J-S69037-18

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

IN THE INTEREST OF: A.L., A MINOR

APPEAL OF: A.M.T., NATURAL 

MOTHER

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 IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF

 PENNSYLVANIA

 No. 949 MDA 2018

Appeal from the Order Entered May 16, 2018

In the Court of Common Pleas of Cumberland County Juvenile Division at 

No(s): 001-Adopt-2018, 

CP-21-DP-0000075-2017

IN RE: ADOPTION OF: A.L., A 

MINOR

APPEAL OF: A.M.T., NATURAL 

MOTHER

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 IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF

 PENNSYLVANIA

 No. 966 MDA 2018

Appeal from the Decree May 16, 2018

In the Court of Common Pleas of Cumberland County Orphans' Court at 

No(s): 001-Adopt-2018

BEFORE: BENDER, P.J.E., LAZARUS, J., and MURRAY, J.

MEMORANDUM BY MURRAY, J.: FILED NOVEMBER 16, 2018

A.M.T. (Mother) appeals from the order which changed the permanency 

goal of A.L. (Child) (born July 2016) to adoption, pursuant to the Juvenile Act, 

42 Pa.C.S.A. § 6351, and the decree involuntarily terminating her parental 

rights pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 2511(a)(1), (2), (5), and (b) of the Adoption 
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Act.1 Additionally, Mother’s counsel, R.H. Hawn, Jr., Esquire, seeks to 

withdraw his representation of Mother pursuant to Anders v. California, 87 

S. Ct. 1936 (1967), Commonwealth v. Santiago, 978 A.2d 349 (Pa. 2009), 

and In re V.E., 611 A.2d 1267, 1275 (Pa. Super. 1992) (extending Anders

briefing criteria to appeals by indigent parents represented by court-appointed 

counsel in involuntary termination matters). After careful review, we affirm 

and grant counsel’s petition to withdraw.

We summarize the following facts from the orphans’ court opinion, and 

from the record. See Orphans’ Court Opinion, 8/14/18, at 1-3; see also N.T., 

5/16/18, at 1-44. The family has a long involvement with the Cumberland 

County Children and Youth Services (CYS or Agency). Prior to her involvement 

with Father, Mother had three children with other men. In 2013, Mother was 

driving under the influence of cocaine when she had an accident with the three 

children in the car. Since that time, the older children have resided with their 

respective fathers, and Mother voluntarily relinquished her parental rights to 

them. Mother and Father have a total of five children together, three older 

than Child and one younger than Child. The three older children were

previously placed and adopted.2

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1 The court terminated the parental rights of G.L. (Father) pursuant to Section 

2511(a)(1), (2), (5), and (b). Father did not separately appeal and is not a 

party to the instant appeal. 

2 Parents’ parental rights to G.L., Jr., were terminated some time in 2012, 

their parental rights to C.L. were terminated in October 2014, and their
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In December 2016, Mother completed a Functional Assessment 

Screening Tool (FAST) evaluation. Three months of supervision was 

recommended to allow Mother to demonstrate she could follow through with 

medication management, counseling, stable housing, avoid domestic violence 

and police involvement, maintain negative drug screens, and set up and follow 

through with medical appointments for Child (including a hip specialist).

In June 2017, CYS filed a shelter care application. The application 

alleged that Mother and Father had issues with domestic violence, drug abuse, 

mental health, and a lack of stable housing. Child had not been taken to his 

nine-month checkup. Additionally, CYS had received a referral indicating that 

Mother and Father were living with Child in a tent in a state park. Child was 

removed from the parents and placed in non-kinship foster care. 

The Agency filed a dependency petition, and on July 7, 2017, Child was 

adjudicated dependent. At that time, Mother’s goals were identified as: get 

out of jail; obtain a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow through with any 

recommended treatment; obtain a mental health evaluation; complete 

parenting classes; and break the cycle of domestic violence. In September 

2017, Mother did not appear for a judicial conference, but the court found she 

was making substantial progress, had obtained a drug and alcohol evaluation, 

a FAST evaluation, and a mental health evaluation.

