J - S72040
- 18

NON - PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37 IN RE: M.A.O.R., A/K/A M.O., A MINOR APPEAL OF: V.R.L., MOTHER : : : : : : : : : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF

PENNSYLVANIA

No. 657 MDA 2018 Appeal from the Decree Entered March 14 , 2018 In the Court of Common Pleas of Berks County Orphans ’ Court at No(s): 85415 IN RE: A.Y.O.R., A MINOR APPEAL OF: V.R.L., MOTHER : : : : : : : : : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF

PENNSYLVANIA

No. 658 MDA 2018 Appeal from the Decree Entered March 14 , 2018 In the Court of Common Pleas of Berks County Orphans ’ Court at No(s): 85416 IN RE: V.O.R., A MINOR APPEAL OF: V.R.L., MOTHER : : : : : : : : : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF

PENNSYLVANIA

No. 659 MDA 2018 Appeal from the Decree March 14 , 2018 In the Court of Common Pleas of Berks County Orphans ’ Court at No(s): 85417
BEFORE: BOWES, J., SHOGAN, J., and KUNSELMAN, J.J - S72040
- 18

- 2
-

MEMORANDUM BY BOWES, J.: FILED: MAY 20, 2019 V.R.L. (“Mother”) appeals from the orphans ’ court decrees entered on March 14 , 2018 , that granted the petitions filed by the Berks County Office of Children and Youth Services (“ CY S ”) to involuntarily terminate her p arental rights to three minor children : M.A.O.R
. , born January 2009; A.Y.O.R., born July 2010; and V.O.R., born June 2013. W e affirm. The family became involved with CYS during May of 2015 due to Mother ’ s inadequate parental supervision, deficient parent al skills , and neglect of the children ’ s basic needs. The agency was also concerned about Mother ’ s mental health, substance abuse, and susceptibility to domestic violence. Within a month, the juvenile court adjudicated the three children dependent and placed them together in their current foster home , a pre - adoptive
resource . The juvenile court ordered Mother to participate in parenting education, complete a ment al health evaluation and follow recommendations, obtain stable and appropriate housing , a nd continue employment. She was also required to maintain contact with CYS, complete casework services through third
- party referrals, and follow recommendations . In addition, Mother was ordered to comply with random urinalysis, complete a drug and alcoho l evaluation , and follow recommendations. Mot her ’ s compliance with the court
sanctioned reunification plan was inconsistent during the course of the dependency proceedings.J - S72040
- 18

- 3
-

On March 30, 2017, CYS filed petitions to involuntarily terminate Mother ’ s paren tal rights to M.A.O.R., A.Y.O.R., and V.O.R. pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S. § 2511(a)(2), (5), (8) , and (b). The orphans ’ court conducted a hearing on February 26, 2018. 1 CYS called one witness, Melissa Evans, the CYS caseworker who maintained the family ’ s case file. The witness ’ s testimony was guided by a twenty – page case summary that she prepared in anticipation of the hearing . CYS marked the summary as Exhibit 79, and sought to admit it into evidence a s part of a packet of eighty
- one exhibit s . Mothe r leveled hearsay objections to the admissibility of nearly all of the exhibits, and following argument, the orphans ’ court granted CYS ’ s request to take judicial notice of all but three exhibits. Specifically, the court took judicial notice of “all the d ocuments that were submitted and incorporated in [the] prior [dependency] hearings.” N.T., 2/26/18, at 101. Of the three exhibits that remained subject to Appellant ’ s hearsay objections, the orphans ’ court admitted Exhibit 71 and Exhibit 80 , two sets of documents that outlined Mother ’ s record of attendance at random drug tests and reported the attendant results , under the medical records exception to the rule against hearsay. Id . Thereafter, approximately two weeks after the hearing, the

_________________ __________ __________ _______ 1 The children ’ s legal interests were represented during the contested involuntary termination of parental rights proceedings by Melissa Krishock, Esquire, the guardian ad litem appointed to represent the best interests of the children during the dependency action. Atto rney Krishock confirmed that no conflict existed in her simultaneous representation of the children ’ s best interests and legal interests, having talked to the children and discerned the children ’ s preference to be adopted by their foster paren ts. N.T., 2/ 26/18, at 98, 116
- 17.J - S72040
- 18

- 4 -

orphans ’ court admitted without explanation Exhibit 79 , the twenty – page case summary that guided Ms. Evans ’ s in - court testimony. See Orphans ’ Court Order, 3/14/18, Document # 17. On M arch 14, 2018, the orphans ’ court terminated Mother ’ s parental rights to M.A. O.R., A.Y.O.R., and V.O.R. Mother filed timely notice s of appeal and complied with Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a)(2)(i) by simultaneous ly filing concise statement s of errors complained of on appeal. Mother presents five issues for our review. A. Whether the trial court erred as a matter of law and abused its discretion by permitting [CYS] to submit inadmissible hearsay evidence, to wit: a voluminous packet of exhibits
— including various reports from service providers, evaluations, case notes from third parties not p resent at the hearing
— all of which were submitted for the truth of the matters asserted therein, and not covered by any hearsay exc eptions under the Pennsylvania [R]ules of [E] vidence? B. Whether the lower court erred as a matter of law and abused its di scretion in its evidentiary rulings at hearing and in the order entered March 14, 2018, by admitting Exhibit no. 79 inadmissible hearsay evidence, to wit: the summary of court proceedings outline which of the caseworker ’ s rendition of the court proceedings and casework session, counseling and of the services or events, all of which were submitted for the truth of the matters asserted therein and not covered by any hearsay exception under the Pennsylvania Rules of Evidence? C. Whether the trial court erred in its evidentiary ruling at trial by permitting [CYS] to present hearsay testimony by the [CYS] caseworker? D. Whether the trial court erred in determining that [CY S] met its burden of proving by clear and convincing evidenc e that the statutory grounds for termination in 23 Pa.C.S.A
. § 2511 had been met?J - S72040
- 18

