J - S23014 - 19 NON - PRECEDENT IAL DECISION – SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37 IN THE INTEREST OF: D.P., A MINOR IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA APPEAL OF: J.P. NAT URAL FATHER No. 1588 WDA 2018 Appeal from the Order Entered O ctober 22 , 2 018 In the Court of Common Pleas of Erie County Juvenile Division at No(s): CP

- 25 - DP - 0000170 - 2017 IN THE INTEREST OF: R.P., A MINOR IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA APPEAL OF: J. P. NATURAL FATHER No. 1589 WDA 2018 Appeal from the Order Entered October 22 , 018 In the Court of Common Pleas of Erie County Juvenile Division at No(s): CP

- 25 - DP - 0000171 - 2017 IN THE INTEREST OF: J.P., A MINOR IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA APPEAL OF: J. P. NATURAL FATHER No. 1590 WDA 2018 Appeal from the Order Entered October 22, 2018 In the Court of Common Pleas of Erie County Juvenile Division At No(s): CP - 25 - DP - 0000 1 72 - 2017 IN THE INTEREST OF: E.P., A MINOR IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA APPEAL OF: J. P. NATURAL FATHER No. 1591 WDA 2018 Appeal from the Order Entered October 22, 2018 In the Court of Common Pleas of Erie County Juvenile Division At No(s): CP

- 25 - DP - 0000173 - 2017J - S23014 - 19 BEFORE: BENDER, P.J.E., NICHOLS, J., and COLINS, J. * MEMORANDUM BY BENDER, P.J.E.: FILED MAY 31, 2019 J.P. (Father) appeals from the orders, dated October 19, 2018, and entered on the docket in the Court of Common Pleas of Erie County on October 22, 2018, which changed the permanency goal for his four sons to adoption. 1 Following exten sive review, we affirm. On appeal, Father’s brief lists the following questions for our review: 1. WHETHER THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION AND/OR COMMITTED AN ERROR OF LAW BY FINDING MINIMAL COMPLIANCE WITH THE COURT[ - ] ORDERED TREATMENT PLAN IN ITS ORDER OF OCTOBER 10, 2018, WHEN THE REASONS FOR THE ADJU CI ATION [ sic ] OF DEPENDENCY [,] ABUSE, UNSTABLE HOUSING, HOME INFESTATION OF MICE AND BED BUGS, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, LEAVING [MOTHER] IN A CARETAKING ROLE, FAILURE TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM ABUSE, FAI LURE TO SEEK SERVICES FOR HIS MENTAL HEALTH, AND LACK OF FOLLOW THROUGH WITH SERVICES HAD BEEN ALLEVIATED [?] 2. WHETHER THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION AND/OR COMMITTED AN ERROR OF LAW/FACT WHEN IT DENIED THE [ SUBP O E NA S ] ISSUED BY THE FATHER TO HAVE THE MINOR OLDER CHILDREN, D.P. AND R.P., AGED 12 AND 9, APPEAR AND TESTIFY IN CAMERA AT THE CHANGE OF GOAL HEARING [?] 3. WHETHER THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION AND/OR COMMITTED AN ERROR OF LAW BY FAILING TO APPOINT AN ATTORNEY FOR THE MINOR CHILDR EN, D.P. AND R.P [.,] IN THE CHANGE OF GOAL HEARING [?] 4. WHETHER THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION AND/OR COMMITTED AN ERROR OF LAW BY DENYING []

* Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court. 1 B.D. (Mother) also filed appeals from the orders that granted the goal change for each of her sons. Mother’s appeals are docketed at Nos. 1604 WDA 2018, 1605 WDA 2018, 1606 WDA 2018 and 1607 WDA 2018.J - S23014 - 19 FATHER’ S MOTION FOR SPECIAL RELIEF REQUESTING THAT THE COURT RE - OPEN THE RECORD TO APPOINT COUNSEL FOR THE CHILDREN AND HAVE THE COUNSEL ADVISE THE COURT OF THE CHILDREN’ S WISHES REGARDING THE CHANGE OF GOAL [?] 5. WHETHER THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION AND/OR COMMITTED AN ERROR OF LAW BY FAILING TO GIVE APPROPRIATE WEIGHT TO THE UNCONTROVERTED TESTIMONY THAT THERE WAS A BOND BETWEEN SOME OF THE CHILDREN AND [] FATHER [?] 6. WHETHER THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION AND/OR COMMITED AN ERROR OF LAW BY FAILING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE CHILDREN HAD BEEN IN PLACEMENT FOR LESS THAN ONE YEAR BEFORE A CHANGE OF GOAL PETITION WAS FILED, WHEREBY NOT GIVING FATHER SUFFICIENT TIME TO RECITFY [ sic ] THE CONDITIONS FOR REMOVAL OF CHILDREN [?] 7. WHETHER THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION AND/OR COMMITTED AN ERROR OF LAW WHEN IT FAILED TO RECOGNIZE THAT AT THE MAY 23, 2018 REVIEW HEARING, REUNIFICATION WITH FATHER WAS THE GOAL BY END OF SUMMER, 2018, AND FIVE (5) WEEKS LATER FILED A MOTION FOR CHANGE OF GOAL TO ADOPTION; A DECISION THAT WAS NOT SUPPORTED BY THE EVIDENCE [?] 8. WHETHER THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION AND/OR COMMITTED AN ERROR OF LAW BY CHANGING THE GOAL TO ADOPTION AFTER ONE INDISCRETION BY FATHER ALLOWING CONTACT WITH ONE CHILD WITH MOTHER DURING AN UNSUPERVISED VISIT ON JUNE 25, 2018, WHEN ALL OTHER REMEDIAL MEASURES HAD BEEN ACCOMPLI SHED [?] Father’s brief at 5. We review issues relating to the changing of the placement goal for children to adoption pursuant to the following: [T]he standard of review in dependency cases requires an appellate court to accept the findings of fact and credibility determinations of the trial court if they are supported by the record, but does not require the appellate court to acceptJ - S23014 - 19 the lower co urt ’ s in ferences or conclusions of law. Accordingly, we review for an abuse of discretion. In re R.J.T. , 608 Pa. 9, 9 A.3d 1179, 1190 (Pa. 2010). Pursuant to [ 42 Pa.C.S.A.] § 6351(f) of the Juvenile Act, when considering a petition for a goal change for a depende nt child, the juvenile court is to consider, inter alia: (1) the continuing necessity for and appropriateness of the placement; (2) the extent of compliance with the family service plan; (3) the extent of progress made towards alleviating the circumstances which necessitated the original placement; (4) the appropriateness and feasibility of the current placement goal for the children; (5) a likely date by which the goal for the child m ight be achieved; (6) the child’ s safety; and (7) whether the child has b een in placement for at least fifteen of the last twenty - two months. The best interests of the child, and not the interests of the parent, must guide the trial court. As this Court has held, a child ’ s life simply cannot be put on hold in the hope that th e parent will summon the ability to handle the responsibilities of parenting. In re A.B. , 19 A.3d 1084, 1088 - 89 (Pa. Super. 2011) (citations and quotation marks omitted). In re J.D.H. , 171 A.3d 903, 908 (Pa. Super. 2017). We have reviewed the certified record, the briefs of the parties , the applicable la w , and the comprehensive opinion authored by the Honorable Shad Connelly, senior judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Erie County, filed on January 14, 2019. We conclude that Judge Connelly’s extensive and well - reasoned opinion disposes of the issues raised by Father. In particular, we note that Father is primarily seeking to have this Court reweigh the evidence in a light more favorable to him. However, it is beyond our purview to disturb the credibil ity determinations of the trial court when the testimonyJ - S23014 - 19 relied upon by the trial court is supported by the record. The trial court was free to conclude that Father was unlikely to remedy his problems in the near future; thus, the permanency needs of Chil dren dictate changing their goal to adoption. Accordingly, we adopt Judge Connelly’s opinion as our own and affirm the orders appealed from on that basis. Orders affirmed. Judgment Entered. Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq. Prothonotary Date: 5/31/2019Circulated 05/07/2019 08:11 AM



### IN T HE IN T E RE S T O F 

### D . P . , 

### R. l> . , J . P . , 

### an d E. P . ,



### M i n o r s A d j u d i cat e d D ep e n d e nt A P P E A L 

### O F J . P ; , 

### N at ur a l F ath e r r-- - '> c :, 

### , = r-: r i 0 r'f : , 

### IN T HE C O U RT O F 

# c o � M e N 

# � .a . O F E RIE C O UN T Y , 

## P ENNS tji, V � I A '.:; ; JU V EN i l E D I Vl S l O N 

## ; c ! � ; : 1 -::

� � 0s ; � ( · ·

. . ' . ' Q'." ' 2 ' � � � ::: { . 

### N O . 1 7 0 , 1 71 , 1 7 2 , 1 7 3 O F 2 � i j

_ --< -: \ _ y ' 

# z� s: , ., 

# J U D G E S C O P 1 9 2 5 { a ) O P IN I O N O n O c t o b e r 2 2 , 2 0 1 8 an o r d e r w a s e nt e r e d i n a d e p e n d e n c y a c t i o n c h an g in g th e g o a l t o a d o p t i o n fo r D . P . , R. P . , J. P . , an d E . P . , m in o r c hi l dr e n o f J . P . ( Ap p e ll ant/F ath e r) . T h e fath e r n o w c h a ll e n g e s th at o r d e r . T h e fath e r i s c o nt e n d i n g th i s c o urt e r r e d i n s e v e r a l r e s p e c t s wh e n i t e l i mi n at e d r e uni fi c at i o n a s a g o a l. T h e r e c o r d s u p p o rt s th at th e fi n d i n g o f c h an g e o f g o a l t o a d o p t i o n w a s e s tab li s h e d b y cl e ar 

