1 

l 

l 

i 

l 

FILED 

DECEMBER 1, 2016 

In the Office of the Clerk of Court 

WA State Court of Appeals, Division III 

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON 

DIVISION THREE 

In the Matter of the Parental Rights to 

I.M.-M. 

In the Matter of the Parental Rights to 

Z.M.-M. 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

No. 33890-8-111 

( consolidated with 

No. 33891-6-111) 

PUBLISHED OPINION 

PENNELL, J. -The Department of Social and Health Services (Department) is 

obliged to provide necessary and available reunification services prior to terminating 

parental rights. When a parent is cognitively impaired, services must be tailored to a 

parent's individual needs. This burden on the Department is significant, but so are the 

rights at stake. Only on a showing of futility will a termination order be upheld when the 

Department fails to meet its obligations. 

C.M.'s parental rights were terminated after a two-year dependency. Within at 

least 60 days of initiating the dependency, the Department became aware C.M. had 

cognitive impairments that would likely impact her ability to address parental 

deficiencies. Yet, C.M. 's service providers were never notified of her impairments and 

tailored services were never offered. During C.M.' s termination trial, the Department 
No. 33890-8-III; 33891-6-III 

In re Parental Rights to I.M-M and Z.M-M 

failed to present competent evidence that tailored services would have been futile. Based 

on these circumstances, the termination order is reversed. 

FACTS 

C.M. became involved in dependency proceedings after she pushed her child, who 

was in a stroller, across a busy street while attempting to flee apprehension for 

shoplifting. This was not C.M.'s first involvement with the Department. She had 

previous referrals due to substance abuse and homelessness. The dependency petition 

identified drug use and transience as continuing concerns, particularly because C.M. was 

pregnant and the drug use might impact her unborn child. 

The dependency petition recognized C.M. has low cognitive functioning. A year 

prior to the petition, a Department worker had issued a report stating C.M.'s IQ is 79 and 

she is "DD." 2 Verbatim Report of Proceedings (VRP) (Sept. 10, 2015) at 213. Nothing 

in the record clarified the basis for this statement or whether "DD" meant 

developmentally disabled or developmentally delayed. See id. Based on the information 

in the dependency petition, the court ordered C.M. to undergo a psychological evaluation. 

C.M. promptly completed the required psychological evaluation with Dr. Sean 

Smitham. From the evaluation Dr. Smitham made several findings. Important here, he 

determined C.M. was significantly cognitively impaired. Her IQ was lower than 91 

2 
No. 33890-8-III; 33891-6-III 

In re Parental Rights to I.M-M and Z.M-M 

percent of individuals her age, raising "concerns about her ... ability to hold a job, pay 

bills, [and] take care of herself." 1 VRP (Sept. 9, 2015) at 105. 

Dr. Smitham found the severity of C.M. 's impairment surprising because it had not 

been readily apparent prior to testing. According to Dr. Smitham, C.M. demonstrated 

strong street smarts and had "become very good at reading social cues and presenting 

herself socially in a way that probably masks her intellectual deficits." Id. at 106. Based 

on C.M. 's adaptive skills, Dr. Smitham believed it would be difficult, though perhaps not 

impossible, for untrained service providers to understand the scope of C.M. 's intellectual 

impairment and needs. Id. at 114-15. 

Dr. Smitham connected C.M. 's intellectual impairment to difficulties she would 

likely face in completing reunification services. According to Dr. Smitham, C.M. lacked 

self-awareness about her intellectual deficiencies, making her resistant to change. He 

also believed she would be slow to grasp information and would require repetition in 

order to learn new skills. Id. at 109, 114. Significantly, Dr. Smitham believed C.M. 

would have difficulty in a typical chemical dependency group setting because the 

interactions are all verbal. Id. at 125-26. 

While Dr. Smitham made several important findings about C.M. 's level of 

intellectual functioning, his assessment was incomplete. Although Dr. Smitham found 

3 
No. 33890-8-III; 33891-6-III 

In re Parental Rights to I.M-M and Z.M-M 

evidence C.M. might be developmentally disabled, he never reached a final diagnosis. 

This was because he never performed the applicable testing. Id. at 112. 

