1 ... S eeT EX . R. A PP . P. 47. 4.
2 ... Th e nam e s ofm i nor s and par ent s have been r edact ed and r epl aced w i t h f i ct i t i ous nam esi n a cc or dan cew i t h pr opos ed T EX . R. A PP . P. 9. 8, 71 T EX . B. J. 287 –88 ( Tex. 2008 , s che dul ed t o t ak e ef f ec t Sept . 1, 2008 ) ( aut hor i z i ng a p p e l l a te c o u rt s to red a c t th e n a m e s o f m i n o r ch i l d ren an d p a ren ts i n ap p e l l a te p ro c e e d i n g sfo l l o w i n g p a re n ta l -ri g h ts te rm i n a ti o n p ro c e e d i n g so r j u v e n i l e c o u rt



## COURT OF APPEALS SECOND DISTRICTOFTEXAS FORT WORTH
NO. 2 - 0 7 - 2 8 0 - CV
IN T H E IN T E R E S TO FM .B ., M . M . A. , M . G. A. , M . R . A. , AN D M . W . A . JR. , CH I LDR EN

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FR O M THE 367TH DI STRI CT CO URT O F DENTO N 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 A ppel l antM . A . M . B. appeal s t he t r i al court ’ s or dert er m i nat i ng herpar ent al
r i g h t s t o h e rc h i l d r e n , M . B . ( B e t h ) , M . M . A. ( M o n a ) , M . G . A . ( Gr e g ) , M . R . A. (R a c h e l ), a n d M .W .A . (W i l l ). I n ei ght poi nt s, appel l antar gues t hatt he evi dence 2p ro c e e d i n g sa n d re p l a c e th e m w i th fi c ti ti o u sn a m e s ).
3 ... Fam i l y Based S af et y S ervi ces i s a pr ogr am i n w hi ch a TD FPS w or ker h e lp s a f a m ily b e c o m e s e lf -s u f f ic ie n tb yw o r k in g w it h t h e p a r e n t so n a w e e k ly orbi w eeklybasi s and by of f er i ng hel p w i t h servi ces and er r ands such as a p p o i n tm e n ts a n d c o u n s e l i n g . 2 i s l e g a l l yan d fac tu a l l yi n su ffi c i e n t t o su p p o rtthe en d a n g e r m e n t,
n o n c o m p l i a n c e , o r b e s t i n te re s t fi n d i n g s . S ee T EX . F AM . C O DE A NN . § 1 6 1 . 0 0 1 ( 1 ) ( D ) , ( E ) , ( O ) & ( 2 ) ( V e r n o n S u p p . 2 0 0 7 ) . We a f f i r m. I I . B a c k g rou n d F a c ts A ppe l l antgr ew up i n New Yor k. I n 1997, at th e a g e ofei ght ee n, s he bec am e p r egn antw i th h e r d a ught erBet h w hen J. J. , t he m an sh e w asl i vi ng
w i th , ra p e d h e r. In 1 9 9 8 , a p p e l l a n t m e t a v i s i ti n g fa m i l yfri e n d , M .A . (A n d re w ),
a n d m o v e d to T e x a s to b e w i th h i m . A p p e ll a n t an d A n d rew l i v e d w i th A ndr ew ’ s m ot herf orsi x m onths bef or e m ovi ng i nt o t he Lew i svi l l e A part m ent s. A ppe l l antan d Andr ew ha d M ona i n 1999 and G r eg i n 200 1. I n 200 1, t he Tex as D epart m entofFam i l y and P r ot ect i ve S ervi ces ( TD FPS ) r ecei ved a r ef er r al
r ega r di ng t he phys i ca l an d d e n ta l n egl ec toft he chi l dr en; TD FPS r ef er r ed t he
case t o Fam i l y Based S af et y S ervi ces ( F B S S ), b u t ap p e l l a n t did n o t co m p l e te 3 th o s e s e rv i c e s . A p p e lla n ta n d A n d r e w w e r e m a r r ie d in 2 0 0 2 , a n d t h e yh a d R a c h e l in 200 3. I n Ju ne 200 4, TD FPS r ec ei ved a r ef er ra l a l l egi ng t hatap pel l antan d3

A ndr ew w er e a bus i ng a l coh ol an d not pr ope r l y su pervi si ng t he chi l dr en. TD FPS di s po s e d of t he c a s e a s“ Rul e d O utw i t h Ri s kI nd i c a t e d”a nd r e f e r r e d i tt o FB SS. H o w e v e r , b e f o r e F B S S c o u ld b e c o m e in v o lv e d , a p p e lla n t , A n d r e w , a n d t h e ir chi l dr en m ove d ba ckt o New Yor k i n Ju l y 2004. W hi l e i n New Yor k, ap pel l ant
m et A . H . ( H ar ol d) and m ove d i n w i t h hi m , t ak i ng t he chi l dr en. Chi l d Pr ot ec t i ve S e rv i ces i n N ew Y or k becam e i nvol ved af t erl ear ni ng t hatH ar ol d w as a s ex of f ender . U pon l ear ni ng t hat H ar ol d w as a s ex of f ender , appel l antt hen m oved b a c kto T e x a sw i th A n d re w w h i l e p re g n a n t w i th H a ro l d ’sb a b y . W h e n the y retu rne d to T e x a s, ap p e l l a n t an d A n d rew m o v e d i n w i th A n d re w ’s n e p h e w W .A . (W a lte r) a n d h isw ife J . A (J il l) fo r a fe w m o n th s . In N ovem ber 20 04 , TD FPS ni ght r esponse i nvest i gat or Jam i e Pa rs o n s r ecei ved t w o r ef er r al s al l egi ng t hatappel l antw as aggr essi ve t ow ar ds herchi l dr en, t hat sh e w as not se ei ng t o t hei r den t al nee ds , t hat sh e had pr evi ous l y l i ved w i t h a
s e xo ffe n d e r i n N e w Y o rk , a n d th a t s h e w a s p re g n a n t w i th th e s e xo ffe n d e r’s baby. Par sons vi si t ed appel l ant i n Lake D al l as at W al t erand Ji l l ’ s house. A ft er se ei ng t he chi l dr en, Par so ns bec am e c onc er ned ab outt hei rt ee t h be ca us e t he t hr ee ol derchi l dr en— Beth, M ona, and G r eg— had sever e t ooth decay. Rach el had al so r ec e n tly b e en bi t t en by a br ow n r ecl use spi der . Par sons enr ol l ed
a p p e l l a n t i n M e d i c a i d an d too kthe ch i l d ren to th e d e n ti st. Pa rso n s tri e d to edu ca t e a ppe l l anton t he pr ope rf oodst o pr eve ntt oot h de ca y be ca us e a ppe l l ant4

t ended t o buyj unk f ood f or t he chi l dr en. A ppel l ant w as al so unem pl oyed m ost oft hi s t i m e. Par sons coul d not subst ant i at e t he al l egat i ons r egar di ng ph ysi cal
a b u s e . Ji l l t est i f i ed t hatshe had t o ask appel l a ntt o l eave t hei rhom e because
a p p e lla n tw o u ld n o tk e e p h e r s e lf o r t h e c h ild r e n c le a n , d id n o t c o n t r ib u t e o rh e lp outar ound t he hous e, an d di d notha ve a j ob. Ji l l f i nal l y k i ck ed app el l antout oft he hous e a f t er app el l antl efta di rt y ba nda ge on t he ki t che n c ount erby t he chi l dr en’ s f ood. Ji l l al l ow ed t he chi l dr en and A ndr ew t o r em ai n, butap pel l ant conti nued t o com e by t he hou se. O nce, appel l ant t hr eat ened Ji l l , and Ji l l cal l ed th e p o l i c e . A t t h a t po i n t, A n d rew m o v e d o u t w it h t h e c h i l d ren to l i v e w i th
a p p e l l a n t. A ppel l antgave bi rt h t o W i l l i n ear l y 20 05 . A ppel l ant and A ndr ew m oved to A rb o r C re e kA p a rtm e n ts i n L e w i s v i l l e fo r a b o u t e i g h t m o n th su n ti l th e yw e re evi ct ed because A ndr ew l ost hi s j ob and appel l antdi d not m ake enoug h m oney atherj ob atI H O P t o cover t he r ent . Th e f am i l y t hen m oved t o Bu dget S ui t es4 ... A tsom e poi nt , appel l ant , A ndr ew , and th e chi l dr en m oved to N ew

