ide nc e of, am o ng o t h er t hi n g s

, m o th er’ s t ran s i t o ry

l i fes t y l e, p rev i o us d ru g u s e, an d rel at i o ns h i p w it h ab us i v e h u sb an d d i d no t am o u nt

t o cl ear an d co n v i n ci n g ev i d en ce t h at ch i l d was d ep ri ved

, w h er e u n co n t ro v ert ed

ev i d en c e s h o w ed t h at m o th er had cared fo r ch i l d t o b es t o f her ab i l it y an d ch i l d ’ s

b as i c p h y s ical

, m en t al

, an d em ot i o n al n eed s had b een m et ). M o reo v er, t h ere was n o

ev i d en ce t h at t hes e b eh av i o rs p ers i s t ed at t h e t i m e o f t h e h eari n g

. W h i l e th e ju v en i l e

co u rt n o t ed t h at t h e m o t h er h ad l eft t h e au n t ’ s ho u se wi t h J

. C. i n i n cl em en t weat h er

(t he act t h at ap paren t l y l ed t o t h e i n v o l v em en t o f DFCS), t h ere w as n o ev id en ce t h at

19t h i s was an y t h i n g o th er t h an an i s o l at ed ep i so d e o r t h at J. C. s u ffered an y em o t i o n al

o r p hy si cal h arm fro m i t

. See In t h e In t er es t o f H. B.

, 32 4 G a. Ap p

. at 3 8 (1 ). Fi n al l y

,

wh i le t h e ju v en i l e co u rt ’ s o rd er s t res sed t h e m o t h er’ s co n t i n u ed d ru g u s e an d t h e fact

t h at s h e o b t ai n ed m ari

ju an a fro m s t ran g ers

, ag ai n t h ere was no ev id en ce t h at h er d ru g

u s e cau s ed J

. C. an y em o t i o n al o r p h y s i cal h arm

. See In t h e In t er es t o f M. L. C.

, 2 4 9

Ga. Ap p

. 4 3 5

, 4 37 (2 ) (5 4 8 SE2 d 1 3 7 ) (2 0 01 ) (rev ers in g fi n d i ng of d ep ri v at i o n an d

t ran s fer o f t em

p o rary cu st o dy wh ere th ere was “ l i t t l e ev id en ce of reco rd in d i cat i n g

h o w t he p aren t s ’ d ru g u s e affect ed [t h e ch i l d ] ”).

Ho wev er, t h ere was ev i den ce t h at t h e m o th er was t ak i n g st ep s t o care fo r J

.

C.’ s n eed s b y es t ab l i s hi ng an ap p ro pri at e res i d e n c e

, a c co m p an y i ng hi m o n d o ct o r

v i s i t s

, an d at t en d i n g paren t i n g cl as s es

. See In t h e I n t e r e s t o f G. S.

, 27 9 Ga. Ap p

. at

9 3 (n o t in g ev i d en ce t h at m o t h er was t ak i n g s tep s to care fo r ch i l d ’ s n eed s

, i n cl u d i n g

s ch ed u l i n g d en t al an d m ed i cal ap p o i n t m en t s, i n fi n d i n g t h ere wa s n o t cl ear an d

co n vi n ci n g ev id en ce o f d ep ri v at i o n ). Un der th es e ci rcu m s t an ces

, t h ere was n o t cl ear

an d co n v in ci n g ev i d en ce t hat J

. C. was p res en t l y dep ri v ed d u e t o th e m o th er’ s fai l u re

t o s u p erv i s e h i m

.

(c) Neg l ect

/ i na d eq u a te h o u s i n g

.

20Th e reco rd d o es n o t co nt ai n cl ear an d co n v i n ci n g ev i d en ce t hat

, i n Decem b er

2 0 1 3

, th e m o t h er h ad i n ad eq u at e h o u s i n g fo r J

. C. To t h e co n t rary

, t h e u n d i s p u t ed

ev i d en ce s ho wed t h at t h e m ot h er h ad o b t ai n ed su i t ab l e h o u si ng i n th e fo rm o f a t h reeb ed ro o m t rai l er t h at was cl ean an d li v ab l e an d co n tai n ed n eces s i ti es fo r t h e ch i l d

. See

In t h e In t er es t

o f E. M.

, 2 64 Ga. Ap p . at 2 81

.

