### J - S39002 - 19

____________________________________ * Former Justice specially assigned to the Superior Court. NON - PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37 IN THE INTEREST OF: A.R.F.H - H., A MINOR APPEAL OF: D.H., FATHER : : : : : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF

PENNSYLVANIA No. 513 EDA 2019 Appeal from the Order Entered January 23, 2019 In the Court of Comm on Pleas of Philadelphia County Family Court at No(s): CP - 51 - AP - 0001097 - 2017 IN THE INTEREST OF: A.H., A MINOR APPEAL OF: D.H., FATHER : : : : : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF

PENNSYLVANIA No. 514 EDA 2019 Appeal from the Order Entered January 23, 2019 In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Family Court at No(s): CP - 51 - DP - 0002642 - 2016 BEFORE: GANTMAN, P.J.E., STABILE, J., and STEVENS*, P.J.E. MEMORANDUM BY GANTMAN, P.J.E.: FILED SEPTEMBER 09 , 2019 Appellant, D.H. (“Father”), purports to appeal from the orders entered in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas, reinstating the trial court’s prior decree terminating Father’s parental rights to his minor child, A.R.F.H H. 1 

### (“Child”) , and changing the goal to adoption . We affirm. In its opinion, the trial court sets forth most of the relevant facts and procedural history of this case. Therefore, we have no need to restate them. We add Father and R.B.H. (“Mother”) are the natural parents of Child. On

_________________ ____________________ _______ 1 

### The record lists Child’s initials alternatively as both A.R.F.H - H and A.H. ; both sets of initials refer to the same Child.

### J - S39002 - 19

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December 7, 2016, the court adjudicated Child dependent. The Philadelphia Department of Human Services (“DHS”) filed on November 8, 2017, petitions to ter minate parents’ parental rights to Child and to change Child’s permanency goal to adoption. Following a hearing on December 15, 2017, the court terminated Father’s parental rights to Child and changed Child’s permanency goal to adoption. 2 

### On January 10, 2018, Father timely appealed and filed a contemporaneous concise statement of errors complained of on appeal per Pa.R.A.P . 1925(a)(2)(i). In his notice of appeal, Father purported to appeal from the termination of his parental rights and the goal change to adoption. In his concise statement and on appeal, however, Father raised issues challenging only the termination of his parental rights to Child. On October 1, 2018, this Court vacated the December 15, 2017 decree terminating Father’s parental rights and remanded for the trial court to appoint legal counsel for Child to determine and develop the record on Child’s preferred outcome. See Interest of A.R.F.H - H. , 200 A.3d 524 (Pa.Super. 2018) (unpublished memorandum). Upon remand, the trial court appoi nted legal counsel for Child on December 3, 2018. On January 23, 2019, the court conducted a hearing,

_________________ ____________________ _______ 2 

### Following a separate hearing, the trial court terminated Mother’s parental rights to Child on February 14, 2018. This Court affirmed on July 24, 2018. See In Interest of A.H. , 194 A.3d 706 (Pa.Super. 2018) (unpublished memorandum). Mother is not a part y to the current appeal.

### J - S39002 - 19

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where Child’s legal counsel assured the court that no conflict existed between Child’s best interests and legal interests. Counsel explained Child is bo nded with her maternal grandfather, Child’s pre - adoptive parent, and wants her maternal grandfather to adopt her. By order of January 23, 2019, the court reinstated the December 15, 2017 decree terminating Father’s parental rights. Father filed on Februa ry 18, 2019, a timely notice of appeal and contemporaneous Rule 1925 statement at both the termination and the goal change docket numbers. This Court consolidated Father’s appeals sua sponte on March 8, 2019. Father raises the following issues for our review: WHETHER THE TRIAL CO URT ERRED BY TERMINATING THE PARENTAL RIGHTS OF [ FATHER] UNDER 23 PA. C.S.A. § 2511(A)(1)? WHETHER THE TRIAL CO URT ERRED BY TERMINATING THE PARENTAL RIGHTS OF [ FATHER] UNDER 23 PA. C.S.A. § 2511(A)(2)? WHETHER THE TRIAL CO URT ER RED BY TERMINATING T HE PARENTAL RIGHTS OF [ FATHER] UNDER 23 PA. C.S.A. § 2511(A)(5)? WHETHER THE TRIAL CO URT ERRED BY TERMINATING THE PARENTAL RIGHTS OF [ FATHER] UNDER 23 PA. C.S.A. § 2511(A)(8)? WHETHER THE TRIAL CO URT ERRED BY TERMINATING THE PARENTAL RI GHTS OF [FATHER] UND ER 23 PA.C.S.A. § 2511(B)? WHETHER THE TRIAL CO URT ERRED BY DETERMI NING IT TO BE IN...CHILD’S BES T INTEREST TO CHANGE THE GOAL FROM REUNIFICATION T O ADOPTION?

### J - S39002 - 19

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(Father’s Brief at 5 - 6). As a preliminary matter, “where a case is remanded to resolve a limited issue, only matters related to the issue on remand may be appealed.” Commonwealth v. Lawson , 789 A.2d 252, 253 (Pa.Super. 2001). Any issue unrelated to the matter on remand, which was not previously raised in the trial court , is waived. Commonwealth v. Jackson , 765 A.2d 389, 395 (Pa.Super. 2000), appeal denied , 568 Pa. 628, 793 A.2d 905 (2002). See also Pa.R.A.P. 302(a) (explaining general rule that issues not raised before trial court are waived and cannot be raised for first time on appeal). Additionally, issues not raised in a Rule 1925 concise statement of errors will be deemed waived. Lineberger v. Wyeth , 894 A.2d 141 (Pa.Super. 2006). See also In re L.M. , 923 A.2d 505 (Pa. Super. 2007) (applying Rule 1925 waiver standards in family law context). Instantly, Father purports to challenge in his sixth issue the December 15, 2017 change of Child’s permanency goal to adoption. When Father originally appealed from the December 1 5 th 

### decree, however, Father raised in his concise statement and on appeal issues pertaining only to the termination of his parental rights to Child. Thus, Father waived any challenge to the goal change determination. See Lineberger, supra ; Pa.R.A.P. 302( a). Further, in its October 1, 2018 disposition, this Court vacated the December 15 th 

### decree only insofar as it terminated Father’s parental rights; this Court left undisturbed the goal change determination. Further, this Court remanded

### J - S39002 - 19

- 5 -

strictly for the purpose of assessing and developing the record on Child’s preferred outcome, as it pertain ed to the termination of Father’s parental rights. Therefore, Father can challenge in the current appeal only the termination of his parental rights to Child. See L awson, supra . Accordingly, we give Father’s sixth issue no further attention. Regarding Father’s remaining issues one through five, a ppellate review in termination of parental rights cases implicates the following principles:

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

Absent an abuse of discretion, an error of law, or insufficient evidentiary support for the trial court’s decision, the decree must stand. ... We must employ a broad, comprehensive review of the record in order to determine whether the trial court’s decisi on is supported by competent evidence. In re B.L.W. , 843 A.2d 380, 383 (Pa.Super. 2004) ( en banc ), appeal denied , 581 Pa. 668, 863 A.2d 1141 (2004) (internal citations omitted). Furthermore, we note that the trial court, as the finder of fact, is the sole determiner of the credibility of witnesses and all conflicts in testimony are to be resolved by the finder of fact. The burden of proof is on the party seeking termination to es tablish by clear and convincing evidence the existence of grounds for doing so. In re Adoption of A.C.H. , 803 A.2d 224, 228 (Pa.Super.

### J - S39002 - 19

- 6 - 2002) (internal citations and quotation marks omitted). The standard of clear and convincing evidence means testimony that is so clear, direct, weighty, and convincing as to enable the trier of fact to come to a clear conviction, without hesitation, of the truth of the precise facts in issue. In re J.D.W.M. , 810 A.2d 688, 690 (Pa.Super. 2002). We may uphold a terminati on decision if any proper basis exists for the result reached. In re C.S. , 761 A.2d 1197, 1201 (Pa.Super. 2000) ( en banc ). If the court’s findings are supported by competent evidence, we must affirm the court’s decision, even if the record could support an opposite result. In re R.L.T.M. , 860 A.2d 190, 191 - 92 (Pa.Super. 2004). In re Z.P., supra at 1115 - 16 (quoting In re Adoption of K.J. , 936 A.2d 1128, 1131 - 32 (Pa.Super. 2007), appeal denied , 597 Pa. 718, 951 A.2d 1165 (2008)). After a thorough revi ew of the record, the briefs of the parties, the applicable law, and the well - reasoned opinion of the Honorable Joseph Fernandes, we conclude Father’s remaining issues merit no relief. The trial court opinion comprehensively discusses and properly dispose s of Father’s issues one through five. ( See Trial Court Opinion, filed May 10, 2019, at 5 - 16) (finding: (1 - 5) Father was aware of his Single Case Plan (“SCP”) objectives six months before DHS filed petition to terminate his parental rights to Child; Fathe r showed settled purpose to relinquish his parental claim to Child by failing to accomplish any of his SCP objectives; for example, Father failed to complete treatment for drug and alcohol, perform drug screens, obtain appropriate housing, attend weekly vi sits with Child, complete parenting and domestic violence programming, comply with stay - away order

### J - S39002 - 19

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and protection from abuse (“PFA”) order as to maternal grandfather, and sign consent and release forms for Child; Child has been in system since November 28, 2016, thirteen months prior to termination hearing in December 2017 and twenty - six months prior to termination hearing in January 2019; Father has been unable to place himself in position to parent Child for life of case, and conditions which led to remov al of Child continue to exist after twenty - six months; Child would not suffer irreparable harm if Father’s parental rights were terminated; Child has strong bond with maternal grandfather, to whom she looks to meet her daily needs and as her caregiver; Chi ld has stability in maternal grandfather’s home; termination of Father’s parental rights is in best interest of Child’s physical, intellectual, moral, and spiritual well - being). The record supports the trial court’s rationale. See In re Z.P., supra . Accordingly, we affirm based on the trial court opinion. Orders affirmed. Judgment Entered. Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq. Prothonotary Date: 9/9/19Circulated 08/19/2019 11:41 AM



### I N T H E C O U R T O F C O M M O N P L E A S F O R T H E C O U N T Y O F P H I L A D E L P H I A F AMI L Y C O U R T D I VI S I O N f : 1 � ' • . 1 ,- i · �

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### F e r n a n d e s , J . : Ap p e ll ant D . H. ( " F ath e r " ) a p p e a l s fro m th e o rd e r e nt e r e d o n J anu ary 2 3 , 

### 2 0 1 9 , r e i n s t ati n g th e t e rm i n ati o n d e c r e e o f D e c e mb e r 1 5 , 2 0 1 7 , 

### t o i nv o lunt ari l y t e rm i n at e F ath e r ' s p ar e nt a l ri g ht s t o A . R . F . - H . ( " C h il d " ) p ur s u ant 

### t o th e A d o p ti o n A c t , 2 3 

### P a . C . S . A. § 2 5 1 

### l ( a) ( l ) , ( 2 ) , ( 5 ) , 

### an d 

### (b ) . An dr e M arti n o , E s qu i r e , c o un s e l fo r F ath e r , ( " F ath e r ' s C o un s e l " ) fil e d a ti m e l y N o ti c e o f Ap p e al wi th a S t at e m e nt o f M att e r s C o mp l a i n e d o fo n 

### Ap p e a l p ur s u ant t o R u l e 1 9 2 5 ( b ) . F a c t u a l a n d P r o c e d u r a l B a c k g r o u n d : O H S 

### o ri g i n a ll y b e c am e i nv o l v e d wi th th i s fam i l y o n N o v e mb e r 1 6 , 2 0 1 6 , 

### wh e n D H S 

### r e c e i v e d a G e n e r a l P r o t e c ti v e S e rv i c e s ( " G P S " ) r e p o rt th at al l e g e d C h il d , M o th e r , an d F ath e r w e r e s quatt i n g i n a v a c ant h o m e ; th e h o m e h a d a s tr o n g o d o r o f m ari j u an a ; F ath e r s o l d dru g s in C h i l d ' s p r e s e n c e ; F ath e r 

