1 ... S eeTe x. R. App . P. 47. 4. 2 ... Th e nam es oft he part i es i nvol ved i n t hi s appeal have been r epl aced w i th i n i ti a l s . S eeTex. R. A pp. P. 9. 8( b) ; Tex. Fam . C ode A nn. § 109 . 002 ( d) ( V er non 200 8) . W e w i l l r ef ert o B . P. as M ot her , C. P. asFa t her , an d B. P. an d C . P. co l l ec t i vel y a s “t he par ent s”i n t he r em ai nde roft hi s opi ni on.



## COURT OFAPPEALS SECOND DISTRICTOF TEXAS FORT WORTH NO. 2 - 0 9 - 0 2 8 - CV I N T HE I NT E R E S TOFK . P . , A C HI L D

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### MEMORANDU M OPI NI ON 1

----- ----- -- I nt r oduc t i on A ppel l ant s B. P. ( M ot her ) and C . P. ( Fat her ) separ at el y a p p e al t he t r i al cou rt ’ s or dert er m i nat i ng t hei rpa r ent alr i ght s t o t hei rch i l d, K . P. 2I n t hr ee i ssues, M ot hercont ends t hat t he t r i al courtabused i t s di scr et i on bydenyi ng her3 ... Bec aus e M ot her ’ s and Fa t her ’ s i ss ues a r e s i m i l aran d r el at e t o t he

s a m e p o rti o n so f th e re c o rd , w e w i l l a d d re s sth e m to g e th e r.

4 ... T h e D e p a rt m e n t ’s p e t it io n s o u g h tt e r m in a t io n o ft h e p a r e n t s ’ r ig h t sif r eun i f i ca t i on c oul d notbeac hi eve d. The t r i alco urtsi gne d an or derau t hor i z i ng K. P. ’ s r em ova l an d na m i ng t he D epa rt m entasK. P. ’ s t em por ary m ana gi ng c o n s e rv a to r. 2 m ot i onst o e xt end t he st at ut ory di sm i ss alde adl i ne and f ora con t i nua ncean d t hatt he evi dence i s f act ual l y i nsuf f i ci entt o prove t hatt er m i nat i on of her par ent - chi l d r el at i onshi p i s i n K . P. ’ s besti nt er est . Fat hercont ends i n t w o i ssues t hatt he t r i alco urtab us ed i t s di sc r et i on byde nyi ng hi s m ot i on to ex t end t he st at ut ory di sm i ss alde adl i ne ( ofw hi ch he j oi ned w i t h M ot her ) a nd t hatt he e v id e n c e isle g a llya n d f a c t u a llyin s u f f ic ie n tt o p r o v e t h a tt e r m in a t io n o fh is p a ren t- c h i l d rel a ti o n sh i p i s i n K .P.’s b e st i n tere st. 3We a f f i r m. B a c k g rou n d F a c ts O n Ja nua ry 11, 2008 , t he Texa s D epa rt m entofFa m i l y a nd Pr ot ec t i ve S ervi ces ( t he D ep a rt m ent ) r ecei ved a r ef er r al f r om John Pet erSm i t h H ospi t al th a t a c h i l d , K .P ., h a d b e e n b o rn w i th c o c a i n e i n h i s m e c o n i u m fo u r d a y se a rl i e r. T h e D e p a rt m e n t a ss i g n e d a n i n v e sti g a to r to th e refe rr a l , a p p o i n te d J e a n e tte L e o n g a s it sc a s e w o r k e r , r e m o v e d K .P . f r o m h isp a r e n t s ’ c u s t o d y , p la c e d h im i n f ost ercar e, a n d fi l e d a pet i t i on f orK . P. ’ s pr ot ect i on w hen he w as a w eek ol d. 4T he par ent s answ er ed t he D epart m ent ’ s pet i t i on t hr oug h gener al deni al s.5 ... D u ri ng t he cour se oft hi s case, M ot hervol untar i l y r el i nqu i shed her

par ent al r i ght s t o he rt w o ot herch i l dr en.

6 ... C A T S , a d i v i s i o n o f M e n ta l H e a lt h a n d M e n ta l R e ta rd a ti o n (M H M R ), i sa n o u t p a t i e n td r u g t r e a t me n tp r o g r a m. 3 W hi l e c onduc t i ng i t s i nve st i gat i on on t he dayi tr ec ei ved t he r ef er r al , t he D e p a rtm e n t d i s c o v e re d th a t M o th e r, w h o w a st w e n ty -th re e y e a rso l d a t K .P .’s bi rt h, had a pr evi ous case w i t h t he D epart m enti n K er rvi l l e i nvol vi ng herot her t w o c hi l dr en. 5 M ot heradm i t t ed t o a hi st ory ofdr ug use , i ncl udi ng at t end i ng a part y i n M ay 200 7 i n w hi ch sh e u se d m et ham phe t am i ne and co ca i ne. Al t hough M ot her i ni t i al l y t ol d a n i nve st i gat ort hats he had s t oppe d us i ng dr ugsw hen s he di sco ve r e d s hew a sp r e gn a nt , s hel a t e ra dm i t t e d t ha ts heu s e d c oc a i neas r ec ent l y a s onem ont h bef or e K . P. ’ s bi rt h. Fat hert ol d t he i nve st i gat ort hathe had us ed m ar ij uan a a ye aran d a ha l ft o t w o ye ar s bef or e K. P. ’ s bi rt h. M ot he r ha d be gu n Com m un i t y Addi c t i on Tr e a t m e ntSe rvi c e s( CA TS) 6 i n A ugu st20 07 as a r esul tofh e r pr evi ous case i n K er rvi l l e. But M ot herused m et ham phetam i ne w hi l e att endi ng C A TS , and she l ef tt he pr ogr am t hr ee m onths l at eraft ercom pl et i ng on l y hal foft he pr ogr am ’ s ses si ons.7 ... The Depa rt m entf i l ed t he par ent s’ s ervi cepl ansi n M ar ch 200 8. T he

se rvi cepl ansex pr es se d t he par ent s’ ne ed t o s t ay dr ug- f r ee, co m pl et e d r ugr el at ed pr ogr am s and ot herpr ogr am s and ev a l u a ti ons, and vi si tK . P. atl east once perw eek.