M exi co and br i ef l y l i ved w i t h a ppe l l ant ’ s m ot her , butt heys t aye d onl y f orab out t w o m ont hsbe ca us e app el l antan d he rm ot herha d a phy si ca l ar gum ent . Dur i ng t he ar gum ent , ap pel l ant ’ s m ot her t hr ew a phone atap pel l ant , m i ss ed, an d t he pho ne hi tG r eg. A ppel l ant r et al i at ed by ki cki ng t he scr een doo rw hi ch r esul t ed i n api ec e o fm et als t abb i ng a ppe l l ant ’ s m ot her . Pol i cear r es t ed app el l ant , an d t he f am i l y r et ur ned t o T exas. 5 i n Lew i svi l l e. I ni t i al l y, t he f am i l y st ayed i n a t w o- bedr oom sui t e, butt hey had 4 to d o w n s i z e to a o n e b e d ro o m b e c a u s e o f fi n a n c i a l d i fficu l ti e s . TD F P S w or kerPar sons cont i nued t o w or k w i t h appel l antbet w een Nov e m be r2004a nd M a r c h 2005 un t i ls her e f e r r e d a pp e l l a nt ’ sc a s e t o FB SS. J e n n i fer C h a p p e l l rec e i v e d the c a se fr o m F B S S i n M a rch 2 0 0 5 an d m e t w i th appel l anton A pr i l 11 . TD FPS w ant ed appel l antt o com pl et e par ent i ng cl asses , a ps ych ol ogi ca l eva l uat i on, i ndi vi dua l cou ns el i ng, and an e a rl y ch i l dhood i nt erven t i on ( ECI ) eva l uat i on bec aus e Rache l di d notap pea rt o bem ent al l y “ on targ e t, ” a n d sh e w a s n o t sp e a k i n g a t ei g h tee n m o n th s. A fter t h e i n i ti a l v i sit , C hap pel l m etw i t h a ppe l l antonc e a w ee k a nd w or ke d w i t h he rr ega r di ng app el l ant ’ s i nab i l i t y t o m ee the rf am i l y’ s f i nan ci alorba si c n ee ds , he rl ac k o f p a re n ti n g , a n d th e u n c l e a n l i n e s so f th e h o m e . F o r e x a m p l e , a p p e l l a n t’s apa rtm e n t w asdi rt y, f i l l ed w i t h f l i es , an d ha d a n odo r ; ap pel l antal so ha d a p u p p yan d tw o r a b b it s t h a t sh e d i d n o t cl e a n u p afte r. D i rt ycloth e s, d i rt y d is h e s , a n d d o g f e c e sw e r e s c a t t e r e d t h r o u g h o u tt h e a p a r t m e n t . C h a p p e ll6

tes ti fi e d tha t ap p e l l a n t w o u l d c l e a n th e a p a rt m e n t b u t th e n a l l o w i t to g e t dirty
a g a i n .T h e c h il d r e n w e r e u s u a llyd irt ya n d ra n a r o u n d u n s u p e rv is e d . C h a p p e ll t est i f i ed t hatt hey l ooked l i ke t hey had notbeen bat hed and t hat t hey had an odor ; t hei rf ac esw er e b r ow n w i t h di rt and t he bott om s of t hei r f ee tw oul d be bl ack. The cl ot hes t he chi l dr en w or e w er e di rt y and di d not f i tw el l . Because t he chi l dr en di d not have adequ at e cl ot hi ng, C happ el l w oul d t ake t hem cl ot hes t w ic e a m o n t h , b u ts h e n e v e rs a w t h e m w e a rt h e d o n a t e d c lo t h e s . C h a p p e ll
a l s o h e l p e d a p p e l l a n t g e t fo o d s ta m p ss o th a t a p p e l l a n t c o u l d p ro v i d e m o re nou r i shi ng m eal s. The chi l dr en al so had l i ce f ourt i m es i n f ourm onths, w hi ch
a p p e l l a n t w o u l d tr e a t. A l t hough ap pel l antco m pl et ed p ar ent i ng a nd ho m em ak i ng s ervi ce s, s he
r ef used t o com pl et e a psychol ogi cal eval uat i on and coun sel i ng. A ppel l antset up t he ECI ev al uat i on but w as not at hom e f ort he app oi nt m ent . Appel l antan d A ndr ew w er e neverabl e t o pay t hei rr ent , and nei t herappel l antnorA ndr ew
w o rk e d c o n s i s te n tl y . A l t hough TD FPS r ec ei ved an ot herr ef er rali n M ay 200 5 r ega r di ng negl ect f ul supervi si on, C happ el l cl osed appel l ant ’ s case i n Jul y 20 05 because
a p p e lla n t h a d p a rt ic ip a t e d in s o m e s e rv ic e sa n d h a d m a d e p r o g r e s s . T h e b a s ic needs oft he chi l dr en, such as a pl ace t o sl ee p , fo o d , cl ot hi ng, and m edi cal7

car e, w er e m et , so TD FPS di d not r em ove t he chi l dr en fr om appel l ant ’ s car e. Bu tTD FPS r ecei ved yetanot herr ef er r al i n A ugu st20 05 , w hi ch w as al so re fe rre d to F B S S . A tTh anksgi vi ng 2 00 5, G l en d a R evert , w ho w as a dr i verf orD ur ham Transport at i on , b e c a m e acquai nt ed w i t h appel l antand t he chi l dr en because t heyw er e o n he r bus r out e. Reve rt as ke d Bet h a nd M ona t o s pen d t he ni ght
w i t h herand of f er ed t o hel p appel l antw i t h herl aund ry. She tes t i f i ed t hatw hen she w entt o getappel l ant ’ s l aund ry, she not i ced t hatt heir ro o m a tt he B est V al ue I nn w her e t hey w er e st ayi ng w asnotw el l

- ke ptan d s m el l ed l i keur i ne or a l ockerr oom . She took appel l ant ’ s l aund ry and gav e t he gi r l s a bat h because t hey had l i ce. I n D ecem ber20 05 , TD FPS r eceived anot herr ef er r al t hatt he chi l dr en
w e re b e i n g n e g l e c t f u ll ysu p e rvi se d an d tha t t h e yw e re s e x u a l l yac ti n g o u t. For m erTD FPS i nvest i gat o r K e ll y Backh aus i nt ervi ew ed B et h and M ona at school . Bet h t ol d B ackhaus t hatt hey w er e occasi onal l y l ef tal one w hen app el l antw entt o t he hot elof f i cean d t hatA ndr ew us ed dr ugs , butap pel l ant
a n d A n d r e w w e r e s e pa r a t e d. M on a , h ow e ve r , s a i d t ha tt he y w e r e n otl e ft hom e al one and t hatt hei rpar ent s had used dr ugs i n t he past . Backh aus t hen
ca l l ed app el l antan d m etw i t h h e r th e n e x tda y. Bac kha usobs erved t hatt he h o m e h a d a n o d o ra n d t h e c h ild r e n w e r e s l i g h t l y u n k e p t . A p p e lla n tt o ld5 ... T h e rec o rd i n d i c a tes th a t A n d rew d i d n o t co n ti n u o u sly l i v e w i th

app el l antan d t he chi l dr en, buthedi d c ont r i but e t o t he hous eho l d a nd v i si tt he chi l dr en. 8 B a c k h a u s th a t sh e d i d n o t u se d rug s, b u t A n d rew h a d u se d d rug s i n the p a st. A ppel l antal so t ol d hert hatA ndr ew w as payi ng t he r enteven t hou gh he w as not l i vi ng t her e. 5 Backh aus nextr equest ed a r i sk st af f i ng, w hi ch occur s w hen a f am i l y has
a h i s to ryw i th T D F P S o r th e p o te n ti a l fo r g r e a t r i s ka n d s e v e ra l s u p e rv i s o rs
r evi ew a f am i l y’ s hi sto ry a n d a s s es s w hat , i fan yt hi ng, s houl d bedone . The
r i sks t af f i ng t ookpl ac e o n t he m or ni ng ofJa n u a ry 1 7 , 2006, an d TD FPS det er m i ned t hatm or e i nf or m at i on w asne ede d be f or e p r oce edi ng t o r em ovet he chi l dr en. C oi nc i dental l y, t hataft er noo n, Backh aus r ecei ved ano t herr ef er r al
r ega r di ng a l ar ge unt r ea t ed bur n on W i l l ’ s l eftha nd. Af t ert he r ef er r al , TD FPS t ook i m m edi at e ac t i on. Back hau s w ent t o t al k t o Bet h and M ona ag ai n a bout W i l l ’ s b u r n , a n d t h e g i r l s g a v e d i f f e r e n t s t o r i e s a b o u t wh a t h a d h a p p e n e d . On J a n u a ry1 8 , 2 0 0 6 , B a c k h a u ss p o k e w it h A n d r e w o n t h e p h o n e . A n d r e w t o ld B a c k h a u st h a th e n o t ic e d t h e b u r n o n W ill’s h a n d w h e n h e v is it e d , b u th e c o u ld
n o t ge t an ym o re in f o r m a ti o n fr o m ap p e l l a n t. A n d rew also stres se d to B a c k h a u sth a t a p p e l l a n t n e e d e d h e l p .9