### an d c o nv i n c i n g e v i d e n c e an d i s i n th e b e s t i nt e r e s t s 

### o f th e c hi l d . It i s th e r e fo r e r e qu e s t e d th e S u p e ri o r C o urt 

### a ffi rm th e o r d e r . P R O C E D U RAL ID S T O R Y AND F A C T S 

# t P. . D . P . , b o rn Jun e f

, 2 0 0 6 ; - b o rn J anu ar

y . , 

### 2 0 0 9 ; J. P . , b o rn M ay 4' , 2 0 1 2 ; an d 

### E. P . , b o rn O c t o b e r . , 

### 2 0 1 5 , ar e a ll c hi l cJ ,u 'lf{- 13 . D . , n atura l m o th e r , an d 

### J . P . , n atur a l fath e r . T h e f am i l y h a d b e e n l i v in g i n N o rth C aro li n a , b ut m o v e d t o E ri e . I n M ay , 2 0 . 1 7 , O C Y r e c e i v e d a ll e g at i o n s th at th e m o th e r h a d p hy s i c a ll y a s s au l t e d s o m e o f th e c hi l dr e n . T h e fath er fi i e d a P FA P e t i t i o n o n b e h a l f o f th e c hil dr e n a g a i n s t th e m o th e r th at w a s e v e ntu a ll y w i th dr awn . S e rv i c e s w e r e o p e n e d w i th O C Y i n M ay , 2 0 1 7 , b ut u l t im at e l y , a ll fo ur c hi l dr e n w e r e r e m o v e d fr o m th e p ar e nt s ' c ar e an d p l a c e d i n fo s t e r c ar e . An A d j u d i c at i o n/D i s p o s i t i o n a l H e ari n g w a s h e l d o n Au gu s t 1 4 , 2 0 1 7 b e fo r e thi s c o urt . O C Y h a d fi l e d D e p e n d e n c y P e t i ti o n s fo r th e c hi l dr e n . T h e p ar e nt s s t ip u l at e d th at th e i r c hi l dr e n w e r e w ith o ut p ro p e r p ar e nt a l c ar e o r c o ntr o l b a s e d u p o n th e fo ll o w i n g a ll e g at i o n s :1 . T h e (p ar e nt s h av e ) 

### a h i s t o r y w i th th e A g e n c y d

u e t o c o n c e rn s o f ab u s e , un s t a b l e h o u s i n g , d o m e s t i c v i o l e n c e , an d l a c k o ffo ll o w thr o u g h w i th s e rv ic e s . F urth e rm o r e , th e fam i l y w a s inv o l v e d w i th o n g o i n g s e rv i c e s 

### s in c e M ay , 2 0 1 7 an d ( th e y ) fa il e d t o a ll e v i at e th e i s s u e s ; 

### 2 . T h e (p at e nt s ) h av e an e xt e n s i v e hi s to ry in N o rth C ar o l in a d u e t o c o n c e rn s o f

p hy s i c a l ab u s e , n e g l e c t , d e p l o r a

b l e h o m e c o n d i t i o n s , an d dru g an d a lc o h o l a b u s e . T h e c a s e s i n N o rth C ar o li n a w e r e u l t i m at e l y unf o un d e d 

### an d c l o s e d b y 

### C Y S . 3 . T h e (p ar e nt s ) h av e fa il e d an d/ o r ar e unwi ll in g t o p r o v i d e 

### a s a fe 

### an d s t ab l el i v in g e nv ir o nm e nt , F urth e rm o r e ; th e h o m e h a d 

### an i nf e s tat io n o fm ic e an d b e d b u g s in M ay , 

### 2 0 1 7 an d th e c o n d i t i o n s h av e s in c e w o r s e n e d r e s u lt in g i n th e f ami l y b e i n g e v i c t e d . 4 . Th e (p ar e nt s ) h av e fa il e d an d / o r ar e unwil l in g t o s e e k treatm e nt fo r ( th e ir) m e nt a l h e a l th th e m o th e r a d d it i o n a ll y a dm i tt e d : 5 . ( T h e m o th e r) h a s p r e v i o u s l y h a d tw o c hi l dr e n r e m o v e d fr o m h e r 

### c ar e o v e r 2 0 y e ar s a g o an d s u c c e s s fu ll y p la c e d fo r a d o p t i o n ; 

### 6 . ( T h e m o th e r) h a s p hy s i c a ll y a b u s e d th e min o r ( c hi l dr e n ) . F urth e rm o r e , th e ( c hi l dr e n ) r e p o rt e d that ( th e y ar e ) f

e arfu l o f ( th e m o th e r) d

u e t o h e r hi tt in g , s c ratc hin g , p u l l in g ( th e ir) h a ir , an d thr o w i n g o b j e c t s at ( th e m ) ; 7 . ( th e m o th e r) h as a c r im i n a l hi s t o ry i n c lu di n g A g g r av at e d A s s au l t an d C ri m i n a l C o n s p ir a c y . T h e fath e r a d d i t io n a ll y a dmi tt e d : 5 . ( T h e fath e r) h a s fa il e d t o p r e v e nt p hy s ic a l ab u s e t o th e m i n o r ( c h il dr e n ) . F urth e rm o r e ( th e fath e r) di s c l o s e d wi tn e s s i n g th e a b u s e an d n e g l e . c t o fhi s ( c h i l dr e n ) o n mu lt ip l e o c c as i o n s ; h o w e v e r h e h a s fa i l e d t o p ro t e c t th e ( c h il dr e n ) ; 6 . 

### ( T h e f ath e r) h a s fa il e d t o p r o v i d e a s a fe an d s t ab l e h o m e fo r· th e mi n o r ( c hi l dr e n ) . F urth e rm o r e , h e c o nt i nu e s t o l e av e ( th e m o th e r) i n a c ar e g i v e r ro l e d e s p i t e w i tn e s s i n g a b u s i v e b e h av i o r s . S e rv i c e s h a d b e e n e x t e n d e d t o th e f am il y p ri o r t o th e n e c e s s i ty o f th e c hi l dr e n ' s r e m o v a l an d a d j u d i c at i o n o f d e p e n d e n c y . C a ll s w e r e r e c e i v e d b y O C Y in 

### M ay , 2 0 1 7 a ll e g in g p hy s i c a l ab u s e t o th e c h il dr e n . Inv e s t i g at i o n s d e t e rm i n e d th e ab u s e w a s unf o un d e d , b ut s e rv i c e s w e r e o p e n e d . S ub s e qu e nt l y , J . P . fi l e d a P ro t e c t i o n F ro in Ab u s e A c t P e ti t i o n o n b e h a l f o fth e c hi l dr e n a g a i n s t th e m o th e r , B . D . P ri o r t o any a c t i o n o n th e p e t i t i o n , th e c hi l dr e n w e r e r e m o v e d an d th e d e p e n d e n c y a c t i o n s b e gun . T h e c o urt i s s u e d 

### a: D e p e n d e n c y/D i s p o s i t i o n a l O r d e r o n Au gu s t 1 7 ,

?

### 2 0 1 7 , fi n d i n g a ll 4 c hi l dr e n d e p e n d e nt b a s e d u p o n th e s t i p u l at e d a ll e g at i o n s o f fa c t , an d o r d e ri n g th e p ar e nt s t o b e i nv o l v e d w i th a numb e r o f s e rv ic e s . i h e g o a l w a s r e uni fi c at i o n o f th e f ami l y . 

### O n e o f th e m a i n a g e n c i e s inv o l v e d w i th th e f ami l y w a s 

### F am il y B as e d M e nt a l H e a l th . J e s s i c a E dmun d s w a s th e th e r a p i s t as s i gn e d t o th e 

### f

am il y . E dmun d s b e g an w o rki n g w ith th e fam il y in Jun e , 2 0 1 7 , an d d e s c ri b e d th e p r o g r am a s p ro v i d in g s e rv i c e s in th e r a p y , c a s e m an a g e m e nt an d c ri s i s . ( 1 0 / 1 0 / 2 0 1 8 N. T p . 

### 5 ) . T h e g o a l s o r p r o b le m ar e a s b e i n g a d dr e ss e d w i th th e f ami l y w e r e c o mmuni ty - m a i nt a i nin g c o nt a c t w i th a ll f ami l y s e rv i c e p ro v i d e r s ; f

am i l y b o un d ari e s an d e xp e c t at i o n s an d c o n s e qu e n c e w i th th e p ar e nt s , i n c lu d i n g an g e r m an a g e m e nt an d p ar e nti n g t e c hni qu e s ; an d i n d i v i d u a l - n e e d s s u c h a s c o p i n g an d 

### c o mmun i c at i o n s ki ll s . (1 0 / 1 0 / 2 0 1 8 N . T. 

### p . 5 - 6 ) . 

### Ini t i a ll y , J . P . an d B. D . , th e p ar e nt s , w e r e t o g e th e r i n s e s s i o n s . H o w e v e r , th e ir r e l at i o n s hi p d uri n g th e s e s s i o n s w a s d e e m e d " t o o t o x i c " b y M s . E dmun d s , m e an i n g c o n s t ant ar gum e nt s , d i s a gr e e m e nt s , an o v e r a ll unh e a lthy atm o s p h e r e . E v e ntu a ll y , th e j o i nt s e s s i o n s w e r e t e rmin at e d , an d th e p ar e nt s w e r e s e e n i n d i v i d u a ll y o n c e th e y h a d s p li t u

p . 

### I d. J. P . w ant e d o n e of 

### hi s g o a l s t o b e d i s t an c in g him s e l f fr o m B . D . Th e fath e r i n d i c at e d o n m o r e th an o n e o c c a s i o n · th at h e ' n e e d e d 

### t o d i s t an c e h i m s e l f fr o m th e m o th e r . (1 O i l 0 / 2 0 1 8 N. 

## t. pp . 3 5 - 3 6

, 3 7 - 3 8 ) . . 

### D e s p i t e th e p o s i t i v e e ff o rt J . P . a p p e ar e d t o b e g i v i n g w i th M s . E dmun d s ' an d th e p ro g r am , s h e fo un d th at h e w o u l d n o rm a ll y t ak e tw o s t e p s fo rw ar d , an d th e n tw o 

### b a c k , S om e th i n g w o u l d c au s e hi m t o b e c o m e u p s e t an d b e m o t e n e g at i v e . (1 0 / 1 0 / 2 0 1 8 N. T 

### p . 9 ) . 

### Al th o u g h J. P . h a d s ti p u l at e d t o th e fi n d in g o f d e p e n d e n c y o f hi s c hi l dr e n , h e w o u l d t e ll M s . 

### E dmun d s th at th e c hi l dr e n s h o u l dn ' t h av e . b e e n r e m o v e d . (1 0

/ 1 0 / 2 0 1 8 N. Tp . 3 7

) . 

### B . D . w o u l d p art i cip at e in s e s s i o n s an d r e a d th e m at e ri a l s s h e w a s g i v e n . . H o w e v e r , th e m o th e r d i s a g r e e d w i th a ll th e p ar e nt i n g t e c hn i qu e s w i th wh i c h s h e w a s i n s tru c t e d . B .I ) . 