- 5 -

E. Whether the trial court erred in determining that [CYS] met its burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that termination best meets the needs and welfare of the child [ren] as required by 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 2511(b) ? Mother ’ s brief at 4. We review t hese claims mindful of our well
- settled standard of review: The standard of review in termination of parental rights cases requires appellate courts to accept the findings of fact and credibility determinations of the trial court if they are supported by t he record. If the factual findings are supported, appellate courts review to determine if the trial court made an error of law or abused its discretion. A decision may be reversed for an abuse of discretion only upon demonstration of manifest unreasonabl eness, partiality, prejudice, bias, or ill
- will. The trial court ’ s decision, however, should not be reversed merely because the record would support a different result. We have previously emphasized our deference to trial courts that often have first
- han d observations of the parties spanning multiple hearings. In re T.S.M. , 71 A.3d 251, 267 (Pa. 2013) (citations and quotation marks omitted). As Mother presents a single argument supporting her first three issues , we address those claims collectively. Moth er contends that the orphans ’ court ’ s admission of the CYS exhibits over her hearsay objection , particularly the case summary marked Exhibit 79, was contrary to our Supreme Court ’ s recent holding in In re A.J.R. - H. , 188 A.3d 1157 (Pa. 2018). In that case, the Court overruled the orphans ’ court ’ s wholesale admission of 167 exhibits under the business record s exception to the prohibition against hearsay, and concluded that the court ’ s evidentiary error could not be excused as harmless.J - S72040
- 18

- 6
-

Significantly , Mother does not invoke the Supreme Court ’ s holding in In
re A.J.R. - H. , for the specific proposition that en masse admission of exhibits is reversible error per se , as that was not our Supreme Court ’ s holding. In actuality, Mother relies upon our High Cour t ’ s discussion to highlight that the orphans ’ court ’ s admission of the “documents without proper foundation , specifically . . . the admission of [E]xhibit 79, the [case summary], is reversible error.” Mother ’ s brief at 9. (emphasis added). Mother continu es, “it cannot be asserted that the admission of said documents was harmless error in that the caseworker testified ongoingly [sic] to hearsay based on the documents offered as exhibits[.]” Id
. T he only aspects of the orphans ’ court ’ s evidentiary determin ation that is subject to Mother ’ s hearsay challenge relate to the court ’ s admis sion of Exhibits 71, 79, and 80 because the court took judicial notice of the information in the other seventy
- eight exhibits without objection. Thus, we limit our review to wh ether Mother ’ s hearsay argument has merit pursuant to the Supreme Court ’ s discussion in In re A.J.R. - H. In In re A.J.R. - H. , the Supreme Court rejected the orphans ’ court ’ s rote admission of a collection of exhibits under the business records exception,
w ithout proper foundation. The High Court reasoned,

Without question, the manner in which these exhibits were admitted into evidence in the first instance failed to satisfy the requirements of the business records exception. CYS did not present any wit ne ss in support of the exhibits ’ admission, let alone “the custodian or other qualified witness.” See 42 Pa.C.S. § 6108(b); Pa.R.E. 803(6)(D). Instead, all of the exhibits wereJ - S72040
- 18

- 7 -

presented to the court for admission, in bulk, by the county solicitor prior to calling any witnesses to testify. N.T., 8/12/2016, at 16. There was also no testimony of record that someone with knowledge created any of the 167 exhibits at or near the time of the event or that they were created in the regular practice of the various agencies from which the documents came. See 42 Pa.C.S. § 6108(b); Pa.R.E. 803(6)(A), (C). Additionally, none of the documents were certified copies. See Pa.R.E. 803(6)(D), 902(11). The only information provi ded at the time of the exhibits ’ adm ission was the county solicitor ’ s assurance, in response to the leadin g question posed by the orphans ’ court, that the exhibits were contained in CYS ’ s files and “were collected in the ordinary course of business with regard to this case.” N.T., 8/12/2016, at 18
- 19; see 42 Pa.C.S. § 6108(b); Pa.R.E. 803(6)(B). Id . at 1167
- 68 (footnote omitted). Thus, the High Court held that it was error for the orphans ’ court to admit the exhibits without first establishing the proper foundation to support the business record s exception. As the exhibits were not prepared by the testifying witnesses, and CYS neglected to lay a foundation with regard to their preparation, the exhibits were held to be inadmissible. Furthermore, as it relates to whether the evidentiary error was harmless in light of the concurrent testimony that CYS adduced at the evidentiary hearing, the High Court stressed, “ the standard for finding harm lessness in a termination case requires us to conclude that the evidentiary error could not have had any impact upon the orphans ’ court ’ s decision.” In re A.J.R. - H. , supra at 1175. Notably, it continued, “[t] hat there may have been properly admitted evid ence sufficient to support terminat ion does not render the orphans ’ court ’ s substantial evidentiary error harmless .” Id
.J - S72040
- 18

- 8
-

Thereafter, the In re A.J.R. - H. Court clarified that, while couched as harmless error, this Court ’ s practice of affirming a trial court decision on any basis supported by the certified record is, in reality, an application of the “right for any reason” doctrine. Id . at 1176. Importantly, the Court observed that this doctrine is inappropriate where an unresolved dispute of fact exists. It explained, “ appellate courts should refrain from assuming the role of a fact
finder in an attempt to sustain the action of the court below .” Id . (quoting Bearoff v. Bearoff Bros., Inc. , 327 A.2d 72, 76 ( Pa. 1974) )
. Hence, according to the High Court, t he right for any reason doctrine “ may not be used to affirm a decision when the appellate court must weigh evidence and engage in fact finding or make credibility determinations to reach a legal conclusion .” In re A.J. R. - H. , supra at 1176. Instantly, t he orphans ’ court neglected to identify which exception to the rule against hearsay it invoked to admit Exhibit 79 , Ms. Evans ’ s case summary . Notably, that exhibit is comparable to the “termination testimony,” marked as Exhibit 161 , which was a point of contention in In re A.J.R. - H . Id . at 1162
- 63. In the same manner that Ms. Evans relied upon Exhibit 79 throughout her testimony, the Supreme Court noted that “[a] t various points throughout her testimony, [the CYS witness] referred to her written summary of the case (Exhibit 161) to answer questions posed to her about the family. ” Id . at 1164.J - S72040
- 18