W hen Bac kha usar r i ved at a p p e l l ant ’ s hom e a tBudge tSui t es , s he obs erved t hatf ood w asl yi ng a r ound, t hatt he hea t erw as b r oke n, t hatt he bab i esw er e i n s oi l ed di ape r s, t hat t her e w er e n o s hee t s orpi l l ow s on t he bed , and t hatt her e w as an odor . A ddi t i onal l y, t he chi l dr en w er e di rt y. Forexam pl e, R a c h e l h a d m a rk e r a n d m a s c a ra o n h e r fa c e , a n d G re g h a d b l a c kte e th . W i l l ’s han d w asw r app ed, an d a ppe l l ants ai d t hatt he bab ys i t t erha d t hr ow n a ci gar ett e o n t he gr ound w hi l e i t w as st i l l l i t , and W i l l had gr abb ed i t . Appel l ant al so t ol d B ackhaus t hat s h e had t aken W i l l t o t he hospi t al and t hathe w as al l er gi c t o t he t apet heyus ed, w hi ch exp l ai ned t he ot hers or eson h i s han d. B a c k h a u s re m o v e d the ch i l d ren an d too kthe m to th e T D F P S o ff ic e to cond ucta m or e t hor oug h bod y c h e ck, w hi ch r eveal ed t hatt he t w o you ngest chi l dr en had di ape r r as hes . The c hi l dr en al so ha d l i ce . Bac kha ust ookW i l l an d R achel to a m edi cal cent erw her e t hey w er e t r eat ed f ori nf l uenza and ear i n fe c ti o n s , a n d W i l l w a stre a te d fo r h i sb u rn . TDFP S p l a c e d t hec hi l dr e n w i t h f os t e rp a r e ntKa t hyi n Ja nu a ry 2006. K at hy t est i f i ed th a t th e chi l dr en had beh avi or al pr obl em s. Forexam pl e, t hey
w e re d i so rde rl y , d i sre sp e c tful , a n d d e fi a n t. T h e c h i l d ren d i d n o t kn o w h o w to appr opr i at el y expr ess t hei rf eel i ngs; f orexam pl e, M o na w oul d t earup her bedspr ead and w al l paperw hen she di d n o t g e t h e rw ay. The chi l dr en al so s e x u a l l ya c te d o u t.10

A r ound t he t i m e t he chi l dr en w er e r em ove d, ap pel l antw or ke d a s a b us ai d f ort he Le w i s v i l l e I nde pen den tSchoo l D i st r i ctan d a s a w ai t r es s atI H O P. A f t er TD FPS r em oved t he chi l dr en, appel l antcont i nued t o l i ve atBu dget S ui t es, b u ts h o rt lyt h e r e a f t e rin J u ly2 0 0 6 , s h e a n d h e r b o y f r ie n d K e v in g o ta m o b ile ho me t o g e t h e ri n L a k e D a l l a s . K e v i n b e c a me p h y s i c a l l ya g g r e s s i v e , a n d s he st opp ed seei ng hi m i n O ct oberorN ovem ber20 06 . A l t hou gh app el l antw or ked
a tIH O Pb e t w e e n A u g u s ta n d N o v e m b e r2 0 0 6 , s h e c o u ld n o ta f f o r d t h e m o b ile h o m e a f t e rK e v in m o v e d o u t , s o s h e m o v e d in w it h a f r ie n d , D e e , in L e w is v ille i n D ecem ber20 06 . D ee t est i f i ed t hatappel l anthel ped hera ro und t he hou se and w as cl ean. H ow ever , she st at ed t hat appel l antm oved o utbecause ofher la c ko fe m p lo y m e n ta n d t r a n s p o rt a t io n ; a p p e lla n t a ls o p la c e d a f in a n c ia l s t r a in
o n D e e . A p p e l l a n t t h e n m o v e d to K a n sa s a n d l i v e d w i th h e r m o th e r f o r a m o n th b e fo re m o v i n g to a n a p a rt m e n t i n F e b rua ry 2 0 0 7 . A p p e l l a n t a l so w o rke d at a W a f f l e Hou s e i n Ja nu a ry 2007. C A S A a s s i g n e d v o l u n te e r J a n e t A u n e to a p p e l l a n t’sc a s e i n J a n u a ry 2 0 0 6 . A u n e a t t e n d e d a ll t h e v is it a t io n se x c e p to n e . A tv is it s , a p p e lla n tt o ld t he chi l dr en t hatt heyw er e goi ng ho m e w i t h he r , m adene gat i ve com m ent s and accusat i ons abou tt he f ost erhom e, and bur dened t he chi l dr en by m aki ng t hem f eel s o r ry f o r h e r . Au n e t e s t i f i e d t h a t t h e r e wa s a l a c k o f b o n d i ng betw een a p p e l l a n t a n d th e c h i l d re n a n d th a t th e re w e re n o s i g n so f a tta c h m e n t. L a u ra6 ... Th e t r i al courtal so t er m i nat ed J. J. ’ s pa r ent al r i ghtst o hi s daughter

B e th ; A n d re w ’sp a re n ta l ri g h ts t o M o n a , G re g , a n d R a c h e l ; a n d H a ro l d ’s p a re n ta l ri g h ts to h i s s o n W i l l . N o n e o f th e m h a v e a p p e a l e d th e t r i a l c o u rt’s o rd e r. 11 G r eun er , t he chi l dr en’ s t her api st , al so t es t i f i ed t hat t hey di d notha ve a s t r ong att ac hm entt o a ppe l l ant . Af t ervi si t at i ons , t he chi l dr en exh i bi t ed des t r uct i ve beh avi oran d a ct ed out . Fo r exa m pl e, G r eg us ed sc i ss or s t o c uthi s hai r , body , a n d c lo t h e s . In O c t o b e r 2 0 0 6 , B e t h , M o n a , a n d G r e g t o ld A u n e t h a t t h e yd id not w antt o at t end vi si t s any l ong er . I n Febr uar y 20 07 , T D F P S di scont i nued
v i s i ta ti o n . A f t e r a ju ry t r ia l h e ld M a y2 1 t h r o u g h M a y2 4 , 2 0 0 7 , t h e t r ia l ju d g e , in
ac cor dan cew i t h t he j ury ve r di ct , he l d thatap pel l ant( 1) kn ow i ngl y pl ac ed or know i ngl y a ll o w ed W i l l t o r em ai n i n cond i t i ons orsur r oun di ngs w hi ch end ang er ed hi s phys i ca l or em ot i ona l w el l bei ng, ( 2) eng age d i n co n d u c t or know i ngl y pl aced al l ofherch il d r en w i t h per sons w ho eng aged i n cond uct
w h ic h e n d a n g e r e d t h e irp h y s ic a l o re m o t io n a l w e ll-b e in g , ( 3 ) f a ile d t o c o m p ly
w i t h t he pr ovi si ons of t he se rvi ce pl an, and t hat ( 4) t er m i nat i on w as i n a l l oft he
c h i l d ren ’s b e st i n tere st. S ee T EX . F AM . C ODE A NN . § § 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 )(D ), (E ), (O ), 6 (2 ). A p p e l l a n t ti m e l yfi l e d th i sa p p e a l . I I I . Standar d ofRev i ew12

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 a n a g e m e n t” o f h i so r h e r c h i l d re n a re c o n s ti tu ti o n a l i n te re s ts “ fa r m o re pr eci ous t han anypr o p e rt y right . ” Santosky v. K ram er, 455 U. S. 745, 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. , 115 S. W . 3d 534, 547 ( Tex. 2003 ) . W hi l e p ar ent alr i ght s ar e of con st i t ut i ona l m agn i t ude , t heyar e n ot absol ut e. Justas i ti s i m per at i ve f orcourt s t o r ecogn i ze t he co nst i t ut i onal und er pi nni ngs oft he par ent - chi l d r el at i onshi p, i t i s al so essent i al t hatem ot i onal and ph ysi cal i nt er est s oft he chi l d no t b e sacr i f i ced m er el y t o pr eserve t hat ri g h t. I nreC. H. , 8 9 S. W . 3d 17, 26 ( Tex. 2002 ) . I n a t er m i nat i on c as e, t he S tate se e k s n o t j u s t t o li m it p a ren tal ri g h ts b u t t o en d the m p e rm a n e n tl y — to d i v e s t th e p a re n t a n d c h i l d o f a l l l e g a l ri g h ts , p ri v i l e g e s , d u ti e s , a n d p o w e rs
n o rm a l l ye x i s ti n g b e tw e e n th e m , e x c e p t fo r th e c h i l d ’sri g h t to i n h e ri t. T EX . F AM . C ODEA NN . § 1 6 1 .2 0 6 (b ) (V e rn o n S u p p . 2 0 0 7 ); Ho l i ckv. Sm ith , 685 S. W . 2d 18, 20 ( Tex. 1985 ) . W e st r i ct l y sc r ut i ni z e t er m i nat i on pr oce edi ngsan 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 si 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; I n 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 onshi p 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 ovet hatt er m i nat i on13