8 ... Fori ns t anc e, s he r ec ei ved ps ych i at r i c s ervi ce s notr out i nel y m ade a v a ila b le f o rp a r e n t sin v o lv e d in D e p a rt m e n tc a s e sb e c a u s e s h e w a se n r o lle d in t he Pr ogr am , and she had a l ar gersupportt ea m t o pr ovi de t r ans port at i on a nd ot herneeds. 4 Le ong c r ea t ed se par at e s ervi cepl an s f or M ot heran d Fa t her , an d s he e xp l a i ne d t ho s e pl a nst o t he m i n Ja nu a ry 2008. 7T h e ya g r e e d t o c o m p le t e t h e ir pl ans. The Depart m entr ec om m end ed t hatM ot hercom pl et e i npa t i entt r ea t m ent f orhe rdr ug pr obl em s, but M ot her r ef us ed bec aus e sh e doe s not “d o w el l i n a l oc k-up sett i ng . ” I ns t ea d, M othe r vo l un t ari l y j oi ne d t he Fa m i l y D ru g C o u rt P rog ram ( th e P rog ram ). I n d o i n g so , sh e ag ree d to c o m p l e te th e P rog ram “to t he sa t i sf ac t i on oft he C ourt , i ncl udi ng f ai t hf ul att end anc e” at al l co uns el i ng sess i ons. Th e Pr ogr am pr ovi ded M ot herw i t h i m m edi at e speci al i zed servi ces, 8 a n d i tal l ow ed M ot hert w o- hourvi si t s w i t h K. P. t w i cepe rw ee k, com par ed t o a nor m al D epart m ent case, i n w hi ch a par entr ecei ves a one- hou rvi si tonce per w ee k. M ot herr ec ei ved t i m e a nd bu dge tm ana gem enti ns t r uct i on aspartoft he Pr ogr am , buti ss uesr el at ed t o he rbi pol ardi so r derw er e n eve rr es ol ved .5

The Pr ogr am r equ i r ed M ot hert o a t t end t w ent y- ei ghtgr oup m ee t i ngsan d f ouri ndi vi dua l m ee t i ngs . Fa t herw asnotel i gi bl e t o of f i ci al l y bep artoft he P r o g r a m b e c a u s e itw a sd e s ig n e d f o rm o t h e r sa n d c h ild r e n , b u th e d id b e n e f it f r om M ot her ’ s i nvol vem entbeca us e he w asal l ow ed t o a t t end t ea m m ee t i ngs and t r ea t m ents es si ons , an d hew asab l e t o e nj oy t he e xten ded vi si t at i on p e r i o d s a l l o we d b yt h e P r o g r a m. I n M ar ch 2 00 8, t he D epart m entpl aced K . P. w i t h Fat her ’ s gr andm ot her ( G r ea t - G r and m ot her ) , w ho l i ved ne xtdoort o t he par ent s. M ot hervi si t ed K. P. con si st ent l y t hr ough A pr i l 2 0 08, w hen s he st art ed w or ki ng a boutt hi rt y- f i ve h o u rs p e r w e e kas a c a sh i e r at W a l -M a rt . D ur i ng M ot her ’ s t i m e i n t he Pr ogr am , Fat herexper i enced ser i ous m edi cal pr obl em s— he had em er gen cy su r gery t o r em ovehi s app end i x on t he dayK. P. w a s b o rn, h e w a s h o sp i tal i ze d thre eo r f o u r t i m e s f o r m o re tha n a m o n th cum ul at i vel y f orvar i ous m edi cal i ssues, and he had num er ous doctorvi si t s. The Depart m entdi d not pr ovi de Fat her w i t h cou ns el i ng f ort he m ana gem entof hi s t i m e, bud get , or anger , w hi ch he r equest ed but w as not partofhi s servi ce pl an. Fat hert ook par e n ti n g cl assesand a psychol ogi cal exam and at t ended s o m e m a rri a g e c o u n s e l i n g , a n d th e D e p a rtm e n t a d m i n i s te re d tw o l a b u ri n a ry9 ... Fa t hert es t ed nega t i ve on t he U A s t hathe t ook , buthe st oppe d t ak i ng

th e m i n J u n e 2 0 0 8 , w h e n h e l o st c o n tac t w i th the D e p a rt m e n t. 6 anal yses ( U A s) and f our or f i ve dr ug t est s t o hi m athi s hom e dur i ng t he cour se oft he se rvi cepl an. 9 In J u n e 2 0 0 8 , t h e D e p a rt m e n tre q u ir e d e it h e rM o t h e ro rF a t h e rt o v is it K. P. ea ch ni ghtby 6 p. m . orbef i ned . The D epa rt m entdi d t hatbe ca us e, att he ti m e , th e D e p a rt m e n t b e l i e v e d i t w a s ap p rop ri a te t o tes t t h e p a ren ts’ ab i l i ty to tak e c a re of K .P., a n d th e 6 p .m . d e a d l i n e sim u l a ted th e p a ren ts’ r e sp o n sibi l i ty i fK . P. w as r euni f i ed w i t h t hem butt hey had t o pl ace hi m i n day car e because oft hei rw or k schedul es. M o t h e re v e n t u a llyf o u n d t h e r e q u ir e m e n t so ft h e P r o g r a m t o o s t r e s s f u l. I n Jul y 20 08 , aft erbei ng cou nsel ed ath e r h o u se b y a Pr ogr am t eam , M ot her a sk e d to l e a v e the P rog ram , a n d the tr i a l co u rtd i sc h a rge d h e r f rom i t. M ot her ’ s vi si t s w i t h K. P. w er e s por adi c f r om June t o August2008 , an d Fat her ’ s vi si t s w er e “very m i ni m al . ” A ft erM ot hervol untar i l y l ef tt he Pr ogr am i n Jul y 20 08 , t he D epart m entw as unabl e t o l ocat e bot h M ot herand Fat her unt i l O ct obe r2008 . O t herdr ug us er s l i ved al ong w i t h M ot heran d Fa t heri n t he h o u s e t h a tt h e yw e r e re n t in g n e x tt o G r e a t -G r a n d m o t h e r . T h e ye v e n t u a lly m oved o utoft hathouse because t hey cou l d not pay t hei rr ent , and t hey beg an us i ng he r oi n t oge t her . Theyw er e b ot h a r r es t ed and i nca r ce r at ed f ors t ea l i ng10 ... H O PE i s a C hr i st i an- based w eekl y outpat i ent dr ug t r eat m entpr ogr am .

M ot her had com pl et ed onl y on e w ee kl y s es si on a tt he t i m e t hatt he t r i albe gan . 7 f r om Ta r ge ti n O c t ob e r2008 . M ot he rw a sr e l e a s e d f r om j ai l o n O c t ob e r31, 20 08 , j ustovera m onth bef ore th e s tartoft he t er m i nat i on t r i al , and Fat her w a s re l e a s e d i n e a rl yN o v e m b e r. Fat her t heo r i z ed t hat t he 6 p. m . vi si t at i on dea dl i ne, cou pl ed w i t h the ot heract i vi t i est hatt he D epa rt m ents che dul ed, cr ea t ed st r es s and ca us ed t he p a re n ts ’ re l a p s e sa n d th e i r n o n c o m p l i a n c e w i th t h e i r s e rv i c e p l a n s . H o w e v e r, a C A TS pr ogr am m ana gert es t i f i ed t hatt he par ent s st art ed w ant i ng t o l ea ve t he Pr ogr am i n M ar ch 2 00 8, bef or e t he D epart m enti m posed t he deadl i ne. A f t er her r el ea se f r om j ai l , M ot her com pl et ed an i npa t i entde t oxi f i ca t i on pr ogr am and began r ecei vi ng servi ces f r om H el pi ng O pen P eopl e ’ s Eyes (H O P E ). 10Af t erhi s r el ea sef r om j ai l , Fa t herbe gan s ee i ng ps ych i at r i st s and beg an att end i ng a ppoi nt m ent s atM H M R and H O PE a s w el l asch ur ch and a Bi bl e s t udy. Fat herbegan w or ki ng si xt y to seven t y hou r s a w eek as a m anagerat H o l l y w o o d V i d e o ab o u t t w o w e e k s b e fo re th e tr i a l . H e w o rke d m o stl yn i g h ts so h e an d M o th e r w o u l d n o t ha v e to p a yfor d a yca re i f K .P. w a s r e tu rn e d to t hem . M ot herbe gan w or ki ng a tW end y’ s t hr eew ee ksbe f or e t he t r i al . The11 ... M o th e r an d F a th e r a p p e a l s e p a rate l y . B e c a u se th e issu e s rel a ted to