### l e ft C h il d i n 

### th e c ar e o f M at e rn a l Gr an d f ath e r (" M G F " ) an d 

### n e v e r r e t urn e d ; wh il e C h il d 

### w a s i n M G F ' s c ar e , F ath e r c a ll e d an d s t at e d th at h e w a s i n 

### M i am i ; F ath e r c a ll e d a g ai n o n an o th e r o c c a s i o n an d s t at e d th at h e w a s i n N e w Y o rk ; p o li c e w e r e c al l e d b e c au s e M o th e r an d F ath e r r e t urn e d an d tri e d t o r e m o v e C hi l d fr o m M G F ' s c ar e ; F ath er thre at e n e d t o b l o w u p M G F ' s h o m e , b l o w u p M G F ' s v e h i c l e , an d a s s au l t M G F i n fr o nt o f th e p o li c e ; th e r e i s a h i s t o ry o f d o m e s t i c v i o l e n c e b e tw e e n M o th e r an d F ath e r . T h i s r e p o rt 

### w a s d e t e rm i n e d t o b e v al i d . O n N o v e mb e r 1 7 , 2 0 1 6 , D H S att e mp t e d t o v i s i t M G F ' s h o m e ; b ut th e r e w a s n o an s w e r . O H S 

### l e f t

I Th e tri a l c o urt r e qu e s t e d th e N o t e s o f T e s t i m o ny fo r Janu ar

y 2 3 , 2 0 1 9 , o n F e b ru ary i 9 , 2 0 1 9 . T h e tri a l c o urt r e c e i v e d th e N o t e s o f T e s t i m o ny o n M ar c h 2 5 , 2 0 1 9 . 2 M o th e r i s n o t inv o l v e d w i th th i s a p p e al. P a g e 1 o f 1 9a n o ti fi c at i o n l e tt e r . O n N o v e mb e r 1 8 , 2 0 1 6 , M G F c o nt a c t e d D H S an d s tat e d th at C h i l d h a d b e e n



### in hi s c ar e s i n c e Au gu s t 2 0 1 6 . H e al s o i n d i c at e d th at h e p l ann e d t o o b t a i n a P ro t e c t i o n fr o m Ab u s e ( " P F A " ) O r d e r a g ai n s t M o th e r an d F ath e r b e c au s e th e y c am e i nt o th e h o m e o n N o v e mb e r 

### 1 2 , 2 0 1 6 , an d tri e d t o r e m o v e C h i l d fr o m th e h o m e . M G F al l e g e d th at d uri n g th e i n c i d e nt , F ath e r thr e at e n e d t o h arm hi m , th e r e w a s a p hy s i c a l al t e r c at i o n , an d th e p o li c e w e r e c al l e d . O n th at s am e d ay , O H S att e mp t e d t o c a ll F ath e r , b ut th e p h o n e w a s d i s c o nn e c t e d . D H S h a s r e c e i v e d al l e g at i o n s th at F ath e r h a d p r e v i o u s l y h a d n o c o nt a c t w i th C h i l d an d th at h e la c k s s t ab l e , a p p r o p ri at e h o u s i n g . O n N o v e mb e r 2 8 , 2 0 1 6 , D H S m e t w ith M G F , wh o i n d i c at e d th at o n N o v e mb e r 2 3 , 2 0 1 6 , M o th e r an d F ath e r h a d att e mp t e d t o r e m o v e C h il d fr o m d ay c ar e , b ut s h e w a s n o t i n s c h o o l d u e t o ill n e s s . D H S al s o d e t e rm i n e d th at M G F ' s h o m e w a s a p p r o p r i at e . O n th at s am e d ay , D H S o b t a i n e d an O r d e r o f P r o t e c t i v e C u s t o dy ( " O P C " ) an d C h i l d r e m ai n e d i n M G F ' s c ar e . O n N o v e mb e r 2 9 , 2 0 1 6 , D H S s p o k e w i th F ath e r , wh o a dm i tt e d u s i n g m ari j u an a w i th M o th e r . F ath e r i n d i c at e d th at h e an d M o th e r l e ft C h i l d i n M G F ' s c ar e i n Au gu s t 2 0 1 6 d u e t o th e i r o ut - o f

- s t at e e mp l o ym e nt an d a s k e d M G F t o c ar e fo r C h il d fo r a c o u p l e o fm o nth s . O n N o v e mb e r 3 0 , 2 0 1 6 , a s h e l t e r c ar e h e ari n g w a s h e l d fo r C h il d . T h e tri a l c o urt l i ft e d th e O P C , o r d e r e d C h i l d ' s t e mp o r ar y c o mm i tm e nt t o D H S t o s t an d , r e fe rr e d F ath e r t o th e C li n i c a l E v alu at i o n Un i t ( " C E U " ) fo r a fo rthwi th fu ll dru g an d a l c o h o l s c r e e n w ith a d ua l d i a gn o s i s a s s e s s m e nt an d i s s u e d an d s t ay - aw ay o r d e r a g ai n s t F ath e r a s t o M G F an d h i s h o m e . 3 O n D e c e mb e r 7 , 2 0 1 6 , th e tri al c o urt a d

j u d i c at e d C h il d d e p e n d e nt b a s e d o n p r e s e nt i n ab ili ty t o p ro v i d e p r o p e r p ar e nt al c ar e an d c o ntr o l. T h e tri al c o urt d i s c h ar g e d th e t e mp o r ary c o mm i tm e nt t o D H S an d fu ll y c o mm i tt e d C h i l d . F ath e r w a s r e fe rr e d t o th e C E U fo r a fo rthw i th dru g s c r e e n , d u a l d i a g n o s i s a s s e s s m e nt , m o n i t o ri n g , an d thr e e ran d o m dru g s c r e e n s . F ath e r w a s al s o r e fe rr e d fo r d o m e s t i c v i o l e n c e c o un s e li n g , h o u s i n g a s s i s t an c e , an d p ar e nt i n g e d u c at i o n at th e A c h i e v i n g R e un i fi c at i o n C e nt e r ( " A R C " ) . T h e s t ay - aw ay o r d e r a s t o F ath e r w a s o r d e r e d t o s t an d an d F ath e r w a s o r d e r e d n o t t o h av e any c o nt a c t wi th C h il d ' s d ay c ar e . F ath e r w a s o r d e r e d t o c o mp l y wi th a ll r e c o mm e n d ati o n s an d att e n d w e e kl y s u

p e rv i s e d , l i n e - o f

- s i g ht v i s it at i o n w i th C h i l d at th e a g e n c y . O n D e c e mb e r 

### \<\ , 2 0 1 6 , C o mmun i ty Umb r e ll a A g e n c y ( " C UA " ) W o r d s w o rth h e l d an i n i t i a l S i n g l e C a s e P l an ( " S C P " ) m e e t i n g . C h il d ' s g o a l w a s i d e nt i fi e d a s " r e t urn t o p ar e nt. " F ath e r ' s p ar e nt a l

3 B e tw e e n N o v e mb e r 3 0 , 2 0 1 6 , an d F e b r u ary 1 4 , 2 0 1 8 , th e tri a l j u d g e as s i g n e d t o th i s m att e r w a s th e H o n o r a b l e L yri s Y o un g e . F ro m D e c e mb e r 3 , 2 0 1 8 t o th e p r e s e nt , th i s m att e r i s a s s i gn e d t o th e H o n o ra b l e Jo s e p h F e rn an d e s . P a g e 2 o f 1 9o b

j e c ti v e s w e r e t o i mp r o v e h i s r e l ati o n s h ip wi th C h il d ; att e n d w e e kly s u p e rv i s e d li n e - o f

- s i ght v i s i t s wi th C h il d ; c o rr e c t an d/ o r s t ab i l i z e h e al th an d s i gn a ll n e c e s s ar y c o n s e nt fo rm s ; c o mp l y w i th al l c o urt o r d e r s , s e rv i c e p l an s , an d r e c o mm e n d at i o n s ; c o mp l y w i th th e s t ay - aw ay o r d e r a s t o M G F an d C h il d ' s d ay c ar e ; att e n d th e A R C fo r p ar e nt i n g an d h o u s i n g ; c o nt a c t M e n e r g y fo r d o m e s ti c v i o l e n c e c o un s e li n g ; a c h i e v e an d m ai nt a i n r e c o v e r y fo r dru g an d a l c o h o l i s s u e s ; att e n d th e C E U fo r an a s s e s s m e nt an d fo ll o w th e tr e atm e nt r e c o mm e n d at i o n s ; c o mp l e t e thr e e r an d o m dr u g s c r e e n s p ri o r t o th e n e x t c o urt d at e ; an d s i g n al l n e c e s s ar y c o n s e nt fo rm s fo r C h i l d . O n M ar c h 7 , 2 0 1 7 , a p e rm an e n c y r e v i e w h e ari n g w a s h e l d fo r C h il d . F ath e r w a s p r e s e nt fo r th i s h e ari n g . 

### It w a s d e t e rm i n e d th at th e C E U c o mp l e t e d a p r o g r e s s r e p o rt th at i n d i c at e d th at F ath e r f ai l e d t o v i s i t th e C E U fo r th e fo rthwi th s c r e e n o n D e c e mb e r 7 , 2 0 1 6 , an d th at F ath e r f ai l e d t o att e n d h i s s c h e d

u l e d a s s e s s m e nt o n D e c e mb e r 

### 1 4 , 2 0 1 6 . F ath e r a l s o fa il e d t o c o nt a c t th e c a s e m an a g e r t o r e s c h e d

u l e th e a s s e s s m e nt. A d di ti o n a ll y , F ath e r t e s t e d p o s i ti v e fo r m ari j u an a o n J anu ar y 1 8 , 2 0 1 7 . T h e tri al c o urt d e t e rm i n e d th at C h i l d ' s p l a c e m e nt c o nt i nu e d t o b e n e c e s s ary an d a p p r o p ri at e . F ath e r w a s r e - r e fe rr e d t o th e C E U fo r a fo rthwi th dru g s c r e e n , a d u a l d i a g n o s i s a s s e s s m e nt , an d thr e e r an d o m dru g s c r e e n s p ri o r t o th e n e x t c o urt d at e . F ath e r w a s o r d e r e d t o c o nti nu e w e e kl y s u

p e rv i s e d , l i n e - o f

- s i g ht v i s i t at i o n w i th C h i l d . O n Jun e 1 6 , 2 0 1 7 , C UA r e v i s e d th e S C P . C h i l d ' s g o al r e m ai n e d a s " r e turn t o p ar e nt. " F ath e r ' s p ar e nt a l o b

j e c t i v e s r e m a i n e d p r e d o m i n ant l y th e s am e , w i th th e a d di t i o n a l o b j e c t i v e o f p r o v i d i n g C UA wi th p ro o f o f e mp l o ym e nt. F ath e r w a s i nv i t e d t o p art i cip at e i n th e d e v e l o p m e nt o f th i s p l an b y wri tt e n c o mmun i c at i o n o n M ay 1 5 , 2 0 1 7 , b ut F ath e r f ai l e d t o att e n d th e S C P m e e t in g . O n Au gu s t 1 1 , 2 0 1 7 , a p e rm an e n c y r e v i e w h e ari n g w a s h e l d fo r C h i l d . 4 F ath e r w as p r e s e nt fo r th i s h e ari n g . T h e tri al c o urt d e t e rm i n e d th at b e tw e e n M ar c h 3 1 , 2 0 1 7 , an d Au gu s t 1 8 , 2 0 1 7 , F ath e r fa il e d t o att e n d fi v e s c h e d u l e d v i s i t s wi th C h i l d an d w a s l at e o n 1 0 d i ff e r e nt o c c a s i o n s t o th e s c h e d u l e d v i s i t s . A d d i t i o n a ll y , o n Ju l y 2 8 , 2 0 1 7 , F ath e r arri v e d an h o ur an d fo rty - fi v e m i nut e s l at e fo r th e s c h e d

u l e d tw o - h o ur v i s i t wi th C h il d . D uri n g th i s v i s i t , an a lt e r c at i o n o c c urr e d b e tw e e n M o th e r , F ath e r , an d M G F , wh i c h r e s u l t e d i n p o l i c e b e i n g d i s p at c h e d t o th e s c e n e . T h e C UA c a s e m an a g e r r e p o rt e d th at F ath e r an d M o th e r att a c k e d M G F at th e c o n c lu s i o n o f th e v i s i t w i th C h i l d ,