### n e v e ra g r e e d w ith any o f th e m at e ri a l s s h e w a s g i v e n fo r th e p urp o s e o f h e lp i n g t o ra i s e h e r c hi l dr e n . (1 0 / 1 0 / 2 0 1 8 N T. p p . 3 3 , 3 6 ) . B . D . w a s t e rmi n at e d fr o m th e F am i l y B a s e d M e nt a l H e a l th p ro g r am 

### in Ju l y , 2 0 1 8 b e c au s e s h e w a s d e e m e d n o t th e ra p e ut i c a ll y a

p p ro p ri at e as s h e r e fu s e d t o ut ili z e th e m at e ri a l s s h e w a s p ro v i d e d , an d w a s s urr e p t i t i o u s l y r e c o r d in g th e r a p y s e s s i o n s . ( 1 0 / 1 0 / 2 0 1 8 N. T. p

p . 6 � 7 , 1 7 ) . T h e p r e c ip i t at i n g e v e nt whi c h l e d t o th e t e rm i n at i o n o f B. D . f r o m th e F amil y B a s e d s e rv i c e o c c urr e d o n Jun e 1 9 , 2 0 1 8 . T h e m o th e r w a s h av i n g a s u p e rv i s e d v i s i t w i thth e o l d e s t c h il d , D . P . M s . E dmun d s w a s s u p e rv i s in g th e v i s i t an d w a s o b s e rv i n g i t b e hi n d a o n e - w ay m ir ro r at O C Y . T h e c hi l d w a s n o t i n a g o o d m o o d , 

### an d th e m o th e r c o n s t antl y p r e s s e d 

### him a s t o wh at w a s wr o n g . D . P in d i c at e d th at th e m o th e r w as n ' t w o rkin g t o g e t th e c hi l dr e n b a c k , an d m e nt i o n e d ab u s e . T hi s c au s e d a v e ry v o c a l an d e xp l o s i v e d i s a g r e e m e nt. B . D . c a ll e d h e r c hi l d a

" l i ar " , an d r e

j e c t e d hi s fe e li n g s ab o ut th e s i tu at i o n . (1 0 / 1 0 / 2 0 1 8 N . T. pp . 6:. 9 ). D . P . s t art e d t a l ki n g ab o ut p a s t a

b u s e an d t o l d h i s m o th e r th at i fs h e e v e r h i t h i m a g a i n , h e w o ul d hi t h e r b a c k . M o m ' s r e s p o n s e w a s th at i f h e ra i s e d a h an d t o h e r , s h e w o u l d " b e at h i s a s s " , an d t o l d hi m h e w a s th e r e a s o n s h e h a d l o s t h e r fam il y . ( 9 / 9 / 2 0 1 8 N T. p . 3 9 ) . M s . E dmun d s h a d t o int e rv e n e an d h a d th e c h il d r e m o v e d . O n e o fth e ar e a s th at M s . E dmun d s h a d b e e n w o rki n g w i th 13 . D . o n w a s a p p r o p ri at e w ay s t o t a l k t o c hi l dr e n . It w a s an o th e r o f th e p ar e nt in g t e c hni qu e s B . D . r e j e c t e d , an d r e s u lt e d i n th e Jun e 1 9 t h b l o w - u p . Aft e r th i s v i s i t , an d th e r e v e l ati o n a b o ut r e c o r d i n g th e ra

p y s e s s i o n s , B . D . w a s d i s c o nt i nu e d fr o m F am ii y B a s e d M e nt a l H e a lth . (1 0 / 1 0 /2 0 1 8 N. T . p p . 9, 3 3 ) . S h ann o n S p i e g e l o f O C Y w a s th e f ami l y ' s c a s e w o rk e r b e g i nni n g i n D e c e mb e r 2 0 1 7 . T hr o u g h o ut th e A g e n c y ' s "inv o l v e m e nt w i th B. D . , th e m o th e r d i d n o t a c kn o w l e d g e any i s s u e ab o ut h e r a

b ili ty t o c ar e fo r th e c h i l dr e n o r th e r e a s o n s th e c hi l dr e n w e r e in O C Y ' s c ar e .(

9 / 9 / 2 0 1 8 N T

### p p . 3 9 - 4 0 ) . T h i s atti tu d e w a s i n s p i t e 

### o f B . D . ' s a dm i s s i o n s i n Au gu s t , 20 1 7 o f h e r a b u s e an d i n a

b ili ty t o p r o p e rl y p ar ent h e r c hi l dr e n . Al th o u g h th e p l an thr o u g h Jun e , 2 0 1 8 w a s t o r e uni fy th e c hi l dr e n w i th th e fath e r , wh o h a d s p li t 

### f ro m · B. D . , h e a dm i tt e d t o a " c o - d e p e n d e nt r e l at i o n s hip w i th h e r , an d that h e c o u l d n o t g e t aw ay 

### fro m th e m o th e r ; th at s h e w a s a " dru g " t o 

### him . ( 9 / 9 1 2 0 1 8 N . T. 

### p . 4 0 , 6 9 ) . - S e rv ic e s w e r e o ff e r e d t o J . P . t o d e a l w i th thi s c o - d e p e n d e n c y i s s u e , s e rv i c e s h e s t at e d h e w ant e d . (1 0 / 1 0 1 2 0 1 8 

### p p . 3 5 - 3 6 ) . O C Y w a s g o i n g t o i n c r e a s e un s u p e rv i s e d v i s i t s w i th th e fath e r o n e c hi l d at a t i m e s o a s n o t t o o v e rwh e l m him . T h e fir s t w e e k e n d v i s i t o n th e Jun e 

## 8 , 2 0 1 8 w i th 

### D . P . w e nt w e l l. ( 9 / 9 / 2 0 1 8 

### N. T. p . 3 4

) . T h e r e w e r e a numb e r o fdis c u s s i o n s w i th th e fath e r th at th e r e w a s t o b e n o un auth o ri z e d c o nt a c t wi th th e m o th e r. ( 9 1 9 / 2 0 1 8 

### N. 1'. p

p . 3 4 - 3 5, 3 7- 3 8, 7 0 - 71

). An o th e r w e e k e n d v i s i t t o o k p l a c e th e fo ll o w i n g w e e k e n d , wh i c h h a p p e n e d t o i n c lu d e F ath e r ' s D a y , A t fi r s t , i t a p p e ar e d th at v i s i t h a d n o i s s u e s . H o w e v e r an a ll e g at i o n 

## w a s r e c e i v e d o n Jun e 2 5 t h th at th e fath e r h a d t ak e n th e c hi l d t o th e m o th e r ' s h o u s e w i th o ut p e rm i s s i o n , an d th at th e r e w a s a p l an t o r e un it e w i th th e c hi l dr e n , l at e r w i th m o m , an d th e n m o v e o ut o f s t at e . 3 6 } ( 9 / 9 / 2 0 1 8 N T. 

### p p . 3 5 - 3 6) . J. P . w as c o n fr o nt e d w ith thi s a ll e g at io n . I ni t i a l l y , th e f ath e r s a i d B . D . . s h o w e d 

### u p at a fri e n d ' s p ic ni c un e xp e c t e d l y wh e r e th e d a d an d . c hi l d w e r e , an d th at h e l at e r l e ft . M s . S p i e g e l t a lk e d t o D . P . l at e r a

b o ut h o w th e v i s i t s w e r e g o in g . M s . S p i e g e l 

### le arn e d th at 

### J . P . h a d t ak e n 

### D . P . o v e r t o th e m o th e r ' s r e s i d e n c e , wh e r e th e c h il d s p e nt th e 

### ni g ht , D . P . t o l d S p i e g e l th at h e d i dn ' t w antt o g o t o h i s m o th e r ' s o n F ath e r ' s D ay , b uth e d i dn ' t w ant t o d i s a p p o i nt hi s d a d . D . P . h a d n e v e r b e e n t o th e m o th e r ' s r e s i d e n c e , b ut w a s a b l e t o d e s c rib e th e l ay o ut , an d s a i d m o m kn e w th e y w e r e c o m i n g b e c au s e th e y d i dn ' t h av e t o b r e ak i nt o th e h o u s e . ( 9 1 9 / 2 0 1 8 N. T. p

p . 3 5 - 3 7 ) . T h e fath e r w a s c o nfr o nt e d 

### a ft e r M s . S p i e g e l t a l k e d t o D . P . , an d h e a dmi tt e d h e a ll o w e d th e c hi l d t o h av e un s u

p e rv i s e d , un auth o ri z e d c o nt a ct w i th B. D . an d l e t th e c hi l d s p e n d th e ni ght. I d.

· � ..)Un fo rt

un at e l y , a ft e r thi s v i s i t , D . P . ' s b e h av i or s e s c a l at e d i n th e fo s t e r h o m e , an d h e u lt i m at e l y h a d t o b e r e m o v e d . 

### I

d. D . P . a l s o h a d t o b e h o s p i ta li z e d fo r m e nt a l h e a lth r e a s o n s a li tt l e l at e r i n th e s umm e r , J e s s i c a E dmun d s s t at e d th e r e w as a c o rr e l at i o n b e tw e e n th e v i s i t s w i th m o m i n Jun e an d th e e s c a l at i o n i n D . P . ' s b e h av i o r s . ( 9 / 9 / 2 0 1 8 N. T. 

### p p 2 6 - 2 7 ) . S h ann o n S p i e g e l c o n c lu d e d th at d e s p it e th e e ff o rt s o f O . C . Y . , F am il y B as e d M e nta l H e a l th an d o th e r s e rv i c e s , th e t i e s b e tw e e n th e m o th e r an d fath e r w e r e n o t b e i n g e li m i n at e d . J . P . h a d n o t a ll e v i at e d 

### arty o fhi s c o - d e p e n d e n c y wi th th e m o th e r , an d fa il e d t o s h o w art a b il i ty t o c ar e fo r hi m s e lf o n h i s o wn , o r c ar e fo r hi s c hi l dr e n . D e s p i t e th e l e n gthy hi s t o ry o f i nv o l v e m e nt w i th c hi l d p ro t e c t i v e a g e n ci e s in mu lt ip l e j uri s d i c t i o n s , th e d a d d i d n o t a c kn o w l e d g e o r r e a li z e Why hi s c hi l dr e n 'w e r e i n c ar e . J . P . ' s r e l at i o n s hi p w i th O C Y w a s tur b u l e nt at ti m e s . H e w o u l d th ank th e A g e n c y fo r i nt e rv e n i n g an d h e lp in g hi m , th e n a c c u s e i t o f ki dn a p p i n g c hi l dr e n an d s e lli n g th e m . J. P . d i d n o t c o n s i s t e nt l y a c c e p t r e s p o n s i b ili ty a s t o th e r e a s o n s hi s c hi l dr e n w e r e a d j u d i c at e d d e p e n d e nt. (

9 / 9 / 2 0 1 8 N. T. 

### p

p 4 4, 64, - 7 1 - 7

2 ) . B. D . h a d b e e n t e rm i n at e d fr o m s e rv i c e s b y F am il y B a s e d M e nt a l H e a lth a ft e r it w a s d e t e rm i n e d th e m o th e r w a s n o t i nv o l v e d w i th i t o n a th e ra p e ut i c l e v e l , an d s h e w a s r e c o r d in g s e s s i o ns wi th o ut p e rmi s s i o n , ( 9 / 9 / 2 0 1 8 

### N. T. p . 65 � 6 6

. ). M s . S p i e g e l fe l t th at c o nt i nu i n g c o nt a c t w i th th e p ar e nt s r e s u l t e d i ri c o nt inu in g tr aum a fo r th e c hi l dr e n . (

9 / 9 / 2 0 1 8 N. T. 