a cont i nuan ce and an ext ensi on ar e si m i l aran d t he m ot i ons w er e m ade t ogether a t th e tri a l a n d a re b ri e fe d s i m i l a rl yo n a p p e a l , w e w i l l a d d re s sth e m to g e th e r. 8 p a r e n t s m o v e d in t o F a t h e r ’s m o t h e r ’s h o u s e o n c e t h e yw e r e o u to fja il, con di t i one d upo n t hei rr em ai ni ng dr ug- f r eean d s ee ki ng c ouns el i ng. Fol l ow i ng a t r i al t hatbegan i n D ecem ber20 08 , t he t r i al courtt er m i nat ed t he p a r e n t s ’ r i g h t s i n J a n u a ry 20 09 . Th e c o u rt f o u n d t h a t e a c h pa r ent k n o w in g lyp la c e d o ra llo w e d K . Pt o re m a in in c o n d it io n st h a te n d a n g e r e d h is p h y sica l o r em o ti o n a l w e ll -be i n g , e n g a g e d i n co n d u c t or p l a c e d K .P. w i th per s on s w ho e ng a ge d i n c on du c tt ha te nd a ng e r e d hi sp hy s i c a l o re m ot i on al w el l
- bei ng, and con st r uct i vel y aba ndone d K. P. w hi l e he w as i n t he per m ane nt ort em por ar y m anagi n g c o n ser vat or shi p oft he D epart m ent . The cou rtal so f oun d t hatt er m i nat i on w as i n K . P. ’ s best i nt er est . Th e par ent s separ at el y f i l ed t im e lyn o t ic e so fa p p e a l.

D eni aloft he M ot i onsf orCont i nua ncean d Ext ens i on In it ia lly , b o t h p a r e n t sc o n t e n d t h a tt h et r ia l c o u rte r r e d b yd e n y in g t h e ir j oi ntm ot i on f oran ext ensi on of t he di sm i ssaldeadl i ne. 11 I n hersecond i ssue, M o th e r c o n te n d sth a t th e t r ia l c o u rt a l s o e rre d b yd e n y i n g h e r m o ti o n fo r a conti nuan ce.9

C ont i nua nces t and ards W e revi ew a t r i al co urt ’ s r ul i ng on a m ot i on f orcont i nuan ce f oran abuse o f d i s c re ti o n . S ee BM CSoft ware B el g., N. V. v. Marchand, 83 S . W . 3d 789, 8 0 0 ( T e x . 2 0 0 2 ). W e d o n o t su b sti tu te ou r j u d g m e n t fo r th a t o f th e tr i a l co u rt . I n reNitl

aS. A. deC. V. , 9 2 S .W .3 d 4 1 9 , 4 2 2 (T e x . 2 0 0 2 ) (o ri g . p ro c e e d i n g ). In s te a d , w e m u s t d e te rm i n e w h e th e rt h e tri a l c o u rt’sa c ti o n w a ss o a rb i tra ry a n d u n re a s o n a b l e a s to a m o u n t to a c l e a r a n d p rej u d i c i a l e rro r o f l a w . Joe v. Two T hi rtyNi n eJo i n t Ven ture , 1 4 5 S .W .3 d 1 5 0 , 1 6 1 (T e x . 2 0 0 4 ). A m ot i on f orcont i nuan ce shal l not be gr ant ed except f orsuf f i ci entcause su pport ed by a n a f f i dav i t , t hr ough con se ntofthe p art i es , orby ope r at i on of la w . T e x . R . C i v . P . 2 5 1 ; s e eI n reE. L . T. , 93 S. W . 3d 37 2, 37 4 ( Tex. A pp. — H ous t on [ 14t h Di st . ] 2002 , no p et . ) . An a bu se ofdi sc r et i on do esnot occurw her e t he t r i al courtb ases i t s deci si on on confl i ct i ng evi dence orw hen so m e e vi den ceofs ubs t ant i ve and pr oba t i ve cha r ac t er e xi st s t o s upportt he d e c i s i o n . InreD .W. , 2 4 9 S .W .3 d 6 2 5 , 6 4 7 (T e x . A p p .— F o rt W o rth ) (e n b a n c ), pet. denied, 2 6 0 S .W .3 d 4 6 2 (T e x . 2 0 0 8 ). Ext ens i on st and ards A t r ia l c o u rtm u s td is m is sa s u ita f f e c t in g t h e p a r e n t -c h ild re la t io n s h ip if i thas notr endere d a fi nal or derorgr ant ed an ext ensi on on t he f i r stM ond ay af t ert he f i r stanni ver sary oft he dat e t he courtr en d e red a t em por ary or der12 ... In th i sc a s e , th e tri a l c o u rtn a m e d th e D e p a rtm e n t te m p o ra ry

m anagi ng con servat oron Janu ary 14 , 20 08 . T he t r i al co urth ear d and den i ed t he m ot i onsf ora cont i nua nceand an ext ens i on on D ec em ber9, 2008 , ab out a m onth bef or e t he di sm i ssaldeadl i ne. 10 ap po i nti ng t he D ep art m en tas tem po r ary m an ag i ng co ns ervator. 12T e x . F a m. C ode A nn. § 2 63 . 40 1( a) ( V er non 20 08 ) . The t r i al courtm ay gr antan ext ens i o n ofup t o 1 80 days i fi tf i nds t hat“ext r aor di nar y ci r cum st ances nec es si t at e t he chi l d r em ai ni ng i n t he t em por ary m ana gi ng c ons ervat or sh i p of t he depart m e n tand t hatcont i nui ng t he appo i nt m entoft he depart m entas t em por ary m anagi ng con servat ori s i n the besti nt er estoft he chi l d. ” Id. § 263 . 401 ( b) . Bec aus e a n e xt ens i on oft he d i sm i ss alda t e i s si m i l art o a c o n ti n u a n c e a n d s e c ti o n 2 6 3 .4 0 1 (b ) d o e sn o t s p e c i fyw h i c h a p p e l l a te s ta n d a rd o f re v i e w s h o u l d a p p l y , w e a p p l yth e a b u s e o f d i s c re ti o n s ta n d a rd . D . W. , 249 S .W .3 d a t 6 4 7 ; s e e I nreJ. A. , N o. 02

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- 00 45 4- C V , 20 06 W L 31 14 43 4, at

