96-270

 No. 96-270

 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA

 

 1997

 IN RE THE MATTER 

OF: 

 B.C., B.P., M.P. and T.

P., 

 Youths in Need of Care, 

APPEAL FROM: District Court of the Eighth Judicial District,

 In and for the County of Cascade,

 The Honorable Thomas M. McKittrick, Judge presiding.

COUNSEL OF RECORD:

 For Appellant:

 Nathan J. Hoines, Great Falls, Montana; Bethany Schendel, Great 

Falls,

 Montana (youths)

 For Respondent:

 Joseph P. Mazurek, Attorney General, Micheal W. Wellenstein, 

Assistant

 Attorney General, Helena, Montana; Brant S. Light, Cascade 

County 

 Attorney, Great Falls, Montana

 Submitted on Briefs: January 16, 1997

 Decided: July 2, 1997

Filed:

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 __________________________________________

 Clerk

Justice James C. Nelson delivered the Opinion of the Court.

 Toni C. (Toni), the natural mother of B.C., B.P., M.P., and T.P, appeals the

decision of the District Court for the Eighth Judicial District, Cascade County,

terminating her parental rights to all four children. Kevin P. (Kevin), the 

natural father

of B.P., M.P., and T.P., appeals the decision of the District Court terminating his

parental rights to his three children. We affirm.

 We address the following issues on appeal:

 1. Did the District Court err in refusing to allow Toni and Kevin to testify 

by

telephone?

 2. Did the District Court err in terminating the parental rights of Toni and 

Kevin?

 Factual and Procedural Background

 In January 1994, Toni and Kevin were arrested in Washington state. As a 

result,

Washington Social Services removed B.C., B.P., M.P. and T.P. from the home and

placed them in emergency foster care. In February 1994, Washington Social Services

requested that Toni's mother, Joyce, pick up the children and bring them to Montana 

to

live with her. Washington Social Services directed Joyce to notify the Montana

Department of Family Services (DFS), now the Department of Public Health and Human

Services, that the children were now in her care. 

 On March 8, 1994, DFS filed a petition for temporary legal custody of the

children. The District Court subsequently adjudicated B.C., born March 25, 1983, B.

P.,

born August 4, 1985, M.P., born February 8, 1988, and T.P., born January 29, 1990,

as "youths in need of care" and awarded temporary legal custody of the youths to DFS

for six months or until such time as the court could review the matter. The court 

ordered

Toni and Kevin to complete court-approved treatment plans before they would be 

reunited

with their children. 

 Toni was unaware of the provisions of the treatment plan until October 1994,

because DFS had difficulty locating her whereabouts. When Toni finally contacted her

mother in September 1994, DFS was able to obtain her current address and send her a

copy of the treatment plan.

 On January 20, 1995, DFS petitioned the District Court for permanent legal

custody of the children and termination of the parental rights of Toni and Kevin. 

The

District Court scheduled a hearing on the petition for March 16, 1995. Because DFS 

was

again unable to contact Toni and Kevin and because of a conflict in the court's 

calendar,

the hearing was rescheduled for April 26, 1995. The court appointed counsel for Toni

and Kevin on April 3, 1995. Counsel subsequently requested two additional 

continuations

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which the District Court granted. 

 At the hearing conducted on June 20, 1995, a DFS social worker testified that 

Toni

and Kevin had not complied with the treatment plan. Toni, who was now living in

Oregon, was allowed to testify by telephone. She testified that if she were granted 

more

time she would try to complete the treatment plan. On July 25, 1995, the parties 

stipulated that Toni and Kevin would be allowed an additional four months to 

complete

their respective treatment plans. 

 On October 30, 1995, the day before the next scheduled hearing, Toni's and

Kevin's counsel filed a motion to continue the hearing. The reasons counsel cited 

for this

continuance included the fact that Toni and Kevin could not afford to travel to 

Montana

since Kevin had only recently been released from prison, having been incarcerated 

since

January 1, 1995. The District Court granted the motion and rescheduled the hearing 

for

November 28, 1995. On November 18, 1995, Kevin and Toni were each personally

served with a citation ordering them to appear at the hearing and to show cause why 

the

relief set forth in DFS' petition for permanent custody should not be granted.

 On the appointed day, Toni and Kevin notified their attorney that they would 

be

unable to attend the hearing. Thus, at the start of the hearing, counsel requested a

continuance until June at which time Toni and Kevin believed they would be able to

travel. Citing the fact that there had already been continuances and that the 

children

needed some measure of permanence in their lives, the District Court denied the 

motion

concluding that a continuance until June was too long. 