Dr. Smitham prepared a report documenting his findings and shared it with the 

Department. However, the contents were never relayed to C.M. or to the majority of 

C.M.'s service providers. The lone service provider to receive Dr. Smitham's report was 

C.M.'s mental health therapist, Christie Pelz. Ms. Pelz did not receive the report until 

approximately 19 months after the dependency petition had been filed and nine months 

after the Department filed to move from reunification to termination. She was not trained 

to work with cognitively impaired individuals. At trial, Ms. Pelz admitted she did not 

know whether C.M.'s problems with progressing in therapy were related to her 

intellectual deficits. 2 VRP (Sept. 10, 2015) at 271. 

Although C.M.'s primary parental deficiency related to substance abuse, Dr. 

Smitham's report was never shared with C.M.'s chemical dependency counselors. Not 

surprisingly, C.M. struggled to make progress. According to Kolleen Seward, C.M.'s 

counselor, C.M. "would do really well processing in a one-on-one" setting and in clinic 

groups, but she "appeared to have difficulty when she got out of that structure and out 

into-transferring that knowledge to the real world." 1 VRP (Sept. 9, 2015) at 50. Ms. 

Seward testified she did not know of any cognitive difficulties that needed to be 

4 
No. 33890-8-III; 33891-6-III 

In re Parental Rights to I.M-M and Z.M-M 

addressed with C.M. Id. at 47-48, 56. However she did observe C.M. had problems with 

homework and with interpreting what she was asked to do. Id. at 51. In response to this 

difficulty, Ms. Seward took time to review C.M.'s homework one-on-one. Id. 

During the period C.M. spent in treatment, she submitted numerous positive 

urinalysis tests and failed to show for others. C.M. was ultimately discharged from Ms. 

Seward's treatment program prior to graduation. Although C.M. was subsequently 

referred to another provider, she failed to follow through. 

Apart from treatment, C.M. did not make notable progress developing her 

parenting skills. C.M. 's family therapy provider was an individual named Dave Smith. 

Mr. Smith found C.M. difficult to work with because she had an over-inflated perception 

of her parenting abilities. C.M. would insist she already knew how to do things, but then 

would later forget and not follow though until coached. Mr. Smith expressed frustration 

with C.M. 's inability to retain information and develop her skills. During his testimony, 

Mr. Smith stated he had concerns about C.M. 's intellectual abilities and attempted to 

provide some accommodations. But he could not recall seeing C.M.'s mental health 

evaluation. There is no indication Mr. Smith was trained to work with cognitively 

impaired persons. 

5 
No. 33890-8-III; 33891-6-III 

In re Parental Rights to I.M-M and Z.M-M 

After considering testimony presented at a two-day trial, the trial court terminated 

C.M. 's parental rights. The court rejected the argument that C.M. should have been 

provided developmental disability services, finding the evidence was insufficient to 

conclude C.M. was disabled. The court also found many of C.M.'s service providers 

were aware of her intellectual difficulties and provided appropriate accommodations. In 

addition the court found that even if C.M. should have been provided services tailored to 

her disability, this omission would not bar termination because enhanced services would 

not have remedied C.M. 's parental deficiencies in the foreseeable future. 

C.M. timely appealed the order of termination to this court. 

ANALYSIS 

Our decision is guided by well-established legal principles. Parents enjoy 

fundamental liberty interests in the continued care, custody, and companionship of their 

children. Santosky v. Kramer, 455 U.S. 745, 753, 102 S. Ct. 1388, 71 L. Ed. 2d 599 

( 1982). Deprivation of parental rights is only permissible if supported by powerful 

reasons. In re Welfare of A.J.R., 78 Wn. App. 222, 229, 896 P.2d 1298 (1995). A trial 

court's termination decision involves a two-step process. In re Welfare of A.B., 168 

Wn.2d 908, 911, 232 P.3d 1104 (2010). "The first step focuses on the adequacy of the 

parents" and requires the Department to prove, by clear, cogent, and convincing evidence, 

6 
No. 33890-8-III; 33891-6-III 

In re Parental Rights to I.M-M and Z.M-M 

the six termination factors set forth in RCW 13 .34.180(1 ). Id. If this burden is satisfied, 

termination may be ordered if the Department establishes, by a preponderance of the 

evidence, that termination is in the best interests of the child. In re Dependency of K.NJ, 

171 Wn.2d 568, 576-77, 257 P.3d 522 (2011). Only if the first step is satisfied may the 

court reach the second step. A.B., 168 Wn.2d at 911. 

C.M.'s appeal turns on the first step of the analysis. Specifically, whether the trial 

court appropriately found the Department offered C.M. necessary and available services, 

as required by RCW 13.34.180(l)(d). We review the trial court's decision for substantial 

evidence in light of the demanding standard of review. In re Parental Rights to B.P., 186 

Wn.2d 292, 313, 376 P.3d 350 (2016). 