* 9 (T e x . A p p .— F o rt W o rth N o v . 2 , 2 0 0 6 , n o p e t.) (m e m . o p .). A n a ly s is M o t h e r f ile d f o r a c o n t in u a n c e a n d e x t e n s io n b e c a u s e s h e w a s“ c u r r e n t ly w or ki ng herservi ce p l an” an d because she h ad com pl et ed som e port i ons oft hat pl an. I n pos t - t r i alm ot i ons , M ot her and Fa t hers epa r at el y a r gue d, “ Pr oce edi ng w i t h t r i al w hen [ M ot heror Fat her w er e] so cl ose t o com pl et i ng [ t hei r ] servi ces p r e v e n t e d [t h e m ] f r o m s h o w in g t h e f in d e r o f f a c t t h a t [t h e y w e r e ] b o t h c a p a b le11

and w i l l i ng t o pa r ent[ t hei r ] c hi l d. ” M ot herar gue s on a ppe alt hatt he conti nuan ce orext ensi on shou l d have b een gr ant ed because a 18 0- day del ay in t h e t r ia l p r o c e e d in g sw o u ld n o th a v e h a r m e d K .P ., a n d F a t h e ra s s e rt st h a th is m edi cal cond i t i on and t he par ent s’ dow nf al l al l egedl y caused by t he P r ogr am cr eat ed ext r aor di nar y ci r cum st ances t hatr equi r ed an ext ensi on oft he deadl i ne. T h e yd o n o tc o n t e n d t h a tt h e yw e r e u n p r e p a r e d f o rt h e t e r m in a t io n t r ia l. W e h aver epe at edl y he l d t hatw hen a par ent, throu gh hi s orhe row n cho i ce s, f ai l s t o c om pl y w i t h a s ervi cepl an an d t he n att he t i m e o ft he te rm i n a ti o n tri a l re q u e s ts a c o n ti n u a n c e o r a n e x t e n s i o n o f th e s ta tu to ry di sm i ssaldeadl i ne i n or dert o com pl et e the pl an, the t r i al co urtd oes notabuse i tsd i s c re ti o n b yd e n y i n g th e c o n ti n u a n c e o r e x te n s i o n . See, e. g. , I n re M. M. F. , N o. 02

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- 00 01 4- C V , 20 08 W L 5 26 50 33 , at * 13 ( Tex . A pp. — FortW ort h D ec. 1 8 , 2 0 0 8 , n o p e t.) (m e m . o p .); s e ea l s o I nreA. H. , No. 04- 06- 00055

- CV , 2006 W L1 4 7 3 6 9 6 , a t* 1 ( T e x . Ap p . — S a n An t o n i o M a y3 1 , 2 0 0 6 , n o p e t . ) ( me m. o p .) (h o ld in g s im ila r ly ). T h e r e c o r d d e m o n s t r a t e s t h a t t h e p a r e n t sre c e iv e d t h e ir se rvi cepl ansi n Ja nua ry 2008. L eon g e xpl ai ned t he servi ce p l anst o t he pa r e nt s a tt ha tt i m e . H ow ever , a tt het i m e o ft het r i a l i n Dec e m be r2008 ,13 ... W e a r e r evi ew i ng he r e e vi den cer el at i ve t o t he t er m i nat i on on l y f or

pur po s e s o fe v a l u a t i n g t h e t r i a l c o u rt ’ sd i s c r e t i o n i n g r a n t i n g o rd e n y i n g t he con t i nua nceorext ens i on.

14 ... A t t he t r i al , M ot her expl ai ned about t he Pr ogr am , “[ I ]tw a s l i ke eve ryt hi ng w e w er e doi ng w asnotr i ght . I tw asl i kew e c oul dn’ tdo a nyt hi ng r i ght, an d I had j usthad enou gh. ” Fat herst at ed abou tt he Pr ogr am , “I w as doi ng e veryt hi ng t heyw ant ed m e t o do, and i tw asl i ket he har derI t r i ed, t he m o re I g o t d o n e , th e m o re I g o t y e l l e d a t a n d to l d I w a s n ’t d o i n g ri g h t.” 12 e l e v e n m o n th sl a te r, n e i th e r p a r e n th a d c o m p l e te d h i so r h e r s e rv i c e p l a n ’s r equi r em ent s. 13 M ot hervi si t ed K. P. r egu l ar l y f ort he f i r st tw o m ont hsaft ert he D epa rt m entpl ac ed hi m ne xtdoorw i t h Gr ea t - G r and m ot her . Butw hen s he st art ed w or ki ng, she onl y vi si t ed hi m spor adi cal l y, and s he saw hi m onl y once i n t he f ourm onths bef or e the t r i al . She d r opp ed out oft he dr ug cou rtpr ogr am t hats he had vol unt ar i l y e nt er ed. 14Sh e d i d notcom pl et e r ando m dr ug t est s, a n d s h e w a s o n ly c le a n f o r a r o u n d f if t y d a y s b e f o r e t h e s t a rt o f t h e t r ia l. M o th e r di d n o t si g n i fi c a n tl yc h a n g e h e r be h a v i o r un ti l sh e w a s i n j a i l , tw o m onths bef or e t he t er m i nat i on t r i al . S he t est i f i ed t hatt he D epart m entgave her s u f f ic ie n ta s s is t a n c e in c o m p le t in g h e rs e rv ic e p la n b u tt h a ts h e w a ss t ill u n a b le t o do so . U n d e r t h e se fac ts, w e ca n n o t co n c l u d e tha t t h e tr i a l co u rtab u se d i ts d i sc reti o n b yd e n y i n g M o th e r’ s c o n ti n u a n c e o r ex ten sion for m o re ti m e to com pl et e h ers ervi cepl an.13

Li kew i se, w e ar e unper suaded t hatan ext ensi on sh o ul d have been g ran ted b e c a u se F a th e r ha d m e d i c a l is s u e s d u ri n g the ti m e h e w a s g i v e n to com pl ete t he servi ce pl an. O vert he yearFat herhad t o com pl et e hi s servi ce pl an, he w as ho spi t al i zed forar oun d t hi rt y days and had m ul t i pl e hospi t al vi si t s. Bu the di d not r egul ar l y vi si t K . P. w hen he w as not i n t he hospi t al . Fat herl ast vi si t ed K . P. i n Jul y, f i ve m onths bef or e the st arto fthe t er m i nat i on t r i al . Fat her a l s o d i d n o t c h a n g e h i sb e h a v i o r a n d h i sd ru g u s e u n ti l h e w a sin ja i l i n O c to b e r, ni ne m ont hsaft erha vi ng be en gi ven hi s se rvi ce p l an and onl y t w o m ont hs b e fo re th e tri a l . S tate m e n ts a n d im p li c a ti o n s i n F a th e r’ s b ri e f on this i ss u e co n fl i c t w i th t he r ecor d. Fori nst ance, al t hou gh Fatherar gues th at“once [ M ot her ] exi t ed [ t he Pr ogr am ] , s he w as w r i t t en of fan d f or gott en by t he D epa rt m ent , ” t he r ec or d e st abl i sh est hatt he D epa rt m entw r ot e l ett er s and l eftm es sa gesf or M o th e r an d F a th e r, b u t th a t th e p a ren ts c h o se n o t t o co n tac t t h e D e p a rt m e n t. A l so , al t ho ug h Fat herco nt end s t hathew asex cl ude d f r om t he Pr ogr am an d w ast her ef or e “ di sc r i m i nat ed aga i ns ti n t he m os tbl at antf as hi on f r om t he i n c e p ti o n o f th e c a se ,” th e e v i d e n c e d e m o n strate s th a t h e re c e i v e d the b e n e fi ts oft he Pr ogr am ev en t hough hi s per so nalde si r e w ast o nott ak e p arti n t he Pr ogr am atal l . Fi nal l y , w e n o te t hatal t hou gh t he par ent s cont end t hatan e x te n s io n o rc o n ti n u a n c e w o u l d n o t h a v e h a rm e d K .P ., i f th e tri a l c o u rt’s14