 At the conclusion of the State's case, Toni's and Kevin's counsel requested 

that

they be allowed to testify over the telephone. The State objected to the request and

argued that it was important for the court to see Toni and Kevin in person in order 

to

determine their credibility. The District Court, questioning the timeliness of the 

request,

deemed it unreasonable and denied the motion.

 The District Court issued an Order on December 29, 1995, wherein the court

terminated Toni's parental rights as to B.C., B.P., M.P., and T.P. and Kevin's 

parental

rights as to B.P., M.P., and T.P. Judgment was entered on March 18, 1996. Toni and

Kevin appeal. 

 Standard of Review

 In cases involving the termination of parental rights, this Court will affirm 

a

district court's factual findings unless those findings are clearly erroneous. 

Matter of

R.B.O. (1996), 277 Mont. 272, 277, 921 P.2d 268, 271 (citing Matter of D.H. (1994),

264 Mont. 521, 524-25, 872 P.2d 803, 805). A finding is clearly erroneous if it is 

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not

supported by substantial evidence; or, if so supported, the district court 

misapprehended

the effect of the evidence; or, if so supported and the district court did not 

misapprehend

the effect of the evidence, this Court is left with the definite and firm conviction 

that a

mistake has been committed. R.B.O., 921 P.2d at 271. With the exception of a 

district

court's conclusions involving the exercise of discretion, such as a determination 

that a

child is abused or neglected, we review a district court's conclusions of law to 

determine

whether they are correct. R.B.O., 921 P.2d at 271. 

 Issue 1.

 Did the District Court err in refusing to allow Toni and Kevin to testify

 

 by telephone?

 At the November 28, 1995 hearing, at the conclusion of the State's case, 

Toni's

and Kevin's attorney requested that they be allowed to testify by telephone. The 

State

objected relying upon Rule 611(e), M.R.Evid., and this Court's holding in Bonamarte 

v.

Bonamarte (1994), 263 Mont. 170, 866 P.2d 1132. The State argued that it was

important for the court to see Toni and Kevin in person in order to determine their

credibility. The District Court denied the motion based upon the objections raised 

by the

State and because the motion was untimely.

 Toni and Kevin contend on appeal that since Toni was allowed to testify by

telephone at the June 20, 1995 hearing, she should have been allowed to testify by

telephone at the November 28, 1995 hearing. In addition, they contend that there 

were

special and exigent circumstances in their case, as outlined in Bonamarte, that would

allow telephonic testimony. In Bonamarte, the wife in a dissolution action was

allowed to testify by telephone over the objections of the husband. We noted in 

that case

that the right of confrontation required in all criminal cases in Montana is also 

required

in all civil cases under Rule 611(e), M.R.Evid., and we held that allowing the wife 

to

testify by telephone constituted reversible error. Rule 611(e), M.R.Evid., provides:

 Confrontation. Except as otherwise provided by constitution, statute,

 these rules, or other rules applicable to the courts of this state, at the 

trial

 of an action, a witness can be heard only in the presence and subject to the

 examination of all the parties to the action, if they choose to attend and

 examine.

 We stated in Bonamarte that requiring a witness to testify personally at 

trial serves

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a number of important policies and purposes. These policies and purposes include: 

assisting the trier of fact to evaluate the witness' credibility by allowing his or 

her

demeanor to be observed firsthand; helping to establish the identity of the witness;

impressing upon the witness the seriousness of the occasion; assuring that the 

witness is

not being coached or influenced during testimony; assuring that the witness is not

referring to documents improperly; and, in cases where required, providing for the 

right

of confrontation of witnesses. Bonamarte, 866 P.2d at 1134. We concluded that: 

 The integrity of the factfinding process at trial is undermined where the

 parties do not have the opportunity to confront each other or the witnesses,

 where the finder of fact does not have the opportunity to observe the parties

 and the witnesses and where the opposing party cannot effectively cross-

 examine the other party or the witnesses.

Bonamarte, 866 P.2d at 1135.

 Nonetheless, we did not adopt a per se rule in Bonamarte that would preclude 

the

use of telephonic testimony at trial in all cases or circumstances. Instead, we 

stated that 

 Where the trial court approves and all parties consent, or at least have

 sufficient notice to object and/or make alternative arrangements, we see no

 reason why telephonic testimony cannot be utilized in appropriate situations

 where special or exigent circumstances dictate the necessity for that type of

 testimony, where rights of confrontation and cross-examination are not

 substantially compromised or are otherwise adequately preserved, where the

 identity and credibility of a witness are not critical and where there is no

 need to use documentary or tangible exhibits in examining the witness.