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parental rights to J.L. were terminated in November 2014. It appears that 

these terminations were voluntary. Child’s youngest sibling, V.L., was placed 

at birth with the same foster parents as Child.
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However, during a permanency review hearing in December 2017, 

Mother was found to be in minimal compliance, and had not made progress 

toward achieving independent, appropriate housing. As a result, she was

discharged from Alternative Behavioral Consultants (ABC). Her visits with 

Child were inconsistent, and since August 2017, she had not pursued domestic 

violence counseling services, nor had she received mental health counseling

since October 2017. Also, Mother stopped appearing for drug screens in 

October 2017, and did not follow recommendations to pursue outpatient drug 

and alcohol counseling. Further, Mother was charged with new crimes.3

In January 2018, CYS filed a petition requesting that Child’s goal be 

changed to adoption, and a petition requesting that the court involuntarily 

terminate Mother’s and Father’s parental rights pursuant to Section 

2511(a)(1), (2), (5), and (8). 

In March 2018, Mother tested positive for methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, more commonly known as ecstasy), and later in 

the month, attempted to falsify her urine sample. After giving a true screen

sample, she tested positive for cocaine and fentanyl. In April 2018, Child’s 

younger sibling V.L. was born, and Mother and V.L. tested positive for cocaine 

and marijuana at V.L.’s birth. Mother was then incarcerated for approximately 

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3 On October 5, 2017, Mother was charged with theft and receiving stolen 

property. On October 24, 2017, Mother was charged with four counts of 

harassment. On December 7, 2017, Mother was charged with criminal 

trespass and disorderly conduct. See Permanency Review Order, 12/20/17, 

at 1-2.
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three months. At the time, she was unsuccessfully discharged from her drug 

treatment program, and had not obtained mental health services.

On May 16, 2018, the court convened a hearing on the combined goal 

change and termination petitions. CYS presented the testimony of Shelly 

Barrick, CYS caseworker, and T.R., Child’s foster mother. Mother, represented 

by counsel, testified on her own behalf. Father, represented by counsel, did 

not appear at the hearing. Child was represented by the Children’s Advocacy 

Clinic as guardian ad litem and legal counsel.4

Ms. Barrick testified that Child is doing well in foster care with his 

younger sister V.L., and is very bonded to his foster parents. See N.T., 

5/16/18, at 12-13. T.R. testified that Child is doing well in her home, and that 

she and her wife, P.E.-R., wish to adopt Child. Id. at 16. He is very bonded 

with both foster mothers. Id. at 17. T.R. described one visit with Mother in 

prison where Child seemed happy to see Mother, but another visit where Child 

clung to foster mother and refused to let go. Id. at 18. Mother visited Child 

four times in 2018. Id. at 20. Foster mothers are open to Mother having 

post-adoption contact with Child. Id. at 21.

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4 Lucy Johnston-Walsh, Esquire, appeared for the Children’s Advocacy Clinic. 

See N.T., 5/16/18, at 1. This representation satisfied the representation 

requirements of In re Adoption of L.B.M., 161 A.3d 172, 183 (Pa. 2017) 

(plurality) and In re T.S., 192 A.3d 1080, 1092-93 (Pa. 2018). Here, counsel 

noted on the record that Child was non-verbal due to his young age, but that 

he appeared happy in his placement. See N.T., 5/16/18, at 39; see also

T.S., supra (noting that there is no conflict between child’s best and legal 

interests if child is non-verbal due to young age).
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Mother testified that she is on the housing authority’s list for Section 8 

housing, and that her name is near the top of the list. Id. at 25. She averred 

that she had taken parenting classes, but services were discontinued until she 

could find housing. Id. at 26-27. Mother continued visitation with Child while 

incarcerated; she averred that Child, who calls her “mom mom,” recognizes 

and loves her. Id. at 29-30, 36-37. Mother denied testing positive for drugs 

at V.L.’s birth. Id. at 30-31. She testified that she was attending Narcotics 

Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings while in the prison, receiving 

dialectical behavior therapy, and attending domestic violence counseling. Id.

at 30-34. Mother stated she had not seen Father for close to three months 

and that she was no longer in a relationship with him. Id. at 32-33. 

