IN THE SUPREME COURT OF NORTH CAROLINA

2022-NCSC-3

No. 59A21

Filed 11 February 2022

IN THE MATTER OF C.C.G.

Appeal pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 7B-1001(a1)(1)–(2) from orders entered on 

3 April 2020 by Judge Jeanie Houston and on 16 November 2020 by Judge David V. 

Byrd in District Court, Ashe County. This matter was calendared for argument in the 

Supreme Court on 22 December 2021 but determined on the record and briefs 

without oral argument pursuant to Rule 30(f) of the North Carolina Rules of 

Appellate Procedure.

Grier J. Hurley for petitioner-appellee Ashe County Department of Social 

Services.

Paul W. Freeman Jr. for appellee Guardian ad Litem.

Wendy C. Sotolongo, Parent Defender, by Jacky Brammer, Assistant Parent 

Defender, for respondent-appellant mother.

BARRINGER, Justice.

¶ 1 Respondent appeals from the trial court’s order terminating her parental 

rights to her daughter C.C.G. (Carrie)

1 and from the trial court’s earlier 

permanency-planning order which eliminated reunification from Carrie’s permanent 

 

1 A pseudonym is used in this opinion to protect the juvenile’s identity and for ease of 

reading.
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plan. See N.C.G.S. § 7B-1001(a1) (2019). Respondent has not challenged on appeal 

the trial court’s conclusions that grounds existed to terminate her parental rights or 

that termination was in Carrie’s best interests. Instead, respondent argues the trial 

court erred by denying her motion to continue the termination hearing, by failing to 

comply with the requirements of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), and by 

eliminating respondent’s visitation with Carrie in a permanency-planning order. 

After careful review, we find no reversible error.

I. Factual and Procedural Background

¶ 2 On 15 March 2019, the Ashe County Department of Social Services (DSS) filed 

a petition alleging that Carrie was a neglected juvenile. The petition alleged that 

respondent had a long history with DSS dating back to 2006 due to issues of domestic 

violence, substance abuse, mental health difficulties, and improper supervision and

that DSS recently became involved with the family when it received a report in 

December 2018 alleging substance abuse, medical neglect, and improper care and 

supervision.

¶ 3 In an order entered 3 May 2019, the trial court adjudicated Carrie to be a 

neglected juvenile. The trial court agreed with DSS’s recommendation that it was in 

Carrie’s best interests to continue Carrie in respondent’s custody with conditions that 

respondent comply with her Family Service Case Plan and that Carrie attend school 

regularly and without tardiness.
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¶ 4 On 13 May 2019, DSS filed a motion for review due to respondent’s 

noncompliance with both the adjudication order and her Family Service Case Plan. 

DSS alleged that Carrie continued to have unexcused absences and tardies from 

school. DSS also alleged that respondent had not complied with her Family Services 

Case Plan in that she did not attend the scheduled assessment for Carrie at Youth 

Villages; had not consistently attended her substance abuse sessions at Daymark; 

had a positive drug screen; and had been arrested for possession of schedule IV 

substances, schedule II substances, marijuana, and methamphetamine.

¶ 5 Following a review hearing on 15 May 2019, the trial court entered an order 

on 28 June 2019 granting DSS nonsecure custody of Carrie with placement in DSS’s 

discretion. Respondent was granted a minimum of two hours of supervised visitation 

twice per month. The trial court concluded that the best primary plan of care for 

Carrie was reunification with a secondary plan of guardianship with an approved 

caregiver.

¶ 6 Pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 7B-906.1(a), the trial court conducted regular 

permanency-planning hearings. After the permanency hearing on 14 February 2020, 

the trial court concluded that supervised visitation between respondent and Carrie 

was not in Carrie’s best interest and inconsistent with her health and safety. 

Therefore, the trial court suspended visitation and contact between respondent and 
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Carrie. Further, the trial court changed the permanent plan to adoption with a 

secondary plan of custody or guardianship with an approved caregiver.