- 9
-

The In re A.J.R. - H . Court held that the written summary was inadmissible because, although it was created by the testifyin g caseworker, it was an aggregate of information from various unknown sources and prior caseworkers who did not provide corresponding documentation. As the Supreme Court noted, Exhibit 161 “ is comprised almost exclusively of additional hearsay statements (some with multiple levels of hearsay), for which no exception to the prohibition against hearsay was offered before the orphans ’ court. ” Id . at 1170. Indeed, citing In re Involuntary Termination of Parental Rights (Jones) , 297 A.2d 117, 121 ( Pa. 1972) , the Court reiterated that “ we have long recognized that summaries of this nature are not admissible at termination proceedings ” and observed that, while the summary may qualify as a business record insofar as it was compiled by the testifying caseworker, a pplication of the exception was inappropriate because the summary lacked any foundation regarding the “ sources of information and the time and manner of preparation.” In re A.J.R. - H . supra at 1170 (quoting Jones , supra at 121). Hence, the Supreme Court held that the orphans ’ court committed an abuse of discretion in admitting the myriad exhibits, including Exhibit 161, under the business record exception without requiring CYS to satisfy the foundational prerequisites. For the same reasons that the Supreme Court found Exhibit 161 inadmissible in In re A.J.R. - H. , we conclude that the orphans ’ court erred in admitting Exhibit 79 in the case at bar. In anticipation of her testimony, Ms.J - S72040
- 18

- 10
-

Evans created an aggregate summatio n of relevant information that she compiled from various undocumented sources. While it is possible that Exhibit 79 could qualif y as a Pa.R.E. 803(6) business record s hearsay exception , CYS neglected to proffer any foundational basis for the admission of the exhibit, or the numerous separate documents contained therein, and the orphans ’ court failed to identify which exception applied to warrant admission of the evidence over Mother ’ s hearsay objection. For similar reasons, the urine screens , marked as Exhibits 71 and 80 , are not admissible under the medical records exception found at Pa.R.E. 803(4) because CYS failed to proffer a foundation for th eir admission
. The orphans ’ court ’ s declaration that the exhibits fall within that exception is woefully i nadequate as it is beyond peradventure that m erely stating that a document is a medical record is insufficient to permit its admission into evidence
. Com monwealth v. Fink , 791 A.2d 1235, 1246 (Pa.Super. 2002)
. The Fink Court expounded on this reality as f ollows,

The medical treatment exception provides that testimony repeating out - of
- court statements made for the purposes of receiving medical treatment are admissible as substantive evidence.
. . . [A] statement comes within this exception when two requirements are met: (1) the declarant must make the statement for the purpose of receiving medical treatment, e.g ., statements relating to the cause of the injury, including testimony repeating statements made to nurses for the purposes of medical treat ment and diagnosis; and (2) the statement must be necessary and proper for diagnosis and treatment, e.g. , statements to medical personnel as to how the person sustained the injuries, but not the identity of the perpetrator.J - S72040
- 18

- 11 -

Id
. at 1246 (citing Commonwealt h v. Smith , 681 A.2d 1288, 1291 ( Pa. 1996 ) )
. Instantly, CYS neglected to demonstrate that the two exhibits, which track Mother ’ s attendance record and the results of the random urine screens,
were made for the purposes of receiving medical treatment or that they were necessary for medical diagnosis and treatment. As these foundational prerequisites are absent herein, the orphans ’ court erred in admitting the exhibits under the medical record s exception outlined in Pa.R.E. 803(4). Next, having expl ained that the orphans ’ court erred in admitting all three exhibits over Mother ’ s hearsay objections, a developed analysis of the error is warranted pursuant to In re A.J. R. - H. Preliminarily , we observe that, since Ms. Evans ’ s in - court testimony was found ed on the same out
- of
- court statements she compiled in Exhibit 79 , her admittedly duplicative testimony is insufficient to cure the orphans ’ court ’ s error in admitting the inadmissible hearsay. 2 See In re A.J.R. - H. , at 1172
- 73; citing Jones , supra ( casewo rker could not testify to substance of in admissible documentary evidence ); and In re Sanders Children , 312 A.2d 414, 416 ( Pa. 1973) (“The witness ’ [s] first
hand knowledge of some of the facts contained in the report cannot justify the

_________________ __________ __________ _______ 2 T he certified record is replete with examples of Ms. Evan s ’ s reference to the exhibit prior to answering questions posed during both direct examination and cross examination. See e.g . , N.T., 2/26/18, at 46, 61, 96.J - S72040
- 18

- 12
-

admission of otherwise incompetent hearsay testimony drawn from the same report .” )
. The In re A.J.R. - H. Court confronted this precise scenario and , relyi ng upon the foregoing precedent , it reasoned,

As in Jones and In re Sanders Children , [the case worker] in the case at bar admitted that the majority of her testimony was not based on her firsthand knowledge about the family, and instead that she relied on reports from prior CYS caseworkers and third
- party service providers. It could not have been otherwis e, as [the case worker] only assumed responsibility for the case in February 2016, around the time that CYS filed the petitions to terminate Mother ’ s parental rights to the Children
. Throughout her testimony, [the caseworker] regularly had to refer to the exhibits (in particular, Exhibit 161) to provide answers to questions posed to h er regarding the history of CYS ’ s involvement with the family and the parties ’ compliance with the court ordered services. No other witness provided any testimony in support o f the above
- findings made by the orphans ’ court in support of termination. In re A.J.R. - H. , at 1173 (internal citation to record omitted). Since Ms. Evans ’ s in - court testimony was drawn from Exhibit 79, we cannot simply rely upon that testimony to remed y the orphans ’ court ’ s error in failing to sustain Mother ’ s hearsay objection to that exhibit. 3 However, unlike the Supreme Court ’ s ultimate disposition in In re A.J.R. - H . , our review of the seventy
- eight exhibits of which the orphans ’ court took judicial notice

_________________ __________ __________ _______ 3 As Ms. Evans was the adoption caseworker, she had ample first
- hand knowledge of the children ’ s interactions with Mother and their foster parents, respectively. Hence, Ms. Evan ’ s testimony concerning the children ’ s needs and welfare pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S. § 2511( b) is not taint ed by her references to Exhibit 79.J - S72040
- 18

- 13
-

confirms that the certified record supports the orphans ’ court ’ s decision to terminate Mother ’ s parental rights notwithstanding its admission of Exhibit 79. Importantly, the state of the certified record, which is flush with j udicially
- noticed facts, is a significant departure from the circumstance that the High Court confronted in In re A.J.R. - H . Indeed, the packet of judicially
noticed exhibits includes six sets of permanency review hearings and their accompanying findings o f fact that provide the narrative of Mother ’ s progress between the first permanency review hearing during November 2015 and the permanency review hearing that preceded the orphans ’ court proceeding on February 2018. See CYS Exhibits 19
- 21, 22
- 24, 28
- 30, 3 4 - 36, and 46
- 51. In sum, that evidence reveals Mother ’ s noteworthy progress during the first several months of the dependency proceedings. During this period, Mother demonstrated substantial compliance with the reunification plan and moderate to substant ial progress toward alleviating the circumstances that led to the children ’ s placement. Mother ’ s attendance at the drug screens remained inconsistent, however, and she was discharged from a mental health program due to non
- attendance. Never theless, Mothe r maintained full
- time employment and independently obtained appropriate housing. However, these gains were ephemeral. After CYS granted Mother unsupervised overnight visitation with the three children, a precursor to reunification, Mother initiated a c ampaign of self
- sabotage that culminated in CY S filing the petitions to terminate her parental rights. Between FebruaryJ - S72040
- 18