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 EX. F AM . C ODEA NN.§ 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 tbees 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 det er m i ned by t he t r i er of fa 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 alr 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 p e ti ti o n ert o j us t i f y 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 EX . F AM . C ODEA NN . § § 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 isin 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
r ea so nab l e doubt st and ar d of cr i m i nal pr oce edi ngs . In reG . 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 ). It is d e f in e d a s t h e “ m e a s u r e o rd e g r e e o fp r o o ft h a tw ill p rod u c e i n th e m i n d o f th e tr i e r of fac t a fi rm b e l i e f or c o n v i c ti o n as to th e tr u th of t he al l egat i ons sough t t o be est abl i shed. ” T EX . F AM . C ODE A NN . § 10 1. 007 (V e rn o n 2 0 0 2 ). A . LegalSu ff i ci ency I n r evi ew i ng t he evi den cef orl ega l s uf f i ci enc y i n pa r ent a l t er m i nat i on c a s e s , w e m u s td e t e r m in e w h e t h e rt h e e v id e n c e iss 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 on t h a t th e g r oundsf ort er m i nat i on14

w e re 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 allthe ev i d e n c e i n th e 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. Th i s m eans t hat w e m ust assum 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 t-fi n 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 cet hata re a s o 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 tra ryto th e fi n d i n g . Id. T h a t i s, w e m u s t c o n side r ev i d e n c e fav o rab l e to t er m i nat i on i fa r easonabl e f act - f i nde r c o ul d and di sr egar d contr ary evi dence
u n l e s s a re a s o n a b l e fa c t-fi n 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 v e rdict. Id. Butw e c ann otw ei gh w i t nes s cr edi bi l i t y i ss ues t hat dep end on 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 sth e fa c t-fi n d e r’s p ro v i n c e . Id. at573– 74. And eve n w hen cr edi bi l i t y i ss uesap 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 fe r to th e fa c t-fi n 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. B. Fact ualSu ff i ci ency I n r evi ew i ng t he ev i d e n cef orf ac t uals 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 t-fi n d e r’s f i ndi ngs and not su ppl ant t he j udgm ent w 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 t-fi n d e r c o u l d re a s o n a b l yfo rm a fi rm15

c o n v ic t io n o rb e lie ft h a t t h e t e r m in a t io n o ft h e p a r e n t ’s p a r e n t a l rig h t sw o u ld b e 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 . I f , i n l i ghtoft he ent i r e r ec or d, t he di sp ut ed evi den ce t hat a r ea so nab l e f ac t - f i nde r cou l d notha ve cr edi t ed i n f avo roft h e f i ndi ng i s so s i gni f i ca ntt hata f ac t - f i nde rco ul d not
r ea so nab l yh a v e f o r me d a f i r m b e l i e fo rc o n v i c t i o n i n t h e t r u t h o fi t sf i n d i ng, th e n th e e v i d e n c e i sfa c tu a l l yi n s u fficie n t. H. R. M. , 2 0 9 S . W . 3 d a t1 0 8 . I fwe
r eve r seon f ac t ual su f f i ci enc y gr ounds , t hen w e m us tde t ai l i n ouropi ni on w hy
w e have concl ude d th a t a r easonabl e f act - f i ndercoul d not have cr edi t ed d i s p u te d e v i d e n c e i n fa v o r o f i ts fi n d i n g . J. F. C. , 96 S . W . 3d a t266– 67. I V . Enda nge r m entFi ndi ngs In h e rt h ir d a n d f o u rt h p o in t s , a p p e lla n ta r g u e st h a tt h e e v id e n c e isle g a lly
a n d f a c t u a llyin s u f f ic ie n t t o s u p p o rtt h e ju ry ’s f in d in g st h a ts h e e n g a g e d in cond uctorknow i ngl y pl aced herchi l dr en w i t h per sons w ho eng aged i n cond uct
w h i c h e n d a n g e re d th e i r 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 . T EX . F AM . C ODE A NN . § 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 )(E ). U n d e r s u b s e c ti o n 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 )(E ) o f t h e T e x a sF a m i l yC o d e , th e te rm

“ e n d a n g e r”m e a n sto e x p o s e to l o s so r i n j u ry , to j e o p a rd i z e . Id. ;Boyd, 727 S . W . 2d at 5 3 3 . A c cor di ngl y, w hen anal yzi ng t he t r i al court ’ s f i ndi ngs und er su bs ec t i on ( E) , w e m us tde t er m i ne w het hers uf f i ci entev i den ceex i st s t hatt he end ang er m entoft he chi l d’ s phys i ca l w el l

- bei n g w a s t he di r ec tr es ul toft he16

p a re n t'sc o n d u c t, i n c l u d i n g a c ts , o m i s s i o n s , o r fa i l u re sto a c t. I nreD . M. , 58 S . W . 3d 80 1, 81 1 ( Tex . A pp. — Fort W ort h 20 01 , no pet . ) . Term i nat i on un der
su bs ec t i on 161. 001 ( 1) ( E) m us tbeba se d on m or e t han a si ngl e a ctorom i ss i on; a v o lu n t a ry , d e lib e r a t e , a n d c o n s c io u sc 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 . S eeT EX . F AM . C ODE A NN . § 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 )(E ); D .M., 58 S. W . 3d a t812 ( expl ai ni ng t hatundersubsect i on ( E) a courtm ay or dert er m i nat i on of par ent al ri g h ts i f th a t pa ren t ha s e n g a g e d i n co n d u c t or k n o w i n g l yp l a c e d the ch i l d w i th p e r s o n s “ e n g a g in g in c o n d u c tw h ic h e n d a n g e r st h e e m o t io n a l o rp h y s ic a l w e llb e i n g o f th e c h i l d ” ); InreD .T ., 3 4S .W .3 d 6 2 5 , 6 3 4( T e x . A p p .— F o rtW o rt h 2 0 0 0 , p e t. d e n i e d ); I nreK. M. M. , 993 S . W . 2d 2 25, 227– 28 ( Tex. A p p .— E a s tl a n d 1 9 9 9 , n o p e t.). H o w e v e r, i t i sn o t n e c e s s a ryth a t th e p a re n t’s
c o n d u c t b e d i re c te d a t th e c h i l d o r th a t th e c h i l d a c tu a l l ys u ffe r i n j u ry . Boyd, 727 S.W .2 d a t 533. The sp ec i f i c d ang ert o t he chi l d’ s w el l

- bei ng m ay be i n fe rre d fro m p a re n ta l m i s c o n d u c t s ta n d i n g a l o n e . Id . T o d e term i n e w h e th e r t e rm i n a ti o n i s n e c e ss a ry, co u rt s m a yl o o kto p a re n ta l c o n d u c t b o th b e fo re a n d a fte r th e c h i l d ’sb i rth . D . M. , 58 S. W . 3d at 8 1 2 . A s a g e n e ral rul e , c o n d u c t t h a t su bj e c ts a ch i l d to a l i fe o f un c e rt a i n ty
a n d i n s ta b i l i tye n d a n g e rsth e p h y s i c a l a n d e m o ti o n a l w e l l -b e i n g o f a c h i l d . In
reS. D. , 9 8 0 S .W .2 d 7 5 8 , 7 6 3 (T e x . A p p .— S a n A n to n i o 1 9 9 8 , p e t. d e n i e d ). A . H ea l t h a nd L i vi ng Condit i ons17

H er e, t he evi den cei ndi ca t est hatap pel l antha d di f f i cul t y m ai nt ai ni ng a c l e a n a n d s ta b l e e n v i ro n m e n t fo r h e r c h i l d re n . A d d i ti o n a l l y , sh e d i d n o t e n s u re th a t h e r c h i l d re n ’sb a s i c h y g i e n e n e e d sw e re m e t. A n d re w te s ti fi e d th a t T D F P S re m o v e d th e c h i l d re n fro m a p p e l l a n t’sc a re bec aus e t he ap art m entw asnotcl ea n, an d t he chi l dr en t hem se l vesw er e n ot cl ean. H e al so st at ed t hat t he chi l dr en of t en l ooked di rt y and t hatt hey had l i ce on and of ff ora coupl e of year s. A ndr ew t est i f i ed t hatt he chi l dr en w er e never hom el es s and al w ays had f ood, al t hough s om et i m esnotan ab unda nceoff ood. H e st at ed t hatappel l antw oul d bat he t he chi l dr en and pu tt hei rschool cl ot hes
o n a t n i g h t b e fo re th e yw e n t to s l e e p . Reve rt , w ho on cew enti nt o a ppe l l ant ’ s apartm e n t to he l p he rw i t h t he l aund ry, t est i f i ed t hatt he apart m entw as not w el l

- kept and t hati tsm el l ed l i ke
u ri n e o r a l o c k e r roo m . S h e o b se rve d th a t th e k i tch e n w a s d i rt yan d fi l l e d w i th ol d w r apper s, and f ood w as si t t i ng ou t . C asew or kerC happ el l al so st at ed t hat app el l ant ’ s hom e w asdi rt y a nd ha d a n odo r . Kel l y Dun c a n , a fri end f r om c h u rch , a l so v i sit e d ap p e l l a n t’ s h o m e , l o o k e d i n the w i n d o w , a n d n o ti c e d i ts uncl eanl i ness. Beth al so t ol d G r euner and K at hy t hat t her e w er e bug s al l overt he hou se and i n t hei rf ood , al t hou gh som et i m es Bet h t ol d G r eunert hatnot hi ng w as
w r ong w i t h t hei rhom e. M ona w as em bar r assed t o have peo pl e overbecause18