Bonamarte, 866 P.2d at 1136. However, the circumstances set forth in Bonamarte,

which would allow telephonic testimony are not present in the case before us on 

appeal;

all parties did not consent, there was not sufficient notice to make alternative

arrangements and this was not a situation where special or exigent circumstances 

dictated

the necessity for this type of testimony.

 The reasons the wife in Bonamarte gave for not being able to testify in person

included fear of her husband, the cost of traveling from New Jersey to Montana, and 

the

inability to obtain adequate child care for her son while she traveled to Montana 

for the

hearing. We concluded that none of these reasons constituted special or exigent

circumstances necessitating telephonic testimony and we held that the District Court

abused its discretion in allowing the wife to testify by telephone over objection. 

Bonamarte, 866 P.2d at 1137. As was the case in Bonamarte, financial inability of 

Toni

and Kevin to travel to Montana for the hearing does not constitute special or exigent

circumstances. 

 Moreover, the credibility of Toni and Kevin as to their compliance with and

completion of the treatment plan was critical to the disposition of their parental 

rights. 

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It was necessary for the court to observe their demeanor while testifying in order to

determine whether the conduct rendering them unfit was likely to change within a

reasonable time. Hence, this was not a case where telephonic testimony would have 

been

proper. 

 Furthermore, Toni's and Kevin's motion to testify by telephone was not made 

until

after the conclusion of the State's case. The District Court, stating that other

arrangements could have been made if their had been sufficient notice, deemed the 

motion

untimely and unreasonable. We find no abuse of discretion with the District Court's

ruling. 

 Accordingly, we hold that the District Court did not err when it refused to 

allow

Toni and Kevin to testify by telephone.

 Issue 2.

 Did the District Court err in terminating the parental rights of Toni 

 and Kevin?

 We have previously stated that because the termination of parental rights 

involves

fundamental liberty interests, the party seeking termination must present clear and

convincing evidence that the prerequisite statutory criteria for termination have 

been met. 

Matter of J.L. (1996), 277 Mont. 284, 288, 922 P.2d 459, 461 (citing Matter of

Custody and Parental Rights of M.M. (1995), 271 Mont. 52, 56, 894 P.2d 298, 301; 

Matter of J.R. (1992), 253 Mont. 434, 438, 833 P.2d 1063, 1066). Section 41-3-609,

MCA, sets forth the criteria for termination:

 (1) The court may order a termination of the parent-child legal

 relationship upon a finding that any of the following circumstances exist:

 .. .

 (c) the child is an adjudicated youth in need of care and both of the

 following exist:

 (i) an appropriate treatment plan that has been approved by the court

 has not been complied with by the parents or has not been successful; and

 (ii) the conduct or condition of the parents rendering them unfit is

 unlikely to change within a reasonable time; . . .

Section 41-3-609(1)(c), MCA. This section further provides:

 (2) In determining whether the conduct or condition of the parents

 is unlikely to change within a reasonable time, the court must enter a

 finding that continuation of the parent-child legal relationship will likely

 result in continued abuse or neglect or that the conduct or the condition of

 the parents renders the parents unfit, unable, or unwilling to give the child

 adequate parental care. In making the determinations, the court shall

 consider but is not limited to the following: . . .

 (d) excessive use of intoxicating liquor or of a narcotic or dangerous

 drug that affects the parent's ability to care and provide for the child; . .

 . 

 (g) any reasonable efforts by protective service agencies that have

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 been unable to rehabilitate the parent.

Section 41-3-609(2), MCA. 

 Moreover, when considering any of the factors in 41-3-609(2), MCA, in

terminating the parent-child relationship, the court must give primary consideration 

to the

best interests of the child as demonstrated by the child's physical, mental, and 

emotional

conditions and needs. Section 41-3-609(3), MCA; J.L., 922 P.2d at 461.

 B.C., B.P., M.P., and T.P. were adjudicated "youths in need of care" by the

District Court on April 18, 1994, and court-approved treatment plans for both parents

were established. These treatment plans were to be completed by the parents within 

six

months, however, they did not become effective until October 1994, because DFS was

unable to contact the parents to inform them of the plansþ requirements until 

September

1994. At the November 28, 1995 hearing, more than one year after the treatment plans

became effective, the District Court determined that neither Toni nor Kevin had

successfully completed their treatment plans, and that they were unlikely to 

complete the

plans within a reasonable time.