(d ) Men t a l

/ p h ys i ca l i mp a i r m en t

o f p a ren t

.

In b o th i ts ap pel l at e b ri ef an d at o ral ar g u m e n t t he st at e em p h as i zed t h e

m o th er’ s al l eg ed m en tal i m p ai rm en t as t he pri m ary re a s o n t o affi rm t h e ju v en i l e

co u rt ’ s ru l i n g

. Ev en i f we were t o fi n d cl ear an d co n v in ci n g ev i d en c e s u f f i c i e n t to

s u s t ai n t h e ju v en i l e co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g o f d ep ri v at io n cau s ed by m en tal i m pai rm en t

, t h at

ev i d en ce wo u l d n ot s u p p o rt aff i r m i n g t h e ju d g m en t

. Th e erro neo u s fi n d i n g s o f t h e

ju v en i l e co u rt d is cu s s ed ab o v e wo u l d n eces s i t at e a rem an d

. See In t h e In t er es t o f E.

R. D

. , 17 2 Ga. Ap p

. 5 90 (3 2 3 SE2 d 7 23 ) (1 9 8 4 ) ( a f t e r s e t t i n g as i d e as cl earl y

erro neo u s a fi n d i n g o f t h e ju v en i l e co urt th at t h e reco rd d i d n o t s u pp o rt

, rev ers i n g a

d ep ri v at i o n o rd er an d rem an d in g i t t o t h e ju v en i l e co u rt fo r fu rt h er p ro ceed i ng s

b ecau s e t h e ap p el lat e co u rt co u l d n o t “ d et erm i n e wh e t h e r t he ju v en i le co u rt wo u ld

h av e fo u n d cl ear an d co n v i n ci n g ev i d en ce o f dep ri v at i o n b as ed u p o n th e rem ai n i n g

ev i d en ce b efo re i t”) (ci t at i on an d p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). Bu t as d et ai l ed b el o w, t h e

21reco rd d o es n o t co n t ai n cl ear an d co n v i n ci n g ev i d en c e s u f f i ci en t t o s u p p o rt m en t al

i m p ai rm en t as a cau s e o f p res en t d ep ri v at i on

.

In d et erm i n in g wh et h er a ch i l d i s a “ d ep ri v ed ch i l d ” u n d er fo rm er OCGA § 1 5

-

1 1 -2 (8 ) (A), a co u rt m ay co n s i d er “ [a] m ed i cal l y v eri fi ab l e defi ci en cy o f t h e p aren t ’ s

p h y s i cal

, m en t al

, o r em o t i o n al h e a l t h o f s u c h d u rat io n o r n at u re as t o ren d er t h e

p aren t u n ab l e t o p ro v id e ad eq u at el y fo r t h e p hy s i cal

, m en t al

, em o t i o n a l

, or m o ral

co n di t i o n an d n e e d s o f t h e ch i ld .” Fo rm er OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -9 4 (b ) (4 ) (B) (i ). See In

t h e In t er es t o

f C. D. E.

, 2 4 8 Ga. Ap p

. 7 5 6

, 7 64 (2 ) (5 4 6 SE2 d 8 3 7 ) (2 0 0 1 ). A l t h o u g h

t h e p s y ch o l o g i s t op i n ed t h at t h e m o t h er h ad “ s i gn i fi can t heal t h i s s ues t h at c o u l d

n eg at i v el y affect h er ab il i t y t o p a r e n t

, ” f o r s ev eral reas o n s we fi nd t h at h i s o p i n i o n

was n o t cl ear an d co n v i n ci n g e v i d e n c e t h at t h e m o t h er h ad a m ed i cal l y v eri fi ab l e

m en t al h eal t h d efi ci en cy o f s u ch d u rat i o n o r n at u re as t o ren d er h er u n ab l e t o p ro v i d e

ad eq uat el y

fo r J . C.