4 O n M ay 2 3 , 2 0 1 7 , an d Au gu s t 1 , 2 0 1 7 , p e rm an e n c y r e v i e w h e ari n g s w e r e s c h e d u l e d fo r C h i l d , b ut th e m att e r s w e r e gr ant e d a c o nti nu an c e d

u e t o th e un av a i l ab i l i ty o f c o un s e l. P a g e 3 o f 1 9wh o w a s p r e s e nt at th e t i m e o f th e al t e r c at i o n b ut w a s n o t i n j ur e d . A d d i t i o n al l y , th e C E U c o mp l e t e d a p ro gr e s s r e p o rt th at i n d i c at e d th at F ath e r p r e s e nt e d t o th e C E U o n Jun e 2 1 , 2 0 1 7 , an d s c h e d u l e d an a p p o i ntm e nt t o c o mp l e t e th e a s s e s s m e nt o n Ju l y 1 1 , 2 01 7 . F ath e r f ai l e d t o c a ll o r att e n d th e s c h e d

ul e d a s s e s s m e nt an d F ath e r fa il e d t o s ub m i t any dru g s c r e e n s s i n c e th e p r e v i o u s p e rm an e n c y h e ari n g . T h e tri a l c o urt d e t e rm i n e d th at C hi l d ' s p l a c e m e nt c o nt i nu e d t o b e a p p r o p ri at e an d n e c e s s ar

y . F ath e r w a s r e f

e rr e d t o th e C E U fo r a fo rthw i th dr u g s c r e e n , a s s e s s m e nt , an d thr e e r an d o m dru g s c r e e n s . T h e tri al c o urt o r d e r e d th at F ath e r ' s s u p e rv i s e d v i s i t ati o n wi th C h i l d w a s t o b e r e i n s t at e d , b ut th e v i s i t s w e r e t o b e s u s p e n d e d i f F ath e r a p p e ar e d t o b e un d e r th e i n flu e n c e o f any s ub s t an c e s . O n S e p t e mb e r 1 5 , 2 0 1 7 , a p e rm an e n c y r e v i e w h e ari n g w a s h e l d fo r C h il d . F ath e r w a s n o t p r e s e nt fo r th i s h e ari n g . Th e tri a l c o urt r e fe rr e d F ath e r t o th e C E U fo r a fo rthw i th dru g s c r e e n , a d u a l d i a gn o s i s a s s e s s m e nt , m o ni t o r i n g , an d thr e e r an d o m dru g s c r e e n s , o n c e h e av a i l e d h i m s e l f. T h e tri a l c o urt al s o o r d e r e d th at th e s t ay - aw ay o r d e r a s t o M G F an d C hi l d ' s d ay c ar e w a s t o s t an d . C h il d h as b e e n i n D H S c ar e s i n c e N o v e mb e r 2 8 , 2 0 1 6 . F ath e r h a s fa il e d t o c o n s i s t e ntly c o mp l y w i th hi s o b

j e c t i v e s an d c o mp l y w i th c o urt o r d e r s thr o u g h o ut th e l i fe o f th e c a s e . D H S fil e d a p e t i t i o n t o i nv o luntari l y t e rm i n at e F ath e r ' s p ar e nt a l ri g ht s an d c h an g e C h il d ' s p e rm an e n c y g o a l t o a d o p t i o n o n N o v e mb e r 8 , 2 0 1 7 . O n D e c e mb e r 1 5 , 2 0 1 7 , th e tri al c o urt h e l d th e t e rm i n at i o n an d g o al c h an g e tri a l fo r C h i l d . F ath e r w a s p r e s e nt fo r th i s tri a l. T h e tri al c o urt fo un d c l e ar an d c o nv i n c i n g e v i d e n c e t o c h an g e C h i l d ' s p e rman e n c y g o al fr o m r e un i fi c at i o n t o a d o p t i o n an d t o i nv o l unt ar il y t e rm i n at e F ath e r ' s p ar e nt al ri g ht s p ur s u ant t o 2 3 P a . C . S . A . § 2 5 1 l ( a) ( l ) , ( 2 ) , ( 5 ) , ( 8 ) an d (b ) . O n J anuar y 10 , 2 0 1 8 , F ath e r ' s C o un s e l , o n b e h a l fo f

F ath e r , a p p e a l e d th e D e c e mb e r 1 5 , 2 0 1 7 , tri a l c o urt o r d e r . O n Ap ril 5 , 2 0 1 8 , th e H o n o r ab l e L yri s Y o un g e fil e d th e tri a l c o urt ' s o p i n i o n . O n O c t o b e r 1 , 2 0 1 8 , th e S u p e ri o r C o urt o f P e nn s y l v an i a fil e d th e N o n - P r e c e d e nt i al D e c i s i o n , v a c at i n g th e tr i al c o urt ' s o r d e r t o t e rm i n at e F ath e r ' s p ar e nt i n g ri g ht s . w i th o ut p r e j u d i c e an d r e m an d e d th e m att e r fo r furth e r p r o c e e d i n g s r e g ar d i n g C h il d ' s l e g a l i nt e r e s t s . ( 1 4 8 E D A 2 0 1 8 ) . 5

5 T h e S u p e ri o r C o urt o f P e nn s y l v an i a d i d n o t v a c at e th e tri a l c o urt ' s o r d e r t o c h an g e C h il d ' s p e rm an e n c y . g o al fr o m r e un i fi c ati o n t o a d o p ti o n . ( 1 4 8 E D A 2 0 1 8 ) . P a g e 4 o f 1 9O n D e c e mb e r 3 , 2 0 1 8 , a p e rm an e n c y r e v i e w h e ari n g w a s h e l d fo r C hi l d . T h e tri al c o urt a p p o i nt e d S u s an R ub i n o v i tz , E s qu i r e , a s th e s p e ci a l c h i l d att o rn e y ( " L e g al C o un s e l " ) . L e g a l C o un s e l w a s o r d e r e d t o v i s it C h il d t o a s c e rt a i n C h i l d ' s w i s h e s an d r e p o rt b a c k t o th e tri al c o urt . O n J anu ary 2 3 , 2 0 1 9 , a p e rm an e n c y r e v i e w h e ar i n g w a s h e l d fo r C h i l d . T h e tri a l c o urt h e ar d t e s t i m o ny fr o m L e g al C o un s e l r e g ar d i n g C h i l d ' s w i s h e s . T h e tri a l c o urt r e i n s t at e d th e D e c e mb e r 1 5 , 2 0 1 7 , tri a l c o urt o r d e r t e rm i n at i n g F ath e r ' s p ar e nt a l ri g ht s p ur s u ant t o 2 3 P a . C . S . A . § 2 5 1 l ( a) ( l ) , ( 2 ) , ( 5 ) , ( 8 ) an d (b ) . O n F e b ru ary 1 8 , 2 0 1 9 , F ath e r ' s C o un s e l fil e d th i s a p p e a l o n b e h al f o f F ath e r . D i s c u s s i o n : O n a p p e a l 6 , F ath e r , b y an d thro u g h h i s att o rn e y , i n d i c at e th at th e 

### tr i al c o urt ' s d e t e rm i n at i o n s a s t o : 1. F ath e r ' s c o n d

u c t un d e r § 2 5 1 l ( a) ( l ) w a s n o t s u p p o rt e d b y c l e ar an d c o nv i n c i n g e v i d e n c e . 2 . F ath e r ' s c o n d

u c t un d e r § 2 5 1 1 ( a) ( 2 ) w as n o t s u p p o rt e d b y cl e ar an d c o nv i n c i n g e v i d e n c e . 3 . F ath e r ' s c o n d

u c t un d e r § 2 5 1 l ( a) ( 5 ) w a s n o t s u p p o rt e d b y c l e ar an d c o nv i n ci n g e v i d e n c e . 4 . F ath e r ' s c o n d

u c t un d e r § 2 5 1 l ( a) ( 8 ) w a s n o t s u p p o rt e d b y cl e ar an d c o nv i n ci n g e v i d e n c e . 5 . F ath e r ' s c o n d

u c t un d e r § 2 5 1 l ( b ) w a s n o t s u p p o rt e d b y cl e ar an d c o nv i n c i n g e v i d e n c e . 6 . B e i n g 

### in th e b e s t i nt e r e s t t o c h an g e th e g o a l fr o m r e uni fi c at i o n t o a d o p t i o n . F ath e r ' s C o un s e l a

p p e a l e d th e c h an g e o f th e g o a l fr o m r e un i fi c ati o n t o ad o p t i o n , th e S u p e r i o r C o urt o f P e nn s y l v ani a di d n o t v a c at e th e tri a l c o urt ' s o r d e r t o c h an g e C hi l d ' s p e rm an e n c y g o a l fr o m r e un i fi c at i o n t o a d o p t i o n . A l th o u g h th e S u p e r i o r C o urt o f P e nn s y l v an i a d i d n o t r e v e r s e th e tri a l c o urt ' s d e c i s i o n t o c h an g e C h i l d ' s p e rm an e n c y g o a l , th i s o p i n i o n w ill s t ill a d dr e s s th e c h an g e o f C h il d ' s p e rm an e n c y g o al . F o r th e p urp o s e o fth i s o p i n i o n , F ath e r ' s i s s u e s 1 thro u g h 6 w ill b e c o n s o li d at e d t o r e a d : D i d th e tri a l c o urt e rr o r ab u s e i t s d i s c r e ti o n wh e n i t t e rm i n at e d F ath e r ' s p ar e nt a l ri ght s p ur s u ant t o 2 3 P a . C . S . A. § 2 5 1 l ( a) ( l ) , ( 2 ) , ( 5 ) , ( 8 ) , an d (b ) , an d c h an g e d th e p e rm an e n c y g o a l t o a d o p ti o n ? F ath e r h a s a p p e al e d th e i nv o lunt ary t e rm i n ati o n o f hi s p ar e nt a l ri g ht s an d th e g o a l c h an g e fr o m r e uni fi c at i o n t o a d o p t i o n . T h e g ro un d s fo r i nv o lunt ar y t e rm i n at i o n o fp ar e nt al ri g ht s ar e e num e rat e d i n th e A d o p t i o n A c t at

6 F ath e r ' s C o un s e l fi l e d tw o N o ti c e s o f Ap p e a l. H o w e v e r , th e S t at e m e nt o f E rro r s C o mp l a i n e d o f o n Ap p e a l P ur s u ant

. t o P a . R. A. P . R

ul e 1 9 2 5 (b ) in c lu d e d w i th e a c h N o tic e o f Ap p e a l li s t th e s am e e rr or s . P a g e 5 o f 1 9

### 2 3 P a . C . S . A. § 2 5 1 l ( a) , wh i c h p ro v i d e s th e fo ll o w i n g gr o un d s fo r § 2 5 1 l ( a) ( l ) : . ( a) 

### G e n e r a l r u l e - T h e ri g ht s o f a p ar e nt , i n r e g ar d t o a c h il d , m ay b e t e rm i n at e d a ft e r a pe ti ti o n i s fi l e d o n 

### any o f

th e fo ll o w i n g gro un d s : ( 1 ) T h e p ar e nt , 

### b y c o n d

u c t c o nti nu i n g fo r a p e ri o d o f at l e as t s i x m o nth s i mm e di at e l y p r e c e d i n g th e fi li n g o f

th e p e t iti o n , h a s e i th e r e v i d e n c e d a s e tt l e d p urp o s e o f r e l i n qui s h i n g p ar e nt a l cl a im t o a c h il d o r h as r e fu s e d o r fa il e d t o pe r fo rm p ar e nt a l d ut i e s . I n p r o c e e di n g s t o i nv o lunt ari l y t e rm i nat e p ar e nt al ri g ht s th e b ur d e n o f p r o o f i s o n th e p arty s e e ki n g t e rm i n at i o n , wh i c h mu s t e s t a b li s h th e e x i s t e n c e o fgro un d s fo r t e rm i n ati o n b y c l e ar an d c o nv i n c i n g e v i d e n c e . I

n re A d o p ti o n o [ A t e n c i o , 

### 6 5 0 A. 2 d 10 6 4 ( P a . 1 9 9 4 ) . T o s ati s fy S e c ti o n ( a) (l ) , th e m o v i n g p arty mu s t p r o d

u c e cl e ar an d c o nv i n ci n g e v i d e n c e o f c o n d u c t s u s t a i n e d fo r at l e a s t s i x m o nth s p ri o r t o th e fil i n g o f th e t e rm i n ati o n p e ti ti o n , wh i c h r e v e a l s a s e ttl e d i nt e nt t o r e li n qui s h p ar e nta l c l a i m t o a c h i l d o r a r e fu s al o r fa i lur e t o p e rf o rm p ar e nt al d

uti e s . H o w e v e r , th e s i x - m o nth ti m e p e ri o d s h o u l d n o t b e a p p li e d m e c h an i c a ll y ; i n s t ea d , th e c o urt mu s t c o n s i d e r th e wh o l e h i s t o r y o f th e c a s e . I

n re B .N. lv 1. 