¶ 7 On 2 June 2020, DSS filed a petition to terminate respondent’s parental rights 

alleging grounds for termination pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 7B-1111(a)(1)–(3), (6). When 

respondent did not appear at the termination hearing on 16 October 2020, 

respondent’s counsel made an oral motion to continue. The trial court denied the 

motion to continue. Following the hearing and presentation of evidence, the trial 

court entered an order concluding that grounds existed to terminate respondent’s 

parental rights pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 7B-1111(a)(1)–(3) and that it was in Carrie’s 

best interests that respondent’s parental rights be terminated. Accordingly, the trial 

court terminated respondent’s parental rights. Respondent appealed.

II. Analysis

A. Motion to Continue

¶ 8 “[A] denial of a motion to continue is only grounds for a new [termination-ofparental-rights hearing] when [the respondent] shows both that the denial was 

erroneous, and that he [or she] suffered prejudice as a result of the error.” In re A.L.S., 

374 N.C. 515, 517 (2020) (quoting State v. Walls, 342 N.C. 1, 24–25 (1995)). Unless 

the motion to continue raises a constitutional issue, “a motion to continue is 

addressed to the discretion of the trial court.” Id. at 516–17 (quoting Walls, 342 N.C. 

at 24). Therefore, to show error on a motion to continue that does not raise a 
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constitutional issue, the respondent must show that the trial court abused its 

discretion. Id. at 517. “Abuse of discretion results where the [trial] court’s ruling is 

manifestly unsupported by reason or is so arbitrary that it could not have been the 

result of a reasoned decision.” Id. at 517 (quoting State v. Hennis, 323 N.C. 279, 285 

(1988)).

¶ 9 In this matter, respondent has not advanced a constitutional argument before 

the trial court or this Court. Instead, respondent asserts that the trial court abused 

its discretion because there was no evidence she received notice of the hearing, a 

guardian ad litem had been appointed for her, the trial court was deprived of her 

testimony, and the trial court had previously allowed continuances.

¶ 10 Based on the record before us, respondent has failed to show an abuse of 

discretion by the trial court. “[C]ontinuances are not favored and the party seeking a 

continuance has the burden of showing sufficient grounds for it.” In re J.E., 377 N.C. 

285, 2021-NCSC-47, ¶ 15 (quoting In re S.M., 375 N.C. 673, 680 (2020)). 

“Continuances that extend beyond 90 days after the initial petition shall be granted 

only in extraordinary circumstances when necessary for the proper administration of 

justice.” N.C.G.S. § 7B-1109(d) (2021).

¶ 11 In this matter, the record reflects that the notice of hearing was sent to 

respondent’s counsel and respondent’s guardian ad litem. Both respondent’s counsel 

and respondent’s guardian ad litem were present at the termination-of-parental-
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rights hearing. Neither tendered an affidavit or evidence in support of the motion to 

continue. Instead, they made unsworn statements in support of the motion to 

continue. Neither argued that respondent intended to testify, that the preexisting 

appointment of a guardian ad litem entitled respondent to a continuance, or that the 

previously allowed continuances justified allowance of this continuance. 

Respondent’s counsel and respondent’s guardian ad litem instead represented that 

they believed respondent was aware of the hearing date and had made efforts to 

contact her but had not spoken to respondent. However, they had corresponded about 

the hearing date with respondent’s mother, who had respondent’s contact information

and often provided a home for respondent.

¶ 12 After hearing from respondent’s counsel and guardian ad litem, the trial court 

asked DSS’s counsel if DSS had spoken to respondent. DSS’s counsel replied that the 

social worker had spoken to her last week. The social worker then informed the trial 

court that she had spoken with respondent twice the week prior and that respondent 

“knows when the court date is.” The social worker explained that respondent knew 

that the court date was today as she had spoken to respondent last week about the 

date and respondent was upset that the hearing was on her birthday.