t er m i nat i on deci si on w oul d not have chang ed i n t he si x- m onth i nt erval caused by a n e xt ens i on, t he del ay w oul d haveputt he D epa rt m ent ’ s eve nt ualad opt i on goal f o r K. P. ( w het herw i t h G r eat - G r andm ot herora nonr el at i ve, as expl ai ned bel ow ) on h ol d. Ther ef or e, w e ho l d t hatt he t r i alco urtdi d notab us e i t s di sc r et i on by d e n y i n g th e p a re n ts ’ m o ti o n sfo r c o n ti n u a n c e o r e x te n s i o n . A c c o rd in g l y , w e over r ul e M ot her ’ s f i r stand second i ssues, and w e over r ul e Fat her ’ s f i r sti ssue. Legaland Fact ualSu ff i ci ency I n hi s se con d i ss ue, Fa t he rco nt end s t hatt he evi den cei s l ega l l y a nd fac tu a l l yi n su ffi c i e n t t o sh o w tha t term i n a ti o n o f h i s pa ren tal rel a ti o n sh i p w i th K. P. i s i n K. P. ’ s bes ti nt erest. I n hert hi r d i ss ue, M ot herco nt end s t hatt he evi dence i s f act ual l y i nsuf f i ci ent t o show t hat t er m i nat i on of h e r par ent al r el at i ons hi p w i t h K. P. i s i n hi s bes t i nt er es t . W e w i l l di sc us s Fat her ’ s com pl ai nt abou tl egal and f act ual suf f i ci ency t ogetherw i t h M ot her ’ s f act ual suf f i ci ency c o m p l a i n t. S t andar ds ofr evi ew Ter m i nat i on ofpa r ent alr i ght s i s a d r as t i c r em edyan d i s ofs uch w ei ght and gr avi t y t hatduepr oce ssr equ i r est he pet i t i one rt o j us t i f y t er m i na t i on by cl earand conv i nci ng evi dence. Tex. Fam . C ode A nn. §§ 16 1. 00 1, 16 1. 20 6( a) (V e r n o n 2 0 0 8 ); I n r e J .F .C ., 9 6 S .W .3 d 2 5 6 , 2 6 3 (T e x . 2 0 0 2 ). T h is15

in t e r m e d ia t e s t a n d a r d f a llsb e tw e e n th ep re p o n d e r a n c e s t a n d a r d o fo r d in a ryc iv il p ro c e e d i n g sa n d t h e re a s o n a b l e d o u b t s ta n d a rd o f c ri m i n a l p ro c e e d i n g s . Inre G . M. , 5 9 6 S .W .2 d 8 4 6 , 8 4 7 (T e x . 1 9 8 0 ); I n reC. S. , 208 S . W . 3d 77, 83 ( Tex. A pp. — FortW ort h 2 00 6, pet . deni ed) . I ti s defi ned as t he “m easur e o rdegr ee ofp r o o ft h a tw i l l p r o d u c e i n t h e m i n d o ft h e t r i e ro ff a c ta f i r m b e l i e for con vi ct i on a s t o t he t r ut h oft he al l ega t i on s soughtt o bees t abl i sh ed. ” Tex. F a m . C o d e A n n . § 1 0 1 .0 0 7 (V e rn o n 2 0 0 8 ). Legalsuff 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 alt er m i na t 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 r t h e e v id e n c e is s u c h t h a ta f a c t f in d e rc o u ld r ea so nab l y f or m a f i r m be l i eforco nvi ct i on t hatt he gr oundsf ort er m i nat i on w e re p ro v e n . I

n reJ. P. B. , 18 0 S . W . 3d 57 0, 57 3 (T e x . 20 05 ) . W e m ust rev i e w allthe e v i d e n c e in 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. Thi s m eans t hatw 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 r e a s o n a b le f a c tfin d e r c o u l d h a v e d o n e s o . Id. W e m us tal so di sr ega r d a l l ev i den cet hata r ea so nab l e f ac t f i nde rc oul d ha ve d i s b e l i e v e d . Id. W e m u s tc 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 st 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 ndercoul 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 tfin d e r c o u l d n o t. Id.16

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 ee 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 uest hatde pen d 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 is t h e fa c tfin d e r’s p ro v i n c e . Id. And eve n w hen cr edi bi l i t y i ss uesap pea ri n t he appe l l at e r ec or d, w e m us tde f ert o t he f ac t f i nde r ’ s det er m i nat i onsas l on g as t heyar e n ot u n re a s o n a b l e . Id. Fact ualsuff i ci ency I n r evi ew i ng t he evi den cef orf ac t uals uf f i ci enc y, w e m us tgi ve due def er enc e t o t he f ac t f i nde r ’ s f i ndi ngsand nots uppl antt he j udgm entw i t h our o w n . I nreH. R. M. , 209 S . W . 3d 105, 108 ( Tex. 2 0 0 6 ) . W e m us tde t er m i ne w h e th e r, o n th e e n ti re re c o rd , a fa c tfin d e r c o u l d re a s o n a b l yfo rm a fi rm con vi ct i on orbe l i ef t hat t he t er m i nat i on of t he par ent ’ s par ent al r i ght s i s i n t he b e s t i n te re s t o f th e c h i l d . Id. ; I nreC. H. , 8 9 S .W .3 d 1 7 , 2 5 , 2 8 (T e x . 2 0 0 2 ). If , in lig h to ft h e e n t ir e re c o r d , t h e d is p u t e d e v i d e n c e t h a ta re a s o n a b le f act f i ndercoul d not have cr edi t ed in f avoroft he f i ndi ng i s so s i gni f i cantt hat a f ac t f i nde rco ul d notr ea so nab l y ha ve f or m ed a f i r m bel i eforco nvi ct i on i n t he tru th o f i ts fi n d i n g , th e n th e e v i d e n c e i sfa c tu a llyi n s u fficie n t. H. R. M. , 209 S. W . 3d a t108.17

A ppl i cabl e l aw 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 ope rt yri ght. ” Sa n to sk yv. 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 ); InreM.S., 115 S. W . 3d 534, 547 (T e x . 2 0 0 3 ). “W h i l e p a re n ta l ri g h ts a re o fc o n s ti tu ti o n a l m a g n i tu d e , th e ya re not absol ut e. Justas i t i s i m per at i ve f orcourt s t o r ecogn i ze t he const i t ut i onal und er pi nni ngs of t 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 n tere sts o ft he chi l d not be sacr i f i ced m er el y t o pr eserve t hat r i ght. ” C.H., 89 S. W . 3d a t26. I n a t er m i nat i on ca se , t he St at e se ek s not j us t t o l i m i t par ent al r i ght s but to e n d them per m anentl y— t o di vestt he par entand chi l d ofl egal r i ghts , pr i vi l ege s, dut i es , and pow er s nor m al l y exi st i ng bet w ee n t hem , ex ce ptf ort he c h i l d ’sri g h t to in h e r it . T e x . F a m . C o d e A n n . § 1 6 1 .2 0 6 (b ); Hol i ckv. Sm ith, 685 S. W . 2d 18, 20 ( Tex. 1 985 ) . W e st r i ct l y s cr ut i ni z e t er m i nat i on i n f avo rof th e p a re n t. Hol