T h e p s y ch o l o gi st ’ s o p i n i o n d i d n o t es t ab l i s h h ow h i s d iag n o st i c i m p res s i o n s

o f t h e m o t h er rel at ed t o a fi nd i n g t hat t h e ch i l d w as d ep ri v ed

. See i d

. As t o m an y o f

t h e d i ag n o s t ic im

p res s i o n s

, t h ere was “ n o d i s cu ss i o n o f h o w [t h ey were] rel ev an t to

t h e m ot h er’ s ab i l i t y t o p aren t h er ch i l d .” In t h e In t er es t o f K

. S

. , 2 7 1 Ga. Ap p

. 8 9 1,

8 9 3 (6 1 1 SE2 d 1 5 0 ) (2 0 0 5 ). W h i l e t h e p sy ch o lo g i s t ’ s wri t t en rep o rt co n t ai ned a l i s t

22o f “ s ig n i fi can t i s s ues i m p ai ri ng [t h e m o t h er’ s ] ab i l i t y t o p aren t

, ” n ei t her t h e l i s t n o r

t h e p s y ch o l o g i st ’ s t es t i m o n y ab o u t t h at l i s t dem o n s t rat ed t h e n eces s ary li n k b et ween

a v eri fi ab l e m en t al h eal t h d efi ci en cy an d an in ab i l i t y t o p r o v i d e ad eq u at el y fo r t h e

ch i l d

. T h e p s y ch o l o g i st “ d i d n o t

. . . t es t ify as t o t h e effect o f th e [m o t h er’ s co n d u ct ]

o n [J

. C.] o r s t at e th at [h e] h ad b een h arm ed by h i s [m o th er’ s] act i on s

. . . at an y o t h er

t i m e [an d h e] g av e n o s p eci fi c ex am p l e o f t he effect o f [t h e m o t h er’ s ] b eh av i o r o n t h e

ch i l d .” In t h e In t er es t o

f C. L. Z.

, 2 8 3 Ga. Ap p

. 2 4 7

, 2 48 (6 4 1 SE2 d 2 43 ) (2 0 0 7 )

(rev ers in g dep ri vat i o n fi n d i n g). Co m p are In t he In t er es t o

f M. E.

, 2 65 Ga. A p p

. 4 1 2,

4 1 6 -4 1 7 (1 ) (5 9 3 SE2 d 92 4 ) (2 0 04 ) (cl ear an d co n v i n c i n g ev i den ce au t h o ri zed

ju v en i l e c o u r t t o fi n d ch i l d d ep ri v ed b as ed u p o n m o t h er’ s l ack o f m en t al ab i l i ty to

care fo r ch i l d wh ere m o t h er’ s m u l t i p l e m en t al h eal th di ag n o s es h ad m an i fes t ed i n h er

fi xat in g o n i d ea t h at fat h er h ad ab u s ed ch i ld

, i n h er rep eat ed l y t ak i n g ch il d t o h eal th

care p ro v i d ers wi th u n s ub s t an t i at ed cl ai m s o f s ex u al ab u s e, i n h e r p o s s i b l y h av i n g

h arm ed ch il d i n o rd er t o s u p p o rt ab us e al l eg at i o n s

, an d i n h er h av i ng e m o t i o n al l y

ab u sed ch i l d b y

fai l i n g t o co n t ro l an g er).

So m e o f t h e i t em s o n t he s i g n i fi can t i s s u es l i s t

– fo r ex am p le, t hat t h e m o t h er

h as b een “ [d ] iag n o s ed w i th In t erm i t t en t Ex p l o s i v e Di s o rd er”

– m er e l y res t at ed

d i ag n o s ti c i m

p res si o n s wi t h o u t ad d res s i n g wh et h er or wh y t h es e co n di t i o n s were o f

23s u ch du rat i o n o r n at u re as t o ren d er t he m o t h er u n ab l e t o p aren t

. So m e o f t h e i t em s

o n t h e s i g n ifi can t is s u es l i st

– fo r ex am p l e, t h at t h e m ot h er h ad an “ [i ] n co m p l et e cas e

p l an ” 4

– d i d n o t n eces sari l y

fo ll o w fro m

an y o f t h e s p eci fi c d iag n o st i c i m p res s i o n s

.