¶ 13 Given the representations to the trial court and the record before us, we cannot 

conclude that the trial court’s denial of the motion to continue was manifestly 

unsupported by reason or arbitrary. The burden falls to the party seeking the 
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continuance to show sufficient grounds for granting the motion. In re J.E., ¶ 15. It 

does not shift to another party or the trial court. See id. Thus, in the context of this 

case, where among other things the moving party has only offered unsworn 

statements and argument, we find no error by the trial court. See State v. Beck, 346 

N.C. 750, 756–57 (1997) (finding trial court did not err by denying motion to continue 

where unsworn statements of defendant’s trial counsel were not sufficient to justify 

delaying the trial).

¶ 14 Respondent has also failed to show any prejudice arising from the trial court’s 

denial of her motion to continue. Respondent argues she was materially prejudiced

because her testimony was a vital source of information regarding the nature of the 

parent/child relationship and integral to any consideration of her parental rights.

However, when making the oral motion, respondent’s counsel neither indicated

respondent intended to testify nor provided an affidavit or offer of proof of

respondent’s potential testimony. Thus, as in other cases the Court has decided 

recently, there is nothing before this Court to show that respondent would have 

testified and that such testimony would have impacted the outcome of the proceeding.

See, e.g., In re D.J., 378 N.C. 565, 2021-NCSC-105, ¶ 14; In re H.A.J., 377 N.C. 43, 

2021-NCSC-26, ¶ 13; In re A.L.S., 374 N.C. at 518. Therefore, we hold that the trial 

court did not err by denying the request for a continuance.
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B. Indian Child Welfare Act

¶ 15 Respondent argues the trial court failed to comply with its duties under the 

ICWA because the trial court had reason to know that Carrie was an Indian child.

DSS and the guardian ad litem for Carrie (GAL) disagree, arguing that respondent 

conflates the existence of or possibility of a distant relation with an Indian with 

reason to know that a child is an Indian child.

¶ 16 Paragraph (c) of 25 C.F.R. § 23.107 specifies when a trial court has reason to 

know a child is an Indian child. It states:

(c) A court, upon conducting the inquiry required in 

paragraph (a) of this section, has reason to know that a 

child involved in an emergency or child-custody proceeding 

is an Indian child if:

(1) Any participant in the proceeding, officer of the 

court involved in the proceeding, Indian Tribe, Indian 

organization, or agency informs the court that the child is 

an Indian child;

(2) Any participant in the proceeding, officer of the 

court involved in the proceeding, Indian Tribe, Indian 

organization, or agency informs the court that it has 

discovered information indicating that the child is an 

Indian child;

(3) The child who is the subject of the proceeding gives 

the court reason to know he or she is an Indian child;

(4) The court is informed that the domicile or 

residence of the child, the child’s parent, or the child’s 

Indian custodian is on a reservation or in an Alaska Native 

village;

(5) The court is informed that the child is or has been 

a ward of a Tribal court; or

(6) The court is informed that either parent or the 

child possesses an identification card indicating 

membership in an Indian Tribe.
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25 C.F.R. § 23.107(c) (2020).

¶ 17 “Indian child” is defined as “any unmarried person who is under age eighteen 

and is either (a) a member of an Indian tribe or (b) is eligible for membership in an 

Indian tribe and is the biological child of a member of an Indian tribe.” 25 U.S.C. 

§ 1903(4) (emphasis added). Thus, as we have previously explained,

“The inquiry into whether a child is an ‘Indian child’ 

under ICWA is focused on only two circumstances: (1) 

Whether the child is a citizen of a Tribe; or (2) whether the 

child’s parent is a citizen of the Tribe and the child is also 

eligible for citizenship.” Indian Child Welfare Act 

Proceedings; Final Rule, 81 Fed. Reg. at 38,804. The 

inquiry “is not based on the race of the child, but rather 

indications that the child and her parent(s) may have a 

political affiliation with a Tribe [as defined in 25 U.S.C.

§ 1903].” Indian Child Welfare Act Proceedings; Final Rule, 

81 Fed. Reg. at 38,806; see also Indian Child Welfare Act 

Proceedings; Final Rule, 81 Fed. Reg. at 38,801 (“ ‘Indian 

child’ is defined based on the child’s political affiliation 

with a federally recognized Indian Tribe.”).