- 14 -

2017 and January 2018, Mother made little progress toward reunification. She began by disappearing for two month s without contact ing C YS or the children. When Mother reappeared, she did little more than maintain employment and attend supervised visitations, which CYS reduced in frequency and duration
. Mother ’ s housing was sporadic, and she was uncooperative with CYS, her service provid ers, and mental health counselors. Mother was twice discharged from outpatient therapy for non
- attendance, and after the program readmitted her, it deemed her highly a pathetic and lacking a genuine commitment to treatment. Similar ly, Mother attended rand om drug screens infrequently, submitted diluted urine samples, and tested positive for K2 (a synthetic cannabinoid) on several occasions. 4 In addition, Mother ’ s unhealthy behavior remained a prevailing concern, as is highlighted by her irresponsible conduct and unwillingness to address her issues with domestic violence. For example, due to Mother ’ s noncompliance with the terms of her participation in the accelerated rehabilitative disposition (“ARD”) program in relation to a 2015 offense, the crimina l court revoked ARD and issued a bench warrant for her arrest during April 2017. Likewise, Mother continued to minimize the significance of her extensive history with domestic violence, and she justified her victimization. In this vein, Mother filed a pe tition for protection from abuse (“PFA”) against her quarrelsome paramour,

_________________ __________ __________ _______ 4 N early all of the evidence contained in the drug screen exhibits, Nos. 71 and 80, could be gleaned from the judicially
- noticed orders.J - S72040
- 18

- 15 -

but she elected to withdraw the petition before the entry of a final PFA order. As of December 2017, Mother maintains a relationship with her alleged abuser. Having reviewed all o f the judicially
- noticed facts, it is obvious that no unresolved dispute of fact exists which would require this Court to engage in fact finding, weigh evidence, or make credibility determinations. Hence, the underlying evidentiary errors “could not have had any impact upon the orphan ’ s court ’ s decision,” In re A.J.R. - H . , supra at 1175. Accordingly, the orphans ’ court ’ s evidentiary error s w ere harmless. Next, we address Mother ’ s remain ing argument that the orphans ’ court erred in finding that CYS demonst rated by clear and convincing evidence the statutory grounds to terminate her parental rights to M.A.O.R., A.Y.O.R., and V.O.R. From what we can glean from Mother ’ s scant argument, she contends that, after omitting the improperly admitted evidence from co nsideration , the remaining evidence was insufficient to support the termination of her parental rights. Mother ’ s a s s ertion fails. Termination of parental rights is governed by § 2511 of the Adoption Act, 23 Pa.C.S. §§ 2101
- 2938, which requires a bifurcated analysis: Initially, the focus is on the conduct of the parent. The party seeking termination must prove by clear and convincing evidence that the parent ’ s conduct satisfies the statutory grounds for termination delineated in Section 2511(a). Only if the court determines that the parent ’ s conduct warrants termination of his or her parental rights does the court engage in the second part of the analysis pursuant to Section 2511(b): determination of the needs and welfare of the child under the standard of best interestsJ - S72040
- 18

- 16
-

of the child. One major aspect of the needs and welfare analysis concerns the nature and status of the emotional bond between parent and child, with close attention paid to the effect on the child of permanently severing any such bond. In re L.M. , 923 A.2d 505, 511 (Pa.Super. 2007) (citations omitted). Instantly, the orphans ’ court terminated Mother ’ s parental rights pursuant to § 2511(a)(1), (2), (5) (8), and ( b), which provide as follows: § 2511. Grounds for involuntary termination (a) General rule. -- The rights of a parent in regard to a child may be terminated after a petition filed on any of the following grounds: (1) The parent by conduct continuing for a period of at least six months immediately preceding the filing of the petition either has evidenced a settled purpose of relinquishing parental claim to a child or has refused or failed to perform parental duties. (2) The repeated and continued incapacity, abuse, neglect or refusal of the parent has caused the child to be without essential parental care, control or subsistence necessary for his physical or mental well
- being and the conditions and causes of the incapacity, abuse, neglect or refusal cannot or will not be remedied by the parent.

. . . . (5) The child has been removed from the care of the parent by the court or under a voluntary agreement with an agency for a period of at least six months, the conditions which led to the removal or placement of the child continue to exist, the parent cannot or will not remedy those conditions within a reasonable period of time, the services or assistance reasonably available to the parent are not likely to remedy the conditions which led to the removal or placement of the child within a reasonable per iod of time and termination of the parental rights would best serve the needs and welfare of the child.

. . . .J - S72040
- 18

- 17 - (8) The child has been removed from the care of the parent by the court or under a voluntary agreement with an agency, 12 months or more have elapsed from the date of removal or placement, the conditions which led to the removal or placement of the child continue to exist and termination of parental rights would best serve the needs and welfare of the child.

. . . . (b) Other considerations. -- The court in terminating the rights of a parent shall give primary consideration to the developmental, physical and emotional needs and welfare of the child. The rights of a parent shall not be terminated solely on the basis of environmental factors such as inadequate housing, furnishings, income, clothing and medical care if found to be beyond the control of the parent. With respect to any petition filed pursuant to subsection (a)(1), (6) or (8), the court shall not consider any efforts by the parent to remedy the conditions described therein which are first initiated subsequent to the giving of notice of the filing of the petition. 23 Pa.C.S. § 2511(a) (1), (2), (5), (8), and (b). First, it is a well ensconced legal principle that appellate courts do not review sufficiency claims on a diminished record. See e.g. , D ’ Alessandro v. Pennsylvania State Police , 937 A.2d 404 , 410 (Pa. 2007) (plurality) ( quoting Commonwealth v. Lovette , 450 A.2d 975, 977 (Pa. 1982)) (“ A sufficiency claim will not be re viewed on a diminished record, ‘ but rather on the evidence actually presented to the finder of fact rendering the questioned verdict. ’ ” ) ; Commonwealth v. Weaver , 76 A.3d 562, 569 (Pa.Super. 2013) (law is clear that we are required to consider all evidence that was actually received without consideration as to admissibili ty of evidence or whetherJ - S72040
- 18