So m e o f t h e i t em s on t h e s i g n i fi can t i s s u es l i s t

– fo r ex am p le, t h at t h e m o t h er h ad

“ [n ] o p l ace o f h er own ” an d h ad “ [ e ]n g a g [ ed ] i n p ro s t i t u t i o n wh i l e cari n g fo r h er

ch i l d ”

– ei t h er d i rect l y co n fl i ct ed wi t h o r w ere n o t s u p p o rt ed b y t h e e v i d en ce o f

reco rd ; t h e u n d i s p u ted ev i den ce s h o wed th at b y t h e t i m e o f t h e h eari n g t h e m o t h er d id

h av e h er o wn ho u s i ng

, an d w h il e t h ere was ev i d en ce t hat t h e m o t h er h ad p ro s t i t u t ed

h ers el f b efo re J

. C. was b o rn an d b ri efl y h ad li v ed wi t h a p i m p aft er t h e ju v en i l e co u rt

rem o v ed J

. C

. f

ro m h er care, t h ere w as n o ev i d en ce t h at s h e h ad p ro s t i t u t ed h ers el f

d u ri n g an y t i m e wh en t h e ch i l d was i n h er care. Th e ps y ch ol o g i s t ad m i t t ed at t h e

h eari n g t h at h e d i d n o t kn o w wh en th e p ro s t i t u t i on h ad o ccu rred

. D e sp i t e t h e

4 It i s i m po rt an t t o n o t e t h at t h e “ cas e p l an ” t o wh i ch t h e p sy ch o lo g i s t referred

– wh i ch i s n o t i n t he reco rd

– co u l d n ot h av e b een a reu n i fi cat i o n p l an

, b ecau s e at t h e

t i m e t h e ch i l d was i n th e l eg al cu s t o d y o f t h e m o th er. In an y ev en t

, at th e t i m e t h e

p s y ch o lo g i s t i d en t i fi ed “ i n co m p l et e cas e p lan ” as a s i g ni fi can t i s su e, no m o re t h an a

few m o nt h s h ad pas sed s i n ce t h e p l a n ’ s d ev el o p m en t

, an d th ere was u n d i s p u t ed

ev i d en ce at t h e h eari n g t h at t he m o t h er h ad act i v el y wo rk ed t o ward t h e p l an ’ s g o al s

. C f. In t he In t er es t o

f J. H.

, 3 1 0 Ga. A p p

. 4 0 1

, 40 3 -4 0 4 (7 1 3 SE2 d 4 72 ) (2 0 1 1 )

(rev ers in g j u v en i le co u rt ’ s d et erm i n at i o n t h at ch i l d was dep ri v ed wh ere, am o n g o t h er

t h i n g s

, t h ere was “ n o ev i den ce t h at [m o t her ’s ] fai l u re to read i l y accep t [DFCS’ s ]

ad v ice an d as s i s tan ce res u l ted i n an y h arm t o [t h e ch il d ] ”).

24i n co m

pl et en es s an d i n accu racy o f t he l i st s fo u n d i n t h e p s y ch o l o g i s t ’ s wri t t en rep o rt

,

t h e j u v en i l e co u rt rep eat ed m u ch o f t h em v erb at i m i n h i s f i n a l o rd er as fi nd i n g s o f

fact s u p p o rt i n g t h e co n cl u s io n t h at J . C. was d ep ri v ed . See g en eral l y In t h e In t er es t

o f C. D. E.

, 2 4 8 Ga. A p p. at 7 6 3 (2 ) (ju v en i l e co u rt ’ s i n cl u s i o n i n o rd er o f al l eg at i on s

u n s u pp o rt ed by ev i d en ce su g g es t s t h at co urt ’ s ul t i m at e co n cl u si o n t hat ch i l d ren were

d ep ri v ed was b as ed o n a fl awed v i ew o f fact s ).

Ev en m o re si g n if

ic a n t l y

, t h e co n cern s t h at t h e p s y ch o l o g i s t rai s ed i n h i s wri t t en

rep o rt an d em

p h as i zed i n h i s h eari n g t es ti m o n y cen tered p ri m ari l y o n t he m o t h er’ s

p as t ex p eri en ces an d p os s i b l e fu t u re act i o n s, n o t o n her p res en t ab i l it y t o care fo r J

.

C. Th e ps y ch ol og i s t t es t i fi ed t h at h i s “ t wo b i g g e s t co n cern s ” were t he m o t h er’ s

“ ab i li t y t o co n t ro l h ers el f fro m h u rt in g [J

. C. an d ] h er p rev i o us t en d en cy t o p i ck

ab u si v e p eo pl e t o b e wi t h

. ” Bu t a t ran s fer o f ev en t em p o rary cu s t o d y fro m a p aren t

m u st b e du e t o p r es en t d ep ri v at i o n

. In t h e In t er es t o f G. S

. , 27 9 Ga. Ap p

. at 9 2.