### 8 5 6 A . 2 d 8 4 7 , 8 5 5 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 0 4 ) . A c h i l d n e e d s l o v e , p ro t e c ti o n , gu i d an c e , an d s u

p po rt . B o th p hy s i c a l an d e m o t i o n a l n e e d s c ann o t be m e t b y a m e r e l y p as s i v e i nt e r e s t i n th e d e v e l o p m e nt o f th e c h il d . T h e p ar e nta l o b l i g at i o n i s a p o s i ti v e d uty , wh ic h r e qu ir e s af fi rm ati v e p e r fo rm an c e . It 

### r e qu i r e s c o nti nu i n g i nt e r e s t i n th e c hi l d an d a g e nu i n e e ff o rt t o m ai nt ai n c o mmun i c at i o n an d a s s o c i ati o n w i th th e c h il d . At th e s am e ti m e , th e tri a l c o urt s h al l n o t c o n s i d e r any e ff o rt s b y 

### th e p ar e nt t o r e m e dy th e c o n di t i o n s wh i c h b ro u ght th e c h il d i nt o c ar e wh i c h ar e fir s t i n i ti at e d s ub s e qu e nt t o th e g i v i n g n o ti c e o fth e fi li n g o f th e t e rmi n ati o n p e ti ti o n . l d . 

### T h e s t an d ar d o f c l e ar an d 

### c o nv i n ci n g e v i d e n c e i s 

### d e fi n e d a s t e s ti m o ny th at i s s o c l e ar , d i r e c t , w e i g hty , an d 

### c o nv i n ci n g as t o e n a

b l e th e tri e r o f f

ac t t o co m e t o a cl e ar c o nv i c t i o n w i th o ut h e s i t an c e o f th e tr uth o f p r e c i s e fa c t s i n i s s u e . T h e p e t i t i o n fo r i nv o lunt ary t e rm i nati o n w a s fi l e d fo r C h i l d o n N o v e mb e r 8 , 2 0 1 7 . F ath e r ' s S C P · o b j e c ti v e s w e r e dru g an d a l c o h o l , p ar e nti n g , h o u s i n g , d o m e s ti c v i o l e n c e , an d v i s i t ati o n wi th C h il d . A d di ti o n a lly , F ath e r w a s t o s i g n a p p r o p ri at e c o n s e nt s , c o mp l y w i th th e s t ay - aw ay o r d e r r e g ar d i n g M G F , an d m ai nt ai n c o nt a c t wi th C UA. (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 /1 7 , p g . 1 4 ) . F o r th e s i x m o nth s p ri o r t o th e fil i n g o f th e p e ti t i o n , F ath e r w a s aw ar e o f h i s o b j e c ti v e s . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 13 ) . F ath e r fa il e d t o c o mp l e t e tr e atm e nt fo r dru g ari d a lc o h o l. F o r th e l i fe o f th e c a s e , F ath e r h a s f ai l e d t o e n g a g e i n P a g e 6 o f 1 9tr e atm e nt at any p o i nt. F ath e r ' s dru g o f c h o i c e w a s m ari j u an a . 

### (N . T . 1 2 /1 5 / 1 7 , p g s . 2 2 , 3 1 ) . F ath e r l as t v i s i t e d th e C E U o n Jun e 2 1 , 2 0 1 7 , t o s c h e d u l e hi s a s s e s s m e nt fo r Ju l y 1 1 , 2 0 1 7 . O n th at d ay , F ath e r w a s a n o - s h o w fo r h i s s c h e d u l e d a s s e s s m e nt an d d i d n o t c a ll t o c an c e l o r r e s c h e d u l e th e a s s e s s m e nt . F ath e r h a s n o t h a d any c o nt a c t w i th th e C E U s i n c e Jun e 2 1 , 2 0 1 7 . F ath e r a dm i tt e d th at h e n e v e r att e n d e d an a s s e s s m e nt at th e C E U . A d d i t i o n a ll y , F ath e r h a s n o t c o mp l e t e d a dru g s c r e e n w i th th e C E U s i n c e J anu ary 1 8 , 2 0 1 7 . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 /1 7 , p g . 4 1 ) . D H S E xh ib i t 3 ) . C UA i n d i c at e d th at F ath e r d i d n o t c o mp l e t e d h i s p ar e nti n g o b j e c t i v e at th e A R C , b ut h e c o mp l e t e d p ar e nt i n g thr o u g h P r o j e c t D a d . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 3 l ) . Wh e n F ath e r e n g a g e d i n p ar e nt i n g at th e A RC , F ath e r f ai l e d t o att e n d c o n s i s t e ntl y . Th e AR C d i s c h ar g e d F ath e r fo r n o n - p arti c ip at i o n . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g s . 2 3 - 2 4 ; O H S E xhi b i t 7 ) . F ath e r h a s fa il e d t o c o mp l e t e hi s h o u s i n g o b j e c t i v e . F ath e r h a s p r e v i o u s l y e n g a g e d i n h o u s i n g at th e A R C , b ut F ath e r fa il e d t o att e n d c o n s i s t e ntl y . T h e A RC d i s c h ar g e d F ath e r fo r n o n - p arti c ip at i o n . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 /1 7 , p g . 2 4 ) . F ath e r d o e s n o t h av e h o u s i n g . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 3 1 ) . F ath e r h a s n o t c o mp l e t e d h i s d o m e s t i c v i o l e n c e o b j e c t i v e an d F ath e r h a s n e v e r e n g a g e d i n d o m e s t i c v i o l e n c e c o un s e li n g . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g s . 2 4 , 3 1 ) . F ath e r h a s fa il e d t o c o n s i s t e ntl y att e n d w e e kl y s u p e rv i s e d v i s i t at i o n w i th C hi l d . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 1 5 - 1 6 ) . B e tw e e n S e p t e mb e r 2 0 1 7 an d D e c e mb e r 2 0 1 7 , F ath e r h a s m i s s e d fo ur o ut o f tw e l v e w e e kl y v i s i t s w i th C h il d . (N . T . 1 2 /1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 1 7 ) . F ath e r cl ai m e d th at h e m i s s e d th e s e v i s i t s d u e t o ill n e s s o r j o b tr a i ni n g . (N . T. 1 2 /1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 3 6 ) . A l th o u gh F ath e r ' s b e h av i o r w i th C h il d h a s b e e n a p p r o p ri at e d ur i n g th e s u

p e rv i s e d v i s i t s , F ath e r w a s i nv o l v e d i n an i n c i d e nt w i th M G F d uri n g th e v i s i t. O n o r ar o un d Au gu s t 2 0 1 7 , F ath e r an d M G F e n g a g e d i n an al t e r c ati o n i n fr o nt o f C h i l d , r e s ul ti n g i n p o li c e a s s i s t an c e . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 2 0 ) . F ath e r ' s v i s i t at i o n w a s s ub s e qu e ntl y s u s p e n d e d . O n Au gu s t 11 , 2 0 1 7 , th e tr i a l c o urt r e i n s t at e d F ath e r ' s s u p e rv i s e d v i s i t at i o n . F ath e r h a s n e v e r p ro g r e s s e d b e y o n d s u

p e rv i s e d v i s i t at i o n w i th C h il d . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g s . 2 1 , 3 2 - 3 3 ; D H S E xh i b i t 2 ) . T hr o u g h o ut th e li fe o f th e c a s e , F ath e r h a s r e fu s e d t o s i g n c o n s e nt s an d r e l e a s e s fo r C h il d . (N . T . 1 2 /1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 2 4 ) . F ath e r h a s r e fu s e d t o s i g n c o n s e nt s an d r e l e a s e s o n at l e a s t thr e e d i ff e r e nt o c c a s i o n s an d d i d n o t p ro v i d e a r e a s o n a s t o why h e r e fu s e d t o p ro v i d e h i s s i g n at ur e . (N . T . 1 2 /1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 2 5 ) . F ath e r c l a i m e d th at h e r e fu s e d t o s i g n th e c o n s e nt s an d r e l e a s e s b e c au s e h e d i d n o t un d e r s t an d wh at h e w as s i g n i n g . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g s . 3 4 - 3 5 ) . F ath e r h a s a l s o fa i l e d t o c o n s i s t e ntl y c o mp l y w i th th e s tay - aw ay o r d e r i n r e g ar d s t o M G F . F ath e r ' s i n c i d e nt at th e s u p e rv i s e d v i s i t w i th C h i l d w a s i n v i o l at i o n o f th e tri a l c o urt ' s s t ay - aw ay o r d e r . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 2 5 ) . F ath e r ha s fa i l e d t o c o n s i s t e nt l y m a i nt a i n c o nt a c t w i th C UA thr o u g h o ut th e li fe o f th e P a g e 7 o f 1 9c a s e . O n mu lt ip l e o c c a s i o n s , C UA h a s s tru g g l e d t o m ak e o utr e a c h t o F ath e r an d F ath e r w o u l d 

### fa il

t o fo ll o w u

p wi th C UA att e mp t e d t o c o nt a c t F ath e r . (N .T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g s . 2 5 - 2 6 ) . F ath e r cl ai m e d th at h e d i d n o t r e c e i v e c al l s o r m e s s a g e s fr o m C UA . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 /1 7 , p g . 4 0 ) . F ath e r h a s b e e nn o n c o mp li ant w i th h i s S C P o b j e c t i v e s . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 2 7 ) . F ath e r h a s att e n d e d c o urt h e ari n g s i n th i s m att e r an d p art i c i p at e d i n a S C P m e e ti n g o n o n e o c c a s i o n . 

### (N . T. 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 9 ) . F ath e r w a s aw ar e o f h i s o b

j e c t i v e s , wh i c h h av e r e m a i n e d c o n s i s t e nt. F ath e r r e fu s e s t o p e rf o rm h i s p ar e nt a l d ut i e s b y fa i l i n g t o a c c o mp l i s h any o f h i s o b j e c t i v e s . F ath e r h a s n o t tak e n p o s i t i v e s t e p s t o p ut hi m s e l f i n a p o s i t i o n t o b e r e un i fi e d wi th C h i l d . F o r th e e nt i r e s i x - m o nth p e ri o d p ri o r t o th e fil i n g o f th e p e t i t i o n s , F ath e r e i th e r f ai l e d o r r e fu s e d t o s u c c e s s ful l y c o mp l e t e h i s o b j e c t i v e s an d p l a c e hi m s e l f i n a p o s i t i o n t o p ar e nt. A s a r e s ul t , th e tri al c o urt d i d n o t e rr o r ab u s e i t s d i s c r e t i o n b y fi n d i n g cl e ar an d c o nv i n c i n g e v i d e n c e that F ath e r , b y h i s c o n d u c t , h a d r e fu s e d an d f

ai l e d t o p e r fo rm p ar e nt a l d

ut i e s an d h a s e v i d e n c e d a s e tt l e d p urp o s e t o r e li n qu i s h h i s p ar e nt al cl ai m t o C h il d , s o t e rm i n ati o n un d e r 2 3 P a . C . S . A . § 2 5 1 l ( a) ( l ) w a s p ro p e r . Th e tri a l c o urt a l s o t e rm i n at e d F ath e r ' s p ar e nt al ri g ht s un d e r 

### 2 3 P a . C . S . A. § 2 5 1 l ( a) ( 2 ) . T h i s s e c t i o n o f th e A d o p t i o n A c t i n clu d e s , a s a g ro un d fo r i nv o l unt ar y t e rm i n at i o n o f p ar e nt al ri g ht s , th e r e p e at e d an d c o nt inu e d i n c a p a c i ty , ab u s e , n e g l e c t o r r e fu s a l o f th e p ar e nt th at c au s e s th e c h i l d t o b e wi th o ut e s s e nt i al p ar e nt al c ar e , c o ntr o l o r s ub s i s t e n c e n e c e s s ar y fo r h i s p hy s i c a l o r m e nt a l w e ll - b e i n g ; an d th e c o n d i t i o n s an d c au s e s o f th e i n c a p a ci ty , ab u s e , n e g l e c t o r r e fu s a l c ann o t o r wi ll n o t b e r e m e d i e d b y th e p ar e nt. T hi s g ro un d i s n o t li m i t e d t o a ffi rm ati v e m i s c o n d u c t. It m ay i n c lu d e a c t s o f r e fu s al t o p e r f

o rm p ar e nt al d

uti e s , b ut fo c u s e s m o r e s p e c i fi c al l y o n th e n e e d s o f th e c h il d . A d o p ti o n o f C. A . W. , 6 8 3 A . 2 d 9 11 , 9 1 4 ( P a . S u p e r . 1 9 9 6 ) . § 2 5 ll ( a) ( 2 ) fo c u s e s o n th e c h i l d ' s p r e s e nt . an d fut

ur e n e e d fo r e s s e nt i a l p ar e nt a l c ar e , c o ntr o l , o r s ub s i s t e n c e n e c e s s ary fo r th e i r p hy s i c al o r m e nt a l w e ll - b e i n g . 