oft he con di t i on oft hei rhous e. TD FPS w or ke d w i t h a p pel l antr ega r di ng t he cl ea nl i nes s of her hom e, and al t hough ap pel l antw oul d c l ea n t he apa rt m ent , s he
w a s u n a b l e to m a i n ta i n i t. T h e e v i d e n c e a l s o d e m o n s tra te sth a t a p p e l l a n t n e g l e c te d th e c h i l d re n ’s den t al an d pe r so nalhyg i ene . Ji l l t es t i f i ed t hat sh e had t o a skap pel l antt o l ea ve herhom e a f t erap pel l antr ef us ed t o k ee p he r se l forhe rch i l dr en cl ea n. C hap pe l l t es t i f i ed t hatt he chi l dr en di d notha ve ade qua t e c l ot hi ng, an d t he cl ot hi ng t h a tt h e c h i l d r e n d i d we a rwa sd i rt ya n d d i d n o tf i twe l l . I n t he
w i nt er , t he chi l dr en di d notha ve coa t s. Chappe l l pr ovi ded cl ot hi ng f ort he chi l dr en, but she never saw t hem w ear any of t he cl ot hes. A ppel l antt ol d her t hatt he cl ot hes w er e st ol en. A ddi t i onal l y, t he chi l dr en w er e usual l y di rt y, had an odo r , and r an ar oun d unsup ervi sed. C happ el l al so t est i f i ed t hatt he chi l dr en di d not have no ur i shi ng m eal s. R e v e rtsta ted tha t B e th a n d M o n a sp e n t th e n i g h t w i th h e r a n d th a t bo th gi r l s had a bad i nf est at i on of l i ce. A ddi t i onal l y, t he gi r l s’ t eet h l ooked l i ke t hey
w er e n otpr ope r l y t ak en ca r e o fal t hough t hey di d notap pea rr ott en orde ca yed . D u n c a n tes ti fi e d tha t t h e ch i l d ren w e re u su a l l yn o t cl e a n an d h a d d ir ty fi n g e rn a i l s . T h re e -y e a r-o l d R a c h e l fre q u e n tl yh a d m a k e u p o n h e r fa c e . A ppe l l ant ’ s f r i end s and cow or ke r s, how eve r , t es t i f i ed t hathe rap art m ent and ch i l dr en w er e c l ea n. Dee, w ho a l l ow ed app el l antto l i ve w i t h he rf r om7 ... A l t hough f ai l ur e t o c om pl y w i t h a s ervi cepl an i s an i nd e p e n d e nt

gr ound f ort er m i nat i on, t he sa m e e vi d e n c e i s a l so r el eva ntt o t he ana l ys i s of s u ff i c i e n c yu n d e r s u b s e c ti o n 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 )(E ). T EX . F AM . C ODE A NN . § 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 )(E ). 19 D ecem ber20 06 t o Febr uar y 20 07 , t est i f i ed t hatappel l antw as cl ean and hel ped
ar oun d t he hou se. Pam el a R asm ussen and Li sa H ekt or , w ho l i ved att he sam e a p a rtm e n t c o m p l e xa n d w o rk e d w i th a p p e l l a n t, a l s o te s ti fi e d th a t a p p e l l a n t’s hom e a nd c hi l dr en w er e c l ea n. Th e r ecor d dem onst r at es t hatappel l antst r ugg l ed w i t h m ai nt ai ni ng a cl ean and hea l t hy env i r onm ent f or her se l f and her chi l dr en. A ddi t i ona l l y , a ppe l l ant had di f f i cul t y keepi ng her chi l dr en appr opr i at el y cl ean and cl ot hed becau se t hey
w er e r egu l ar l y di rt y a nd h ad l i ce . Al t hough t her e i s al so ev i den cet o t he
con t r ary, t he j ury a s f ac t - f i nde rw asf r eet o a ss es s t he cr edi bi l i t y ofal l t he
w i t nesses and det er m i ne t hat t he chi l dr en’ s l i vi ng con di t i ons w er e i nadeq uat e. Se eJ. P. B. , 1 8 0 S .W .3 d a t 5 7 3 . B. S ervi ce Pl an T h e ev i d e n c e also i n d i c a tes th a t a p p e l l a n t did n o t su c c e ss fu l l yp a rt i c i p a te i n her se rvi ce pl an. B a c k h a u s te sti fi e d tha t T D F P S i n i ti a ted F B S S w i th 7
a p p e l l a n t t h ree ti m e s, b u t ap p e l l a n t did n o t pa rt i c i p a te u n ti l the thir d atte m p t. A p p e l l a n t’ss e rv i c e p l a n re q u i re d h e r to c o m p l e t e p a re n ti n g c l a s s e s , a psychol ogi cal eval uat i on, and re c o m m endati ons f r om t he eval uat i on, w hi ch20

i ncl uded i ndi vi dual counsel i ng and an EC I eval uat i on. T D F P S a l so addr essed i ss uess uch asm ee t i ng t he f am i l y’ s f i nan ci al n e e d s , pa r ent i ng s ki l l s, an d cl eanl i ness. A ppel l ant com pl et ed par ent i ng and hom em aki ng servi ces. She al so p a rt i c i p a ted i n a p sy c h o l o g i c a l ev a l u a ti o n , b u t sh e d i d n o t co m p l e te i t. A p p e l l a n t d i d n o t p a rt i c i p a t e i n a n E CI e v a l u a t i o n . S h e a l s o at t ended
cou ns el i ng, buts he w asnots ucc es sf ul l y di sc har ged . Th e r a pi s tM i c he l l e Gr e e r , w ho b e ga n s e e i ng a pp e l l a nti n Fe br ua ry 2006
a s p a rto fh e rs e rv ic e p la n f o rin d iv id u a l c o u n s e lin g , t e s t if ie d t h a ts h e in it ia lly t hough tap pel l antw asm ak i ng pr ogr es s, butt hen di sc ove r ed app el l ant w asnot
r epo rt i ng t hi ngs ac cur at el y t o her . G r ee runs ucc es sf ul l y di sc har ged ap pel l ant f r om co uns el i ng be ca us e a ppe l l antw asnot b e i n g hone stw i t h he r . Fo r exa m pl e, ap pel l antt ol d Gr ee rt hat sh e w as w or ki ng w hen sh e w asune m pl oye d; she als o to ld G r eert hatshe w as notseei ng A ndr ew , butG r eersaw A ndr ew
w ai t i ng f orappel l antaft era ses si on. G r eerst at ed t hatappel l antw as i nvol ved
w i t h a l otofi nst abi l i t y and l acked a supportsyst em . C A S A vol unteerA une al so t est i f i ed t hat appel l ant di d not com pl y w i t h her
se rvi cepl an. Aune di d notkn ow i fap pel l antatt end ed dom es t i c v i ol enc e o r a n g e r m a n a g e m e n t cl a ss e s. A u n e tes ti fi e d tha t ap p e l l a n t did c o m p l e te par en t i n g c l a s s e s , b u t s h e d i d n o t s e c u r e s t a b l e h o u s i n g f o r mo r e t h a n t he
r equ i r ed si x m ont hs . Aune al so s t at ed t hatap pel l antdi d notha ve a s t ea dy21

i n c o m e b e c a u s e o f he r vo l a ti l e w o rk h i sto ry. C a se w o rke r D a p h n e S c h w a rt z t est i f i ed t hatTD FPS di d n o t b e li e ve appel l anthad com pl i ed w i t h herservi ce p l a n an d i t w a s i n th e c h i l d ren ’s b e st i n tere sts for a p p e l l a n t’ s p a ren tal ri g h ts to b e te rm i n a te d . 1. Em pl oym entand R esi dences A ddi t i ona l l y, ap pel l ant di d not m ai nt ai n a s t ea dy j ob ors t abl e h ous i ng f or atl eastsi x m onths, w hi ch w as r equi r ed by herservi ce pl an. The evi dence show s t hatappel l antw or ked as a bus ass i st antf orD ur ham Sch ool Ser vi ces f r om t he f al l of20 05 t o t he spr i ng of 20 06 . A ppel l ant ’ s supervi sor , D ebor ah W o rt h a m , t e s t if ie d t h a ta lt h o u g h a p p e lla n th a d a jo b w it h t h e m , s h e w o u ld di sappear . Forexam pl e, i n t he f al l of20 06 , D ebo rah at t em pt ed t o contact appel l antr egar di ng t he new school year , butshe di d n o tr ecei ve a r esponse. A p p e l l a n t f i n a l l yco n tac ted D e b o rah ’s su p e rvi so r, b u t sh e sti l l d i d n o t r e tu rn to
w o rk , a n d D e b o ra h te s ti fi e d t h a t a p p e l l a n t “ l e ft o u r e m p l o y m e n t a g a i n .” A ppel l antcam e back t o w or k i n January 20 07 and w or ked f orsever al w eeks
u n ti l sh e d i d n o t sh o w u p o n e d a y . A p p e l l a n t t h e n ca m e to th e o ffi c e w i th
cr ut ches and expl ai ned t hat she had a f oot i nj ur y. D ebor ah t est i f i ed t hatt hey hel d he rj ob f or t hi rt y day s but t hat app el l ant di d not con t ac t t hem aga i n so s he
w ast er m i nat ed f orj ob a ban donm ent . Appel l anta l s o w o r ke d a tI H O P f r om A ugus tt hr ough N ove m ber2006 , buts he q u i t s how i ng up f orw or k. Atone22