### p

p . 65 - 6 6 ): T h e tw o y o un g e s t c h il dr e n , J . P . an d E. P . , w e r e i n a p o t e nt i a l a d o p t i v e h o m e . D . P . w ant e d t o b e a d o p t e d , b ut h av e s o m e fo rm o fc o nt a c t w i th hi s fath e r . R . P . , 9 y e ar s o l d , h a d m a d e s t at e m e nt s h e d i d n o t w ant t o b e a d o p t e d . ( 9 / 9 / 2 0 1 8 N. T. 

### p

p . 4 1 - 4 3 ) . B o th D . P . an d R . P . h av e in d ic at e d th at th e y h av e c o n c e rn s ab o ut th e i r fath e r ' s a b ili ty t o p ro t e c t th e m fr o m th ei r m o th e r . ( 9 / 9 / 2 0 1 8 N. T. p 6 1

) . S p i e g e l h a d n o c o nfi d e n c e th at J. P . c o u l d s t ay aw ay fr o m 13 . D . an d b e li e v e d th e b e s t i nt e r e s t s o fth e c hi l dr e n n e c e s s i t at e d a c h an g e o f g o a l fr o m r e un i fi c at i o n t o a d o p t i o n . ( 9 / 9 / 2 0 1 8 N. 

### 1'. p 4 3 , 4 4 - 4 5

).

### Ju li e L a ff e rty , a s u p e r v i s o r at O C Y , w a s i nv o l v e d i n th e c a s e fr o m i t s in c e p t i o n i n Ju l y , 2 0 1 7 , an d W a s S h ann o n S i e g e l ' s s u p e rv i s o r . ( 9 / 9 / 2 0 1 8 N. T. 

### p

p 7 0 - 71 , 75

) . 

### M s . L a ff

e rty c o rr o b o r at e d S p i e g e l ' s d e s c r i p t i o n o fth e fath e r ' s atti t u d e t o w ar d s O C Y . Fr o m J. P . ' s a ll e g at i o n s o f ki dn a p p in g ; t aki n g c hi l dr e n fo r c a s h ; an d i l l e g a l l y r e m o v i n g th e m an d s t e a li n g th e m e v e ry d ay , t o h i s c o nt a ct i n g a s t at e r e p r e s e nt ati v e ' s o ffi c e cl a i mi n g hi s c h il dr e n w e r e ki dn a p p e d , an d 

### hi s w i fe w a s n ' t b e in g g i v e n a c h an c e t o w o r k 

### fo r r e uni fi c at i o n , L a f f e rty c o n c lu d e d th e ci r c um s tan c e s o fth e c hi l dr e n ' s p l a c e m e nt h a d n o t 

### b e e n a ll e v i at e d b y 

### th e p ar e nts . ( 9 1 9 / 2 0 1 8 N T. pp . 7 1 - 7 4 ) . 

### M s . L a ff

e rty d i d ri o t b e li e v e 

## J. :P . c o u l d p r o t e c t th e c h il dr e n fr o m 

### B . D . , o r th at h e w o u l d c h o o s e th e m o v e r m o m , b e c au s e h e an d th e m o th e r h a d n o d e s ir e t o b e 

### a p art , o r gi v e e a c h o th e r u p . N e i th e r p ar e nt h a s any i d e a h o w th e i r b e h av i o r s a ff e c t th e i r c hi l dr e n , 

### an d th e c h il dr e n d o n o t b e l i e v e d a d w ill p r o t e c t th e m , an d th at h e w il l g e t b a c k t o g e th e r w i th th e m o th e r . ( 9 / 9 / 2 0 1 8 N T . p j) 75 - 8 0 ) . 

### J. P . a dm i tt e d t akin g D . P . t o s e e th e m o th e r ; th at h e h a s d i s c u s s e d m o v in g t o N o rth C ar o li n a w i th th e c hil dr e n ; an d th at li e s t i ll f e e l s th e c hi l dr e n w e r e p r e m atur e l y r e m o v e d . (1 0 / 1 0 / 2 0 1 8 N. 

### T. p p . 4 5, 5 2 , 5 6

) . 

### T h e fath e r a g r e e d th at h e s t at e d hi s r e l at i o n s hip w i th B. D . w a s l ik e an a d d i c t r e la

p s i n g , an d th at h e i s c o - d e p e n d e nt w i th h e r . ( 1 O i l 0 / 2 0 1 8 N. T . pp 65 - 6 6 ) . 

### J . P a c kn o w l e d g e d th e c hi l dr e n s u ff e r e d fr o m p a s t ab u s e an d tr aum a an d th at th e r e 

### w a s n o t a h e a l thy r e l at i o n s h ip b e tw e e n th e m o th e r an d c h i l dr e n , (1 0 1 1 0 / 2 0 1 8 N. T. 

### p p 7 6 - 78 ) . 

### T h e fath e r d e ni e d m akin g b e lli g e r e nt s t at e m e nt s t o S h ann o n S p i e g e l o r A g e n c y s t a ff . H e a l s o d e ni e d p o s t i n g i t e m s o n F a c e b o o k ab o ut hi s ani m o s i ty t o w ar d s g o v e rnm e nt o ffi c i a l s o r C P S w o rk e r s . 

### (1 0

/ 1 0 / 2 0 1 8 N. 

## t. pp . 8 2 - 8 3

) . 

### J. P - , a dm i tt e d h e g o e s b y th e nam e 

### J. b . o n hi s F a ce b o o k a c c o unt. 

### (1 0

/ 10 1 2 '01 8 N. T. p . 8 5

) . 

### D ur in g th e lun c h r e c e s s , J. P . d el e t e d hi s F a c e b o o k a c c o unt. (] O i l 0 / 2 0 1 8 N T. p . 9 2 ) . 

### B e fo r e th e a c c o unt w a s d e l e t e d , c o p i e s o fp o s t s fr o m S e p t e mb e r 7 , 1 4

'7an d 2 3 , 2 0 1 8 w e r e m a d e an d m ark e d a s e xh ib i t s . T h e p o s t s fr o m S e p t e mb e r 7 , 2 0 1 8 w e r e

E xhi b i t s 1 an d 2 ; S e p t e mb e r 1 4 , 2 0 1 8 w a s E xhi b i t 

### 3 � an d S e p t e mb e r 2 3 , 2 0 1 8 m ark e d 

### E xhi b it 4 . . ( 1 0 / 1 0 /2 0 1 8 

### N . t ; p p . 9 1 - 9 4 ) . E xhi b i t 1 r e a d s 

### i i W O W .. wh at a w e i r d h e ar in g . . C o urtr o o m w a s s hut d o wn fo r an h o ur . " E xh ib i t 2 r e a d s . " W i f e s hut wh o l e d am c o urt h e ari n g d o wn f o r o v e r an h o ur. • . o v e r h e r p h o n e . • .l o l " . E xhi b i t 3 : " A h 

### h e ll . . L e t ' s j u s t g e t th i s w ar s t art e d • . hi t a ll S W ( S o c i a l W o rk e r s ) 

## at th e ir h o m e l ik e th e y d i d u s . P o s t th e i r h o m e s an d n ei ghb o r h o o d . " . E xh i b i t 4 : " H a ll o w e e n .. t i m e t o p ut o n a m a s k ari d 

### HI T E M HARD . . . fuk C P S s o ci a l w o rk e r s . " . J . P . a dm i tt e d h e 

### p o s t e d th e e xh ib i t s , b ut a s t o E xh ibi t s 3 & 4 , o nl y th at h e s h ar e d th e p o s t s . E xhi b i t s 1 an d 2 w e r e a dm i tt e d ; 

## 3 an d 4 w e r e a dmi tt e d o v e r o b j e c ti o n , b ut i t 

## w as n o t e d th at o b j e c t i o n w e nt t o th e w e i g ht o f e v i d e n c e , an d th e fath e r ' s c l a i m h e o nl y s h ar e d th o s e tw o p o s t s w o u l d b e c o n s i d er ed b y th e c o urt. (1 0 / 1 0 / 2 0 1 8 

### N. 1'; 

## p p . 9 2 - 9 5 ) . C ouns e l fo r J . P . i s s u e d s ub po e n a s t oh av e th e m in o r c hi l dr e n D . P . an d . R . P . att e n d th e P e rm an e n c yR e v i e w H e ari n g o n S e p t e mb e r 9 , 2 0 1 8 . O C Y fi l e d a M o ti o n t o Q u a s h th e S ub p o e n a s . Aft e ; a h e ar in g p ri o r 

## t o th e s t art o f th e R e v i e w H e ar in g , th e M o ti on to Q u as h w a s Gr ant e d . ( 9 / 9 / 2 0 1 8 N. T p p . 3 � 3 2 ) . C o un s e l fo r th e f

ath e r fil e d a M o t i o n fo r S p e c i a l R e li e f o n O c t o b e r 1 9 , 2 0 1 8 . 

### T h e r e li e fr e qu e s t e d - w a s fo rth er e o p e ni n g o f th e c h an g e o f g o a l h e ari n g , an d a p p o i ntm e nt o fs e p ar at e l e g a l c o un s e l fo r 

### th e 

## t hre e o l d e s t c hi l dr e n t o r e p r e se nt th e ir l e g a l int e r e s t s at th at h e ar i n g . T h e re li e fr e qu e s te d w a s D e ni e d o n O c t o b e r 2 6 , 2 0 1 8 . T h e A g e n c y fil e d a M o t i o n t o C h an g e P e rm an e n c y G o a l o n Ju l y 

### 5 , 2 0 1 8 , i n d i c at in g i t s d e s i r e t o c h an g e th e g o a l o f D . P . , R. P . , J. P . ari d E . P . ' s p e rm an e nt p l a c e m e nt fr o m R e uni fi c ati o n c o n c ur r e nt w i th A d o p t i o n t o A d o p t i o n . T hi s C o urt' , a ft e r r e v i e w i n g th e t e s t i m o ny an d e v i d e n c e p r e s e nt e d at th e Pe rm an e n c y R e v i e w H e ar in g s o n S e p t e mb e r 

### 9 an d O c t b e rl 0 , 2 0 1 8 fo un d th at th e A g e n c y m e t th e ir b ur d e n b y c l e ar an d c o nv i n ci n g e v i d e n c e an d th at th e p e rm an e n c y g o a l

### s h o u l d b e c h an g e d 

### to A d o p t i o n . S e rv i c e s w e r e t erm in at e d . An 

### o r d e r w a s e nt e re d , o n O c t o b e r 1 9 ,

2 0 1 8 , d i r e c t in g th e A g e n c y t o fil e an I nv o luntar y T e rm i n at i o n 

### o f

P ar e nt a l Ri g ht s P e ti t i o n . 