### I n re A d o p ti o n o ( M J H , 5 0 1 A. 2 d 6 4 8 , 6 5 4 ( P a . S u p e r . 1 9 8 5 ) . E v e n i fa p ar e nt d e m o n s tr at e s l o v e fo r th e i r c hi l d , i f a p ar e nt ' s i n c a

p a c i ty c ann o t b e r e m e d i e d , th e i r p ar e nt a l ri ght s m ay b e t e rm i n at e d . 

### I d . T hr o u g h o ut th e t i m e th at C h i l d h a s b e e n i n th e c u s t o dy o f D H S , F ath e r ' s S C P o b j e c t i v e s w e r e dru g an d a lc o h o l , p ar e nti n g . i h o u s i n g , d o m e s ti c v i o l e n c e , an d v i s i tat i o n wi th C h i l d . A d d i t i o n al l y , F ath e r w a s t o s i g n a

p p ro p ri at e c o n s e nt s , c o mp l y wi th th e s t ay - aw ay o r d e r r e g ar d i n g M G F , an d m ai nt ai n c o nt a c t wi th C UA. (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 /1 7 , p g . 1 4 ) . F ath e r w as aw ar e o f h i s o b j e c t i v e s . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 13 ) . F ath e r fa il e d t o c o mp l e t e tr e atm e nt fo r dru g an d al c o h o l. F o r th e l i fe o f th e c a s e , P a g e 8 o f 1 9F ath e r h a s fa il e d t o e n g a g e i n tr e atm e nt at any p o i nt. F ath e r ' s dru g o f c h o i c e w a s m ari j u an a . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g s . 2 2 , 3 1 ) . F ath e r l a s t v i s i t e d th e C E U o n Jun e 2 1 , 2 0 1 7 , t o s c h e d ul e hi s a s s e s s m e nt fo r Ju l y 1 1 , 2 0 1 7 . O n th at d ay , F ath e r w a s a n o - s h o w fo r hi s s c h e d u l e d a s s e s s m e nt an d d i d n o t c al l t o c an c e l o r r e s c h e d

u l e th e a s s e s s m e nt. F ath e r h a s n o t h a d any c o nt a c t wi th th e C E U s i n c e Jun e 2 1 , 2 0 1 7 . F ath e r adm i tt e d th at h e n e v e r att e n d e d an a s s e s s m e nt at th e C E U . A d d i t i o n al l y , F ath e r h a s n o t c o mp l e t e d a dru g s c r e e n w i th th e C E U s i n c e J anu ary 1 8 , 2 0 1 7 . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 4 1 ) . D H S E xhi b i t 3 ) . C UA i n d i c at e d th at F ath e r d i d n o t c o mp l e t e d hi s p ar e nt i n g o b j e c ti v e at th e A R C , b ut h e c o mp l e t e d p ar e nt i n g thr o u g h P r o j e c t D a d . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 3 1 ) . Wh e n F ath e r e n g a g e d i n p ar e nt i n g at th e AR C , F ath e r f ai l e d t o att e n d c o n s i s t e ntl y . T h e A RC d i s c h ar g e d F ath e r fo r n o n - p art i c ip ati o n . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g s . 2 3 - 2 4 ; D H S E xhi b i t 7 ) . F ath e r h a s fa i l e d t o c o mp l e t e h i s h o u s i n g o b

j e c t i v e . F ath e r h a s p r e v i o u s l y e n g a g e d i n h o u s i n g at th e A RC , b ut F ath e r f ai l e d t o att e n d c o n s i s t e nt l y . T h e A R C d i s c h ar g e d F ath e r fo r n o n - p art i c ip at i o n . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 2 4 ) . F ath e r d o e s n o t hav e h o u s i n g . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 3 1 ) . F ath e r h a s n o t c o mp l e t e d h i s d o m e s ti c v i o l e n c e o b

j e c t i v e an d F ath e r h a s n e v e r e n g a g e d i n d o m e s t i c v i o l e n c e c o un s e l i n g . (N . T. 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g s . 2 4 , 3 1 ) . F ath e r h a s f ai l e d t o c o n s i s t e ntl y att e n d w e e kl y s u p e rv i s e d v i s i t at i o n wi th C h i l d . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 1 5 - 1 6 ) . B e tw e e n S e p t e mb e r 2 0 1 7 an d D e c e mb e r 20 1 7 , F ath e r ha s m i s s e d fo ur o ut o f tw e l v e w e e k l y v i s i t s w i th C hi l d . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 1 7 ) . F ath e r c l ai m e d th at h e m i s s e d th e s e v i s i t s d u e t o ill n e s s o rj o b tr ai n i n g . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 3 6 ) . A l th o u g h F ath e r ' s b e h av i o r wi th C h i l d h a s b e e n a

p p r o p ri at e d

uri n g th e s u

p e rv i s e d v i s i t s , F ath e r w a s i nv o l v e d i n an i n ci d e nt wi th M G F d uri n g th e v i s i t. O n o r ar o un d Au gu s t 2 0 1 7 , F ath e r an d M G F e n g a g e d i n an al t e r c at i o n i n fr o nt o f C h il d , r e s u l t i n g i n p o l i c e a s s i s t an c e . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 /1 7 , p g . 2 0 ) . F ath e r ' s v i s i t ati o n w a s s ub s e qu e ntl y s u s p e n d e d . O n Au gu s t 1 1 , 2 0 1 7 , th e tri a l c o urt r e i n s t at e d F ath e r ' s s u p e rv i s e d v i s i t at i o n . F ath e r h a s n e v e r p ro g r e s s e d b e y o n d s u p e rv i s e d v i s i t at i o n w i th C h il d . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 /1 7 , p g s . 2 1 , 3 2 - 3 3 ; D H S E xh ib i t 2 ) . T hr o u g h o ut th e l i fe o f th e c a s e , F ath e r h a s r e fu s e d t o s i g n c o n s e nt s an d r e l e a s e s fo r C h i l d . (N . T . 1 2 /1 5 /1 7 , p g . 2 4 ) . F ath e r h a s r e fu s e d t o s i g n c o n s e nt s an d r e l e a s e s o n at l e a s t thr e e di ff e r e nt o c c a s i o n s an d d i d n o t p ro v i d e a r e a s o n a s t o why h e r e fu s e d t o p ro v i d e h i s s i g n at ur e . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , , p g . 2 5 ) . F ath e r cl ai m e d th at h e r e fu s e d t o s i gn th e c o n s e nt s an d r e l e a s e s b e c au s e h e d i d n o t un d e r s t an d wh at h e w a s s i g n i n g . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g s . 3 4 - 3 5 ) . F ath e r h a s al s o f ai l e d t o c o n s i s t e ntl y c o mp l y w i th th e s t ay - aw ay o r d e r i n r e g ar d s t o M G F . F ath e r ' s i n c i d e nt at th e s u p e rv is e d v i s i t w i th C h i l d w as i n v i o l at i o n o f th e tr i al c o urt ' s s t ay - aw ay o r d e r . (N . T. 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 2 5 ) . F ath e r h a s fa i l e d t o c o n s i s t e nt l y m a i nt ai n c o nt a c t w i th C UA thr o u g h o ut th e l i fe o f th e P a g e 9 o f 1 9c a s e . O n mul ti p l e o c c a s i o n s , C UA h a s s tru g g l e d t o m ak e o utr e a c h t o F ath e r an d F ath e r w o u l d 

### fa il

t o fo ll o w u

p 

### wi th C UA atte mp t e d t o c o nt a c t F ath e r . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g s . 2 5 - 2 6 ) . F ath e r c l a i m e d th at h e d i d n o t r e c e i v e c a ll s o r m e s s a g e s fr o m C UA. (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 /1 7 , 

### p g . 4 0 ) . F ath e r h a s b e e nn o n c o mp li ant wi th h i s S C P o b j e c t i v e s . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 

### 2 7 ) . C h il d n e e d s p e rm an e n c y , wh i c h F ath e r c ann o t p r o v i d e . F ath e r h a s d e m o n s tr at e d th at h e i s unw i lli n g t o p ro v i d e C h il d w i th e s s e nt i a l p ar e nt a l c ar e , c o ntr o l , o r s ub s i s t e n c e n e c e s s ar y fo r h e r p hy s i c al an d m e nt al w e ll - b e i n g . T h e c o n d i t i o n s an d c au s e s o f F ath e r ' s i n c a p a ci ty c ann o t o r wi ll n o t b e r e m e d i e d b y F ath e r . F ath e r h a s att e n d e d c o urt h e ar i n g s i n th i s m att e r an d h a s p art i c i p at e d i n a 

### S C P m e e ti n g . (N . T . 12 / 1 5 / 1 7 , 

### p g . 9 ) . F ath e r i s aw ar e o f

hi s S C P o b

j e c t i v e s . F ath e r h a d amp l e o p p o rt un i ty t o p ut h i m s e l fi n a p o s iti o n t o p ar e nt. F ath e r ' s r e p e at e d an d c o nt i nu e d i n c a p a c i ty h as n o t 

### b e e n m it i g at e d . T e rm i n at i o n un d e r 2 3 P a . C . S . A. § 2 5 1 l ( a) ( 2 ) w a s a l s o p ro p e r . T h e tri a l c o urt wi ll n o w d i s c u s s th e t e rm i n at i o n o f F ath e r ' s p ar e nt a l ri g ht s un d e r 2 3 P a . C . S . A . § 2 5 ll ( a) ( 5 ) , wh i c h p e rm i t s t e rm i n at i o n wh e n a c h i l d w a s r e m o v e d , b y c o urt o r v o lunt ar y a gr e e m e nt , an d p l a c e d wi th an a g e n c y i f , fo r at l e a s t s i x m o nth s , th e c o n d i ti o n s wh i c h l e d t o th e p l a c e m e nt o f th e c h il d c o nt i nu e t o e x i s t , th e p ar e nt c ann o t o r 

### w ill n o t r e m e dy th o s e c o n d i t i o n s w i thi n 

### a r e a s o n ab l e p e ri o d o f t i m e , th e s e rv i c e s r e a s o n ab l y av a i l ab l e t o th e p ar e nt ar e n o t l i k e l y t o r e m e dy th e c o n d i t i o n s l e a d i n g t o p l a c e m e nt , an d t e rm i n at i o n 

### b e s t s e rv e s 

### th e c h il d ' s n e e d s an d w e l f ar e . 

### D H S , a s a c h il d an d y o uth a g e n c y , c ann o t b e r e qu i r e d t o e x t e n d s e rv i c e s b e y o n d th e p e ri o d o f t i m e d e e m e d a s r e a s o n ab l e b y th e l e g i s l at ur e o r b e s ub

j e c t e d t o h e r c u l e an e ff

o rt s . A c h i l d ' s 

### li fe c ann o t b e p ut o n h o l d i n h o p e th at th e p ar e nt 

### w ill s umm o n th e ab ili ty t o h an d l e th e r e s p o n s ib i l i t i e s o f p ar e nt i n g . 

### I n re J 

### T . 8 1 7 A. 2 d SO S ( P a . S u p e r . 20 0 � ) . A s a c o n s e qu e n c e , P e nn s y l v an i a ' s S u

p e ri o r C o urt h a s r e c o g n i z e d th at a c h i l d ' s n e e d s an d w e l far e r e qu i r e a g e n ci e s t o w o rk t o w ar d t e rm i n ati o n o f p ar e nt a l r i g ht s wh e n a c hi l d h a s b e e n p l a c e d i n fo s t e r c ar e b e y o n d r e a s o n ab l e t e mp o r al li m i t s an d a ft e r r e a s o n ab l e e ff o rt s fo r r e un i fi c at i o n h av e b e e n m a d e b y th e a g e n c y , wh i c h h av e b e e n i n e ff e c t i v e . T h i s p ro c e s s s h o u l d b e c o mp l e t e d w i thi n e i g ht e e n m o nth s . 