Child’s counsel noted that Child was too young to verbalize his desires

but that, after observation, counsel concluded that Child was happy and welladjusted with foster family. Id. at 39. At the conclusion of the hearing, the 

court changed Child’s permanency goal to adoption, and terminated Mother’s 

parental rights. Id. at 43-44.

Mother appealed and filed a concise statement of errors complained of 

on appeal pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a)(2)(i) and (b). In this Court, Mother’s 

counsel has filed an Anders brief, asserting two issues that Mother might seek 

to raise:

1. Did the [orphans’] court abuse its discretion and commit an 

error of law when it found, despite a lack of clear and convincing 

evidence, that the child’s permanent placement goal of 

reunification [was] neither appropriate, nor feasible and ordered 
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a goal change to adoption, thus contravening section 6351(f) of 

the Juvenile Act, 42 Pa.C.S. § 6351(f)?

2. Did the [orphans’] court abuse its discretion and commit an 

error of law when it found, despite a lack of clear and convincing 

evidence, that sufficient grounds existed for a termination of 

[Mother’s] parental rights [to] her child, and when it failed to 

primarily consider the child’s developmental, physical, and 

emotional needs and welfare, thus contravening sections 2511(a) 

and 2511(b) of the Adoption Act, 23 Pa.C.S. §§ 2511(a) and 

2511(b)?

Anders Brief at 4 (suggested answers omitted).5

When faced with a purported Anders brief, this Court may not review 

the merits of any possible underlying issues without first examining counsel’s 

request to withdraw. Commonwealth v. Goodwin, 928 A.2d 287, 290 (Pa. 

Super. 2007) (en banc). Prior to withdrawing as counsel on direct appeal 

under Anders, counsel must file a brief that meets the requirements 

established by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in Santiago, namely:

(1) provide a summary of the procedural history and facts, with 

citations to the record;

(2) refer to anything in the record that counsel believes arguably 

supports the appeal;

(3) set forth counsel’s conclusion that the appeal is frivolous; and

(4) state counsel’s reasons for concluding that the appeal is 

frivolous. Counsel should articulate the relevant facts of record, 

controlling case law, and/or statutes on point that have led to the 

conclusion that the appeal is frivolous.

Santiago, 978 A.2d at 361.

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5 Mother has not pro se filed a response to the Anders brief or retained new 

counsel. 
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Counsel also must provide a copy of the Anders brief to his client. 

Attending the brief must be a letter that advises the client of his 

right to: “(1) retain new counsel to pursue the appeal; (2) proceed 

pro se on appeal; or (3) raise any points that the appellant deems 

worthy of the court[’]s attention in addition to the points raised 

by counsel in the Anders brief.” Commonwealth v. Nischan, 

928 A.2d 349, 353 (Pa. Super. 2007), appeal denied, 594 Pa. 

704, 936 A.2d 40 (2007).

Commonwealth v. Orellana, 86 A.3d 877, 879-880 (Pa. Super. 2014). 

After determining that counsel has satisfied these technical requirements of 

Anders and Santiago, only then may this Court “conduct an independent 

review of the record to discern if there are any additional, non-frivolous issues 

overlooked by counsel.” Commonwealth v. Flowers, 113 A.3d 1246, 1250 

(Pa. Super. 2015) (citations and footnote omitted). 

Attorney Hawn’s Anders brief complies with these requirements. He

includes a summary of the relevant factual and procedural history; he refers 

to the portions of the record that could arguably support Mother’s claim; and 

he sets forth a conclusion that the appeal is frivolous and no other issues could 

be raised. He explains his reasoning and supports his rationale with citations 

to the record and pertinent legal authority. Additionally, Attorney Hawn has 

supplied Mother with a copy of the Anders brief and letter explaining the 

rights enumerated in Nischan, supra. Thus, counsel has complied with the 

technical requirements for withdrawal. We now independently review the 

record to determine if the issues raised are frivolous and to ascertain whether 

there are non-frivolous issues Mother may pursue on appeal. 
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We review cases involving the termination of parental rights according 

to the following:

The standard of review in termination of parental rights cases 

requires appellate courts to accept the findings of fact and 

credibility determinations of the trial court if they are supported 

by the record. If the factual findings are supported, appellate 

courts review to determine if the trial court made an error of law 

or abused its discretion. A decision may be reversed for an abuse 

of discretion only upon demonstration of manifest 

unreasonableness, partiality, prejudice, bias, or ill-will. The trial 

court’s decision, however, should not be reversed merely because 

the record would support a different result. We have previously 

emphasized our deference to trial courts that often have first-hand 

observations of the parties spanning multiple hearings.