### l S S UE S . P RE S EN T E D Ap p e ll ant r a i s e s th e fo ll o w i n g i s s u e s: 1. 

### T H E T ltIA L C O URT 

### A B {J S E D .tt s t) I S C RE T I ON AN O / O R 

### C O MM I IT E b A N E RR O R O F 

### L A W B Y 

### F IN D IN G 

## M IN IM AL C O MP Li AN C E WI T H T H i f C O URT 

### O }D? E RE D tRE A T MEN T ? tAN iN

_I ! S O RD E R O F O C T O B. . E R ,1 0 , 

### 2 0 1 8 , 

### WHEN T H E 

### RE A S O N S F O R . TIIE } J'.> 1UD I C A trON 

### O F J ) E P END EN C Y : 

# � g � ; nt � tr� 6 t � � i t � i , & , ii � � t<; A N D - B E D 

# c ARE tAJ(IN G RO L E , F A i L U RE 

# r o P R O TE C T 

### T HE C H l L D REN F RO M 

### AB U S E , F A i ttJRE T O 

### S E E K S E RV I C E S F 6 R 

### H I S MEN T A L 

### HE AL T H ; AND L A C K 

### O F F O L L O W T HR dU O H 

# wrr

u S B R V i C E S H Ab 

### B E E M - AtL E V I A T E D . - - 2 . 

### T HE T RIAL 

## C O URT AB U S E D i t S 

### D l S C RE T I ON AND / O R C O MMi TrE D AN E RR O R O F 

### L A W/F A. C t 

## WHEN I t Q TJA S IIB D T HE S UB P O EN A S I S S tTE D B Y 

### T SE 

### F A T HE R 

## t o HA V E T H i { M iN O R . O L D � R 

### C HIL P REN , 

## nr . AND 

## R . P

_ . , A G Eb - 

### i 2 ANb 9 , AP P E A R 

### A N D T E S T I F Y IN C AME RA A T" tHE C H AN G E O F 

### d 6 AL HE ARIN G . . - . 3 . 

### T HE tR1 A L 

## c o unt AB U S E D I T S 

### D I S C RE T I O N A ND / O R C 6 MMl tT E D AN 

### E RR O R O F L A

# w B Y F A I L IN G 

# r o AP P O lN T AN " A TT O RN E Y 

### F O R T HE MIN O R 

### "C H I L REN , D . P . AND 

### R . I> . · tN T i:$ C HAN G E 

### O F" G O AL HE ARIN G . 4 . 

### T H E T Rl A L C O URT A B U S E b IT S D I S C RE T I O N AND / O R C O MM IT T E D AN E R.R O E 

## O F L A

# w B Y 

### D EN Y IN G 

## T HE F A tHE R ' S M O T i O N 

### P O R S P E C IA L RB Li e F RE Q UE S T IN G T HA 'J; 

## 1 1-ffi C O URT RE - O P EN T HE RE C p R.b 

### T O 

## AP P O IN T C O UN S E L - F O R T H$ 

### C HI L P REN A ND HA 

### V E C O U

N S E L AD V I S E 

# - T HE- C O U RT O F T HE C HI L D i IB N ' S 

### W lS HE S RE GARD IN G i i-ffi 

### C HAN G E O F 

## G O A L 5 . T H E T RI A L 

### C O U RT A B U S E D IT S 

### D I S C RE T I O N

_AND / O R C O M1vII TT E D AN E RR O R O F 

### L A W B Y 

### F AI L iN G T O 

### G IV E UN C O N T RO V E RT E D 

### tE S T I ;t\.f O N Y 

### t HA T T HE RE WA S A B O N D B E T WE EN 

## s o us O F 

### T HE 

### C HI L D REN AN D 

### T H E F A T HE R . 6 . T HE T RI AL C O U RT A B U S E D IT S D I S C RE T I O N AND I 

### O R C O MM I TT E D A N 

### E RR O R O F L A W B Y 

### F A I L IN G T O A C KN O W L E D G E T HA T 

### T H E C H I L D REN H AD B E EN IN P L A C E M EN T 

### F O R L E S S T H AN ON E YE AR B E F O RE T H E o

### C HAN G E O F G O A L 

### P E T I T I O N WA S 

### F I L E D , WHE RE B Y N O i 

### G I V IN G F A T HE R S UF F I C IEN T T IM E T O RE C TI F Y T H E C O N D IT I O N S F O R 

### RE M O VAL O F 

### C H I L D REN . . 7 . T HE 

### T RIA L C O U RT .A B U S E D l i S 

# o r s c as n o » AN D I 

### O R 

### C O MMl IT B D AN E RRO' � O F 

### L A W WH EN I t f A I L E . b 

# r o RE C O GN I Z E 

## T HA T A

# r T HE - MAY . . 2 3 , · 2 0 1 s RE V IE W HE A RIN G , RE UN IF I C A T i O N WI T H F A T HE R 

### WA S 

### T HE G O A L B Y END O F 

## s U . MK1 E '.R , : 2 0 1_ 8 , AN D 

# F I VE: ( 5 ) 

## WE E K S L A T E i t° F I L E O A 

### M O T I ON F O R C HA

N G E 

### O F G O AL 

# t o Ab O P i I O N ; A D E C I S l O N T HA 

### ! WA S N O T S UP P O RT E D B Y 

### t fI E E V ID EN C E . 8 . T H E T RIA L 

### C O URT A B U S E O 

# rr s O I S C RE T I O N AN O I 

### O R 

### C O MMI TT E D AN 

### E RRO R 

### 6 F L A W B Y 

### C HAN d tN <f 

# T

HE G O AL 

## t o AD O P T I O N 

### AF T E R 

### O N E 

## IN D I S C RE t l o N B Y F A tHE R. AL t b W IN G C O N T A C T 

### W i f

H O NE C H! Lb W i tH . M O tH E R 

# n 'lJR1N GAN UN S UP . E R V I S E D V I S i t O N .ruNE 2 5 , 2 0 1 8 

### WHEN A L L 

### O T HE R RE MEb tA L ME A S U RE S HAD 

### B E EN 

### A. C C O M P tI S HE D . 9 . i HE 

### T RI AL C O U RT AB U S E D fT S D I S C RE TI O N 

### AND I 

### O R C O MMI IT Eb AN 

### E RR O R O F L A W 

### B Y F A I L IN G 

## t o C O N S ID E R 

### tHE B E S T 

### I'N T E R S T S O F T HE 

### C HIL D REN 

### AN D WHE T HE R 

## T HB I '.R B E S T IN TE R S T S W O V Lb ; B E 

### S E R VE D B Y S E V E RlN G T HE 

### P AREN T I 

# cnm RE L A T I O N S I-llP .



### S T 

### AN l> ARD O F RE VI E W Wh e n r e v i e w in g an a

p p e a l fr o m a d e c r e e c h an g i n g a p e rm an e n c y g o a l , an a p p e ll at e c o urt a c c e p t s th e fi n d i n g s o ffa c t an d th e c r e d i b ili ty d e t e rm i n at i o n s o fth e j uv e n i l e c o urt i f th e y ar e s u p p o rt e d b y th e r e c o r d . I

n re R . J. T

., 9 A .3 d 1 1 7 9 , 1 1 9 0 ( P a . 2 0 1 0 ) . An a b u s e o fd i s c r e t i o n s t an d ar d i s u s e d b y th e a

p p e ll at e c o urt . 

### An a b u s e o f d i s c r e t i o n i s n o t fo un d i f th e l o w e r j u d g e m e nt w a s r e a s o n ab l e ; th e c o urt a p p li e d 

### th e l aw , 

### an d th e 

### c o urt ' s a c ti o n w a s h o t 

### a r e s u l t o fp art i a li ty , 

### p r e j u d i c e , b i a s , 

### o r ill 

### w ill . Ab s e nt an a

b u s e o f d i s c r e t i o n , an e rr o r o f l aw , o r i n s u ffi ci e nt e v i d e nt i ary s u p po rt fo r th e l o w e r

, n : . ..,.c o urt ' s d e ci s i o n , th e d e c r e e mu s t s t an d . 

### I n re A . K. , 9 3 6 A. 2 d 5 2 8 , 5 3 3 ( P a . S u p e r. 2 0 0 7 ) . I n a c h an g e o f g o a l p r o c e e d in g , th e l o w e r c o urt mu s t 

### f o c u s o n th e c h il d ' s b e s t i nt e r e s t s , n o t th e i nt e r e s t s o f

th e p ar e nt s . 

### I

d T h e A g e n c y h a s th e b ur d e n o fp ro v i n g th e c h an g e i n g o a l w o u l d b e i n th e c hi l d ' s b e s t i nt e r e s t s . 

### I

ll re M. B . , 6 7 4 A. 2 d 7 0 2 , 7 0 4 ( P a . S u p e r. 1 9 9 6 ) . 

### D l S C U S S l O N 

### b u t o fth e fath e r ' s ni n e i s s u e s ra i s e d i n thi s a p p e a l , I s s u e s 1 , 5 , 6 , 7 , an d 8 ar e a ll a ll e g in g , i n o n e 

## fo r

m o r an o th e r , th at thi s c o urt e rr e d o r a b u s e d it s d i s c r e t i o n i n gr ant i n g th e c h an g e o fg o a l fr o m r e uni fi c at i o n t o a d o p t i o n . T h o s e i s s u e s c la i m th e r e a s o n s fo r a d j u d ic at i o n o f th e c hi l dr e n h a d b e e n a ll e v i at e d ( I ) ; th at th e re w a s a b o n d b e tw e e n s o m e o f th e c hi l dr e n 

### an d th e fath e r ( 5 ) ; th e fath e r d i d n o t h av e s u ffi c i e nt t im e to r e c t i fy th e c o n d i t i o ns th at l e d t o th e r e m o v a l o f th e c hi l dr e n ( 6 ) ; th at c h an g i n g th e g o a l t o a d o p t i o n 5 w e e k s a ft e r r e unifi c at i o n wi th th e fath e r w a s o r d e r e d a s th e tr e atm e nt g o a l w a s un s u p p o rt a b l e ( 7 ) ; an d o n e i n d i s c r e t i o n o f th e fath e r a ll o w i n g c o nt a c tw i th th e m o th e r d i d n o t j u s t i fy th e c h an g e i n g o a l t o a d o p t i o n ( 8 ) . T h e hi s t o ry o f

thi s f ami l y t � o u g h o ut th e y e ar s d e m o n s tr at e d th e 

### i n ab ili ty 

### o f th e fath e r t o p ro t e c t an d p ar e nt hi s c hi l dr e n . Wh i l e li v in g in N o rth C aro li n a, 

### c hi l d p ro t e c t i v e 

### s e rv ic e s g o t i nv o l v e d w i th th e f

am i l y d u e t o a ll e g at i o n s o f a

b u s e . A lth o u g h th o s e a ll e g ati o n s W e r e e v e ntu a ll y d e e m e d unf

o un d e d , s e rv i c e s w e r e o p e n e d .L i tt l e o r n o i nf o rm at i o n i s av a il ab l e r e g ar d i n g th e c o o p e rat i o n o fth e f

am i l y w i th N o rth C aro li n a auth o ri ti e s . O n e n e e d o n l y l o o k at wh at tr art s p i r e d o n c e th e fam i l y m o v e s t o E ri e t o c o n clu d e i nt e rv e nt i o n w a s n o t p art i c u l arl y s u c c e s s fu l i n N o rth C ar o li n a . J . P . 