poi nt , ap pel l antw or ke d f ora day ca r e w her e h erch i l dr en att end ed. A u n e te s ti fi e d th a t s h e h a d c o n c e rn sre g a rd i n g a p p e l l a n t’sw o rkh i s to ry because of appel l ant ’ s pat t er n of aband oni ng herj obs. A une al so t est i f i ed t hat app el l ant ’ s bad w or k hi st ory pr eve nt ed her f r om m ai nt ai ni ng a st ea dy i nco m e t o pr ovi de f orhe rch i l dr en. The re c or d s how s t hatap pel l antal so ha d num er ousr es i den ce s. I n t he sevent een m onths t hat T D F P S had t he chi l dr en af t err em oval , appel l antl i ved i n si x pl aces, i nc lu d in g a m ot el , a m obi l e hom e, w i t h a f r i end, and i n sever al
a p a rt m e n t s . A p p e l l a n t al so h a d a h i sto ry o f be i n g u n a b l e to p a yh e r r e n t. A p p e l l a n t ad m i tted tha t sh e u n d e rsto o d tha t p a r t o fh e r se rvi c e p l a n w a s to
m a in t a in a s t e a d yp la c e o fre s id e n c yf o rs ixm o n t h sb u tt h a ts h e w a s n o ta b le t o do t hatbecause TD FPS t ol d hert o m ove. 2. V i sit at i on The e vi den cer ef l ec t s t hatap pel l antatt end ed vi si t at i onsr egu l ar l y, but aft er t he chi l dr en sa w app el l ant , t heyw oul d e xhi bi tde st r uct i ve beh avi or . Fo r e x a m p l e , G re g c u t h i m s e l f w i th s c i s s o rs . W h e n G re g ’ste a c h e r re m o v e d G re g ’s
sc i ss o rs, he sto l e o th e r stu d e n t s ’ sc i ss o rs a n d co n ti n u e d to h a rm h i m se l f. W hen al l oft he sci ssor s w er e r em oved, G r eg r esort ed t o st eal i ng otheri t em s i n t he cl assr oom or physi cal l y at t acked hi s cl assm at es. Furt her , appel l antact ed i nap pr opr i at el y a t vi si t s. Fo rex am pl e, s he l aug hed i foneoft he chi l dr en m ade8 ... Bec aus e w e c onc l ude t hat t her e i s bot h l ega l l y and f ac t ual l y s uf f i ci ent

evi den cet o s upportt he j ury’ s f i ndi ngsunde rf am i l y co de se ct i on 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 )( E ), w e n e e d n o t ad d r e s s a p p e l l a n t’ s fi rst an d se c o n d p o i n ts w i th re s p e c t to th e j u ry ’s fi n d i n g re g a rd i n g W i l l u n d e r s e c ti o n 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 )(D ). S ee 23 f un of another , encour aged t he chi l dr en t o m ake f un of A ndr ew , and t r i ed t o get sym pat hy f r om t he chi l dr en by usi ng ph ysi cal pr obl em s. A ppel l antal so spoke negati vel y of t he f ost er f am i l y t o t he chi l dr en. I n O ct ober 20 06 , t he chi l dr en d e c i d e d th a t th e y d i d n o t w a n t to a tte n d v i s i ta ti o n s w i th a p p e l l a n t. H o w e v e r, appel l antt est i f i ed t hatt he chi l dr en di d not st op at t endi ng vi si t s because ofher b u tb e c a u s e t h e yd i d n o twa n tt o s e e A n d r e w. Th e evi dence i ndi cat es t hat appel l ant di d not suf f i ci ent l y w or k herservi ce p l a n an d tha t sh e w a s u n a b l e to m a i n tai n ad e q u a t e h o u sing o r em p l o y m e n t. Furt h e r mo r e , d e s p i t e a t t e n d i n g v i s i t a t i o n s , a p p e l l a n t ’ s i n t e r a c t i o n s wi t h her
c h i l d re n n e g a ti v e l yi m p a c te d th e i r b e h a v i o r to th e e x te n t th a t v i s i ts w e re st oppe d. Based o n ourr evi ew of t he ent i r e r ecor d, w e concl ude t hata f act f i nder
c o u ld re a s o n a b lyf o r m a f ir m b e lie fo rc o n v i c t io n t h a ta p p e lla n te n g a g e d in cond uctorknow i ngl y pl aced herchi l dr en w i t h per sons w ho eng aged i n cond uct
w h ic h e n d a n g e r e d t h e ir p h y s ic a l a n d e m o t io n a l w e ll-b e in g . T h e r e f o r e , w e h o ld th a t th e e v i d e n c e i sl e g a l l ya n d fa c tu a l l y s u fficie n t to s u p p o rt th e tri a l c o u rt’s fi n d i n g s u n d e r s u b s e c ti o n 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 )(E ). T EX . F AM . C ODE A NN . 8T EX . F AM . C ODE A NN . § 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 )(D ), (E ); see T EX . R. A PP . P . 4 7 .1 ; Inre

K.A .S ., 1 3 1 S .W .3 d 2 1 5 , 2 2 5 (T e x . A p p .— F o rt W o rth 2 0 0 4 , p e t. d e n i e d ). 24 § 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 )(E ); s e eInreS.B., 2 0 7 S .W .3 d 8 7 7 , 8 8 5 (T e x . A p p .— F o rtW o rt h 20 06 , no pet . ) . W e over r ul e appel l ant ’ s t hi r d and f ourt h poi nt s.

V . Fai l ur e t o C om pl y w it h C ourtO r der I n appel l ant ’ s f i f t h and si xt h poi nt s , s h e cl ai m s t hatt he evi dence w as l e g a l l yan d fac t u a ll yi n su ffi c i e n t t o term i n a te h e r pa ren tal ri g h ts fo r f a i l u re to
com pl y w i t h t he pr ovi si onsofa cou rtor derne ce ss ary t o obt ai n the r et ur n of h e r c h i l d re n . SeeT EX . F AM . C ODE A NN . § 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 )(O ). O n l yo n e fi n d i n g u n d e r se c ti o n 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 ) i s n e c e ss a ry to su p p o rta j u d g m e n t o f te rm i n a ti o n . Id. § 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 ); InreK.A .S., 131 S . W . 3d 215, 225 (T e x . A p p .— F o rt W o rth 2 0 0 4 , p e t. d e n i e d ); D .M., 58 S . W . 2d at 81 3. Because
w e co n c lu d e tha t t h e re i s b o th l e g a l l yan d fac tu a l l ysu ffi c i e n t ev i d e n c e to
s u p p o rt th e j u r y ’ sfi n d i n g su n d e r fa m i l yc o d e s u b s e c ti o n 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 )(E ), w e nee d notad dr es s app el l ant ’ s r em ai ni ng po i nt s w i t h r es pec tt o t he j ury’ s f i ndi ng
u n d e r s u b s e c ti o n 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 )(O ). S eeT EX . F AM . C ODE A NN . § 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 )(D ), (E ), (O ); se e al

so T EX . R. A PP . P . 4 7 .1 ; K.A .S . , 131 S. W . 3d a t225.

V I . BestI nt er est Fi ndi ngs25

I n ap p e ll ant ’ s sevent h and ei ghth poi nt s, she ar gues t hatt he evi dence
w as l egal l y and f act ual l y i nsuf f i ci en t to s u ppo rtt he j ur y’ s f i ndi ng t hat te rm i n a ti o n o f h e r p a re n ta l ri g h ts w a s i n th e c h i l d re n ’s b e s t i n te re s t. S ee T EX . F AM . C ODE A NN . § 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (2 ). A. A ppl i cabl e Law P r o m p t a n d p e r m a n e n tp la c e m e n to ft h e c h ild in a s a f e e n v ir o n m e n tis p res u m e d to b e i n the ch i l d ’s b e st i n tere st. T EX . F AM . 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 r e su 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 hat t he t r i eroff acti n a t er m i nat i on case m ay use i n det er m i ni ng t he besti nt er estoft he chi l d i ncl ude: ( 1) t he des i r esoft he chi l d; ( 2) t he em ot i ona l an d phys i ca l nee dsoft he chi l d now an d i n t he f ut ur e; ( 3) t he em ot i ona l and phys i ca l dan gert o t he chi l d now an d i n t he f ut ur e; ( 4) t he par ent al abi l i t i es of t he i ndi vi dua l s se ek i ng c us t ody; (5 ) th e p rog ram s a v a i l a b l e to a ss i st th e se i n d i v i d u a l s to pr om ot e t he bes ti nt er es toft he chi l d; ( 6) t he pl ansf ort he chi l d byt hes e i ndi vi dua l s orby t he age ncys ee ki ng c us t ody; (7 ) th e sta b i l i ty o f t h e h o m e o r pro p o se d p l a c e m e n t;26

(8 ) th e ac 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 th a t t h e ex i sti n g p a ren t- c h il d r e l a ti o n sh i p i s n o t a pr ope rone ; an d (9 ) a n yex c u se for the 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 , 5 4 4S .W .2 d 3 6 7 , 3 7 1

– 7 2 (T e x . 1 9 7 6 ). T h e s e f a c t o r sa r e n o te x h a u s t iv e ; s o m e lis t e d f a c t o r sm a y b e in a p p lic a b le t o som e cases; ot her f act or s not on t he l i st m ay al so be consi dere d w hen
a p p ro p ri a te . C.H . , 89 S. W . 3d at 27 . Furt her m or e, undi sput ed evi dence of j ust one f act orm ay be suf f i ci enti n a part i cul arcase t o suppo rta f i ndi ng t hat te rm i n a ti o n i si 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 he ot herha nd, t he pr es enc e o fs ca ntev i den cer el eva ntt o e a c h fa ct orw i l l nots upports uch a fi n d i n g . Id. B . A n a ly s is 1. D esi r es oft he chi l dr en A t t he t i m e of t r i al , Bet h w as ni ne yea r s ol d, M ona w asei ghtye ar s ol d, G re g w a sfi v e y e a rso l d , R a c h e l w a sth re e y e a rso l d , a n d W i l l w a stw o y e a rs ol d. The chi l dr en’ s t her api st , G r euner , te s tifi ed t hatw hen she i ni t i al l y began
se e i n g the ch i l d ren i n the su m m e r of 2 0 0 6 , th e yw a n ted to g o h o m e w i th app el l ant , butove rt i m e, t hey w ant ed t o s t ay i n t hei rf os t erhom e. I n f ac t , by27