i ck, 6 8 5 S .W .2 d a t 2 0

– 2 1 ; InreE.M.N., 221 S. W . 3d 815, 820 (T e x . A p p .— F o rt W o rth 2 0 0 7 , n o p e t.). I n pr oceed i 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 c ode , t he pet i t i one r m us t pr ovet hatt er m i nat i on15 ... A pe t i t i one rm us tal so pr ovet hatt he par entha s vi ol at ed oneoft he

p ro v i s i o n s c o n ta i n e d i n s e c ti o n 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 ) o f th e fa m i l yc o d e . S eeT e x . F a m. C ode A nn. § 1 6 1 .00 1( 1) . H ow ever , nei t herpar enthas chal l enged t he t r i al cou rt ’ s f i ndi ngsunde rt hats ubs ec t i on. 18 i s i n t he bes ti nt er es toft he chi l d. 15T e x . F a m . C o d e A n n . § 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (2 ); see InreJ.L ., 16 3 S . W . 3d 79 , 84 ( Tex . 20 05 ) . Th er e i s a s t r ong pr esum pt i on t hat k e e p i n g a c h i ld w i th a p a re n t i si n th e c h i l d ’sb e s t i n te re s t. I n reR. R. , 209 S .W .3 d 1 1 2 , 1 1 6 ( T e x . 2 0 0 6 ). P r o m p ta n d p e r m a n e n tp la c e m e n to ft h e c h ild i n as af e e nvi r onm enti s al so pr es um ed t o bei n t he chi l d’ s bes ti nt er es t . T ex. Fam . C ode A nn. § 2 63 . 30 7( a) ( V er non 20 08 ) . I n det er m i ni ng a c h i l d’ s best i nt er est , court s shoul d consi derw het hert her e i s a hi st or y ofsubst ance abuse by t he chi l d’ s f am i l y or ot her s w ho ha ve ac ce sst o t he chi l d’ s hom e a nd w h e th e r th e c h i l d ’sfa m i l yd e m o n s tra te sa d e q u a t e p a r e n ti n g s k i l l s . Id. § 2 6 3 .3 0 7 (b )(8 ), (1 2 ). O t h e r fa c to rs th a t th e tri e r o f fa c t i n a te rm i n a ti o n c a s e m a yu s e in 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 phy si ca l ne eds of t 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 ger t o t he chi l d now an d i n t he f ut ur e; ( 4) t he par ent alab i l i t i esoft he i ndi vi dua l s se ek i ng c us t ody;19

(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 p rom o te t he bes ti nt er es toft he chi l d; ( 6) t he pl ans f ort he chi l d by t hese i ndi vi dual s orby t he agency se ek i 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; ( 8) t he act s oro m i ssi ons oft he par entw hi ch m ay i ndi cat e t hat t he exi st i ng par ent - chi l d r el at i ons hi p i s nota 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 ). U ndi sput ed evi dence of j ustone fact orm ay be suf f i ci enti n a part i cul ar ca set o s upporta f i ndi ng t hatt er m i nat i on i s i n t he bes ti nt er es toft he chi l d. C. H. , 8 9 S . W . 3d at27 . O n t he ot herhand, t he pr esence ofscantevi dence re l e v a n t to e a c h fa c to r w i l l n o t s u p p o rt s u c h a fi n d i n g . Id. S o m e l i s te d fa c to rs m ay be i nap pl i ca bl e t o s om e c as es ; ot herf ac t or s noton t he l i stm ay al so be co ns i de r ed w he n a pp r op ri a te . Id. Fo rt hi s r ea so n, w e w i l l onl y di sc us s t he f ac t or s w hi ch w er e m ader el eva ntby t he evi de nc e su bm i t t ed att he t r i al an d w i l l c o m b i n e o u r a n a l y s i so f fa c to rsw h e re th e e v i d e n c e m a yc o n c u r r e n t ly app l y.20

A n a ly s is Th e desi r es ofK . P. and t he par ent alabi l it i es ofM ot herand Fat her K. P. w asl es s t han a yea rol d att he begi nni ng oft he t er m i nat i on t r i al an d cou l d nott her ef or e s pec i f i ca l l y e xpr es s hi s des i r es . How eve r , t es t i m ony in d ic a t e d t h a th e h a d n o t b o n d e d e m o t io n a lly w it h t h e p a r e n t sb e c a u s e t h e yd id notvi si thi m co ns i st ent l y. Even t hough K. P. w asi n t he hous e n extdoort o t he p a r e n t s t h r o u g h o u tm u c h o ft h e t i m e o ft h isc a s e , t h e yd id n o ta lw a y sv is it w hen t hey w er e hom e. W h e n t h e p a r e n t sd id v is itK .P ., t h e yd id n o tg iv e K .P . a ll o ft h e ir att ent i on. Fo rex am pl e, t heys om et i m est al ke d on t hei rcel l phonesors entt ext m essag e s w h i l e vi si t i ng K . P. G r eat - G r andm ot hert est i f i ed t hatw hen M ot her w as w i t h K. P. , so m et i m es sh e “w oul d pl ay w i t h hi m an d t hen s om et i m ess he w o u l d p a s sh i m o ff to [F a th e r] a n d n o t w a n t to h a v e a n y th i n g to d o w i th h i m .” G r ea t - G r and m ot heral so s ai d t hat M ot herw oul d s om et i m es“j us tl ay [ K. P. ] on th e c o u c h . . . a n d w a l ko ff.” A s t he par ent s’ case w i t h t he D epart m ent pr ogr essed, t he par ent s vi si t ed K . P. w i t h decr easi ng f req u e n cy. M ot hervi si t ed K . P. f ourt een t i m es i n M ay 2 0 0 8 , t w e lv e t im e sin J u n e , e ig h tt im e sin J u ly , a n d ju s tf o u rt im e st h r o u g h h a lf ofA ugus t . M ot her vi si t ed K. P. onl y on cef r om m i d- A ugus tt o t he beg i nni ng of21