- 18
-

court ’ s evidentiary rulings were correct). Thus, Mother ’ s predicate contention that we must disregard the improperly admitted evidence is baseless. Moreover, as outli ned supra , and for the reasons cogently articulated in the orphan ’ s court opinion, CYS adduced ample evidence to sustain its burden of proof. Thus, after a thorough review of th e certified record, the parties ’ briefs and the pertinent law, we affirm the M arch 1 4 , 2018 decrees on the basis of the well
- reasoned trial court opinion entered on May 14, 2018 , by the distinguished Judge Benjamin Nevius. Decrees affirmed. Judge Shogan joins the memorandum. Judge Kunselman files a concurring statement.
Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq. Prothonotary

Date: 5 /20/2019Circulated 04/09/2019 10:10 AM R e c e i v e d 6 / 1 8 / 2 0 1 8 1 2 : 4 9 : 5 9 P M S u p e r i o r C o u rt M i d d l e D i s t r i c t

I N RE :
M
. A
. 0
. - R. A
. Y
. 0
. - R. V
. 0
. - R. F i l e d 6 / 18 / 2 0 18 1 2 :4 9 : 0 0 P M S u p e r i o r C o u rt M i d d l e D i s t r i c t 6 5 7 M D A 2 0 1 8 O F B E R K S C O UN T Y , P E NN S Y L V A N I A O RP H A N S ' C O U R T D I V I S I O N N o . 8 5 4 1 5 N o . 8 5 4 1 6 N o . 8 5 4 1 7 J e n n i fe r L
. G r i m e s , A t t o r n e y fo r B C C Y S , P e t

j ' t i n e r /A p p e l l e e M e li s s a Kr i s h o c k , G u a r d i a n A d L ite m K a th l e e n D au tr i c h , A t t o r n e y fo r N
. R
. , M o th e r Q ;p l N I O N , J , B e n

j a m i n N e v i u s , 

### J
. D a t e d : M a y 11 , 2 0 1 8 T h i s m a t t e r ari s e s fr o m s e p ara t e p e t i t i o n s ( th e " P e t i t i o n s " ) fil e d b y B e rk s C o un ty C h i l dr e n an d Y o u th S e rv i c e s ( " B C C Y S ' ' ) t o t e rm i n a t e th e p a r e n t a l r i g h t s o f V
. R
. - L. ( " M o th e r " ) , M
. 0
. - M
. ( " F a th e r " ) , an d

/ o r an y o n e e l s e c l a i m i n g p a t e rn i ty o f thr e e m i n o r c h il dr e n , M
. A
. 0
. - R
. ( b o rn 2 0 0 9 ) , A
. Y
. 0
. - R
. ( b o rn 2 0 10 ) , an d V
. 0
. - R
. ( b o rn 2 0 1 3 ) ( c o ll e c t i v e l y , th e " C h il dr e n " ) , p ur s u a n t t o S e c t i o n 2 5 1 1 o f th e A d o p t i o n A c t , 2 3 P a . C
. S
. A. § § 2 1 0 1 , 

### e t s e q . ( th e " A c t " )

. O n M ar c h 3 1 , 2 0 1 7 , B C C Y S fil e d a P e t i t i o n s fo r I n v o l u n t a r il y T e rm i n a t i o n o f P a r e n t a l R i g h t s r e l a t i v e t o M o th e r , F a th e r , an d / o r an y o n e e l s e c l a i m i n g p a t e rn i ty o f th e C h i l dr e n ( th e

" P e t i t i o n s " ) p ur s u an t t o S e c t i o n 2 5 1 1 o f th e A c t
. O n F e b ru ary 2 6 , 2 0 1 8 , th e C o u rt p r e s i d e d o v e r
a h e ar i n g o n B C C Y S ' s P e t i t i o n s . M o th e r w a s p r e s e n t i n th e c o u rtro o m w i th h e r c o ur t
- a p p o i n t e d

a tt o rn e y . F a th e r d i d n o t a tt e n d an d , i n fa c t , h a s n o t p art i c i p a t e d i n an y p ro c e e d i n g s i n d e p e n d e n c y o r b e fo r e th e O r p h an s ' C o urt r e l a t i v e t o th e C h il dr e n . O n F e b ru ar

y 2 6 , 2 0 1 8 , th e C o u rt e n t e r e d s e p ara t e O r d e rs t e rm i n a t i n g th e p ar e n t a l ri g h t s
o f F a th e r an d

/ o r an y o n e e l s e cl a i m i n g p a t e rn i ty o f th e C h il dr e n . O n M ar c h 1 4 , 2 0 1 8 , an d mu c h
c ar e fu l c o n s i d e r a t i o n , th e C o u rt e n t e r e d a s e p ara t e F i n a l D e c r e e t e rm i n a t i n g th e p a r e n t a l r i g h t s o f M o th e r , fi n d i n g th a t B C C Y S h a d e s t ab li s h e d i t s b u r d e n b y c l e ar an d c o n v i n c i n g e v i d e n c e . 1 O n

I F a th e r h a s n o t a

p p e a l e d th e C o urt ' s F i n a l D e c r e e t e r m i n a t i n g h i s p ar e n t a l r i g h t s . A c c o r d i n g l y , th i s O p i n i o n a d dr e s s e s M o th e r ' s a

p p e a l an d th e t e rm i n a t i o n o f h e r p ar e n t a l r i g h t s , o n l y .A p r il 1 3 , 2 0 1 8 , M o th e r fi l e d a N o t i c e o f A p p e a l ( th e " N o t i c e " ) an d a S t a t e m e n t o f M a t t e r s