### I n re NW. , 8 5 9 A. 2 d 

### 5 0 1 ( P a . S u p e r . 

### 2 0 0 4 ) . C h il d h a s b e e n i n D H S c u s t o dy s i n c e N o v e mb e r 2 8 , 2 0 1 6 , th i rt e e n m o nth s at t i m e o f th e t e rm i n at i o n - tri a l o n D e c e mb e r 1 5 , 2 0 1 7 an d tw e nty - s i x m o nth s at th e t i m e o f th e t e rm i n at i o n tr i al o n. J anu ary 2 3 , 2 0 1 9 . F ath e r ' s S C P o b j e c t i v e s w e r e dr

u g an d a l c o h o l , p ar e nt i n g , h o u s i n g , d o m e s t i c v i o l e n c e , an d v i s i t at i o n w i th . C h il d . A d d i t i o n a ll y , F ath e r w a s t o s i gn a p p ro p ri at e c o n s e nt s , c o mp l y P a g e 1 0 o f 1 9w i th th e s tay - aw ay o r d e r r e g ar d i n g M G F , an d m ai nt a i n c o nt a c t w i th C UA. (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g .

1 4 ) . F ath e r w a s aw ar e o f h i s o b j e c t i v e s . (N . T. 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 13 ) . F ath e r fa il e d t o c o mp l e t e tr e atm e nt fo r dr

u g an d a lc o h o l. F o r th e li fe o f th e c a s e , F ath e r h a s fa i l e d t o e n g a g e i n tr e atm e nt at any p o i nt. F ath e r ' s dr

u g o f c h o i c e w a s m ari

j u an a . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , 

### p g s , 2 2 , 3 1 ) . F ath e r l a s t v i s i t e d th e C E U o n Jun e 2 1 , 2 0 1 7 , t o s c h e d ul e hi s a s s e s s m e nt fo r Ju l y 1 1 , 2 0 1 7 . O n th at d ay , F ath e r w a s a n o - s h o w fo r h i s s c h e d u l e d a s s e s s m e nt an d d i d n o t c a ll t o c an c e l o r r e s c h e d u l e th e a s s e s s m e nt. F ath e r ha s n o t h a d any c o nt a c t w i th th e C E U s i n c e Jun e 2 1 , 2 01 7 . F ath e r a dm i tt e d th at h e n e v e r att e n d e d an a s s e s s m e nt at th e C E U . A d d it i o n a ll y , F ath e r h a s n o t c o mp l e t e d a dru g s c r e e n w i th th e C E U s i n c e Janu ar

y 1 8 , 2 0 1 7 . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 4 1 ) . D H S E xh ib i t 3 ) . C UA i n d i c at e d th at F ath e r d i d n o t c o mp l e t e d h i s p ar e nt i n g o b j e c t i v e at th e A R C , b ut h e c o mp l e t e d p ar e nti n g thr o u g h P ro j e c t D a d . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 3 1 ) . Wh e n F ath e r e n g a g e d i n p ar e nt i n g at th e A R C , F ath e r f ai l e d t o att e n d c o n s i s t e ntl y . T h e A R C d i s c h ar g e d F ath e r fo r n o n - p art i c ip ati o n , (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g s . 2 3 - 2 4 ; O H S E xh ib i t 7 ) . F ath e r h a s f

ai l e d t o c o mp l e t e h i s h o u s i n g o b j e c t i v e . F ath e r h a s p r e v i o u s l y e n g a g e d i n h o u s i n g at th e A R C , b ut F ath e r fa i l e d t o att e n d c o n s i s t e nt l y . T h e A R C d i s c h ar g e d F ath e r fo r n o n p art i c ip at i o n . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 2 4 ) . F ath e r d o e s n o t h av e h o u s i n g . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 11 7 , p g . 3 1 ) . F ath e r h a s n o t c o mp l e t e d h i s d o m e s t i c v i o l e n c e o b j e c ti v e an d F ath e r h a s n e v e r e n g a g e d i n d o m e s t i c v i o l e n c e c o un s e l i n g . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g s . 2 4 , 3 1 ) . F ath e r h a s fa il e d t o c o n s i s t e ntl y att e n d we e kl y s u

p e rv i s e d v i s i t at i o n w i th C h i l d . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 1 5 - 1 6 ) . B e tw e e n S e p t e mb e r 2 0 1 7 an d D e c e mb e r 2 0 1 7 , F ath e r ha s m i s s e d fo ur o ut o f tw e i v e w e e kl y v i s i t s wi th C h il d . (N . T. 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 1 7 ) . F ath e r cl a i m e d th at h e m i s s e d th e s e v i s i t s d u e t o ill n e s s o r j o b tr a i n i n g . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 3 6 ) . A lth o u g h F ath e r ' s b e h av i o r w i th C h il d h a s b e e n a p p ro p ri at e d

uri n g th e s u

p e rv i s e d v i s i t s , F ath e r w a s i nv o l v e d i n an i n c i d e nt wi th M G F d ur i n g th e v i s it . O n o r ar o un d Au gu s t 2 0 1 7 , F ath e r an d M G F e n g a g e d i n an a lt e r c at i o n i n fr o nt o f C h i l d , r e s u l t i n g i n p o l i c e a s s i s t an c e . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 2 0 ) . F ath e r ' s v i s i t at i o n w a s s ub s e qu e ntl y s u s p e n d e d . O n Au gu s t 1 1 , 2 0 1 7 , th e tri a l c o urt r e i n s t at e d F ath e r ' s s u

p e rv i s e d v i s i t at i o n . F ath e r h a s n e v e r p r o gr e s s e d b e y o n d s u p e rv i s e d v i s i t at i o n w i th C h il d . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 /1 7 , p g s . 2 1 , 3 2 - 3 3 ; D H S E xh ib i t 2 ) . T hro u g h o ut th e l i fe o f th e c a s e , F ath e r h a s r e fu s e d t o s i g n c o n s e nt s an d r e l e a s e s fo r C hi l d . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 2 4 ) . F ath e r h a s r e fu s e d t o s i g n c o n s e nt s 

### an dr e l e a s e s o n at l e a s t thr e e d i ff e r e nt o c c a s i o n s 

### an d d i d n o t p r o v i d e a r e a s o n a s t o why h e r e fu s e d t o p ro v i d e h i s s i g n at ur e . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 2 5 ) . F ath e r cl a i m e d th at h e r e fu s e d t o s i g n th e c o n s e nt s an d r e l e as e s b e c au s e h e d i d n o t un d e r s tan d wh at h e w a s s i g n i n g . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 . p g s . 3 4 - 3 5 ) . F ath e r h a s a l s o fa il e d t o c o n s i s t e ntl y c o mp l y w i th th e s t ay - aw ay o r d e r i n P a g e l l o f 1 9

### r e g ar d s t o M G F . F ath e r ' s i n ci d e nt at th e s u p e rv i s e d v i s i t wi th C h il d w a s i n v i o l at i o n o f th e tri al c o urt ' s s t ay - aw ay o r d e r . (N . T . 1 2 i 1 5 / l 7 , p g . 

### 2 5 ) . F ath e r h a s fa i l e d t o c o n s i s t e nt l y m aint a i n c o nt a c t w i th C UA thr o u g h o ut th e li fe 

### o f th e c a s e . O n mu l t ip l e o c c a s i o n s , C UA h a s s tru g g l e d t o m ak e o utr e a c h t o F ath e r an d F ath e r w o u l d f ai l t o fo ll o w u

p w i th 

### C UA att e mp t e d t o c o nt a c t F ath e r . 

### (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g s . 2 5 - 2 6 ) . F ath e r cl a i m e d th at h e di d n o t r e c e i v e c a l ls o r m e s s a g e s fr o m 

### C UA . (N . T . 1 2 /1 5 /1 7 , 

### p g . 4 0 ) . F ath e r h a s b e e n n o n - c o mp li ant w i th h i s 

### S C P o b j e c t i v e s . (N . T . 1 2 /1 5 / 1 7 , 

### p g . 2 7 ) . C hi l d i s c urr e ntly p l a c e d wi th M G F , wh i c h i s a p r e - a d o p t i v e h o m e . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 /1 7 , p g s . 2 8 , 3 2 ) . C h i l d li v e s i n th e h o m e w i th M G F , M G F ' s 

### fi an c e e , an d tw o M G F ' s tw o d au ght e r s that ar e tw o y e ar s o l d e r th an C h il d . (N . T . 0 1 /2 3 / 1 9 , p g . 6 ) . 

### C h i l d i s d o i n g w e ll i n th e h o m e . C hi l d h a s a 

### s tr o n g b o n d wi th M G F . C h il d l o o k s t o M G F t o m e e t h e r d ay - t o - d ay n e e d s . C h il d l o o k s t o M G F as h e r c ar e g i v e r . C h il d h a s s t ab ili ty i n M G F ' s h o m e . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g s . 2 8 - 2 9 , 3 2 ; N . T . 0 1/2 3 / 1 9 , p g . 6 ) . C hi l d n e e d s p e rm an e n c y , wh i c h F ath e r i s unw i lli n g t o p r o v i d e . As 

### a r e s u l t , th e tri a l c o urt fo un d th at t e rm i n ati o n o f F ath e r ' s p ar e nt a l ri g ht s w a s i n th e b e s t i nt e r e s t o f C h il d fo r h e r p hy s i c a l , i nt e ll e c t u a l , m o ra l , an d s p i ri t

u al w e ll - b e i n g . T e rm in ati o n b e s t s e rv e s C hi l d ' s n e e d s an d w e l f ar e . B e c au s e th e tri al c o urt m a d e th e s e d e t e rm i n at i o n s o n th e b as i s o f cl e ar an d c o nv i n c i n g e v i d e n c e , t e rmi n ati o n un d e r 2 3 P a . C . S . A. § 2 5 1 l ( a) ( 5 ) w a s a l s o p r o p e r . Th e tri a l c o urt a l s o t e rm i n at e d F ath e r ' s p ar e ntal ri g ht s un d e r 2 3 P a . C . S . A . § 2 5 1 l ( a) ( 8 ) , wh i c h pe rm it s t e rm i n at i o n wh e n : T h e c h il d h a s b e e n r e m o v e d fr o m th e c ar e o f th e p ar e nt 

### b y th e c o urt o r un d e r a v o lunt ary a g r e e m e nt w i th an a g e n c y , 1 2 m o nth s o r m o r e h av e e l a p s e d fr o m th e d at e o fr e m o v a l o r p l a c e m e nt , th e c o n di ti o ns wh i c h l e d t o th e r e m o v a l o r p l a c e m e nt o f th e c h i l d c o nti nu e t o e x i s t an d t e rm i n at i o n o f

p ar e nta l ri g ht s w o ul d b e s t s e rv e th e n e e d s an d w e l far e o fth e c h il d . T h i s s e c ti o n d o e s n o t r e qu i r e th e 

### c o urt t o e v a lu at e a p ar e nt' s w ill i n g n e s s o r 

### ab ili ty t o r e m e dy th e c o n d i ti o n s wh i c h i n i ti a ll y c au s e d p l a c e m e nt o r th e av a il ab i l i ty or e ffi c a c y o f D H S s e rv i c e s o ff

e r e d t o th e p ar e nt , o n l y th e p r e s e nt s t at e o f th e c o n d i t i o n s . 

### I

n re : A d o p ti o n o ( K. J. . 9 3 {; A. 2 d 1 1 2 8 , 1 13 3 ( P a . S u pe r. 2 0 0 7 ) . 

### T h e p arty s e e ki n g t e rm i n at i o n mu s t al s o p ro v e b y 

### cl e ar an d c o nv i n c i n g e v i d e n c e th at th e t e rm i n ati o n i s i n th e b e s t i nt e r e s t o f th e c h i l d . T h e b e s t i nt e r e s t o f th e c h i l d i s d e t e rm i n e d aft e r c o n s i d e r at i o n o f th e n e e d s an d w e l f ar e o f th e c hi l d s u c h as l o v e , c o m fo rt , s e c uri ty , an d s t a b ili ty . 

### I n re Bo wm a n . 

### G 'O.. A JJ 2 n ( P a . S u p e r . 1 9 9 4 ) . S e e a l s o 

### I

n re A d o p ti o n o ( T. T .B. . 8 3 5 A .2 d 3 8 7 , 3 9 7 ( P a . S u

p e r . 2 0 0 3 ) .