t he t r i al i n D ecem ber2 00 8, an d she di d not m ake cont actw i t h hercasew or ker a t a l l fro m th em i d d l e o f A u g u s t u n ti l th e e n d o f O c to b e r o f th a t y e a r. Fat hervi si t ed K. P. t en t i m esi n M ay, f ourt i m esi n June, s i x t i m esi n Ju l y, a n d j u st o n c e in th e fi rst h a l f o f A u g u st. Fa th e r al so l o st c o m p l e te c o n tac t w i th t he D epa rt m ent ’ s ca se w or ke rf r om A ugus tunt i l O ct obe r2008 . Al t hough t he e v id e n c e d e m o n s t r a t e d t h a tM o t h e ra n d F a t h e rm a d e b e t t e ra t t e m p t st o v is it K .P. i n th e m o n th p rec e d i n g th e tri a l , c o n fl i c ti n g s c h e d u l e s o f th e p a ren ts w i th t he D epart m entand K . P. bei ng si ck bl ocked t hose at t em pt s. M ot herci t ed “[ w ] or k r ea so ns and dep r es si on” ast he r ea so nss he di d not vi si tK . P. Fat herst at ed t hath i s w or k sched ul e an d dr ug t r eat m entconf l i ct ed w i t h hi m vi si t i ng K. P. He t hough tt hati tw asi m pos si bl e t o com pl et e al l oft he t as kst hatt he D epa rt m entha d r equ es t ed. M ot herev en sa i d a tonepoi ntt hats he di d notw antK. P. an d di d notl ove hi m . She onc e t ol d he rca se w or ke rt hats he di d notf ee l bond ed w i t h K. P. an d t hats he w ant ed t o go bac k t o Ker rvi l l e t o bew i t h he rot herch i l dr en. The s t abi l ity oft he parent s’hom e and t he pl ansf orK . P. by t hos e s ee ki ng cust ody A t t he t i m e of t he t r i al , t he par ent s had been l i vi ng w i t h Fat her ’ s m ot her a n d h e rf ia n c é in h e rt w o -b e d r o o m d u p le xf o rju s to v e ra m o n t h . T o re m a in t h e r e , M o t h e ra n d F a t h e rm u s ts t a yf r e e o fd r u g s(w h ic h t h e yh a v e b e e n u n a b le22

t o do f orany si gni f i cantl ength of t i m e) and obtai n coun sel i ng. Fat her ’ s m ot her h a s a h i s to ryo f u s i n g d ru g s , a l th o u g h s h eh a d n o t u s e d d ru g s i n th e fi v e y e a rs p rec e d i n g the tr i a l . H e r f i a n c é h a s a co n v i c ti o n for a ss a u l t. A fte r m o v i n g o u t o f th e h o u s e n e x t to G re a t-G ra n d m o th e r i n S e p te m b e r, unt i l m ovi ng i n w i t h Fa t her ’ s m ot heri n Novem ber , M ot herl i ved i n he rca ran d i n m ot el s. M ot hers t at ed t hatt he hous e t hat sh e and Fat herha d l i ved i n ne xt t o Gr ea t - G r and m ot herw asnots t abl e— i thad br oke n w i ndow s and f l oor s, an d i t w a s n o t s u i ta b l e fo r c h i l d re n . B yc o m p a r is o n , G r e a t -G ra n d m o t h e r , w h o m K .P . r e m a in e d w it h a tt h e t im e o f t h e tr i a l , w a s a tten ti v e to K .P.’s e m o ti o n a l n e e d s, w a s i n co m p l i a n c e w i th th e D e p a rt m e n t’ s plan s f o r h i m , a n d w a s pro v i d i n g h i m a s tab l e h o m e . G rea tG r and m ot hert es t i f i ed t hatatt he t i m e o ft he t r i al , K. P. w as“ a h app y l i t t l e b oy and [ he w as ] ve ry he al t hy. ” G r ea t - G r and m ot herw asm ak i ng pl an s t o adopt K .P., an d the D e p a rt m e n t’ s o n l yco n c e rns ab o u t t h o se p l a n s w a s G rea tG r andm ot her ’ s age ( she w as 7 2 yearsol d att he t i m e oft he t r i al ) and w het her G r ea t - G r an dm othe r co ul d sup po rt K . P . f i na nc i al l y un t i l he w as ei gh t ee n y e a rs ol d. M ot hert est i f i ed t hati fh e r ri g h ts t o K . P. w er e t er m i nat ed, she w ant ed G r eat - G r andm ot hert o conti nue t o car e forK . P. I ft he D epart m entdet er m i ned t hatG r eat - G r andm ot herco ul d not pr ovi de f orK . P. ’ s l ong - t er m needs, i tpl anned on a l l ow i ng a nonr el at i ve t o a doptK. P.23

M ot herp r ovi ded som e f i nanci al supportf orK . P. w hi l e G r eat - G r andm ot her t ookca r e o fhi m , buts he l as tboug htdi ape r s f or hi m i n Ju ne 200 8, s i x m ont hs b e fo re th e tri a l . A t th e t i m e o f th e t ri a l , th e p a re n ts h a d n o t m a d e p l a n sfo r a carseatora cr i b i ft he courtr et ur ned K . P. t o t hem , al t hou gh i t s e e m ed t hat t hes e i t em s cou l d beea si l y ob t ai ned . T he pr esent and f ut ur e potent i al f or em ot i onal and physi cal dang e r t o K .P .,t h ea c t so ro m is s io n so ft h ep a r e n t sw h ic h m a yin d ic a t et h a tt h e ir r el at i ons hi p w it h K. P. i s notprope r ,any excus e fort he parent s’ac t s or o m i ss i o n s, an d thep rog ram s a v a i l a b l eto a ss i st th ep a ren ts Th e par ent s have l ong - st andi ng, per si st entdr ug pr obl em s. Fori nst ance, M ot herused cocai ne f orsever a l y e a rs b ef or e K . P. ’ s bi rt h. She al so used m e t h a m p h e t a m in e o n a n d o f fs in c e 2 0 0 2 . M o t h e ra n d F a t h e ru s e d h e r o in to g e th e r i n J u l y2 0 0 8 , w h i l e K .P. w a s i n the cu sto d yo f t h e D e p a rt m e n t. M ot heradm i t t ed t hat , as a par ent , usi ng t hose t ypes ofcont r ol l ed s u b s t a n c e se n d a n g e r sh e rc h ild . B u ts h e u s e d e c s t a s yin J u n e 2 0 0 8 a n d h e r o in i n S ept em ber20 08 and agai n i n O cto b e r20 08 , aft ercom pl et i ng her d e t o x if ic a t io n p r o g r a m a n d ju s tb e f o r e g o in g t o ja il. The Depart m entr equ es t ed t hatM ot hercom pl et e i npa t i entt r ea t m entf or herdr ug pr obl em s, but sh e de cl i ned doi ng s o be ca us e s he had a “f ea rof con f i nem entan d s he f el tt hats he cou l d bem or e suc ce ss f ul w i t h an out pat i ent pr ogr am . ” M ot herha d a su pport gr oup and w as se ek i ng t r ea t m ent f or herdr ug16 ... M o th e r w e n t t o fi ftee n N A se ss i o n s from N o v e m b e r 1 1 , 2 0 0 8 to

Dec e m be r17, 2008 .