Ev i d en ce o f a p aren t ’ s pas t co n d u ct an d t h e p o s s ib i l i t y o f fu t u re d ep ri v at io n d o es n ot

s u p p ort a t ran s fer o f cu st o d y

. See In t h e In t er es t o f G

. R. B.

, 3 3 0 Ga. Ap p

. 6 9 3 , 7 0 1

(7 6 9 SE2 d 1 1 9 ) (2 01 5 ) (co n cern o v er ri s k t h at p are n t s

– wh o h ad t ro u b l ed

, v i o l en t

rel at i o n s h i p – m i g h t reu n i t e i n fu t u re was n o t ev i d en ce o f p res en t d ep ri v at i o n ); In t h e

In t er es t o f D. L. T. C.

, 2 9 9 G a

. Ap p

. 7 65

, 7 7 0 (1 ) (6 84 SE2 d 2 9) (2 0 0 9 ) (wh i l e

25“ co u rt s m ay co n s i d er p as t co n d u ct wh en d et erm i n i n g w h et h er d ep ri vat i o n i s l i k el y to

co n ti n u e,

. . . a fi n d i n g o f p aren tal un fi t n es s m u s t b e b as ed o n p res en t ci rcu m s t an ces ”)

(ci t at i o n an d pu n ct uat i o n o m it t ed ). See g en eral ly In t h e In t er es t o f C. D. E

. , 2 4 8 Ga.

Ap p

. at 7 6 5 -7 6 6 (2 ) (d i s t i n gu i s h i n g b et w een fu t u re ri sk an d p res en t d an g er). Th i s i s

p art i cu l arl y t ru e wh ere, as h ere, t h e r e i s n o s ho wi ng o f an y p rev i o u s p h y s i cal o r

em ot i o n al h arm to t he ch i ld

. See In t h e In t er es t o f H. S

. , 28 5 G a. Ap p. 8 3 9

, 8 4 2 (6 4 8

SE2 d 1 4 3 ) (2 0 0 7) (rev ers i n g a w a r d o f t em p o rary cu s t o d y fro m fat h er t o o t h er

re l a t i v es ; d es p i t e s o m e ev i den ce o f i n s t an ce o f do m es t ic v i o l en ce b et w een p aren t s

,

t h ere was n o ev i den ce t h at ch i l d s u ffered an y em ot i o n al o r p h y s i cal h arm ). Co m p are

In t h e In t er es t o

f T. S

. , 3 1 0 Ga. Ap p

. 1 0 0

, 1 0 3 (1 ) (7 12 S E 2 d 1 2 1 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (fi n d i n g

s u ffi ci en t ev i d en c e o f dep ri vat i o n wh ere m o t h er, wh o was i n an g er m an ag em en t

co u ns el i n g

, t wi ce p rev i o u s l y h ad in ju red ch i l d ren

, an d ps y ch ol o g i s t wo rk i n g wi th

m o th er t es t i fi ed t h at it was u n wi s e t o ret u rn ch i l d ren t o h er u n t i l s h e s o ug h t fu r t h er

co u ns el i n g ); In t h e In t er es t o f R. M.

, 2 7 6 Ga. Ap p

. 7 0 7

, 7 1 6 (6 24 SE2 d 18 2 ) (2 0 0 5 )

(wh il e ch i l d ren ’ s fu t u re ri s k o f co n t ract i n g t ub ercu l o si s fro m paren t s m i g h t n o t h av e

co n st i t u t ed d ep ri v at i o n u nd er d i fferen t ci rcu m s t an c e s

, wh ere an o t h er ch i l d i n t h e

h o u s eh o l d al read y had d i ed fro m t h e d i s eas e an d p aren t s n ev ert h el es s h ad refu s ed to

co m p l y wi t h t reat m en t t o m i t i g at e ri sk , t h ere was ev i d en ce o f p res en t d ep ri v at i o n ).

26Co n seq u en t l y

, t h e m o t h er’ s h i s t o ry of ch o o si n g ab u s i v e p art n ers

, an d t h e

p s y ch o lo g i s t ’ s co ncern t h at s h e m ig h t ch o o s e an o t h er ab u s i v e p art n er i n t h e fu t u re,

d i d n o t d em o n s t rat e J

. C.’ s p res e n t d e p r i v a t i o n. See In t he In t er es t o f C. D. E.