P a g e 1 2 o f 1 9

### C h il d h a s b e e n i n D H S c u s t o dy s i n c e N o v e mb e r 2 8 , 2 0 1 6 , th i rt e e n m o nth s at ti m e o f th e



### t e rmin ati o n tri al o n D e c e mb e r 1 5 , 2 0 1 7 an d 

### tw e nty - s i x m o nth s at th e ti m e o f

### th e tri a l o n J anu ar y 2 3 , 2 0 1 9 . F ath e r ' s S C P o b j e c ti v e s w e r e dru g an d a l c o h o l , p ar e ntin g , h o u s i n g , d o m e s ti c v i o l e n c e , an d vi s i t ati o n w i th C hi l d . A d di ti o n a ll y , F ath e r w a s t o s i g n a p p ro p ri at e co ns e nt s , c o mp ly w i th th e s t ay - aw ay o rd e r r e g ar d i n g M G F , an d m ai nt ai n c o ntac t w i th C UA. (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 1 4 ) . F ath e r w a s aw ar e o fh i s o b

j e c ti v e s . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 13 ) . F ath e r fa il e d t o c o mp l e t e tr e atm e nt fo r dru g an d a lc o h o l. F o r th e li fe 

### o f th e c a s e , F ath e r h a s f

ai l e d t o e n g a g e in tr e atm e nt at any po i nt. F ath e r ' s dru g o f c h o i c e w a s m ari

j u an a . (N . T. 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g s . 2 2 , 3 1 ) . F ath e r l as t v i s i t e d th e C E U o n Jun e 2 1 , 2 0 1 7 , t o s c h e d

u l e hi s a s s e s s m e nt fo r Ju ly 1 1 , 2 0 1 7 . O n th at d ay , F ath e r w a s a n o - s h o w fo r h i s s c h e d ul e d as s e s s m e nt an d d i d n o t c a ll t o c an c e l o r r e s c h e d u l e th e a s s e s s m e nt. F ath e r h a s n o t h a d any c o nt a c t w i th th e C E U s i n c e Jun e 2 1 , 2 0 1 7 . F ath e r a dm i tt e d th at h e n e v e r att e n d e d an as s e s s m e nt at th e C E U . A d di ti o n al l y , F ath e r h as n o t c o mp l e t e d a dru g s c r e e n w i th th e C E U s i n c e Janu ar y 1 8 , 2 0 1 7 . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 4 1 ) . D H S E xh ib i t 3 ) . C UA i n di c at e d th at F ath e r di d n o t c o mp l e t e d hi s p ar e nti n g o b j e c ti v e at th e A RC , b ut h e c o mp l e t e d p ar e nti n g thr o u g h P ro j e c t D a d . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 3 1 ) . Wh e n F ath e r e n g a g e d i n p ar e nti n g at th e A RC , F ath e r f ai l e d t o att e n d c o n s i s t e ntl y . T h e ARC d i s c h arg e d F ath e r fo r n o n - p arti c ip ati o n . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 /1 7 , p g s . 2 3 - 2 4 ; D H S E xh i b i t 7 ) . F ath e r h a s fa i l e d t o c o mp l e t e h i s h o u s in g o b j e c ti v e . F ath e r h a s p r e v i o u s ly e n g a g e d i n h o u s i n g at th e A R C , b ut F ath e r f ai l e d t o att e n d c o n s i s t e nt l y . T h e A RC di s c h arg e d F ath e r fo r n o n p arti c ip at i o n . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 2 4 ) . F ath e r d o e s n o t h av e h o u s i n g . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 3 1 ) . F ath e r h as n o t c o mp l e t e d h i s d o m e s ti c v i o l e n c e o b j e c ti v e an d F ath e r h as n e v e r e n g a g e d in d o m e s ti c v i o l e n c e c o un s e li n g . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g s . 2 4 , 3 1 ) . F ath e r h a s fa il e d t o c o n s i s t e nt ly att e n d w e e kl y s u p e rv i s e d v i s i t at i o n w i th C h il d . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , 

### p g . 1 5 - 1 6 ) . 

### B e tw e e n S e p t e mb e r 2 0 1 7 

### an d D e c e mb e r 2 0 1 7 , F ath e r h as m i s s e d fo ur o ut o f tw e l v e w e e kly v i s i ts w i th C hi l d . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 1 7 ) . F ath e r cl ai m e d th at h e m i s s e d th e s e v i s i t s d u e t o ill n e s s o r j o b tr ai n i n g . (N . T . 1 2 /1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 3 6 ) . A lth o u gh F ath e r ' s be h avi o r wi th C h i l d h a s b e e n a p p ro p ri at e d

uri n g th e s u

p e rv i s e d v i s i ts , F ath e r w a s i nv o l v e d i n an i n c i d e nt wi th M G F d uri n g th e v i s i t. O n o r aro un d Au gu s t 2 0 1 7 , F ath e r an d M G F e n g a g e d i n an al t e rc ati o n i n fr o nt o fC hi l d , r e s u l ti n g i n p o l i c e a s s i s t an c e . (N . T . 1 2 /1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 2 0 ) . F ath e r ' s v i s i t at i o n w a s s ub s e qu e nt ly s u s pe n d e d . O n Au gu s t 1 1 , 2 0 1 7 , th e tri a l c o urt r e i n s t at e d F ath e r ' s s u

pe rv i s e d v i s i t at io n . F ath e r h as n e v e r p ro gr e s s e d b e y o n d s u p e rv i s e d v i s i t ati o n w i th C h il d . (N . T . 1 2 /1 5 / 1 7 , 

### p g s , 2 1 , 3 2 - 3 3 ; D H S E xh ib i t 2 ) . Thro u gh o ut th e 

### li fe o f th e c a s e , F ath e r h a s r e fu s e d t o s i gn c o n s e nt s an d r e l e a s e s fo r C h il d . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 2 4 ) . F ath e r h as re fu s e d t o P a g e 1 3 o f 1 9

### s i gn c o n s e nt s an d r e l e a s e s o n at l e a s t thr e e di ff e r e nt o c c a s i o n s an d d i d n o t p r o v i d e a r e as o n a s t o why h e r e fu s e d t o p r o v i d e h i s s i gn at ur e . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , 

### p g . 2 5 ) . F ath e r c l a i m e d th at h e r e fu s e d t o s i gn th e c o n s e nt s an d r e l e a s e s b e c au s e h e d i d n o t un d e r s t an d wh at h e w a s s i gn i n g . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , 

### p g s . 3 4 - 3 5 ) . F ath e r h a s al s o f ai l e d t o c o n s i s t e ntl y c o mp l y w i th th e s t ay - aw ay o r d e r i n r e g ar ds t o M G F . F ath e r ' s i n ci d e nt at th e s u p e rv i s e d v i s i t w i th C hi l d w a s i n 

### v i o l at i o n o f th e 

### tri a l c o urt ' s s t ay - aw ay o r d e r . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 2 5 ) . F ath e r h a s fa il e d t o c o n s i s t e nt l y m a i nt a i n c o nt a c t w i th C UA thr o u g h o ut th e li fe o f th e c a s e . O n mu l t ip l e o c c a s i o n s , C U A 

### h a s s tru g g l e d t o m ak e o utr e a c h t o F ath e r an d F ath e r w o u l d fai l t o fo ll o w u p w i th C UA att e mp t e d t o c o nt a c t F ath e r. (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g s . 2 5 - 2 6 ) . F ath e r c l ai m e d th at h e d i d n o t r e c e i v e c a ll s o r m e s s a g e s fr o m C UA. (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 4 0 ) . F ath e r h a s b e e n n o n - c o mp li ant w i th hi s S C P 

### o b j e c ti v e s . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 2 7 ) . C hi l d i s c urr e ntl y p l a c e d w i th M G F , whi c h i s a p r e - a d o p ti v e h o m e . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g s . 2 8 , 3 2 ) . C h il d l i v e s i n th e h o m e w i th M G F , M G F ' s fi an c e e , an d tw o M G F ' s tw o d au g ht e r s th at ar e tw o y e ar s o l d e r th an C hi l d . (N . T . 0 1/2 3 / 1 9 , p g . 6 ) . C h il d i s d o i n g w e ll i n th e h o m e . C hi l d h a s a s tr o n g b o n d wi th M G F . C h il d l o o k s t o M G F t o m e e t h e r d ay - t o - d ay n e e d s . C h il d l o o k s t o M G F 

### as h e r c ar e g i v e r . C h il d h a s s t ab i l i ty in 

### M G F ' s h o m e . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g s . 

### 2 8 - 2 9 , 3 2 ; N . T. 0 1 /2 3 / 1 9 , p g . 6 ) . 

### A s a r e s ul t , th e tri al c o urt fo un d th at t e rm i n at i o n o f F ath e r ' s p ar e nt a l ri g ht s w a s i n th e b e s t i nt e r e s t 

### o f C h il d fo r h e r p hy s i c a l , i nt e ll e c t u a l , m o r a l , an d s p iri t

u a l w e ll - b e i n g . F ath e r 

### h as be e n un ab l e t o p l a c e h i m s e l f i n a p o s i ti o n t o 

### p ar e nt fo r th e li fe o f th e c a s e . T h e c o n d i ti o n s wh i c h l e d t o th e r e m o v al o f

C h il d c o nt i nu e t o e x i s t aft e r tw e nty - s i x m o nth s an d t e rm i n at i o n o fF ath e r ' s p ar e nt al 

### ri g ht s w o u l d b e s t s e rv e th e n e e d s an d w e lf ar e o f C h i l d . (N . T . 1 21 1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 2 7 ) . T h e t e s ti m o ny o f D H S w i tn e s s w a s c r e d ib l e . B e c au s e th e r e c o r d c o nt a i n s c l e ar an d c o nv i n c i n g e v i d e n c e , th e tri a l c o urt d i d 

### n o t ab u s e i t s d i s c r e ti o n an d t e rm i n at i o n un d e r 2 3 P a . C . S . A . § 2 5 1 l ( a ) ( 8 ) w a s a l s o p r o pe r . 

### A ft e r a fi n d i n g o f any gr o un d s fo r t e rm i n at i o n un d e r S e c ti o n ( a) , th e c o urt mu s t , un d e r 2 3 P a . C . S . A. § 2 5 1 l (b ) , a l s o c o ns i d e r wh at • 

### i f any - b o n d e x i s ts b e tw e e n p ar e nt an d c h il d . 

### I n re I n v o lu n t a r y T e r m i na ti o n o f C. 

### W. S

.M . an d 

### K. A . L .M

. 8 3 9 A. 2 d 

### 4 10 , 4 1 5 ( P a . S u p e r. 2 0 0 3 ) . T h e tri a l c o urt mu s t e x am i n e th e s t at u s o f th e b o n d t o d e t e rm in e wh e th e r i t s t e rm i n ati o n " w o u l d d e s tr o y an 

### e x i s ti n g , n e c e s s ar

y an d b e n e fi c i a l r e l at i o n s h i p " . 

### I n re A d o p ti o n o f T B . B . 

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

### ' a s s e s s i n g th e p ar e nt al b o n d , th e tri a l c o urt i s p e rm i tt e d t o r e l y u p o n th e o b s e rv at i o n s an d e v a lu at i o n s o f s o c i al w o rk e r s . 

### I n re K. Z S . . 9 4 6 A. 2 d 7 5 3 , 7 6 2 - 7 6 3 ( P a . S u pe r . 2 0 0 8 ) . In ea s e s 

### wh e r e th e r e i s n o e v i d e n c e o f any b o n d b e tw e e n th e 

### p ar e nt an d c h il d , i t i s P a g e 1 4 

### o f 1 9

### r e as o n ab l e t o i nf e r th at n o b o n d e x i s t s . T h e e xt e nt o f any b o n d an a l y s i s d e p e n d s o n th e c i rc um s t an c e s o f th e p arti c u l ar c a s e . 