### fil e s a P ro t e c t i o n F ro m Ab u s e A c t P e t i t i o n o n b e h a l f o f hi s c hi l dr e n a ll e g i n g ab u s e b y th e m o th e r , B . D . O C Y g e t s i nv o l v e d an d i n i t i at e s s e rv i c e s s u c h a s F am il y B a s e d M e nt a l H e a l th w i th th e f

ami l y . T h e a

b u s e a ll e g at i o n s w e r e u lt i m at e l y unf o un d e d , b ut d e s p i t e a numb e r

### o f a g e n c i e s ' inv o l v e m e nt , c o n d i t i o n s i n th e h o m e d e t e ri o r at e t o th e e x t e nt th at th e c hi l dr e n h av e

t o b e r e m o v e d . B o th p ar e nt s a g r e e t o th e a l l e g e d fa c t s th at th e c h il dr e n w e r e l i v i n g 

### in unh e a l thy an d un s a fe c o n d i t io n s ; th e m o th e r h a d a b u s e d th e m ; 

### th e fath e r d i d n o t p r o t e c t th e c h i l dr e n wh i l e w i tn e s s i n g a

b u s e at th e h an d s o f th e m o th e r ; th e p ar e nt s w e r e 

### unw ill i n g t o 

### s e e k m e nt a l h e a lth tr e atm e nt ; th e p at e nts d i d n: o t p r o v i d e a s a f e e nv i r o nm e nt fo r th e c hi l dr en , an d th e s e i s s u e s e x t e n d e d b a c k t o th e f

am il y ' s t im e in 

### N o rth 

### C ar o li n a . T h e 

### p ar e nt s h a d j o i nt c o un s e ll in g wi th J e s s i c a E dmun d s . S h e fo un d th e 

### s e 'S s fo n s . " t o i i e ' w i th th e c o n s t ant fi g ht i n g an d 

### d i s a g r e e m e nt s b e tw e e n th e p ar e nt s . 

### O n c e th e p ar e nt s · s p li t j e a c h s aw h e r i n di vi d

u a l ly . J. P . W o u l d m ak e p r o gr e s s , b ut as E dmun d s t e s t i fi e d , h e w o u l d t ak e tw o s t e p s fo rw ar d , th e n tw o b a c k. S o m e thi n g w o u l d tri g g e r hi s an g e r w i th O C Y , an d th e fath e r w o u l d r e tr e at t o n e g at i v i ty . T h e m o th e r r e j e c t e d a ll s u g g e s t i o n s r e g ar d in g p ar e nt i n g t e c hni qu e s an d h o w t o r e l at e t o h e r c hi l dre n . H e r r e j e c ti o n o f p r o pe r p ar e nt i n g c u lmin at e d in 

### th e " e xp l o s i v e " v i s i t w i th h e r o l d e s t c h il d , D . P . o n Jun e 1 9 , 2 0 1 8 , wh e r e s h e c a ll e d h i m a " li ar " an d b l am e d hi m fo r th e s e p arat i o n 

### o f

th e f am il y . L P ; d e s p i te hi s a

p p ar e nt w ill in gn e s s t o p r o p e rl y p ar e nt hi s c h i l dr e n , c o n s c i o u s l y a ll o w e d D . P . t o h av e an. un auth o ri z e d o v e r ni g ht v i s i t w i th B . D ; T h e m o th e r h a d s h o wn n o i n c l in at i o n t o c h an g e h e r b e h av i o r s t o p r o v i d e s a fe an d p r o p e r _p ar e nti n g f or h e r c hi l dr e n . T h ef

ath e r h a d r e c e i v e d s e rv i c e s , tr a i ni n g an d th e r a p y s i n c e Jun e , 2 0 1 7 ; 

### h a d fi le d a PF A 

### a g a in s t th e m o th e r 

### f

o r a b u s e of 

### h e r c h il dr e n : a dm i tt e d w i tn e s s in g th e ab u s e ; an d 

### a dm i tt e d th at th e r e l at i o n s hip b e tw e e n th e c h il dr e n an d th e ir m o th e r w a s 

### tr o u b l e s o m e , W i th a ll thi s a c kn o w l e d g e d i nf o rm at i o n a b o ut th e m o th e r , J . P . s t ill p e rm i tt e d un s u p e rv i s e d , un auth o ri z e d v i s i tat i o n . " A c t i o n s s p e ak l o u d e r th an w o r d s " i s 

## a b e tt e r b aro m e t e r o f th e fath e r ' s a ll e v i at i o n o fth e c i r c um s t an c e s whi c h l e d t o th e c h il dr e n ' s r e m o v a l an d a d j u d i c at i o n o f d e p e n d e n c y . J. P . , Whil e 1 2

### s ay i n g h e a p p r e c i at e d O C Y fo r p ro v i d i n g s e rv i c e s t o h e lp h i m 

### t o r e uni t e w i th 

### hi s f am il y , w o u l d t um ar o un d 

### an d c o mp l a i n 

### O C Y ki dn a p s c hi l dr e n , s e ll s c h il dr e n , an d d i d 

### n o t g i v e h i s w i fe 

### a c h an c e t o r e h ab ili tat e h e r s e l f . J . P . a dm i tt e d l y 

### p o s t e d a numb e r o f i t e m s o n F a c e b o ok d

urin gth e p e ri o d whi l e th e c o urt w a s c o n s i d e ri n g th e 

## c h an g e of g o a l . 

## th e fi r s t tw o p o s t s fr o m S e p t e mb e r 7 , 2 0 1 8 t ak e d e li g ht i n th e fa c t th at hi s w i fe d i s r u p t e d th e c o urt h e ari n g fo r o v e r an h our , Th e 

### S e p t emb e r 1 4 , 2 0 i 8 p o s t , ari d th e S e p t e mb e r 2 3 , 2 0 1 8 

## p o s t a l th o u gh o nl y " s h ar e d " 

### w i th F a c e b o o k fri e n d s , r e v e a l th e a c c e p t an c e o f s i ni s t e r att i tu d e s an d a c t i o n s whi c h thr eat e n 

### th e s a fe ty o f th o s e c h ar g e d w i th p r o t e c t i n g th e m o s t 

### vu ln e r a b l e in o ur s o c i e ty . A fi n a l d e e d 

### b y J. P . s h e d s p ro b ab l y th e m o s t li g ht o n h i s att i tu d e t o w ar d s 

### auth o ri ty . D ur in g th e lun c h r e c e s s at th e O c t o b e r 10 , 2 0 1 8 . R e v i e w H e ari n g , a ft e rth e F a c e b o o k . p o s ts h a d c o m e t o li g ht , J. P . d e l e t e d hi s F a c e b o o k a c c o unt , whi c h h e h a d un d e r th e n am e o f 

### 1. D . T h e d e v i o u s n e s s un d e r s c o r e s J . P . ' s att e mp t t o c o nv i n c e th e c o urt h e w a s s o m e thin g h e r e a l l y w a s n ' t - a p ar e nt r e a dy t o p ar e nt an d p r o t ec t hi s c hi l dr e n . Th e a dm i tt e d a d d i c t i v e r e l at i o n s hi p b e tw e e n him s e l fan d 13 . D . i s th e truth o f thi s m att e r . H e c ann o t b r e ak aw ay fr o m h i s w i fe , an d wi ll c h o o s e h e r o v e r hi s c hi l dr e n , e v e n if thi s · c o mp ro m i s e s th e ir s a fe ty . Ab u s e o fd i s c r e t i o n b y thi s c o urt h a s b e e n a ll e g e d . 

### Wh e r e th e a ll e g at i o n i s a

b u s e 

### o f d i s c r e t i o n , th e tri a l c o urt n o t th e a p p e ll at e c o urt , i s c h ar g e d w i th th e r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s o f e v a lu at in g c r e d i b i li ty o f th e w i tn e s s ari d r e s o l v i n g any c o nfl i c t s 

### in th e te s t im o ny . In c arry in g o ut th e s e r e s p o n s i b ili t i e s , th e tri a l c o urt i s fr e e t o b e l i e v e a ll , 

### p art , o r n o n e o f th e e v i d e n c e . 

### Wh e n. th e tri a l c o urt ' s fi n d in g s 

### are s u p p o rt e d b y c o mp e t e nt e v i d e n c e 

# o r r e c o r d , w e w ill 

### a ffi rm , " e v e n i fth e r e c o r d c o u l d a l s o 

### s u p p o rt th e o p p o s i t e r e s u l t s . " I n t h e 

### Ma tte r o

f N. C . , 9 0 9 A . 2 d 8 1 8 , 8 2 2 "' 2 3 (P a . S u p e r. 2 0 0 6 ) . S

e e a l s o I n t h e I nte res t o f 

### C .J. 11 7 8 2 A. 2 d 5 6 8 , 5 6 9 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 0 1 ) . J. P . ' s a c ti o n s thr o u g h o ut th e hi s t o r y o f thi s c a s e r e fl e c t a d i s r e g ar d f o r th e h e a lth an d s a fe ty o fhi s c h il dr e n . Whi l e o utw ar d l y s e e m i n g t o c o o p e rat e , hi s tru e c o nv i c ti o n s w e r e e xp o s e d

t ,., ! _ . : 'wh e n c o n fr o nt e d . T h i s c o urt h a s n o d o ub t th at i f g i v e n th e c h an c e , J . P . ' s p l an w as t o r e uni t e

w i th h i s c hi l dr e n , th e n hi s w i fe , 

### an d m o v e t o N o rth C ar o li n a . J. P . ' s c r e d i b ili ty w a s n o n - e x i s t e nt wh e n h e tri e d t o c o nv i n c e thi s c o urt h e w o u l d p r o t e c t hi s c hi l dr e n . T h e c ir c um s t an c e s wh i c h c au s e d th e r e m o v a l o fJ . f> . ' s c hi l dr e n h av e n o t 

### an d wi ll n o t b e a ll e v i at e d . Any e v i d e n c e o f a b o n d b e tw e e n th e fath e r an d s o m e o f hi s c h i l dr e n i s e l imin at e d wh e n c o mp ar e d t o th e b o n d b e tw e e n th e fath e r an d m o th e r , e s p e c i a ll y wh e n 