In re T.S.M., 71 A.3d 251, 267 (Pa. 2013) (internal citations and quotations 

omitted).

Termination requires a bifurcated analysis:

Initially, the focus is on the conduct of the parent. The party 

seeking termination must prove by clear and convincing evidence 

that the parent’s conduct satisfies the statutory grounds for 

termination delineated in Section 2511(a). Only if the court 

determines that the parent’s conduct warrants termination of his 

or her parental rights does the court engage in the second part of 

the analysis pursuant to Section 2511(b): determination of the 

needs and welfare of the child under the standard of best interests 

of the child. One major aspect of the needs and welfare analysis 

concerns the nature and status of the emotional bond between 

parent and child, with close attention paid to the effect on the child 

of permanently severing any such bond.

In re L.M., 923 A.2d 505, 511 (Pa. Super. 2007) (citations omitted). As CYF 

argues that it proved by clear and convincing evidence that grounds for 

termination existed under 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 2511(a)(2), we focus our analysis 

on subsection (a)(2) and (b).
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The relevant subsections of 23 Pa.C.S. § 2511 provide:

(a) General rule.--The rights of a parent in regard to a child 

may be terminated after a petition filed on any of the 

following grounds:

***

(2) The repeated and continued incapacity, abuse, neglect 

or refusal of the parent has caused the child to be without 

essential parental care, control or subsistence necessary for 

his physical or mental well-being and the conditions and 

causes of the incapacity, abuse, neglect or refusal cannot or 

will not be remedied by the parent.

***

(b) Other considerations.--The court in terminating the rights 

of a parent shall give primary consideration to the developmental, 

physical and emotional needs and welfare of the child. The rights 

of a parent shall not be terminated solely on the basis of 

environmental factors such as inadequate housing, furnishings, 

income, clothing and medical care if found to be beyond the 

control of the parent. With respect to any petition filed pursuant 

to subsection (a)(1), (6) or (8), the court shall not consider any 

efforts by the parent to remedy the conditions described therein 

which are first initiated subsequent to the giving of notice of the 

filing of the petition.

23 Pa.C.S.A. § 2511.

To satisfy the requirements of § 2511(a)(2), the moving party must 

prove “(1) repeated and continued incapacity, abuse, neglect or refusal; (2) 

that such incapacity, abuse, neglect or refusal caused the child to be without 

essential parental care, control or subsistence; and (3) that the causes of the 

incapacity, abuse, neglect or refusal cannot or will not be remedied.” See In 

Interest of Lilley, 719 A.2d 327, 330 (Pa. Super. 1998). The grounds for 

termination are not limited to affirmative misconduct, but concern parental 
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incapacity that cannot be remedied. In re Z.P., 994 A.2d 1108, 1117 (Pa. 

Super. 2010). Parents are required to make diligent efforts toward the 

reasonably prompt assumption of full parental duties. Id. 

Here, Mother contends that there was insufficient evidence to support 

the termination of her parental rights because she was in compliance with and 

making progress towards her objectives, and the court failed to assess her 

progress in light of what would be expected of a similarly situated adult. See 

Anders Brief at 14. Mother claims that she only needed a few months to 

complete her prison sentence, return to the community, and resume parenting 

responsibilities, and that she had maintained sobriety and attended substance 

abuse intervention programs while incarcerated. Id. at 14-15.

In the instant case, the orphans’ court explained:

We made it clear to Mother what she needed to do to reunify with 

[Child] when we met with her in July, 2017. As stated at the 

conclusion of the adjudication hearing,

“[I]t is clear to this [c]ourt that the root of 

dependency here is, among other things, but most 

importantly, the history of domestic violence in the 

household. The domestic violence leads to the 

instability that has plagued the parents throughout 

their lengthy involvement with Children and Youth. 