### I d . H o w e v e r un d e r 2 3 P a . C. S . A. § 2 5 1 l ( b ) , th e ri ght s o f a p ar e nt s h al l n o t b e t e rm i n at e d s o l e l y o n th e b a s i s o f e nv i r o nm e nt a l fa c t o r s s u c h a s i n a d e qu at e h o u s i n g , furn i s h i n g s , i n c o m e , cl o th i n g an d m e d i c al c ar e , if 

### fo un d t o b e 

### b e y o n d th e c o ntro l o f th e p ar e nt. T hro u gh o ut th e l i fe o f

th e c a s e , F ath e r h as fa il e d t o c o n s i s t e ntl y att e n d 

### w e e k l y s u p e rv i s e d v i s i t ati o n wi th C h il d . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , 

### p g . 1 5 � 1 6 ) . B e tw e e n S e p t e mb e r 2 0 1 7 an d D e c e mb e r 20 1 7 , F ath e r h a s m i s s e d fo ur o ut o f tw e l v e w e e kl y v i s i t s w i th C hi l d . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 /1 7 , p g . 1 7 ) . F ath e r c l a i m e d th at h e m i s s e d th e s e v i s i t s d

u e t o ill n e s s o r j o b tr ai nin g . (N . T . 1 2 /1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 

### 3 6 ) . A lth o u gh F ath e r ' s b e h av i o r w i th C h il d h a s b e e n a p p r o p ri at e d

uri n g th e s u

p e rv i s e d 

### v i s i t s , F ath e r w a s i nv o l v e d i n 

### an i n c i d e nt wi th M G F d

uri n g th e vi s i t. O n o r aro un d Au gu s t 2 0 1 7 , F ath e r an d M G F e n g a g e d i n an a lt e r c at i o n i n fr o nt o f C h il d , r e s u lti n g i n po li c e as s i s t an c e . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , 

### p g . 2 0 ) . F ath e r ' s v i s i t ati o n w a s s ub s e qu e ntl y s u s p e n d e d . O n Au gu s t 11 , 2 0 1 7 , th e tri a l c o urt r e i n s t at e d F ath e r ' s s u p e rv i s e d v i s i t ati o n . F ath e r h a s n e v e r p r o g r e s s e d b e y o n d s u p e rv i s e d v i s i t at i o n w i th C h il d . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g s . 2 1 , 3 2 - 3 3 ; D H S E xh ib it 2 ) . 

### O ut s i d e s u p e rv i s e d v i s i t at i o n , F ath e r d o e s n o t h av e t e l e p h o n e c o nt a c t w ith C h il d . F ath e r h a s n o t b r o u ght C h i l d any g i ft s at th e s u p e rv i s e d v i s i t at i o n . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 

### 3 0 ) . T hr o u gh o ut th e l i fe o f th e c a s e , F ath e r h a s re fu s e d t o s i g n c o n s e nt s an d r e l e a s e s fo r C hi l d . 

### (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 2 4 ) . 

### F ath e r h a s r e f us ed to s i gn 

### c o n s e nt s an d r e l e a s e s o n at l e a s t thr e e di ff

e r e nt o c c as i o n s an d di d n o t p r o v i d e a r e a s o n a s t o why h e r e fu s e d t o p ro v i d e h i s s i gn at ur e . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , 

### p g . 2 5 ) . F ath e r cl a i m e d th at h e r e fu s e d t o s i gn th e c o n s e nt s an d r e l e a s e s be c au s e h e d i d n o t un d e r s t an d wh at h e w as s i g n i n g . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 /1 7 , p g s , 

### 3 4 - 3 5 ) . C h il d i s c urr e ntl y p l a c e d w i th M G F , wh i c h i s a 

### p r e - a d o p ti v e h o m e . {N . T . 1 2 /1 5 / 1 7 , p g s . 

### 2 8 , 3 2 ) . C hi l d li v e s i n th e h o m e w i th M G F , M G F ' s fi an c e e , an d tw o M G F ' s tw o d au ght e r s th at ar e tw o y e ar s o l d e r th an C hi l d . (N . T . 0 1/2 3 / 1 9 , p g . 6 ) . C h i l d i s 

### d o i n g w e l l i n th e h o m e . C hi l d h as a s tro n g b o n d wi th M G F . C hi l d l o o k s t o M G F t o m e e t h e r d ay - t o - d ay n e e d s . C h i l d l o o k s to M G F a s h e r c ar e g i v e r . C h il d h a s 

### s t ab ili ty i n 

### M G F ' s h o m e . (N . T . 

### 1 2 /1 5 / 1 7 , p g s . 2 8 - 2 9 , 3 2 ; N . T . 0 1/2 3 / 1 9 , p g . 6 ) . C h il d w a s a p p o i nt e d l e g al 

### c o un s e l ( " L e g al C o uns e l " ) an d L e g al C o uns e l m e t w i th C h il d an d h a d th e c h an c e t o o b s e rv e C h il d . : c hi l d i s fi v e - y e ar s - o l d an d c an v e r b a ll y c o mmun i c at e . L e g al C o un s e l s p o k e w i th C h il d o n J anu ary 2 2 , 2 0 1 9 , an dC h i l d 

### s tat e d th at s h e i s h a p p y in 

### M G F ' s h o m e an d w o ul d li k e t o b e a d o p t e d . (N . T . 0 1/2 3 /1 9 , p g . 6 ) . It 

### i s i n C h i l d ' s be s t i nt e r e s t t o t e rm i n at e F ath e r ' s p ar e nt al ri g ht s P a g e 1 5 o f 1 9

### c o n s i s t e nt ly . Th e A.. 'll C di s c h arg e d F ath e r fo r n o n - p arti c i p ati o n . (N . T . 

### 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , 

### p g s , 2 3 - 2 4 ; D H S

E xhib i t 7 ) . F ath e r h a s f

ai l e d t o c o mp l e t e h i s h o u s i n g o b j e c ti v e . F ath e r h a s p r e v i o u s l y e n g a g e d i n h o u s i n g at th e ARC , b ut F ath e r f ai l e d t o att e n d c o n s i s t e ntl y . T h e 

### AR C d i s c h arg e d F ath e r fo r n o n p art ic ip ati o n . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 2 4 ) . F ath e r d o e s n o t h av e h o u s i n g . (N . T. 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 3 1 ) . F ath e r h a s n o t c o mp l e t ed hi s d o m e s ti c v i o l e n c e o b j e c ti v e an d F ath e r h a s n e v e r e n g a g e d i n d o m e s ti c v i o l e n c e c o un s e l i n g . (N . T . 1 2 /1 5 /1 7 , p g s . 2 4 , 3 1 ) . F ath e r ha s f ai l e d t o c o n s i s t e nt l y att e n d w e e kl y s u p e rv i s e d v i s i t ati o n w i th C h il d . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 1 5 - 1 6 ) . B e tw e e n S e p t e mb e r 2 0 1 7 an d D e ce mb e r 2 0 1 7 , F ath e r h as m i s s e d fo ur o ut o f tw e l v e w e e kly v i s it s wi th 

### C h i l d . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 1 7 ) . F ath e r c l a i m e d th at h e m i s s e d th e s e v i s i t s d u e t o ill n e s s o r j o b tr a i n i n g . (N . T . 1 2 /1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 3 6 ) . A l th o u gh F ath e r ' s b e h av i o r w i th C h il d h a s b e e n a p p ro p ri at e d

uri n g th e s u

pe rv i s e d v i s i t s , F ath e r w a s inv o l v e d i n an i n c i d e nt w i th M G F d uri n g th e v i s i t. O n o r aro un d Au gu s t 2 0 1 7 , F ath e r an d M G F e n g a g e d i n an a lt e r c at i o n i n fr o nt o fC h il d , r e s u l ti n g i n p o l i c e a s s i s t an c e . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 2 0 ) . F ath e r ' s v i s it ati o n w as s ub s e qu e ntl y s u spe n d e d . O n Au gu s t 11 , 2 0 1 7 , th e 

### tri al c o urt r e i n s tat e d F ath e r ' s s u

p e rv i s e d v i s i t at i o n . F ath e r h a s n e v e r p ro gr e s s e d b e y o n d s u p e rv i s e d v i s i t at i o n w i th C hi l d . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g s . 2 1 , 3 2 - 3 3 ; D H S E xhib it 2 ) . T hro u gh o ut th e 

### li fe o f th e c a s e , F ath e r h a s r e fu s e d t o s i g n c o n s e nt s an d r e l e a s e s fo r C h il d . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 2 4 ) . F ath e r h a s r e fu s e d t o s i g n c o n s e nts an d r e l e a s e s o n at l e as t thr e e d if fe r e nt o c c as i o n s an d di d n o t p r o v i d e a r e as o n a s t o why h e r e fu s e d t o p r o v i d e h i s s i g n at ur e . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 2 5 ) . F ath e r c l a i m e d th at h e r e fu s e d t o s i g n th e c o n s e nts an d r e l e a s e s b e c au s e h e d i d n o t un d e r s t an d wh at h e w a s s i gni n g . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g s . 3 4 - 3 5 ) . F ath e r h a s a l s o fa il e d t o c o ns i s t e nt l y c o mp ly w i th th e s t ay - aw ay o r d e r in r e g ar d s t o M G F . F ath e r ' s i n c i d e nt at th e s u p e rv i s e d v i s i t w i th C h il d w a s i n v i o l ati o n o f th e tri a l c o urt ' s s t ay - aw ay o r d e r . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , 

### p g . 2 5 ) . F ath e r h a s 

### f ai l e d t o c o n s i s t e ntl y 

### m aint ai n c o nt a c t 

### wi th C UA thro u gh o ut th e li f e o f th e c as e . O n mu l tip l e o c c a s i o n s , C UA h a s s tru g g l e d t o m ak e o utr e a c h t o F ath e r an d F ath e r w o u l d ' fa il t o f o l l o w u p w i th C UA att e mp t e d t o c o nt a c t F ath e r . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g s . 2 5 - 2 6 ) . F ath e r c l ai m e d t h at h e d i d n o t r e c e i v e c a ll s o r m e s s a g e s fr o m C UA. (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 4 0 ) . F ath e r h a s b e e n n o n - c o mp l i ant w i th hi s S C P o b j e c ti v e s . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g . 2 7 ) . C h il d· i s c urr e nt l y p l a c e d w i th M G F , wh i c h i s a p r e - a d o p ti v e h o m e . (N . T . 

### 1 2 / 1 5 / 1 7 , p g s . 2 8 , 3 2 ) . C hi l d li v e s i nth e h o m e w i th M G F , M G F ' s fi an c e e , an d tw o M G F ' s tw o d au ght e r s th at ar e tw o y e ar s o l d er th an C hi l d . (N . T . 0 1 /2 3 / 1 9 , p g . 6 ) . C h il d i s d o i n g w e ll i n th e h o m e . C h il d h a s a s tr o n g b o n d wi th M G F . · C hi l d l o o k s t o M G F t o m e e t h e r d ay - t o - d ay n e e d s . C hi l d l o o k s t o M G F a s h e r c ar e g i v e r . C h i l d h a s s t ab ili ty i n M G F ' s h o m e . (N . T . 1 2 / 1 5 /1 7 , p g s . 2 8 - 2 9 , 3 2 ; N . T . 0 1 /2 3 / 1 9 , p g . P a g e 1 7 o f 1 96 ) . Th e D H S w i tn e s s w a s c r e d i b l e . T h e r e c o r d e s t ab li s h e d b y cl e ar an d c o nv i n c i n g e v i d e n c e th at

th e c o urt ' s c h an g e o f C h il d ' s p e rm an e n c y g o al fr o m r e un i fi c ati o n t o a d o p t i o n w a s p ro p e r . C h il d n e e d s p e rm an e n c y , wh i c h F ath e r c ann o t p r o v i d e . T h e tr i al c o urt d i d n o t e rr o r ab u s e i t s d i s c r e t i o n wh e n 

### i t c h an g e d th e p e rm an e n c y g o al fr o m r e un i fi c at i o n t o a d o p t i o n . C o n c l u s i o n : F o r th e a fo r e m e nt i o n e d r e a s o n s , th e tri a l c o urt fo un d th at O H S m e t i t s s t at ut o r y b ur d e n b y c l e ar an d c o nv i n c i n g e v i d e n c e r e g ar d i n g t e rm i n at i o n o f F ath e r ' s p ar e nt a l ri g ht s p ur s u ant t o 2 3 P a . C . S . A. § 2 5 1 l ( a) ( l ) , ( 2 ) , ( 5 ) , ( 8 ) an d (b ) an d c h an g i n g C h il d ' s p e rm an e n c y g o a l fr o m r e un i fi c at i o n t o a d o p t i o n , s i n c e i t w o u l d b e s t s e rv e C h il d ' s e m o t i o n a l n e e d s an d w e l f ar e . T h e tri al c o urt ' s t e rmin at i o n o fF ath e r ' s p ar e nt al ri g ht s an d c h an g e o f C h il d ' s 

### p e rm an e n c y g o al fr o m r e un i fi c ati o n t o a d o p t i o n w a s p r o p e r an d s h o u l d b e af fi rm e d .

P a g e 1 8 o f 1 9