In re M.L.B., 377 N.C. 335, 2021-NCSC-51, ¶ 16 (alteration in original).

¶ 18 Here, respondent relies on three documents in the record to support her 

argument that there is reason to know Carrie is an Indian child. First, respondent 

relies on a DSS court report reflecting an answer of “no” to the inquiry whether there 

is “any information to indicate that [Carrie] may be subject to the [ICWA]” and 

explaining, “[respondent] reported there is [a] possible distant Cherokee relation on 

her mother’s side of the family.” Second, respondent relies on an in-home family 
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services agreement stating, “[respondent] reports Cherokee Indian Heritage.” Third, 

respondent relies on another DSS court report reflecting an answer of “no” to the 

inquiry whether there is “any information to indicate that [Carrie] may be subject to 

the [ICWA]” and explaining, “[respondent] reported there is [a] possible distant 

Cherokee relation on her mother’s side of the family but no further specifics are 

known.”

¶ 19 None of these documents state Carrie is an “Indian child” and none contain 

information indicating that Carrie or her biological parents are members or citizens

of an Indian tribe.2 See 25 C.F.R. § 23.107(c)(1)–(2). Indian heritage, which is racial,

cultural, or hereditary does not indicate Indian tribe membership, which is political.

See 25 U.S.C. § 1903(4); In re M.L.B., ¶ 16. Thus, these statements do not provide

reason to know that Carrie is an Indian child under 25 C.F.R. § 23.107(c).

¶ 20 However, respondent also contends the trial court erred by not asking at the 

termination-of-parental-rights hearing whether the participants had reason to know 

if Carrie was an Indian child.

¶ 21 Subsection 23.107(a) of Title 25 of the Code of Federal Regulations provides 

that “State courts must ask each participant in an emergency or voluntary or 

 

2 At the termination-of-parental-rights hearing, the social worker also testified that 

there was no information that Carrie is a member of an Indian tribe and that there were no 

reports from family members that Carrie was possibly an Indian child. Therefore, there was 

no reason on the basis of the information that was available to the trial court at the time of 

the termination hearing for the trial court to know that Carrie was an Indian child.
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involuntary child-custody proceeding whether the participant knows or has reason to 

know that the child is an Indian child” and that “[such] inquiry is made at the 

commencement of the proceeding and all responses should be on the record.”

¶ 22 Child-custody proceeding is defined as follows:

Child-custody proceeding. (1) “Child-custody 

proceeding” means and includes any action, other than an 

emergency proceeding, that may culminate in one of the 

following outcomes:

(i) Foster-care placement, which is any action 

removing an Indian child from his or her parent or Indian 

custodian for temporary placement in a foster home or 

institution or the home of a guardian or conservator where 

the parent or Indian custodian cannot have the child 

returned upon demand, but where parental rights have not 

been terminated;

(ii) Termination of parental rights, which is any action 

resulting in the termination of the parent-child 

relationship;

(iii) Preadoptive placement, which is the temporary 

placement of an Indian child in a foster home or institution 

after the termination of parental rights, but prior to or in 

lieu of adoptive placement; or

(iv) Adoptive placement, which is the permanent 

placement of an Indian child for adoption, including any 

action resulting in a final decree of adoption.

(2) An action that may culminate in one of these four 

outcomes is considered a separate child-custody proceeding 

from an action that may culminate in a different one of 

these four outcomes. There may be several child-custody 

proceedings involving any given Indian child. Within each 

child-custody proceeding, there may be several hearings.

25 C.F.R. § 23.2 (2020) (last emphasis added).
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¶ 23 The trial court’s orders in the trial court’s adjudication and disposition order 

entered on 3 May 2019 and order transferring custody to DSS entered on 

28 June 2019 both specifically state “[t]he [c]ourt inquired of the parties and none of 

the parties know or have reason to know the child is an Indian child as defined at 25 

U.S.C. [§] 1902(4); 25 C.F.R. [§] 23.2.” Thus, the record3 before us reflects that the 

trial court made the inquiry required by 25 C.F.R. § 23.107(a) at the hearing 

addressing and ultimately resulting in the removal of Carrie from respondent and 

rendering respondent without the right to have Carrie returned upon demand.