, 2 4 8

Ga. Ap p

. at 7 6 1 -7 6 2 (1 ) (p o s s i bi l i t y t h at m o th er, wh o was a p as t v i ct im o f d o m es t i c

v i o l en ce, m i g h t en t er i n t o an o t h er ab u s i v e rel at i o n s h i p in t h e fu t u re w as n ot a g ro u n d

fo r tak in g cu st o dy o f ch i ld away fro m h er). L ik ewi s e, t he p s y ch o l o gi s t ’ s co n cern s t h at

t h e m ot h er’ s p s y ch o l o g ical m ak eu p an d p as t ch i l d h oo d t rau m a m i g h t p red i s p o s e h er

t o h arm J. C. i n t h e fu t ure d id n o t s up p o r t a f i n d i n g of p res en t d ep ri vat i o n

, wh ere

t h ere w as n o ev i d en ce th at t h e m o t h er h ad ev er act ual l y h arm ed t h e ch i l d. See i d

. at

7 6 5 -7 6 7 (2 ) (rev ers i n g d ep ri v at i o n fi n d i n g d es pi t e p s y ch ol o gi s t ’ s rep o rt t h at fat h er,

wh o h ad a b i p o lar d iag n o s i s

, was a “ wal k i n g t i m e b om b ” wh o p r e s e n t e d a ri s k o f

d an ger t o h i s ch i l dren ).

Th e p s y ch o l o g i s t al s o t es t i fi ed t h a t h e was co n cern ed th at th e m o t h er’ s d ru g

u s e wo u l d i m

p ai r her ab i l i t y t o p aren t J

. C

. , s t at i n g t h at “ i f y o u h av e t ro u b l e

co n tro l l in g y o u r an g er an d y ou ’ re h ig h

, t h en t h at ’ s a m ajo r i s s u e[.] ” B u t a g a i n

, t h e

p s y ch o lo g i s t b as ed t h i s reco m m en d at i o n o n a co n cern t h at t h e m o t h er m i g h t h arm J

.

C. i n th e fu t u re, al t ho u g h t h ere was n o ev i d en ce t hat sh e h ad at an y t im e harm ed t h e

27ch i l d i n co n n ect i o n wi t h h er d ru g u s e. See In t h e In t er es t o f M. L. C.

, 2 4 9 Ga. Ap p.

at 4 3 7 (2 ).

W i t h o u t q u es t i o n

, t h e ev i d en ce, i ncl u d in g t h e p s y ch o lo g i s t ’ s o p i n i o n

, d ep i ct ed

a m o t h er wh o i s s t ru g gl i n g wi th s i g n i fi can t m en tal an d em ot i o nal ch al l en g es

. Bu t

“ [t ] h e ri gh t t o t h e cu s t o d y an d co n t ro l o f o n e’ s ch i ld i s a fi ercel y g u ard ed ri gh t i n o u r

s o ci et y an d i n o u r l aw. It i s a ri g h t t h at s h o ul d be i n fri n g ed u po n o n l y un d er t h e m o s t

co m p el l i n g ci rcu m s t an ces .” In t h e In t er es t o f G. S

. , 27 9 Ga. Ap p

. at 9 4 (ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t ted ). T h e ev i d en ce i n t hi s cas e s h o wed t h at t h e m o t h er h ad n ev er

p h y s i cal l y o r em ot i o n al l y h arm ed h er ch i ld an d t h at s h e was wo rk i n g t o o verco m e h er

m en t al an d em o t i o n al ch al l en g es

. A co n cern – h owev er wel l -fo u n d ed

– t hat s h e m i g ht

n o t s u cceed i n o v erco m i ng t h o s e ch al l en g es s i m p l y di d no t es t ab l i s h b y cl ear an d

co n vi n c i n g e v i d en ce t h e p res en t d ep ri v at io n req u i red t o rem o v e t h e ch i l d fro m h er

cu s t o d y

. Acco rd i ng l y

, we rev ers e th e o rd er t ran s ferri n g t em p o r a ry l eg al cu s t o d y o f

J . C. fro m t h e m ot h er t o t h e au n t

. (In d o i n g s o , we n o t e t h at t he earl i er o rd er g i v i n g

p h y s i cal cu s to dy

t o t h e au n t h as ex p i red .)

Ju d g men t r ever

sed

. Di ll a r d

, J., co n cu r

s ; El l i ng t o n

, P. J., co n cu rs i n t h e

j u d g men t o n l y.

28