 Toni and Kevin do not contend on appeal that they successfully completed their

court-approved treatment plans, but rather that the District Court erred in stating 

that they

had not successfully completed even one component of their treatment plans. However,

partial compliance with a treatment plan is insufficient to preclude termination of 

parental

rights. Matter of J.J.C.H. (1992), 252 Mont. 158, 164, 827 P.2d 812, 816 (citing 

Matter

of H.R.B. (1989), 239 Mont. 387, 389, 780 P.2d 1139, 1140).

 The treatment plans provided that both Toni and Kevin were to maintain weekly

contact with the social worker throughout a six-month time frame, however, neither

parent complied with this provision. Toni and Kevin argue that Kevin could not 

comply

because he was incarcerated from January 1, 1995 until October 3, 1995. However, 

this

does not explain his non-compliance from October 1994 through December 1994, nor

does it explain Toni's non-compliance. Moreover, as the State points out, Kevin's

incarceration should not excuse him from complying because it was his criminal 

conduct

that required his incarceration and he could have maintained weekly contact through

letters to the social worker. In addition, neither Toni nor Kevin obtained a 

parenting

assessment and evaluation as required by the treatment plans.

 The treatment plans also required that Toni and Kevin, because of their known

alcohol and drug abuse, obtain evaluations for drug and alcohol dependency and submit

to random drug and alcohol urinalysis. Kevin did not obtain an evaluation because 

of his

incarceration and, while Toni eventually complied with these provisions, she did not 

send

a copy of the evaluation to DFS, thus DFS did not know the results of the evaluation 

or

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its recommendations. In addition, Toni tested positive for cocaine use three times 

since

the June 20, 1995 hearing. Her last positive urinalysis was on August 28, 1995, only

three months prior to the November 28, 1995 hearing. 

 Under the treatment plans, Toni and Kevin were required to report immediately

to their social worker any contact they had with law enforcement, regardless of the 

reason

for the contact. They were also required to obtain a written report from law 

enforcement

detailing the type of contact. Kevin failed to report to the social worker 

regarding his

incarceration and he failed to obtain a written report detailing this contact with 

law

enforcement. Additionally, Toni did not report the 14 days she spent in jail as a 

result

of her testing positive for drugs.

 Because Toni, Kevin and the children lived in a van and at various motels 

for the

three years prior to the children being sent to their grandmother in Montana, the

treatment plans required that Toni and Kevin maintain a residence adequate to house 

all

four of the children for a period of six months before the children would be 

returned to

their care. At the time of the June 20, 1995 hearing, Toni testified that she was 

living

in a one-bedroom apartment and had been living there since January 7, 1995. She

admitted that the apartment was not suitable for her children, but she testified 

that she

was saving money to get an apartment or house suitable for all four children. At the

November 28, 1995 hearing, the DFS social worker testified that Toni and Kevin were

living in a one-bedroom apartment and had been living there for only six weeks. The

apartment was not large enough to accommodate the four children.

 Due to the inability of Toni and Kevin to obtain suitable housing for the 

children

after more than one year and because of Toni's recent drug use, it was not 

unreasonable

for the District Court to conclude that the conduct or condition rendering Toni and 

Kevin

unfit was unlikely to change within a reasonable time. Moreover, the DFS social 

worker

testified that it would be in the best interests of the children to terminate the 

parental

rights of Toni and Kevin. When DFS initially became involved in this case, the 

children

had been neglected as to medical and dental treatment and they had not been attending

school. In addition, Toni and Kevin were teaching the children to shoplift. The 

social

worker testified that the children needed permanence in their lives. Neither Toni 

nor

Kevin have made any attempt to return to Montana to work on regaining custody of the

children, nor have they ever returned to Montana to visit the children. Furthermore,

Toni never bothered to contact her mother to check on the welfare of the children 

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for the

first nine months after the children were placed in their grandmother's care.

 Therefore, we conclude that there is substantial evidence in the record 

supporting

the District Court's finding that Toni and Kevin failed to successfully complete the 

courtapproved treatment plan, thus the prerequisite statutory criteria for termination 

have been

met. Accordingly, we hold that the District Court did not err in terminating the 

parental

rights of Toni and Kevin.

 Affirmed.

 /S/ JAMES C. NELSON

We Concur:

/S/ J. A. TURNAGE

/S/ WILLIAM E. HUNT, SR.

/S/ JIM REGNIER 

/S/ TERRY N. TRIEWEILER

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