However, the record does not reflect that the trial court made the inquiry required by 

25 C.F.R. § 23.107(a) at a hearing after DSS moved for termination of the parentchild relationship. Nevertheless, as the determination of whether there is reason to 

know that Carrie is an Indian child can be made on the record and as discussed 

previously there is no reason to know that Carrie is an Indian child, we conclude that 

there is no reversible error. See In re A.L., 378 N.C. 396, 2021-NCSC-92, ¶ 28

(remanding the case to the trial court because the determination of whether there is 

reason to know the juvenile is an Indian child could not be made on the record).

 

3 While respondent disputes the determination by the trial court that there is neither 

information that Carrie is an “Indian child” or reason to know that Carrie is an “Indian child,” 

respondent does not dispute and does not offer any record support contrary to the trial court’s 

finding that it inquired of the parties whether they had reason to know that Carrie is an 

“Indian child” at hearings prior to the termination-of-parental-rights hearing.
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C. Visitation

¶ 24 Respondent asks this Court to reverse the 3 April 2020 permanency-planning 

order which eliminated reunification from Carrie’s permanent plan because the 

determination to cease visitation was either legal error or abuse of discretion.

¶ 25 In cases arising under the juvenile code, “to obtain relief on appeal, an 

appellant must not only show error, but that the error was material and prejudicial, 

amounting to denial of a substantial right that will likely affect the outcome of an 

action.” In re L.E.W., 375 N.C. 124, 128 (2020) (cleaned up). To show error by the trial 

court concerning visitation in a permanency-planning order which eliminated 

reunification, we review for an abuse of discretion “with an abuse of discretion having 

occurred only upon a showing that the trial court’s actions are manifestly 

unsupported by reason.” In re L.E.W., 375 N.C. at 134 (cleaned up). We also “review 

the order eliminating reunification together with an appeal of the order terminating 

parental rights.” N.C.G.S. § 7B-1001(a2).

1. Challenge to reconsideration of visitation plan

¶ 26 According to respondent, the determination to cease visitation was legal error 

or abuse of discretion because the trial court at the February 2020 hearing had 

“substantially the same” information and facts before it that the trial court had at the 

22 November 2019 hearing, where it found visitation was still in Carrie’s best 

interests. However, respondent concedes that additional information was in the DSS 
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court report and that the GAL court report and a social worker provided new 

testimony. In other words, the trial court received new information at the February 

2020 hearing. Pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 7B-906.1(d)(2), at review and 

permanency-planning hearings, the trial court shall consider “whether there is a need 

to create, modify, or enforce an appropriate visitation plan in accordance with 

[N.C.]G.S. [§] 7B-905.1.” N.C.G.S. § 7B-906.1(d)(2) (2021). As N.C.G.S. § 7B906.1(d)(2) instructs the trial court to consider the visitation plan and the trial court 

received new information, we find no merit in respondent’s argument.

2. Challenge to findings of fact 18 and 34

¶ 27 Respondent also challenges findings of fact 18 and 34, arguing that the social 

worker’s testimony that supports these findings was not reliable. The trial court 

found in findings of fact 18 and 34 that:

18. [Carrie] had behavioral setbacks until September 

2019. Since she has not seen [respondent] and is in the 

group home [Carrie] has made improvements. Prior to 

September 2019 [Carrie] had superficial self-harming 

behaviors and was aggressive with her peers. She has 

attended a day treatment program as referred through 

Youth Villages and is in therapy. [Carrie] has asked about 

[respondent] one time since September 2019.

. . . .

34. Supervised visitation with [respondent] at this time 

is not in [Carrie’s] best interest and is not consistent with 

her health and safety.
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¶ 28 We review the trial court’s challenged findings of fact in a 

permanency-planning order that ceases reunification to determine whether they are 

supported by the evidence received before the trial court. In re L.M.T., 367 N.C. 165, 

168 (2013).