O c to b e r 2 0 0 6 , th e ch i l d ren d e c i d e d tha t t h e yw a n ted to d i sc o n ti n u e th e i r vi sit s
w i th ap p e l l a n t. Th e evi dence als o show s t hatt he t hr ee ol derchi l dr en di d not have a stro n g atta c h m e n t t o ap p e l l a n t an d tha t t h e yw e re e x c i ted a b o u t t h e p o ss i b i l i ty ofl i vi ng w i t h r el at i ves . Bet h w ant ed t o bead opt ed by h erf os t erf am i l y , an d M o n a w a n te d to l i v e w i th h e r a u n t J i l l . 2. The e m ot i ona lan d phys i ca l nee ds and dan geroft he chi l dren now a n d i n th efu tu re W hen TD FPS r em ove d t he chi l dr en, W i l l had a se ver e b ur n on hi s han d,
a n d a p p e lla n tw a sn o te x a c t lys u r e w h a th a d h a p p e n e d . A p p e lla n tt o ld Back hau s t hats he had t ak en W i l l t o t he hos pi t al , but sh e had not gi ven hi m an y
m edi ci ne. Appel l antal so s ai d t hat t he add i t i ona l s or esBac kha usnot i ce d on t he bab y’ s han d w er e ca us ed by an al l er gi c r ea ct i on t o t he t apeus ed. Addi t i ona l l y, W i l l an d Rache l had di ape r r as hes , i nf l uen z a, and ea r i nf ec t i ons , an d a l l oft he
c h i l d ren h a d l i c e . W i l l also h a d p i n key e . T h e rec o rd i s a ls o rep l e te w i th
e v i d e n c e t h a t t h e ch i l d ren h a d p rob l e m s w i th the i r t e e th an d tha t t h e i r t e e th l o o k e d b l a c k . H o w e v e r, fo s te r p a re n t K a th y te s ti fi e d th a t th e i r te e th l o o kd a rk b e ca us e t heyha d s i l verca pson t hem . Appel l antt es t i f i ed t hats he ke ptt he chi l dr en’ s i m m uni z at i onsup- t o- dat e a nd t hats he pr ovi ded TD FPS w i th t he
c h i l d re n ’sm e d i c a l re c o rd sa fte r th e yw e re re m o v e d .28

Th e evi dence al so dem onst r at es t hatt he chi l dr en suf f er ed f r om behavi or al pr obl em s. Kathy t est i f i ed t hatw hen t he chi l dr en f i r star r i ved i n her hom e, t hey
w er e d i s o r d e r l y , a g g r e s s i v e , d i s r e s p e c t f u l , s a s s y , a n d o u to fc o n t r o l . S he st at ed t hatt heydi d notkn ow how t o a ppr opr i at el y e xpr es s t hei rf ee l i ngsan d
w o u l d y e l l , h i t, p u s h , sh o v e , a n d s c re a m . G re u n e r te s ti fi e d th a t th e c h i l d re n h a d a l o t o f i s s u e ss u c h a sa n g e r, sexual l y act i ng ou t , and di f f i cul t y f ol l ow i ng r ul es. Beth and M ona had si m i l ar i ss u e s w i th n o t t e l l i n g the tr u th , w i th s e x u a l l yac ti n g ac t, w i th b e i n g d e fi a n t,
w i t h not l i st eni ng t o t hei rf ost erm ot her , and w i t h not obeyi ng r ul es. G r euner st at ed t hat M ona had addi t i onal i ssues because she had m or e unr esol ved ang er and di d nots how r em or se f or her ac t i ons . Al t hough you nge rt han Bet h, M ona
w as t he bul l y and m ade f un of hersi bl i ngs and m ani pul at ed t hem . G r euner t est i f i ed t hatM ona’ s behavi orhad chang ed ver y l i t t l e despi t e t her apy. Sh e al so t est i f i ed t hatal l oft he ol derchi l dr en w er e physi cal l y aggr essi ve. Forexam pl e, t he B oys and G i r l s C l ub suspend ed M ona f or choki ng another gi r l , and G r eg had ki ck ed a g i r l i n t he st om ac h. G r eg al so cu thi m se l f , an d het ol d Gr eun ert hathe di d i t bec aus e t he ot her ki ds ats cho ol s di d notl i kehi m , heha t ed hi m se l f , an d he w ant ed t o ki l l hi m sel f . G reun eral so t est i f i ed t hati n pl ay t her apy, G r eg act ed out agai nstf em al e t oys, w hi ch w as consi st ent w ith a f am i l y vi ol ence envi r onm ent . Rache l w as bossy, cl i m bed t he f ur ni t ur e, and t hr ew t em per29

t ant r um s; W i l l w asal so ag gr es si ve and ki ck ed hi s pl aym at es at day ca r e. Kat hy t est i f i ed t hatBeth, M ona, and G r eg had al l been i n t r oub l e f orst eal i ng. G r euner t es t i f i ed t hatt he chi l dr en’ s b e h avi orha d va ci l l at ed si ncet hei rr em ova l . She st at ed t hat G r eg had m ade consi st ent i m pr ovem ent s, t hatBeth’ s pr ogr ess had g o n e u p an d d o w n , a n d th a t M o n a h a d n o t m a d e a n yco n sisten t i m p rov e m e n ts
orpr ogr ess. G r euneral so t est i f i ed t hat al l of t he chi l dr en sai d sexual t hi ngs and act ed i napp r opr i at el y. Revert , w i t h w hom t he g irls spentt he ni ght w i t h one t i m e, tes ti fi e d tha t t h e ykn e w too m u c h ab o u t s e x u a l b e h a v i o r. Fo r ex a m p l e , B e th t ouc hed he r se l f , an d M ona da nce d pr ovoc at i vel y. The chi l dr en al so goton t op ofeach ot herand t r i ed t o engag e i n ot her sexual behavi or s. K at hy t est i f i ed t hat t he gi r l s show ed of ft hei rchest , and G r eg “m oon ed” t he gi r l s. The chi l dr en al so t ol d Gr e u n e rt h a tt h e yh a d s e e n a n d h e a r d t h e i rp a r e n t sh a v e s e x . Gr e u n er t est i f i ed t hatshe bel i eved t he chi l dr en w er e exposed t o sexual t hi ngs but t hat
n o th i n g h a d b e e n d o n e d i re c tl yto th e m . T h e c h i l d re n a l s o w i tn e s s e d d o m e s ti c v i o l e n c e . F o r e x a m p l e , th e yw e re pr es entw h e n t hei rpa r ent s f ought , an d t heys aw A ndr ew hi tap pel l ant . The chi l dr en w er e al so pr esentw hen app el l anthad an al t er cat i on w i t h herm ot her i n New M exi co, an d Gr eg w asac ci den t al l y s t r uckby a phon e. Addi t i ona l l y, G r eg’ s act i ons i n pl ay t her apy w er e consi st ent w ith a c h il d w ho had been30

expose d t o f a mi l yv i o l e n c e . Ap p e l l a n ta l s o t o l d B e t h s h e wa sc o n c ei ved bec aus e a ppe l l ant w as r ape d al t hough app el l ant den i ed sh ar i ng t hi s w i t h Bet h. M ona al so kn ew of t he i nci den t , and sh e w oul d m ak e f un ofBet h be ca us e o f i t. T D F P S c o u l d n o t s u b s ta n ti a te a n yp h y s i c a l a b u s e . A ppel l antt est i f i ed t hat t he chi l dr en di d not have any b ehavi or al pr obl em s bef or e t hey w er e r em oved. O t her w i t nesses al so t est i f i ed t hat t he chi l dr en had
never had behavi or al pr obl em s. For exam pl e, A ndr ew t est i f i ed t hatt he chi l dr en di d not exhi bi tany angerpr obl em s orbehavi or al i ssues unti l t hey w er e pl aced i n fos ter ca re, al th o u g h h e also tes ti fi e d tha t ch i l d r e n w e r e sti l l b e tter off bec aus e t heyw er e i n a m or e s t abl e e nvi r onm ent . Reve rtt es t i f i ed t hatt he chi l dr en w er e good , quie t, a n d w el l