By statute, the Department was required to offer C.M. "all necessary services, 

reasonably available, capable of correcting the parental deficiencies within the 

foreseeable future." RCW 13.34.180(l)(d). A service is "necessary" if it is needed to 

address a condition that precludes reunification of the parent and child. In re Welfare of 

CS., 168 Wn.2d 51, 56 n.3, 225 P.3d 953 (2010). The inquiry is not limited to services 

ordered by the court during the dependency, but rather the Department must show it 

offered all necessary available services. See In re Dependency ofTL.G., 126 Wn. App. 

181, 200, 108 P.3d 156 (2005). Further, the Department must tailor the services offered 

7 
No. 33890-8-III; 33891-6-III 

In re Parental Rights to IM-M and Z.M-M 

to the individual's needs. In re Dependency of TR., 108 Wn. App. 149, 161, 29 P.3d 

1275 (2001 ). In the context of a parent with both mental health and chemical dependency 

needs, the Department is obliged to provide integrated services. In re Welfare of S.J, 162 

Wn. App. 873,882,256 P.3d 470 (2011). 

The trial court's finding that C.M. was offered all necessary services is not 

supported by substantial evidence. C.M. was never offered integrated mental health and 

chemical dependency services as required by our case law. Id. From Dr. Smitham's 

evaluation, the Department was aware C.M. had a significant cognitive impairment 

impacting her ability to succeed in chemical dependency treatment and other services. 

This observation alone triggered the Department's obligation to provide integrated 

services. Id. Yet no such services were offered. Regardless of whether C.M. was 

actually developmentally disabled, the Department failed to provide available and 

appropriate services. 

The trial court's finding that C.M. was provided sufficient accommodations, 

despite the lack of integrated services, is not supported by the record. None ofC.M.'s 

service providers testified they were trained to work with cognitively disabled persons. 

Although Ms. Seward and Mr. Smith tried to provide C.M. additional attention upon 

8 
No. 33890-8-111; 33891-6-111 

In re Parental Rights to I.M-M and Z.M-M 

discovering she had some learning troubles, neither provider deployed techniques specific 

to C.M.'s impairment. 

Most significantly, C.M. was never provided sufficient accommodations during 

chemical dependency services. Ms. Seward testified she was unaware C.M. had cognitive 

difficulties or a learning impairment. 1 VRP (Sept. 9, 2015) at 47-48, 56. The assistance 

Ms. Seward provided C.M. was limited to completing homework assignments. Because 

she lacked appropriate information about C.M. 's needs, Ms. Seward was never equipped 

to help C.M. retain what she had learned in treatment and apply her skills to the outside 

world. The need for appropriate chemical dependency services was critical. C.M.'s 

primary parental deficiencies were substance abuse and homelessness. Without ensuring 

C.M.'s chemical dependency providers were aware of C.M.'s impairments and prepared 

to address them, the Department never provided C.M. the tools necessary to satisfy the 

requirements of the dependency. 

The trial court identified Dave Smith's work with C.M. as evidence the 

Department accommodated C.M.'s impairment. During his time with C.M., Mr. Smith 

discerned C.M. had some learning problems and he attempted to provide her with extra 

support. However, this added assistance was insufficient to satisfy the Department's 

burden. Not only did Mr. Smith lack sufficient information to provide appropriate 

9 
No. 33890-8-111; 33891-6-111 

In re Parental Rights to I.M-M and Z.M-M 

services, Mr. Smith's services were not in the right context. Mr. Smith worked with C.M. 

on family therapy to enhance her parenting skills. He was not an individual counselor or 

a substance abuse provider. Although it was appropriate for the Department to provide 

C.M. parenting services, deficient parenting skills was never one of C.M. 's primary 

problems. 1 The reason C.M. 's children were removed from her care was because she 

struggled with drug use and homelessness. Id. at 141. These were not problems Mr. 

Smith was in a position to address. 