4 At a review or permanency-planning hearing, “[t]he [trial] court may 

consider any evidence, including hearsay evidence as defined in [N.C.]G.S. [§] 8C-1, 

Rule 801, or testimony or evidence from any person that is not a party, that the [trial] 

court finds to be relevant, reliable, and necessary to determine the needs of the 

juvenile and the most appropriate disposition.” N.C.G.S. § 7B-906.1(c). Appellate 

courts may not reweigh the underlying evidence presented at Subchapter I of the 

Juvenile Code hearings. See, e.g., In re J.A.M., 372 N.C. 1, 11 (2019). It is the role of 

the trial court in these matters to assess the reliability of the testimony and make a 

credibility determination. See id.

¶ 29 DSS and the GAL contend that the two challenged findings of fact are

supported by the social worker’s unobjected-to testimony. We agree. The social 

 

4 In past cases, we have used the term “competent evidence” when describing the 

standard of review applicable to the findings of fact in a permanency-planning order. See, 

e.g., In re L.M.T., 367 N.C. 165, 168 (2013). In some contexts, competent evidence means 

admissible evidence pursuant to the rules of evidence. See Evidence, Black’s Law Dictionary

(11th ed. 2019). However, N.C.G.S. § 7B-906.1(c) makes clear that the evidence that the trial 

court receives and considers in a review or permanency-planning hearing need not be 

admissible under the North Carolina Rules of Evidence. Further, our precedent and Rules of 

Appellate Procedure dictate when we can review the admissibility of evidence admitted by 

the trial court. Accordingly, for clarity, we are avoiding the phrase “competent evidence” in 

the context of permanency-planning orders in favor of using the language the statute itself 

employs: “evidence.”
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worker testified at the hearing that respondent’s last visit with Carrie was 

6 September 2019, that Carrie had some substantial behavior setbacks “up until 

about September,” including self-harming and aggressive behaviors with some of her 

peers, and that “she just really turned it around,” including improving her grade in 

math, ceasing talking like a baby, and being more compliant. The social worker 

testified that Youth Villages recommended day treatment, which was not available 

at her current placement. Thus, DSS transferred Carrie to a new placement in August 

with what they described as “an amazing program.” The social worker further 

testified that she believed there was a correlation between Carrie’s improvement in 

behavior and her not having seen respondent since September. The social worker 

explained that Carrie wanted to be adopted and asked about respondent only once 

since September. The social worker testified that she thinks it would be detrimental 

to have respondent visiting and contacting Carrie. Since the foregoing testimony from 

the social worker supports findings of fact 18 and 34, they are conclusive on appeal. 

We, therefore, reject respondent’s challenge to findings of fact 18 and 34.

3. Challenge to cessation of visitation

¶ 30 We next address respondent’s challenge to the trial court’s determination to 

cease visitation. Visitation shall be provided “that is in the best interests of the 

juvenile consistent with the juvenile’s health and safety, including no visitation.” 

N.C.G.S. § 7B-905.1(a) (2021). In this matter, we are bound to challenged findings of 
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fact 18 and 34, which are supported by the evidence before the trial court, and the 

unchallenged findings of fact from the 3 April 2020 permanency-planning order and 

the termination-of-parental-rights order.

¶ 31 Pursuant to the binding findings, “[u]pon entering foster care, [Carrie] 

exhibited behaviors such as walking on her tippy toes, talking in a baby voice, being 

noncompliant and throwing tantrums as well as self-harming behaviors.” Carrie 

received medical evaluations and was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Carrie was a teenager at the time. “During the period of time [Carrie] did not have 

contact with her [respondent,] these behaviors would improve.” “When visits or 

contact with [respondent] occurred, [Carrie’s] behaviors would regress.” Carrie

desired to be adopted and did not see her mother as part of her future.