### i t c o m e s t o th e c h i l dr e n ' s s a fe ty . A l th o u g h th e r e w a s le s s th an a y e ar fr o m p l a c e m e nt t o th e M o t i o n t o C h an g e G o a l , th e fath e r d e m o n s trat e d thro u g h hi s a c t i o n s th at th e r e w o u l d n o t b e a r e c t ifi c at i o n o f th e c o n d i t i o n s whi c h l e d t o th e c h il dr e n ' s r e m o v a l. Any furth e r e f fo rt s t o r e un i t e th e fath e r w i th hi s c hi l dr e n " w o u l d b e fut i l e an d c o ntr ar y t o th e c h il d ' s b e s t i nt e r e s t s " , In r e 

### J . D . H . , 1 7 1 A . 3 d 9 0 3 , 9 0 5 , 9 0 9 - 9 1 0 (P a . S u

p e r 2 0 1 7 ) . T h e fi v e w e e k p e r i o d b e tw e e n th e o r d e r in g t o b e g i n r e un i fi c at i o n t o th e c h an g e o f g o a l t o a d o p t i o n w a s o f n o c o n s e qu e n c e a s J. P . d e m o n s tr at e d h e w a s n o t g o i n g t o m ak e h i s c h i l dr e n ' s s a f e ty a-p ri o r i ty in Iri s l if

e . T h e Jun e un auth o r iz e d v i s i t o f D . P . w i th th e m o th e r p e rm i tt e d b y th e fath e r w a s n o t a s i n g l e i n d i s c r e ti o n , b ut rath e r th e c u l mi n at i o n o f

J . P . ' s c o mp l e t e an d utt e r fa ilur e t o b e a p ar e nt. T h e thi r d 

### an d fo urth i s s u e s ra i s e d b y th e 

### fath e r argu e th e c o urt e rr e d 

## an d o r 

### a b u s e d i t s d i s c r e t i o n i n fa il in g t o a

p p o int s e p ar at e l e g a l c o un s el t o a dv i s e th e c o urt o f th e c hi l dr e n ' s w i s h e s r e g ar di n g th e c h an g e o f g o a l. C o un s e l fo r 

### th e f ath e r h a d fil e d th e M o t i o n fo r S p e ci a l Re l i e f r e qu e s t in g th e r e c o r d b e r e o p e n e d an d c o un s el b e a p p o i nt e d fo r th e c h i l dr e n . T h e M o t i o n w a s b a s e d o n th e r e c e nt S u

p e ri o r C o urt d e ci s i o n 

### i n I n r e J ' K . M . , 1 9 1 A. 3 d 9 0 7 ( P a . S u p e r 

### 2 0 1 8 ) . T h e c a s e e x t e n d e d th e a

p p o i ntm e nt o fs e p ar at e c o un s e l t o r e p r e s e nt a c hi l d ' s l e g a l i nte r e s t s , wh e r e th e r e w a s a c o nfl i c t b e tw e e n th e o p in io n s o f th e c hi l d an d th e Gu ar d i an A d L i t e m ( G A L ) o fth e c hi l d , t o d e p e n d e n c y p ro c e e d i n g s . 

### J ' K . M . i nv o l v e d a 1 6 y e ar o l d c hi l d wh o t e s t i fi e d at th eR e v i e w H e ari n g th at s h e w i s h e d t o c o nt i nu e l i v in g w i th th e m o th e r . T h e GAU s p o s it i o n w a s th at

r e m o v a l fr o m h o m e w a s i n th e b e s t i nt e r e s t s o f th e c hi l d d u e t o th e m o th e r n e g l e c t i n g th e c hi l d ' s m e d i c a l n e e d s . l it 

### r e J ' K . M . , 1 9 1 A .3 d at 9 1 4 - 9 1 5 . T h e S u p e ri o r C o urt d e t a il e d th e fa ct th at th e c hi l d w a s 

### 1 6 y e ar s o l d , an d th at c o mp e t e n c y i s p r e s um e d a t 

### 1 4 . T h e C o urt r e li e d h e av i l y o n th e c hi l d ' s t e s t i m o ny 

### an d r e a s o n s 

### fo r h e r p o s it i o n , 

### n am e l y th at s h e 

### h a d b e e n 

### se xu a l l y a s s au l t e d 

### i n fo s t e r c ar e an d fe lt th e s y s t e m h a d fa il e d an d e n d an g e r e d h e r . I d . A s a g e n e r a l ru le , th e S u p e ri o r C o urt d e t e rm i n e d th at " p ur s u ant t o L B . M . , 

### C . P . , R u l e 1 1 5 4 an d i t s c o mm e nt , an d th e s p e ci fi c s u s p e n s i o n · o f S e c t i o n 6 3 1 1 (b ) ( 9 ) , a d i v e r g e n c e b e tw e e n th e c hi l d ' s w i s h e s un d e r 4 2 P a . C .E { A. § 

### 6 3 1 l ( b ) (7 ) , m aVh e c o n s i d e r e d a c o nfl i c t o f int e re s t fo r th e 

### GAL . " I d . ( e mp h as i s 

### s u p p li e d) . 

### S p e ci fi c a ll y , th e S u

p e ri o r 

### C o urt n o t e d th at " d e s p i t e c h il d ' s d e s ir e 

### t o r e m a i n i n M o th e r ' s c ar e 

### an d th e o r d e a l s c hi l d s t at e d p r e v i o u s l y h a d o c c ur r e d in fo s t e r c ar e , th e G A L ar gu e d 

### a g atn st th e c hi l d ' r e m a i ni n g 

### at h o m e . " I d . T h e C o urt d e t e rm i n e d th at " th i s d i v e r g e n c e 

### o f o p i ni o n s 

### b e tw e e h th e c hi l d ' s l e g a l int e r e s t s 

### an d b e s t i nt e r e s t s p r e s e nt s a c o nfl i c t a s c o nt e mp l at e d i n 

### 1, . B . M . an d P a . R .J . C . P . 1 1. 5 1 an d 1 1 5 4 . " I d . I n th i s c a s e , th e Gu ar d i an A d L i t e m fo r th e c h il dr e n , A li s o n S c arp i tt i , E s q . , ' s u b m i tt e d art e x t e n s i v e 

### r e p o rt o fh e r m e e t i n g s w ith th e tw o o l d e s t c hi l dr e n , D . P . an d R . P . , whi c h r e p o rt w a s a dmi tt e d w i th o ut o b

j e c t i o n , a s an E xhi b i t. (

9 / 9 / 2 0 1 8 

## N. T. 

### p . 3 0

) , s e e a l s o (

9 / 9 / 2 0 1 8 N T. 

### p p . 3 0 - 3 2 .) . A tt o r n e y S c arp i tt i d e t a i l e d th at th e o l d e s t c hi l d , D . P , 1 2 y e ar s o l d , wi s h e d t o b e a d o p te d , b ut e xp r e s s e d 

## a w i s h fo r c o nt a c t w i th th e fath e i . · R . P . , a g e d 9 , e xp r e s s e d an o b j e c t i o n t o a d o p t i o n; 

### h e w a s n o t r e a dy t o g i v e u

p h o p e th at J . P . w o u l d b e a b l e t o p ro t e c t hi m fr o m th e m o th e r . R . P . w a s un ab l e t o 

### fu ll y e xp r e ss any s p e c i fi c r e a s o n why h e d i d 

### n o t w ant t o b e a d o p t e d , b ut a l s o e xp r e s s e d h e d i d n o t b e li e v e th at th e fath e r c o u l d k e e p him s a fe , a s e nt i m e nt e xp r e s s e d b y D . P . a s w e l l. T h e G A L e xp r e s s e d h e r o p i ni o n th at c h an g i n g th e g o a l t o a d o p ti o n , an d thu s m o v in gt o w ar d s t e rmi n at i n g p ar e nt a l r i g ht s w o u l d b e i n th e 

### ' b e s t int e r e s t o f 

### th e c hi l dr e n . H o w e v e r , 

### s h e a d d i t i o n a ll y s t at e d i n 

### t h e r e p o rt , th at fo r c i n g a c hi l d t o b e a d o p t e d w o u l d n o t b e i n th e c hi l d ' s 

### b e s t i nt e r e s t s . T h e p r e s e nt c a s e i s r e a d il y d i s t i n gu i s h a b l e 

## f ro m J ' K. M . A 9 y e ar o l d c hi l d , 

### ' n o t a 1 6 y e ar o l d , h a s e xp r e s s e d a d e s ir e n o t t o b e a d o p t e d . R . J? . h a s n o t r e a c h e d th e a g e o fc o nse nt , 1 4 y e ar s o l d , whi c h a g e th e S u

p e ri o r C o urt n o t e d i n 

### j ' K . M . T h e c hi l d ' s o p i ni o n w as fu ll y b r o u g ht t o th e c o urt ' s att e nt i o n b yth e G AL wh o m e t w i th hi m an d di s c u s s e d th e i s s u e s w i th R . P . T h e ru l in g 

### in J ' K . M . w a s th at i f a c o n fli c t b e tw e e n th e c h i l d ari d th e G A L e x i s t e d , th e c o urt m a y a p p o int c o un s e l t o r e p r e s e nt th e c hi l d ' s l e g a l i nt e r e s t s . A tt o rn e y S c arp i tt i e xp r e s s e d h e r o p i ni o n th at a c h il d s h o u l d n o t b e fo r c e d t o b e a d o p t e d , i n l i n e w i th R. P .' s p o s i t i o n - n o c o nfl i c t. O rt e thi n g w a s

_ cl e ar 

### - R. P . fe ar e d hi s m o th e r an d d i d n o t w ant c o nt a c t w i th h e r . H e an d 

## nr . qu e s ti o n e d th e ir fath e r ' s a b ili ty t o p r o t e c t th e m fr o mth e i r m o th e r . 

### J. P . w ill c h o o s e hi s w i fe o v e r th e c h il dr e n e v e r y t im e . O n c e th at fa c t b e c o m e s c l e ar t o th e c hi l dr e n , 

### any e qu i v o c at i o n t o b e i n g a d o p te d w ill c e a s e . H o w e v e r , th i s c a s e i s n ' t at th at s t a g e y e t , o nl y th at 

## o cv c an p ur s u e t e rmin at i o n o f p ar e nt a l ri ght s . B as e d u

p o n th e e v i d e n c e , th i s c o urt d i d n o t e n- o r ab u s e i t s d i s c r e t i o n i n n o t a p p o i nt i n g s e p ar at e co un s e l t o r e p r e s e nt th e l e g a l i nt e r e s t s o f D . P . an d R . P . , n o r 

### in d e ny i n g th e fath e r ' s M o t i o n fo r S p e c i a l R e li e f. I s s u e numb e r 2 in th e fath e r ' s l i s t o fl s s u e s P r e s e nt e d o n Ap p e a l , m a i nt a i ns th e c o urt e rr e d an d / o r a

b u s e d i t s d i s c r e t i o n i n g ranti n g th e M o t i o n t o Q u a s h th e S ub p o e n a s th e fath e r h a d i s s u e d fo r th e tw o o l d e s t c h il dr e n (D . P . an d R . P . ) t o att e n d an d t e s ti fy i n c am e r a at th e R e v i e w H e ari n g . C o un s e l fo r O C Y fi l e d a M o t i o n t o Q u a s h th e S ub p o e n a s an d th e c o urt c o n d u c t e d a h e ari n g o n th e M o t i o n p ri o r t o th e S e p t e mb e r 9 , 2 0 1 8 R e v i e w H e ari n g .