C o mp l a i n e d o fo n A p p e a l ( th e " S t a t e m e n t " ) , ra i s i n g fi v e i s s u e s fo r c o n s i d e ra t i o n o n a p p e a l : (1 ) T h e tr i a l c o u rt e rr e d a s a m a tt e r o f l aw an d a b u s e d i t s d i s c r e t i o n b y p e rm i tt i n g th e A p p e ll e e B C C Y S t o s ub m i t i n a dm i s s i b l e h e ar s ay e v i d e n c e , t o w it : a v o l u m i n o u s p a c k e t o f e x h i b i t s - i n c l u d i n g v ar i o u s r e p o rt s fr o m s e r v i c e p ro v i d e r s , e v a l u a t i o n s , c a s e n o t e s fr o m th i r d p art i e s n o t p r e s e n t a t th e h e a r i n g - a ll w h i c h w e r e s ub m i tt e d fo r th e tru th o f th e m a t t e r s a s s e rt e d th e re i n , an d n o t c o v e r e d b y an y h e a r s ay e x c e p t i o n un d e r th e P e n n s y l v an i a R u l e s o f E v i d e n c e . ( 2 ) T h e l o w e r c o urt e rr e d a s a m a tt e r o f l aw an d a b u s e d i t s d i s c r e t i o n i n i t s e v i d e n t i ar y ru li n g s a t h e a r i n g an d i n th e O r d e r e n t e r e d M a r c h 1 4 , 2 0 1 8 , b y a dm i t t i n g E x h i b i t N o 7 9 , i n a dm i s s i b l e h e ar s ay , t o w i t : th e s u m m a r y o f c o urt p ro c e e d i n g s o u t l i n e w h i c h o f th e c a s e w o rk e r ' s r e n d i ti o n o f th e c o u rt p ro c e e d i n g s an d c a s e w o rk s e s s i o n , c o u n s e li n g an d o f th e s e rv i c e s o r e v e n t s , a ll o f w h i c h w e r e s u b m i tt e d fo r th e tru th o f th e m a tt e r s a s s e rt e d th e r e i n a n d n o t c o v e r e d b y an y h e ar s ay e x c e p ti o n u n d th e P e nn s y l v ani a R u l e s o f E v i d e n c e . ( 3 ) T h e tr i a l c o ur t e rr e d i n i t s e v i d e n t i a r y ru li n g a t tri a l b y p e rm i tt i n g B C C Y S t o p r e s e n t h e a r s ay t e s t i m o n y b y th e B C C Y S c a s e w o rk e r. ( 4 ) T h e T ri a l c o u rt e r

r e d i n d e t e rm i n i n g th a t th e B e rk s C o un ty O ffi c e o f C h il dr e n an d Y o u th S e rv i c e s ( B C C Y S ) m e t i t s b ur d e n o f p ro v i n g b y c l e a r a n d c o n v i n c i n g e v i d e n c e th a t th e s t a t u t o r y g ro u n d s fo r t e rm i n a t i o n i n 2 3 P a . C
. S
. A § 2 5 1 1 h a s b e e n m e t
. ( 5 ) T h e tr i a l c o urt e rr e d i n d e t e rm i n i n g th a t B C C Y S m e t i t s b ur d e n o f p ro v i n g b y c l e ar an d c o n v i n c i n g e v i d e n c e th a t t e rm i n a t i o n b e s t m e e t s th e n e e d s an d w e l far e o f th e c h il d a s r e qu i r e d b y 2 3 P a C
. S
. A § 2 5 1 l ( b )

. [ S e e S t a te m e n t , p . I ]
. I n s u m , M o th e r a r g u e s th a t th e C o urt m a d e a nu mb e r o f m i s t a k e n e v i d e n t i ary ru li n g s 

### p e rt a i n i n g t o h e ar s ay , an d th a t th e C o urt e r r ed i n fi n d i n g th a t ( a ) p a r e n t a l ri g h t s s h o u l d b e

2t e rm i n a t e d , an d ( b ) th a t t e rm i n a t i o n b e s t m e e t s th e n e e d s an d w e l far e o f th e C h il dr e n . [ I d

. , p p . 1 - 2 )

. M o th e r fa il e d t o r e qu e s t a tran s c r i p t o f th e p ro c e e d i n g s . T h i s O p i n i o n fo ll o w s . 2 W A I V E R A s an i n i t i a l m a tt e r , i t i s w e ll s e tt l e d th a t an a p p e ll a t e c o ur t m ay o n l y c o n s i d e r fa c t s
w h i c h h a v e b e e n d

u l y c e rt i fi e d i n th e r e c o r d o n a p p e a l. 

### S e e Mu r p h y v . Mu r ph y, 5 9 9 A
. 2 d 6 4 7 , 6 5 2 ( P a . S u

p e r. C t. l 9 9 l )

. 

### F ur th e rm o r e , th e a p p e ll an t i s r e s p o n s i b l e fo r p ro v i d i n g th e S u p e ri o r C o u rt w i th th e c o mp l e t e r e c o r d fo r r e v i e w . 

### S e e C o m . v . Fe flie, 5 8 1 A. 2 d 6 3 6 , 6 4 0 ( P a . S u p e r . C t. l 9 9 3 )

. « w h e r e a c l a i m i s d e p e n d e n t u p o n m a t e ri a l s n o t p ro v i d e d i n th e c e rt i fi e d r e c o r d , th e
c l a i m i s c o n s i d e r e d w a i v e d

. " 

### C o m . v . Pr oetto , 7 7 1 A. 2 d 8 2 3 , 8 3 4 ( P a . . S u p e r . C t. 2 0 0 1 )

. )) H e r e , a r e v i e w o f th e i s s u e s ra i s e d b y th e M o th e r i s d e p e n d e n t u p o n a tran s c ri p t o f th e p ro c e e d i n g s th a t d o c u m e n t s b o th p ro p e r p r e s e rv a t i o n o f i s s u e s an d th e b a s e s fo r th e C o u rt ' s d e c i s i o n t o t e rm i n a t e p a r e n t a l r i g h t s . M o th e r ' s fa il ur e t o h a v e th e h e ar i n g tra n s c ri b e d fo r o f fi c i a l

u s e s h o u l d r e s u l t i n a w a i v e r o f a ll i s s u e s o n a p p e a l. B A S E S F O R T E RM I N A T I O N S ub s t an t i v e l y , th e C o u rt t e rm i n a t e d M o th e r ' s p ar e n t a l r i g h ts b a s e d u p o n h e r fa il ur e t o
c o mp l y w i th C o u rt
- o r d e r e d s e rv i c e s , tr e a tm e n t , an d t e s t i n g . B C C Y S e s t a b li s h e d b y c l e a r an d
c o n v i n c i n g e v i d e n c e th a t , d e s p i t e nu m e r o u s c h an c e s > M o th e r fa il e d t o r e c o g n i z e o r r e m e dy
un s a fe c o n d i t i o n s p r e s e n t i n g a d an g e r t o h e r s e l f an d t o h e r C h il dr e n .