Mother has indicated that she is committed to 

reunification with [Child]. We have indicated to her 

that we hope that will be accomplished, but in order 

to do so, she must . . . obtain a drug and alcohol 

evaluation and follow through . . . obtain a mental 

health evaluation . . . and [] most importantly, break 

the cycle of domestic violence between her and her 

paramour and Father of [Child].”

She did none of those things.
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Mother was offered numerous services to assist her in doing what 

she needed to do to resume her parenting of her child. Instead 

of taking advantage of those services, she continued to abuse 

drugs and stayed in her toxic relationship with her abuser. In 

addition, her contact with [Child] became increasingly sporadic 

until her re-incarceration in April of this year.

The above facts yield the hallmarks of someone who refuses to 

carry out her parental duties or is incapable of remedying the 

cause of her incapacity with the resources at her disposal. She 

has not put any investment into her addiction treatment, mental 

health services, domestic violence services, or her child. Mother 

has long refused to put her child (in fact, children) before drugs 

and her abusive paramour. Her addiction is the source of her past 

and present parental incapacity, and her current instability is a 

foreseeable consequence of her inability to lead a life free from 

illegal drugs and her toxic relationship with Father. Thus, Mother’s 

issues continued to impact [Child] and precluded her from 

providing essential parental care, control or subsistence necessary 

for his physical or mental well-being. Whether Mother’s failure to 

provide parental care is the result of true incapacity or is simply 

her refusal, differentiating is not important; the result is the 

same—the Child is without essential parental care.

Trial Court Opinion, 8/16/18, at 4-6. Upon review, we discern no error in this 

analysis and, accordingly, agree with the orphans’ court that CYS proved by 

clear and convincing evidence that Mother evinced parental incapacity, the 

causes of which could not be remedied. Lilley, 719 A.2d at 330; Z.P., 994 

A.2d at 1117.

Accordingly, we consider next whether Child’s needs and welfare will be 

met by termination pursuant to Subsection (b). Z.P., 994 A.2d at 1121. “In 

this context, the court must take into account whether a bond exists between 

child and parent, and whether termination would destroy an existing, 

necessary and beneficial relationship.” Id. The court is not required to use 
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expert testimony, and social workers and caseworkers may offer evaluations 

as well. Id. Ultimately, the concern is the needs and welfare of a child. Id. 

Where there is no evidence of a bond between the parent and child, it is 

reasonable to infer that no bond exists. In re: K.Z.S., 946 A.2d 753, 763 

(Pa. Super. 2008).

We have noted:

[b]efore granting a petition to terminate parental rights, it is 

imperative that a trial court carefully consider the intangible 

dimension of the needs and welfare of a child—the love, comfort, 

security, and closeness—entailed in a parent-child relationship, as 

well as the tangible dimension. Continuity of relationships is also 

important to a child, for whom severance of close parental ties is 

usually extremely painful. The trial court, in considering what 

situation would best serve the child’s needs and welfare, must 

examine the status of the natural parental bond to consider 

whether terminating the natural parents’ rights would destroy 

something in existence that is necessary and beneficial.

Z.P., 994 A.2d at 1121 (quoting In re C.S., 761 A.2d 1197, 1202 (Pa. Super. 

2000)).

The orphans’ court observed:

We found little to no evidence that severing the ties between 

Mother and [Child] would have any detrimental effect on [Child]. 

Furthermore, we are satisfied that if there would be any adverse 

effect, it could be easily overcome by the love and support of his 

foster family. [Child] is thriving in the foster home. He is an 

integral part of the foster family. They love him and want to adopt 

him. With his foster family he has stability, and most importantly, 

permanency. Consequently, we are satisfied that the needs and 

welfare of [Child] would be best served by terminating parental 

rights and allowing him to be adopted by his foster parents.

Trial Court Opinion, 8/16/18, at 6. Again, we agree with the orphans’ court; 

although there was some testimony that Child recognizes Mother, and despite 
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Mother’s testimony that Child loves her, we are mindful that “a child’s life

cannot be held in abeyance.” See In re R.J.S., 901 A.2d 502, 513 (Pa. Super. 

2006).