Not only did the Department fail to provide C.M. with services tailored to her 

needs, it did not investigate those needs, as contemplated by the dependency court's own 

orders. C.M.'s dependency orders required a mental health evaluation. The only possible 

basis for this requirement was the reference in the dependency petition to C.M.'s 

cognitive impairment. No other mental health concerns were documented. Given this 

factual underpinning, one would expect C.M. 's mental health evaluation to focus on her 

cognitive abilities and provide a complete assessment. Yet this did not happen. Even 

though the Department's records previously indicated C.M. was "DD," the evaluation 

1 During her parenting assessment, C.M. was observed to have "nice basic 

parenting skills." 1 VRP (Sept. 9, 2015) at 64. The main concern identified during 

C.M.'s assessment was substance abuse and how that might impair C.M.'s ability to meet 

her children's needs. Id. at 63-64. 

IO 
No. 33890-8-111; 33891-6-111 

In re Parental Rights to I.M-M and Z.M-M 

procured for C.M. never resolved this issue. 2 2 VRP (Sept. 10, 2015) at 213. 

The Department's failure to investigate the apparent likelihood of a developmental 

disability diagnosis was significant. Had the Department obtained a comprehensive 

mental health evaluation revealing a developmental disability diagnosis, it would have 

been statutorily obliged to refer C.M. for services with the Department's developmental 

disabilities administration and coordinate a care plan. RCW 13 .34.136(2)(b )(i)(B). Such 

coordination would likely have ensured the provision of tailored services. The 

Department cannot escape its obligation to provide coordinated services by inexplicably 

failing to investigate the likelihood a parent is developmentally disabled. Our case law 

specifically requires the Department to identify a parent's specific needs and provide 

services to meet those needs. S.J, 162 Wn. App. at 883. This obligation was not met. 

Our conclusion that the Department failed to provide C.M. necessary and available 

services does not end our appellate inquiry. The Department is excused from providing 

otherwise required services if doing so would be futile. In re Welfare of MR.H., 145 Wn. 

App. 10, 25, 188 P .3d 510 (2008). The trial court found the futility requirement was 

2 The Department's brief inaccurately refers to C.M. as "not developmentally 

disabled." Br. ofResp't at 22. Because C.M. has never been tested for a developmental 

disability, the most that can be said is she has not been diagnosed as developmentally 

disabled. 

11 
No. 33890-8-III; 33891-6-III 

In re Parental Rights to lM-M and Z.M-M 

satisfied. Substantial evidence does not support this conclusion. 

No one working with C.M. during the dependency was aware of the full extent of 

C.M.'s cognitive impairment. As a result, none of the trial witnesses were able to offer 

competent testimony about whether integrated mental health and chemical dependency 

services would have been beneficial. The closest testimony came from Dr. Smitham, who 

expressed doubt about whether C.M. would ever be able to successfully parent her 

children, given her lack of a family support system. But because Dr. Smitham was not 

fully aware of C.M. 's needs, he lacked a sufficient basis for concluding additional 

services would be futile. 

This is not a case where the parent's actions alone demonstrate the futility of 

additional services. C.M. made notable efforts to engage in services and work with her 

providers. She promptly obtained a mental health evaluation, a chemical dependency 

evaluation, and a parenting assessment, as requested by the Department. Despite being 

homeless, C.M. kept in basic touch with her social workers.3 She engaged in various 

types of recommended services, including mental health therapy that was "pretty 

consistent" over the course of two years. 1 VRP (Sept. 9, 2015) at 175. C.M. also 

3 C.M. 's second social worker testified that C.M. sometimes fell out of contact. 

However, no specifics were provided. 

12 
No. 33890-8-III; 33891-6-III 

In re Parental Rights to I.M-M and Z.M-M 

regularly participated in visitations with her children up until the very end of the 

dependency. 2 VRP (Sept. 10, 2015) at 329. 

This is also not a case where the Department can show futility based on 

irreconcilable parent-child detachment. See In re Parental Rights to K.MM, 186 Wn.2d 

466,379 P.3d 75 (2016). During family therapy sessions with Mr. Smith, C.M.'s children 

expressed delight at seeing her.4 These positive interactions continued until late in the 

dependency.5 

C.M. demonstrated a willingness to engage in services for substantial periods of 

time. She worked "hard at being a parent." 1 VRP (Sept. 9, 2015) at 194. While C.M. 

was far from perfect, she was also not provided services tailored to her needs. Under the 

facts of this case, the record does not permit the conclusion that C.M. would have failed 

to progress, even if the Department had complied with its obligations. The trial court's 

findings to the contrary are not supported by substantial evidence. 

4 According to the family therapist, Mr. Smith, C.M. 's children were "tickled to 

see her. They were excited to see her. They would run to her." 1 VRP (Sept. 9, 2015) at 

89. 