2 " T h e s t an d ar d o f r e v i e w i n t e rm i n a t i o n o f p a r e n t a l r i g h t s c a s e s r e qu i r e s a p p e ll a t e c o u rt s t o a c c e p t th e fi n d i n g s o f fa c t an d c r e d i b i li ty d e t e rm i n a t i o n s o f th e tri a l c o u rt 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 f th e fa c tu a l fi n d i n g s ar e s u p p o rt e d , a p p e l l a t e c o urt s r e v i e w t o d et e rm i n e i f th e tr i a l c o urt m a d e an e r r o r o f l aw o r a

b u s e d

. i t s d i s c r e t i o n . A d e c i s i o n m ay b e r e v e r s e d fo r an a b u s e o f d i s c r e t i o n o n l y u

p o n d e m o n s tra t i o n o f m an i f e s t unr e a s o n a

b l e n e s s , p a r t i a l i ty , p r e j u d i c e , b i a s , o r ill

- w il l. T h e tr i a l c o u rt' s d e c i s i o n , h o w e v e r , s h o u l d n o t b e r e v e r s e d m e r e l y b e c au s e th e r e c o r d w o u l d s u

p p o rt a d i ff

e r e n t r e s u l t. W e h a v e p r e v i o u s l y e mp h a s i z e d o u r d e f e r e n c e t o tr i a l c o u rt s th a t o ft e n h a v e fi r s t
- h an d o b s e rv a t i o n s o f th e p ar t i e s s p an n i n g mu l t i p l e h e a r i n g s . " I n r e A do p t i o n o f A

. C. , 1 6 2 A
. 3 d 1 1 2 3 , 1 1 2 8 ( 2 0 1 7 ) ( c it i n g I

n r e T. S

. M , 7 1 A. 3 d 2 5 1 , 2 6 7 ( P a . 2 0 1 3 ) ) ; s e e a l s o In re A d

o p t i o n o / S

.P

. , 4 7 A
. 3 d 8 1 7 , 8 2 6

- 2 7 ( P a . 2 0 1 2 ) ( " [ E ] v e n w h e r e th e fa c t s c o u l d s u p p o rt an o p p o s i t e r e s u lt , a s i s o ft e n th e c a s e i n . . t e rm i n a t i o n c a s e s , an a p p e ll a t e c o u rt mu s t r e s i s t th e ur g e t o s e c o n d g u e s s th e tri a l c o urt an d i mp o s e . I t s o w n c r e d i b i l ity d e t e r m i n a t i o n s an d j u d g m e n t " )

. 3O n M ay 2 6 , 2 0 1 5 , th e H o n . M a r y a n n U ll m an o f th e C o u rt o f th e B e rk s C o un ty C o u rt o f C o m m o n P l e a s e n t e r e d an O r d e r a d j u d i c a t i n g th e C h il dr e n d e p e n d e n t , r e qu ir i n g th a t M o th e r
c o mp l y w i th c e rt a i n s e rv i c e s , tr e a tm e n t , an d t e s t i n g . T h e C o u rt e x p an d e d th a t li s t o f o b li g a t i o n s th ro u g h s u

b s e qu e n t O r d e r s e n t e r e d i n c o n n e c t i o n w i th th e d e p e n d e n c y p ro c e e d i n g s a s a r e s u lt o f M o th e r ' s c o n t i nu e d fa il ur e t o m a k e s u i t ab l e p r o g r e s s . Am o n g o th e r th i n g s , th e C o urt o r d e r e d M o th e r t o : ( a ) U n d e r g o a m e n t a l h e a lth e v a l u a t i o n an d c o mp l y w i th an y

tr e a tm e n t r e c o m m e n d a ti o n s ; ( b ) E s t ab li s h an d m a in t a i n s u it ab l e an d a p p ro p r i a t e h o u s i n g an d m c o m e ; ( c ) N o t i f

y B C C Y S o fc h an g e s i n i n c o m e o r r e s i d e n c e ; ( d ) P art i c i p a t e i n c a s e w o rk s e s s i o n s th r o u g h B C C Y S an d c o mp l y w i th an y r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s ; ( e ) U n d e r g o a dru g an d a lc o h o l e v a l u a ti o n an d c o mp l y w ith an y tr e a tm e n t r e c o m m e n d a ti o n s ; an d ( f) U n d e r g o ran d o m uri n a l y s i s . S i n c e M ay 2 0 1 5 , M o th e r h a s fa il e d t o s a t i s fa c t o r il y p ar t i c i p a t e i n th e s e C o u rt
- o r d e r e d
s e rv ic e s , a m o n g o th e r s . F o r e x a mp l e , M o th e r i n c o n s i s t e n t l y a tt e n d e d m o n th l y c a s e w o rk
m e e t i n g s w i th B C C Y S an d fa il e d t o c o mp l y w i th r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s . B C C Y S c a s e w o rk e r , S ara E v an s ( " M s . E v an s " ) , i n d i c a t e d th a t M o th e r i n i t i a ll y a p p e a r e d m o ti v a t e d t o p art i c i p a t e i n p ro g ra m s an d c a s e w o rk s e s s i o n s , b u t th a t M o th e r fa il e d t o fo ll o w th ro u g h

. M s . E v an s t e s t i fi e d th a t M o th e r w o u l d p r e t e n d a s th o u g h s h e w a s h e ari n g ab o u t C o urt
- o r d e r e d s e rv i c e s fo r th e fi r s t t i m e e a c h t i m e th a t s h e m e t w i th B C C Y S
. R e c e n t l y , th i r d

- p arty s e rv i c e p ro v i d e r , Ju s ti c e W o rk s Y o u th C ar e ( " Ju s ti c e W o rk s " ) , r e p o rt e d t o B C C Y S th a t M o th e r fa il e d t o a p p e ar fo r fo u r s e s s i o n s i n D e c e mb e r 2 0 1 7 , a t w h i c h t i m e B C C Y S h a d ar

ran g e d fo r w e e k l y m e e t i n g s . F u rth e r , M o th e r p ro m i s e d t o p ro v i d e i n fo rm a t i o n t o B C C Y S r e g a r d i n g h e r m e n t a l h e a lth tr e a tm e n t an d p r o v i d e r s , b u t fa il e d t o d o s o . U l t i m a t e l y , Ju s t i c e W o rk s d i s c h a r g e d M o th e r fo r n o n - c o mp li an c e an d m i n i m a l p ro g r e s s . 