- behaved ki ds al t hou gh M ona had an at t i t ude. H ow ever , G r eunert est i f ie d th att he chi l dr en’ s behavi or s had been i n g ra i n e d i n th e m l o n g b e fo re th e yw e re re m o v e d . 3. The pa r ent alab i l it i esoft he i ndivi dua l s s e e k i n g c us t ody, and t he pr ogr am s avai l abl e t o assi stt hese i ndi vi dual s t o pr om ot e t he best i nt er estoft he chi l dr en A s not ed abo ve, t he evi den cede m ons t r at est hatap pel l an t di d not
su f f i ci ent l y w or k h er se rvi ce pl an. A s pr evi ous l y di sc us se d, al t hough ap pel l ant
c o m p le t e d p a r e n t in g a n d h o m e m a k in g c la s s e s , s h e d id n o ts u c c e s s f u lly
c o m p le t e a p s y c h o lo g ic a l e v a lu a t io n o r c o u n s e lin g . C A S A v o lu n t e e rA u n e d id not know w het herappel l anthad at t ended d o m e s ti c vi ol ence oranger31

m ana gem ent cl as se s. A ppe l l ant di d not m ai nt ai n st abl e h ous i ng f ors i x m ont hs
o r co n sisten t em p l o y m e n t. A ddi t i onal l y, t he r ecor d sho w s t hatal t hou gh app el l antatt ended her vi si t at i onsw i t h t he chi l dr en, s he di d notac tap pr opr i at el y w i t h t hem , and t he chi l dr en exhi bi t ed dest r uct i ve behavi or af t er seei ng appel l ant . Th e r ecor d al so sh ow s t hatt her e w asa l ac k o fbond i n g b e tw e e n app el l antan d he rch i l dr en, a l th o u g h ap p e l l a n t w o u l d sit o n th e fl o o r a n d p l a y w i th th e c h i l d ren o r r e a d to t hem . Ap p e l l a n t a l s o e n c o u r a g e d i n a p p r o p r i a t e b e h a v i o r b y l a u g h i n g an d
m ak i ng f un oft he chi l dr en oroft hei rf at heran d by ber at i ng t he f os t erf am i l y. T D F P S d i s c o n ti n u e d v i s i ts a t th e c h i l d re n ’sre q u e s t. The r ec or d a l s o ref l ec t s t hatap pel l antdi d notap pr opr i at el y s eet o t he chi l dr en’ s m edic al ornut r i t i onal needs. Forexam pl e, chur ch acquai nt ance D uncan t est i f i ed t hatshe not i ced W i l l ’ s bur n and t hatappel l anthad t ape appl i ed di r ec t l y t o t he w ound. Du n ca n a l so obs erved t hatap pel l antha d a bott l e o f
m edi ci ne, w hi ch had t he nam e scr at ched of f and w as outdat ed by t w o year s. The chi l dr en al so r epe at edl y had l i ce and den t al pr obl em s. A ddi t i ona l l y, app el l antha d no r ega r d f ort he chi l dr en’ s pr ope rnut r i t i on. Atvi si t s, s he di d not br i ng he al t hy s nac ksorcu tup t he f ood f ort he youn gerch i l dr en. Furt her m or e, t he r ec or d sh ow s t hat app el l ant had a h i st ory ofunhe al t hy
r el at i onshi ps and dom est i c vi ol ence. A ppel l anthad l i ved w i t h a s e x of f ender32

and ha d m ai nt ai ned co nt ac tw i t h m en w hom s he had h a d v o l a ti l e a nd
so m et i m esvi ol ent r el at i ons hi ps . For exa m pl e, D unc an t es t i f i ed t hatap pel l ant
c a l l ed he rt o c om e o ve ran d tal k to A nd r ew be ca us e h e h ad t r i ed t o str an gle her . The r ec or d r ef l ec t s t hatdom es t i c vi ol enc e occ ur r ed f r equ ent l y i n f r ontof t h e c h ild r e n . A p p e lla n ta ls o d a t e d a m a n n a m e d K e v in w h o w a sp h y s ic a lly abusi ve. M or eover , Beth t ol d G r eunert hatA ndr ew had don e dr ugs and t hat Rache l f ound dr ugsunde rt he bed i n w hatl ook ed l i kea l i ghtbul b. 4. Th e pl ans f ort he chi l d re n b y t hese i ndi vi dual s orby t he agency seeki ng cus to d y,and t he st abi l ity oft he hom e orpr opo sed pl ac em ent R egar di ng f ut ur e pl ans f or t he chi l dr en, TD FPS ’ s pl an w as f ort he chi l dr en to b e ad o p ted b yrel a ti v e p l a c e m e n t. T D F P S ca se w o rke r D a p h n e S c h w a r tz t es t i f i ed t hatTD FPS or i gi nal l y w ant ed t o pl ac e a l l oft he chi l dr en w i t h t hei rau nt Ji l l ; how eve r , Ji l l ha d f ourch i l dr en ofhe r o w n a nd f i ve m or e w oul d bet oo
m any . Schw art z a l s o t es t i f i ed t hati tw oul d beove r w hel m i ng f oronl y on e f am i l y m em bert o t ake al l f i ve chi l dr en. A ddi t i onal l y, t he r ecor d r ef l ect s t hat B e t h a n d M o n a d id n o tg e ta lo n g a n d f o u g h tc o n s t a n t ly . A tt h e t im e o ft r i a l, TD FPS pl ann ed f orM ona an d Rac helt o l i ve w i t h J i l l b e c a u set heyha d goo d
r appo rtand i nt er act i on w i t h herand f orBeth, G r eg, and W i l l t o l i ve w i t h ot her
c o u s i n s .33

A p p e l l a n t a l s o te s ti fi e d re g a rd i n g h e r fu tu re p l a n si f th e c h i l d re n w e re
r et ur ned t o her . She st at ed t hatshe had saved $1 20 0. 00 t o get a t w o ort hr ee b e d roo m ap a rt m e n t, p i c k e d a d a yca re, an d w o rke d o u t h e r w o rk s c h e d u l e w i th herboss so t hat she coul d t ake car e ofherchi l dr en. A ddi t i onal l y, appel l anthad ap p l i e d f o r S e c t i o n 8 h o u s i n g a n d a s s i s t e d d a y c a r e . S h e wa s a l s o i n t he p ro c e s s o f g e ttin g a c a r a n d w o rk e d a t a W a ffle H o u s e . 5. The a ct s orom i ss i onsoft he parentw hi ch m ay i ndi ca t e t hatt he exi st i ng pa r ent - chi l d rel at i o n s h i p i s nota pr ope rone ,an d a ny exc us e fort he ac t s orom i ss i onsofap pel l ant A s f or t he par ent - chi l d r el at i onshi p, t her e i s evi dence t hatappel l antw as af f ec t i ona t e a nd l ovi ng w i t h he rch i l dr en, butt her e w asnota st r ong b ond o r att ac hm ent . A l th ough t he r ec or d c ont ai nsco nf l i ct i ng e vi den cer ega r di ng appel l ant ’ s par ent i ng ski l l s, t he j ur y asses sed t he cr edi bi l i t y oft he w i t nesses, a n d w e d e fe r to i ts d e te rm i n a ti o n . S e eJ.P.B., 180 S . W . 3d a t573. I n su m , t he r ec or d dem ons t r at es t hat TD FPS had r ec ei ved be t w ee n e i ght and t en r ef er r al s aboutappel l ant . A ppel l ant ’ s l ong hi st or y ofn egl ect i ng her chi l dr en; di f f i cul t y m ai nt ai ni ng s t abl e h ous i ng or pr ovi di ng f ort he bas i c n ee ds ofherch il d ren; l ack ofst r uct ur e i n t he hom e envi r onm ent , w hi ch i ncl uded
u n c l e a n l i v i n g c o n d i ti o n sa n d p o o r h y g i e n e ; i n c o n s i s te n t e m p l o y m e n t h i s to ry
w it h n o g u a r a n t e e d in c o m e ; a n d in a p p r o p r ia t e c h o ic e s t h a tp u th e rc h ild r e n in dang er , such as l i vi ng w i t h a sex of f ender and engag i ng i n dom est i c vi ol ence,34

a l l d e m o n s tra te th a t i t w a s i n t h e c h i l d re n ’sb e s t i n te re s t th a t a p p e l l a n t’s p a re n ta l ri g h ts b e te rm i n a te d . S eeT EX . F AM . C ODE A NN . § 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (2 ). V i e w i n g a l l th e e v i d e n c e i n th e l i g h t m o s t fa v o ra b l e to th e j u d g m e n t, w e hol d th a t t he evi dence i s l egal l y suf f i ci entt o suppo rtt he j ur y’ s f i ndi ng t hat term i n a ti o n o f ap p e l l a n t’ s p a ren tal ri g h ts w a s i n the ch il d ren ’s b e st i n tere st. S e eid . V i ew i ng t he sam e evi dence i n a neut r al li g h t, w e h ol d t hati ti s al so fa c tu a l l ys u fficie n t to s u p p o rt th e j u ry ’s fi n d i n g sth a t te rm i n a ti o n o f a p p e l l a n t’s p a re n t a l r i g h t s w a si n th e c h i l d re n ’sb e s t i n te re s t. See i d. W e o v e r r u le appel l ant ’ s sevent h and ei ghth poi nt s. V I I . Concl us i on H avi ng ov er r ul ed al l ofappel l ant ’ s di sposi t i ve poi nt s, w e af f i r m t he t r i al
cou rt ’ s j udgm entt er m i nat i ng a ppe l l ant ’ s par ent al r i ght s t o Bet h, M ona , G r eg, R a c h e l, a n d W ill.

T E R R I E L I VI NGS T ON J U S T I C E PA N EL F: LI V I N G STO N , H O LM A N , an d GA RD N ER, JJ. DEL I VERE D: J ul y 31, 2008