17 ... A D e p a rt m entr epr esent at i ve expl ai ned, “A ft er - car e i s j ustas i m port antasgoi ng t o t he gr oups , beca us e aft er - ca r e hel psseta f ounda t i on f or s u s ta i n e d s o b ri e ty .” 24 us e t hr ough M H M R, H O PE a nd Nar cot i csA nony m ous(N A ) a tt he t i m e o ft he t r ia l, 16and she had been dr ug- f r ee foraround t w o m onths. H ow ever , she had pa rt i c i pa t e d i n s i m i l a rp r og r a m si n t he pa s t , i nc l ud i ng c om pl e t i ng CA TS i n 2007, part i ci pat i ng i n dr ug t r ea t m enti n e ar l y 2008, an d c om pl et i ng a de t ox i f i ca t i on p r o g r a m in O c t o b e r2 0 0 8 , a n d s h e h a d re la p s e d a ft e rh e rin v o l v e m e n ti n a ll th re e o f th o s e c o u rs e so f tre a tm e n t. T h etri a l c o u rt c o u l d h a v e re a s o n a b ly i n fe rre d th a t s h e w o u l d re l a p s e a g a i n . S ee W i l l i am s v. W

i l l i am s , 150 S. W . 3d 4 3 6 , 4 5 1 (T e x . A p p .— A u s ti n 2 0 0 4 , p e t. d e n i e d ); I n reK. A. S. , 131 S. W . 3d 21 5, 230 ( Te x. App . — Fo rtW ort h 2004, p e t . d e ni e d) ( e xp l a i ni ng t ha ta t r i al cou rt “ i s n o t r e q u i r e d t o b e l i e v e t h a t t h e r e h a s b e e n a l a s t i n g cha nge i n a p a re n t’sa ttitu d e ” ). M ot herdi d not t ak e f ul l ad van t ageoft he t r ea t m entav ai l abl e f orhe r . She c o m p le t e d h e rp s y c h o lo g ic a l e v a lu a t io n a n d h e rp a r e n t in g c la s s e s , b u ts h e d id not, as r equi r ed by t he servi ce pl an, com p l e t e al l ofhersubst ance abuse cl asses , com pl et e C A TS aft er - car e, 17co ns i st ent l y m ai nt ai n a n N A s pons or , or25

t ak e som e r and om U A s. A per m ane ncypr ogr es s r epo rti ndi ca t est hatm os tof M ot he r ’ s p r ob l e m sw i t h t hes e rvi c e p l a n be ga n t o a r i s e i n Ju l y 2008. D u r in g t h e D e p a rt m e n t ’s in v o lv e m e n tw it h K .P ., M o t h e rc u th e r s e lf ( i ncl ud i ng asr ec ent l y a s O ct obe r2008 ) , an d dur i ng a cr os s- exa m i nat i on, M o t h e ra d m itt e d t o h a v in g h a d s u ic id a l t h o u g h t ss in c e K .P ’s re m o v a l. A ccor di ng t o G r eat - G r andm oth e r, M ot herand Fat herm ay have al so st ol en G r eat - G r andm ot her ’ s bank car d and em pt i e d h e r checki ng accou nt . M ot her a d m i tte d th a t th e w o r d s“ d ru g -u s i n g , d ru g -s e e k i n g , a n d n o t s ta b l e ” w e re app r opr i at e t o de sc r i be herbe hav i orj us tbe f or e t he t er m i nat i on t r i albe gan . Fat heradm i t t ed t o usi ng her oi n as f arback as 20 05 , and he h a s been us i ng dr ugs i n gen er al si nce he w asf ourt ee n ye ar s ol d. He con ce ded t hathe sm oke d m ar ij uan a and us ed her oi n bef or e K. P. ’ s bi rt h, and he adm i t t ed t hathe used her oi n w i t hi n t w o m on ths oft he t r i al dat e. H e t ol d G r eat - G r andm ot her t hathe al so used ecst asy. H e knew about M o th e r’ s drug use w hi l e she w as pr egn antw i t h K. P. , buthes ai d a nd di d not hi ng ab ou ti t . He al so ha s a l ong c r im in a l h is t o ry — h e re c e iv e d d e f e r r e d a d ju d ic a t io n f o ra f e lo n yd r u g c h a r g e in 199 9, pl ed gui l t y t o dr i vi ng undert he i nf l uen ceofdr ugsi n t hats am e y ea r , an d pl e d gu i l t y t o s e pa r a t e t he f t sh e c om m i t t e d i n Se pt e m be ra nd Octobe r2008 , j ustm onths bef or e t he t er m i nat i on t r i al . M ot her al so pl ed gui l t y t o t he O ct ober 2 0 0 8 the ft.26

A l t hough Fa t herbl am ed t he sc hed ul e o ft he D epa rt m ent ’ s t r ea t m ent pr ogr am s and i t s em pl oye esf orhi s r el aps e, he adm i tt ed t hathi s r el aps e d i d not occurunt i l ar oun d t he t i m e t hatM ot herl ef tthe P r ogr am , an d he conced ed t hat he con t i nue d t o us e dr ug s ( and s t ol e f r om Tar get ) aft ert he st r es s t hathe al l eged t he Pr ogr am caused w as r em oved. A l so, l i ke M ot her , al t hou gh Father w as seeki ng t r eat m entf orhi s dr ug use att he t i m e oft he t r i a l , he had pr evi ousl y part i ci pat ed i n dr ug t r eat m entpr ogr am s and had r el apsed af t er com pl et i ng t hose pr ogr am s, i ncl udi ng r el apsi ng af t era det oxi f i cat i on pr ogr am i n O c to b e r 2 0 0 8 . Fat her ’ s poorch oi ce s ar e al so r ef l ec t ed by h i s se l l i ng s om e p r es cr i pt i on d ru g s to o n e o f h i sfri e n d sa n d k n o c k i n g h o l e s i n w a l l sb e c a u s e h e w a sa n g ry w i t h M ot her . W hen Fat herw as asked by t he D epart m ent ’ s att or ney w het her h i s u sing d rug s a n d ste a l i n g en d a n g e red K .P ., F a th e r r e sp o n d e d , “I r e fu se to a n s w e r a n ym o re q u e s ti o n s .” O urhol di ng W e hol d t hat t hese f act s, consi der ed und ert he Hol leyf act or s and vi ew ed i n t h e li g h t m o s t fa v o ra b l e t o t h e t ri a l c o u rt’sju d g m e n t, e n a b l e d t h e t ri a l c o u rt to re a s o n a b l yfo rm a fi rm c o n v i c ti o n o r b e l i e f th a t te rm i n a tio n o f F a th e r’s p a re n ta l ri g h ts w a sin K .P .’s b e s t i n te re s t. S ee Hol ley , 544 S. W . 2d a t371– 72. Th er ef or e, w e hol d t hatt he evi dence w as l egal l y suf f i ci entt o suppo rtt he t r i al27

c o u rt’sb e s t i n te re s t fi n d i n g a sto F a th e r. Se eJ. P. B. , 1 8 0 S .W .3 d a t 5 7 3 . W e al so hol d t hat , gi vi ng du e d efer en ce to t he t r i alco urt ’ s det er m i nat i on, t he evi den ce i s f ac t ual l y su f f i ci ent t o su pport t he t r i al cou rt ’ s j udgm entt er m i nat i ng b o th p a re n ts ’ ri g h ts b e c a u s e th e tri a l c o u rt c o u ld r e a s o n a b l yfo rm a fi rm c o n v i c ti o n o r b e l i e f th a t te rm i n a ti o n i si n K .P .’s b e s t i n te re s t. S e eC. H. , 89 S .W .3 d a t 2 8 . A c c o rd i n g l y , w e o v e rru l e F a th e r’ss e c o n d i s s u e a n d M o th e r’s t hi r d i ssue. C onc l us i on H avi ng ov er r ul ed al l ofM ot her ’ s and F at her ’ s i ssues, w e aff i r m t he t r i al cou rt ’ s or dert er m i nat i ng t hei rpa r ent alr i ght s t o K. P.

T E R R I E L I VI NGS T ON J U S T I C E PA N EL: L I V I N G STO N , M C C O Y, an d M EI ER, JJ. DEL I VERE D: Aug us t13, 2009