¶ 32 Respondent only attended six visits with Carrie, and she “appeared at a visit 

impaired, fell asleep at a visit, made false promises to [Carrie,] and told [Carrie] to 

not comply with Ashe County DSS.” Respondent’s calls with Carrie were at times not 

appropriate and sometimes involved intensely questioning Carrie, making irrational 

comments, or giving Carrie false hope. Respondent continued to have positive drug 

screens, refused some drug screenings, did not attend a referred parenting class, and 

never completed her psychological evaluation. Respondent also absconded from the 

facility at which she was required to undergo treatment as a condition of her 

probation and refused to meet with the social worker in January 2020. Given the 
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foregoing findings of fact, we are unable to say that the trial court abused its 

discretion by ceasing visitation with Carrie.

4. Challenge to finding of reasonable efforts by DSS

¶ 33 In the alternative, respondent argues that DSS failed to provide reasonable 

efforts to implement the child’s permanent plan by not providing respondent with any 

visits with Carrie between late September 2019 and February 2020. Respondent 

contends that “because visitation is an essential part of reunification, there can be no 

reasonable efforts toward reunification or preventing foster care when DSS is not 

providing visitation with the child’s mother, even though it is still in the child’s best 

interests.” We disagree.

¶ 34 Subsections 7B-906.1(e)(5) and 7B-906.2(c) direct the trial courts to consider 

and make written findings of fact regarding whether the county department of social 

services has exercised reasonable efforts since the initial permanency plan hearing 

to implement the permanent plan for the juvenile. The juvenile code defines 

“reasonable efforts” as

The diligent use of preventive or reunification services by 

a department of social services when a juvenile’s remaining 

at home or returning home is consistent with achieving a 

safe, permanent home for the juvenile within a reasonable 

period of time. If a court of competent jurisdiction 

determines that the juvenile is not to be returned home, 

then reasonable efforts means the diligent and timely use 

of permanency planning services by a department of social 

services to develop and implement a permanent plan for 

the juvenile.
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N.C.G.S. § 7B-101(18) (2021).

¶ 35 Respondent thus challenges the trial court’s determination “[t]hat Ashe 

County DSS has made reasonable efforts to finalize the permanent plan to timely 

achieve permanence for the juvenile and eliminate placement in foster care, reunify 

this family, and implement a permanent plan for the child.”

5 The trial court’s other 

findings and the DSS report incorporated by reference into its order support this 

determination. The trial court found that reunification efforts were made to finalize 

permanency, including contacting respondent, attempting to contact respondent, 

maintaining contact with Carrie and the placement providers, and facilitating an 

updated psychological evaluation for Carrie. The social worker also went to meet 

respondent in jail in January 2020 to discuss her family service agreement.

Respondent, however, refused to meet with her. The DSS report further shows that, 

among other things, DSS had coordinated supervised visits between respondent and 

Carrie prior to late September 2019, scheduled a supervised visitation in late 

September that respondent cancelled, offered to provide respondent transportation 

assistance that respondent rejected, held Child and Family Team Meetings, and 

made multiple attempts to meet with and contact respondent, through phone calls 

 

5 Respondent also challenges the trial court’s finding that respondent “has not 

provided emotional support for [Carrie]” and “[v]isitation and contact is detrimental to 

[Carrie].” This finding is supported by the testimony of the social worker as previously

summarized.
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and home and jail visits. Collectively, these findings show that DSS was diligently 

using and providing preventive or reunification services. N.C.G.S. § 7B-101(18).

Therefore, respondent’s argument is overruled.

¶ 36 Having considered respondent’s arguments, we conclude that respondent has 

not shown any error by the trial court in ceasing respondent’s visitation. Respondent 

also has not shown that even if an error occurred, such error was material and 

prejudicial. See In re L.E.W., 375 N.C. at 128. Accordingly, we affirm the 3 April 2020 

permanency-planning order eliminating reunification from the permanent plan.

III. Conclusion

¶ 37 For the reasons set forth above, we affirm the 3 April 2020 

permanency-planning order eliminating reunification as a permanent plan and the 

16 November 2020 termination-of-parental-rights order.

AFFIRMED.