5 During a visit late in the dependency, defense nurse expert Deliah Bruskas 

observed that C.M. 's children were "excited to see her. They ran towards her. They 

predominantly-whoever brought them, they just kind of left their presence and just kind 

of like magnets went to [C.M.]." 2 VRP (Sept. 10, 2015) at 232. 

13 
No. 33890-8-111; 33891-6-111 

In re Parental Rights to I.M-M and Z.M-M 

CONCLUSION 

Based on the foregoing, the matter is reversed and remanded for further action 

consistent with this opinion. 

Pennell, J. 

I CONCUR: 

14 
33890-8-111 (Consolidated with 33891-6-111) 

KORSMO, J. (dissenting)-This court has no ability to find facts. Since the trial 

court found the alleged facts upon which the defense rested to be unproven, we have no 

ability to find otherwise. Accordingly, I dissent. 

The critical portion of this case is found in the trial court's oral remarks, summing 

up its judgment: 

Compellingly, Mr. [sic] Smitham testified that he did not feel 

comfortable diagnosing Ms. [C.M.] with a developmental disability. As 

such, the record does not contain sufficient evidence to support such a 

conclusion. 

2 Verbatim Report of Proceedings (Sept. 10, 2015) at 332. The trial court also noted in 

its written findings that the treatment providers all worked with her in a manner to 

address her "shortcomings" but with "little or no progress." Clerk's Papers (CP) at 95. 

The court concluded that, "if the mother is developmentally delayed, there are no services 

that could have helped her." CP at 95. 

We have noted many times that we lack the ability to find facts and are not in a 

position to accept as truth evidence which the trial court rejected. E.g., Quinn v. Cherry 

Lane Auto Plaza, Inc., 153 Wn. App. 710,717,225 P.3d 266 (2009). As stated there: 
1 

I 

I 

l 

l 

1 

I 

I 

i 

l, 

J 

No. 33890-8-III 

In re Parental Rights to I.M-M and Z.M-M 

Id. 

In contrast, where a trial court finds that evidence is insufficient to persuade 

it that something occurred, an appellate court is simply not permitted to 

reweigh the evidence and come to a contrary finding. It invades the 

province of the trial court for an appellate court to find compelling that 

which the trial court found unpersuasive. 

Yet, that is exactly what the majority opinion does here. Based on its own 

determination that C.M. was developmentally disabled, or should have been found to 

have been developmentally disabled, the majority then discounts the substantial evidence 

supporting the court's actual findings. However, that is not the standard by which we 

consider whether the trial court's findings are correct. We look to see whether there was 

sufficient evidence "to persuade a rational, fair-minded person that the finding is true." 

Cantu v. Dep't of Labor & Indus., 168 Wn. App. 14, 21,277 P.3d 685 (2012). We do not 

weigh that evidence against competing evidence, let alone against competing evidence 

that does not exist. 

Another factor that raises concerns here is the context in which the developmental 

disability evidence, such as it is, was used. If counsel thought there actually was 

evidence that his client was developmentally disabled, he failed to act on it. There was 

no motion for summary judgment, no motion for a directed verdict, no motion to re-open 

the dependency, nor any motion to compel further evaluation or services. From this I 

infer that veteran defense counsel did not believe there was any evidence to support a 

finding that his client was developmentally disabled and in need of extra services. If 

2 
I 

I 

I 

! 

! 

I 

\ 

j 

I 

No. 33890-8-111 

In re Parental Rights to I.M-M and Z.M-M 

there was such a glaring hole in the State's case; counsel would have exploited it. 

Instead, he merely raised the possibility that a disability existed as a shield against the 

State's argument that it had provided all necessary services. 

While I agree that the Department of Social and Health Services cannot bury its 

head in the sand and decline to investigate a parent's suspected issues, there is no 

evidence that happened here. Although C.M. presented well, each of the treatment 

providers determined that she needed more assistance than normal and tailored their 

approaches to her. Despite those efforts, she failed to make any progress at all anywhere, 

even while dutifully showing up for most appointments. The trial court understandably 

determined that more efforts would be futile. While the majority can speculate that 

maybe she had more extensive difficulties than the experts and treatment providers noted, 

and that maybe there is a different way of getting through to her, there simply is no 

evidence such is the case. Speculation simply cannot replace evidence. 

The trial court carefully considered the argument C.M. made and determined that 

it was without evidentiary foundation. Substantial evidence supports that determination. 

This court should not be crediting her argument under those circumstances. 

I respectfully dissent. 

3