Accordingly, we conclude that clear and convincing evidence of record 

supports the termination of Mother’s parental rights under Section 2511(a)(2),

and Section 2511(b), where termination would best serve Child’s needs and 

welfare. See Z.P., 994 A.2d at 1126-27. 

Mother additionally challenges the goal change to adoption, pursuant to 

the Juvenile Act, 42 Pa.C.S. § 6351, and contends that the court did not give 

appropriate weight to Mother’s recent compliance with her objectives and did 

not properly weigh the evidence of her progress towards alleviating the 

circumstances underlying Child’s dependency. Anders Brief at 12. 

With regard to dependency cases:

[t]he standard of review which this Court employs in cases of 

dependency is broad. However, the scope of review is limited in 

a fundamental manner by our inability to nullify the fact-finding of 

the lower court. We accord great weight to this function of the 

hearing judge because he is in the position to observe and rule 

upon the credibility of the witnesses and the parties who appear 

before him. Relying upon his unique posture, we will not overrule 

his findings if they are supported by competent evidence.

In re N.A., 116 A.3d 1144, 1148 (Pa. Super. 2015). Thus, we employ an 

abuse of discretion standard. In re L.Z., 111 A.3d 1164, 1174 (Pa. 2015).

Regarding the disposition of dependent children, the Juvenile Act, 42 

Pa.C.S. §§ 6351(e)-(g), provides the criteria for a permanency plan. The 

court must determine a disposition best suited to the safety and protection, 
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as well as the physical, mental, and moral welfare of the child. See 42 Pa.C.S. 

§ 6351(g). With a goal change petition, the trial court:

considers the continuing necessity for and appropriateness of the 

placement; the extent of compliance with the service plan 

developed for the child; the extent of progress made towards 

alleviating the circumstances which necessitated the original 

placement; the appropriateness and feasibility of the current 

placement goal for the child; and, a likely date by which the goal 

for the child might be achieved.

In Interest of A.N.P., 155 A.3d 55, 67 (Pa. Super. 2017) (quoting In re 

A.K., 936 A.2d 528, 533 (Pa. Super. 2007).

We have further noted:

[w]hen a child is adjudicated dependent, the child’s proper 

placement turns on what is in the child’s best interest, not on what 

the parent wants or which goals the parent has achieved. 

Moreover, although preserving the unity of the family is a purpose 

of the [Juvenile] Act, another purpose is to “provide for the care, 

protection, safety, and wholesome mental and physical 

development of children coming within the provisions of this 

chapter.” 42 Pa.C.S. § 6301(b)(1.1). Indeed, “[t]he relationship 

of parent and child is a status and not a property right, and one 

in which the state has an interest to protect the best interest of 

the child.”

In re K.C., 903 A.2d 12, 14-15 (Pa. Super. 2006) (some citations omitted).

As noted above, the orphans’ court determined that Child’s needs and 

welfare would be best served by adoption. Additionally, although Mother had 

made some progress while incarcerated, she had not shown any progress 

while not incarcerated. Essentially, Mother’s argument requests that we –

impermissibly – re-weigh the orphans’ court’s findings and conclusions. N.A., 

116 A.3d at 1148. 
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Thus, we find no error of law or abuse of discretion in the orphans’ 

court’s finding that Mother failed to make appropriate progress to alleviate the 

circumstances necessitating placement; finding that it was in the best 

interests of Child to be adopted; and changing Child’s permanency goal to 

adoption. N.A., 116 A.3d at 1148; A.N.P., 155 A.3d at 67; K.C., 903 A.2d at

14-15. 

In sum, we agree with Attorney Hawn that Mother’s issues are frivolous. 

We have independently reviewed the record and find no other issues of 

arguable merit that he or Mother could pursue on appeal. Accordingly, we 

grant counsel’s petition to withdraw and conclude that clear and convincing 

evidence of record supports the termination of Mother’s parental rights under 

Sections 2511(a)(2) as well as the Section 2511(b) findings that severing the 

bond between Mother and Child would not cause harm to Child; that adoption 

would best serve Child’s needs and welfare; and that Child’s permanency goal 

should be changed to adoption. See Z.P., 994 A.2d at 1126-27. 

Order affirmed. Decree affirmed. Petition to withdraw granted.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.

Prothonotary

Date: 11/16/2018