### R u l e 1 1 2 8 o fth e P e nn s y l v an i a R u l e s 

### o f Juv e ni l e C o urt P ro c e d ur e e s tab li s h e s th e p r o c e d ur e 

### fo r th e a

p p e ar an c e o f

p art i e s at a d e p e n d e n c y 

### h e at i n g . A. 

### G e n er a l 

### R � l e . A ll p art i e s s h a ll b e p r e s e nt at any p ro c e e d i n g un l e s s th e e x c e p ti o n s 'O f. 

### p ar a gr a p h ( B ) a p p l y . 

### B . E t c ep t fo n s . ( 2 ) . E x c lus i o n fro m p ro c e e d i ng s . 

### A p arty 

### m ay b e e x c lu d e d fr o m a p r o c e e d in g o nl y fo r g o o d c au s e s h o wn . . . T h e A g e n c y p r e s e nt e d th e t e s t i m o ny o f th e f am il y ' s c a s e w o rk e r , S h ann o n S p i e g e l. M s . S p i e g e l d e s c rib e d h o w 

### D . P . ' s b e h av i or s 

### i n th e fo s t e r h o m e w o rs e n e d a ft e r th e un auth o riz e d c o nta c t w i th th e m o th e r o n F ath e r ' s D ay . S h e s t at e d th at th e c hi l dr e n w e r e t o l d o f th e g o a l c h an g e t o b e r e qu e s t e d · at th e h e ar in g , b u t 

### n e i th e r in d i c at e d th e y w ant e d t o c o m e t o th e h e ar in g . B o th c hi l dr e n w o u l d g e t v e ry u p s e t wh e n t a l kin g ab o ut a d o p ti o n , an d wh e th e r th e y w ant e d c o nt a c t w i th th e i r p at e nt s . D . P . w o u l d a c t o ut , an d 

### R . P . w o u l d b e c o m e m o r e w i th dr awn . E v e n th o u g h th e c hi l dr e n w o u l d n o t b e i n th e c o urtr o o m , th e y w o u l d kn o w why th e y w e r e th e r e an d w o u l d b e c om e 

### s tr e s s e d . (

9 / 9 / 2 0 1 8 N: T. p

p 5 - 6 ) 1 , 1 2 , 1 4 - 1 5

) . 

### J e s s i c a E dmun d s , th e 

### fam il y th e r a p i s t fr o m 

### F am il y B a s e d M e nt a l H e a lth c o nfi rm e d th e p ro b l e m s w i th D . P . a ft e r 

### th e un auth o ri z e d Jun e v i s i t wi th m o m . D . P . ' s b e h av i o r s in c r e a s e d , an d a ft e r fi n d i n g o ut ab o ut th e v i s i t , E dmun d s c o n clu d e d th e r e w a s a c o rr e l at i o n b e tw e e n th e v is i t an d 

### th e e s c a l at i o n i n b . P . 

### ' s b e h av i o r s . 

### T h e b e h av i o r c o nti nu e d t o w o r s e n s o th at 

### D . P . 

## w as r e m o v e d fr o m hi s fo s t e r h o m e an d h o s p i t a li z e d fo r m e nt a l h e a l th i s s u e s . ( 9 / 9 / 2 0 1 8 

### N. T. p

p : 2 4 - 2 7 ) . 

### A li s o n S c arp i tt i , 

### E s q . , th e c hi l dr e n ' s Gu ar d i an A d 

### Li t e m , m e t 

### w i th D . P . 

### an d R. . P . , an d fil e d a 

### r e p o rt wi th 

### th e c o urt 

### th at w a s a dm i tt e d 

### a s an e xh ib i t. ( 9 / 9 1 2 0 1 8 N T.

p . 3 0 ) . 

### A s d i sc u s s e d 

### e ar li e r i n thi s o p i ni o n , b o th D . P . an d R. P . ' s 

### o p ini o n s ab o ut a d o p t i o n 

### an d c o nt a c t w i th th e irp ar e nt s w e r e p r e s e nt e d to th e c o urt. Att o rn e y S c arp i tt i a dv o c at e d th at th e c hi l dr e n n o t b e fo r c e d



### t o un d erg o th e s tr e s s trau :m a o f

### h av i n g t o c o m e 

### t o c o urt an d an s w e r qu e s t i o n s . 

### ( 9 1 9 1 2 0J 

### 8 N. 

### Tp

p 3 0 - 3 2 ) . T hi s c o urt i s c le arl y c o nv i n c e d th at g o o d cau s e w a s s h o wn t o qu a s h th e 

### s ub p o e n as fo r th e c hi l dr e n ' s a

p p e ar an c e an d 

### t e s t i m o ny . Th e c hi l dr e n ' s p o s i t io n s w e r e c o mp e t e nt l y an d

. � " rf; p r o fe s s i o n a ll y p r e s e nt e d 

### b y A tt o rn e y S c arp i tt i wh o p e r s o n a ll y rn e t 

### w i th th 7' T h e c o urt c o n s i d e r e d th o s e p o s i ti o n s i n d e t e rm ini n g th e o ut c o m e o f th e R e v i e w H e ari n g . N o e rr o r o flaw ci r ab u s e o f d i s c r e t io n o c c ur

r e d 

### i n gr ant i n g th e · 

### M o t i o n t o Q u a s h . T h e fi n a l i s s u e r a i s e d 

### b y th e fath e r o n a p p e a l i s th at th e c o urt d i d n o t 

### c ons i d e r th e b e s t i nt e r e s t s o fth e c hi l dr e n i n p e rm i tt i n g th e c h an g e o f

### g o a l t o a d o p t i o n . T hi s wh o l e 

## m att e r h a s b e e n · a b o ut th e b e s t int e r e s t s 

### o f

D . P . , R . P . , J. P . an d 

### E. P . N o t p e rm i tt in g th e s e c hi l dr e n 

### t o h av e t o fa c e th e c o nt inu e d traum a an d i n s t a b i li ty th e y h av e b e e n thr o u g h in th e i r s h o rt li v e s i s th ep ar am o unt c o n c e rn o f

thi s c o urt . T h e e v i d e n c e h a s c l e arl y s h o wn th at 

### J. P. i s a c o il art i s t wh en it c o m e s t o d e m o n s tr at i n g h e 

### c an c ar e fo r an d p ro t e ct 

### hi s c hi l dr e n . T h e fath e r e r e c t s a f a c a d e 

### th at h e i s c o o p e r at i n g , wh e n a ll th e t i m e h e i s s c h e mi n g t o r e uni t e w i th hi s w if e an d m o v e o ut o f

th e j ur i s d i c t i o n w i th hi s c hi l dr e n . 

### J. P. ' s s e l f - c o nf e s s e d a d d i c t i o n t o hi s w i f

e trump s 

### any mi ni m a l p ro g r e s s h e m a y h av e m a d e t o r e g a i n hi s " c hi l dr e n ' s c u s t o dy . 

### th e fath e r h a s n o i n cl in at i o n t o 

### c h an g e anythi n g a

b o ut hi s p ar e nti n g o r b e h av io r , 

## T o p l a c e th e s e c hi l dr e n b a c k i n hi s 

### c ar e w o u l d d o o :m th e m t o a 

### li f

e o f tr aum a , s tr e s s an d i n st ab il i ty . T h e b e s t i nt e r e s t s o f th e s e fo ur c hi l dr e n li e a p art 

### fr o m th e i r p at e nt s . 

### C O N C L U S l O N Ap p e ll ant h a s c o nt i nu o u s l y d e m o n s tr at e d s h e c ann o t o r w ill n o t p l a c e hi s 

### c h il dr e n ' s n e e d s a b o v e hi s o wn . H e r e fu s e s t o a c c e p t r e s p o n s i b i li ty fo r hi s a c t i o n s . T h e s ki ll s an d j u d gm e nt

### n e c e s s ary t o p r o v i d e fo r th e e m o t i o n a l w e ll - b e in g o f h i s c hi l dr e n ar e n o n - e x i s t e nt. T h e t o t a l hi s t o ry o fthi s c as e r e v ea l s th at th e fath e r i s un a b l e an d I 

### o r unw ill i n g t o c h an g e t o g i v e p ri o ri ty t o 

### th e h e e d s 

### f

o r s a f e ty an d · a d e qu at e c ar e f

or 

### h i s c hi l dr e n . H e w a s g i v e n num e ro u s o p p o rtuni t i e s t o d e m o n s tr at e h e w o u l d w o rk t o b e a b l e t o p ro v i d e th e n e c e s s ary b a s i c h e e d s fo r hi s c h il dr e n an d c o n s i s t e ntl y 

### f

a il e d t o d o s o . A g o a l c h an g e t o A d o p t i o n 

### i s th e r e fo r e a p p r o p ri at e , d e s p i t e 

### any d e gr e e o f m i ni m a l 

### c o mp li an c e w i th th e p e rm an e n c y p l an . 

### I t i s r e s p e c t fu ll y r e qu e s t e d 

### th e S u p e ri o r C o urt a f

fi rm thi s C o urt ' s O r d e r c h an g i n g th e g o a l o fth e d e p e n d e n c y p r o c e e d i n g 

### t o A d o p t i o n . 

# v l 

# I A 

# J U. D at e d this � d ay 

### o f

J anu ary , 2 0 1 9 .

c c : 

### Att o rn e y Anth o ny V e n d e tt i 

### E r i e C o unty 

### O ffi c e o f C hi l dr e n 

### an d Y o uth 1 5 4 W e s t 

### '9 th S tr e e t · E ri e ; 

### P A 

### 1 6 5 0 1



### Att o rn e y E m il y M e r s ki 

### 3 8 2 0 Lib e rty S tr e e t E ri e , 

### P A i 6 5 0 9

i 9 Att o rn e y E l i z ab e th B r e w W a lb ri d g e 

### 1 0 0 1 S t at e S tr e e t , 

### S u i t e 1 4 0 0 · E ri e , P A. 1 6 5 0 1

A tt o rn e y A l i so n Sc arp i tti 

### 1 5 0 E a s t g t h 

### S tr e e t , F i r s t F l o o r E ri e , P A 1 6 5 0 1