### 4W i th r e g ar d t o s t ab l e h o u s i n g , M o th e r m o v e d n i n e t i m e s o v e r th e c o u r s e o f th r e e y e a r s ,

m o s t l y r e s i d i n g w i th fa m il y an d fr i e n d s . S h e fr e qu e n t l y fa il e d t o a dv i s e B C C Y S o f h e r c h an g e s i n r e s i d e n c e . In fa c t , B C C Y S w a s un aw ar e w h e r e M o th e r w a s r e s i d i n g i m m e d i a t e l y p ri o r t o th e h e ari n g o n th e P e ti t i o n s . A s r e c e n t l y a s Ju l y 2 0 1 7 ( m o n th s a f t e r B C C Y S fil e d th e P e t it i o n s t o t e rm i n a t e h e r p ar e n t a l ri g h t s ) , M o th e r a v e rr e d t o a s e rv ic e p ro v i d e r i n an a p p li c a t i o n fo r h o u s i n g
a s s i s t an c e th a t s h e w a s h o m e l e s s , li v i n g o u t o f a c ar , an d w i th o u t fo o d

. F u rth e r , M s . E v an s
r e p o rt e d th a t M o th e r c h an g e d h e r t e l e p h o n e nu mb e r s nu m e r o u s t i m e s w ith o u t i n fo rm i n g B C C Y S , m a k i n g i t n i g h i mp o s s i b l e fo r B C C Y S t o c o n t a c t an d r e m i n d M o th e r a b o u t
a p p o i n tm e n t s an d o th e r o b li g a t i o n s . A lth o u g h M o th e r , fo r th e m o s t p art , c o n s i s t e n t l y p art i c i p a t e d i n v i s i t a t i o n w i th th e C h il dr e n , s h e e n g a g e d i n c o n d u c t fo r a p e ri o d o f t i m e th a t M s . E v an s d e s c r i b e d a s " s e l fs ab o t a g e . " S p e ci fi c a ll y , i n J anu a r y 2 0 1 7 , B C C Y S w a s w o rk i n g t o w a r d o v e rn i g h t v i s i t a t i o n w i th M o th e r , w ith th e g o a l o f r e un i fi c a t i o n . M o th e r , h o w e v e r , d i s a p p e ar e d an d c e a s e d a tt e n d i n g
v i s it a t i o n c o mp l e t e l y . O n e m o n th l a t e r , i n F e b ru a r y 2 0 1 7 , M o th e r c o n t a c t e d B C C Y S an d
a dv i s e d th a t s h e w a s " h i d i n g o u t " t o a v o i d c o n t a c t w i th an e x - p ara m o u r w h o h a d a s s au lt e d M o th e r . M o th e r r e v e a l e d th a t s h e w a s i n an a b u s i v e r e l a t i o n s h i p d

ur i n g th i s p e ri o d an d d i d n o t
w an t th e C h il dr e n t o s e e h e r . M s . E v an s a l s o r e p o rt e d th a t M o th e r a dm i tt e d t o fr e qu e n t
s ub s t an c e a

b u s e - K 2 - d

uri n g th i s p e ri o d

. W ith r e g ar d t o s u

b s t an c e a b u s e , M o th e r fa il e d t o a c kn o w l e d g e , mu c h l e s s p ro p e r l y
a d dr e s s , th e s e i s s u e s o r c o mp l y w i th C o u rt
- o r d e r e d tr e a tm e n t an d t e s t i n g . M s . E v an s i n d i c a t e d th a t , s i n c e 2 0 1 5 , M o th e r e n g a g e d an d d i s e n g a g e d i n dr u g an d a l c o h o l tr e a tm e n t

/ c o u n s e l i n g
nu m e ro u s t i m e s . T hr o u g h o u t h e r tr e a tm e n t , c o un s e l o r s r e p o rt e d th a t M o th e r a p p e ar e d

" a mb i v a l e n t> ' an d un m o t i v a t e d t o p arti c i p a t e i n tr e a tm e n t. M o th e r a p p e ar e d t o b e " i n d e n i a l " an d

5

### " m i n i m i z e d " h e r i s s u e s . A s a r e s u l t , M o th e r ' s c o un s e l o r s d i s c h ar g e d h e r fo r n o n - c o mp li an c e

mu lt i p l e t i m e s . I n J anu ar

y o f th i s y e ar - 1 0 m o n th s a ft e r B C C Y S fil e d it s P e t i t i o n s t o t e rm i n a t e M o th e r ' s p a r e n t a l ri g h t s - s h e s o u g h t t o r e e n g a g e i n dru g an d a lc o h o l c o un s e li n g . W ith r e g ar d t o t e s t i n g , M o th e r m i s s e d 6 6 o f h e r 1 1 8 s c h e d

u l e d s c r e e n i n g s , h a d a nu mb e r
o f d il u t e d s c r e e n i n g s , an d t e s t e d p o s i t i v e s e v e n t i m e s fo r K 2
. T h e m o s t re c e n t p o s i t i v e t e s t c a m e i n Ju l y 2 0 1 7 , m o r e th an th r e e m o n th s a ft e r B C C Y S fil e d th e P e t i t i o n s . A s M s . E v an s o b s e rv e d d ur i n g th e h e ar i n g o n th e P e t it i o n s , th i s w a s th e s a m e p e r i o d d uri n g w h ic h M o th e r p r o d

u c e d a
nu mb e r o f d il u t e d u r i n e s a mp l e s . T o th i s d a t e , c o n c e rn s r e m a i n a b o u t M o th e r ' s s o b r i e ty , a s s h e p ro v i d e d fo u r d il u t e d s a mp l e s an d fa il e d t o a tt e n d fo ur s c r e e n i n g s i m m e d i a t e l y p r i o r t o th e t e rm i n a t i o n h e ari n g fr o m D e c e mb e r 1 9 , 2 0 1 7 th ro u g h F e b ru a r y 2 0 , 2 0 1 8
. A d d it i o n a ll y , M o th e r h a d b e e n r e qu ir e d t o p arti c i p a t e i n m e n t a l h e a l th an d d o m e s t i c
v i o l e n c e e v a l u a t i o n s , a s w e ll a s p ar t i c i p a t e i n an y c o un s e li n g r e c o mm e n d e d a s a r e s u l t o f th o s e
e v a l u a t i o n s . A lth o u g h M o th e r p urp o r t e d t o p a rt i c i p a t e i n s o m e i n d i v i d u a l m e n t a l h e a lth th e ra

p y , M s . E v an s an d o th e r s w e r e un ab l e t o c o n fi rm w h a t s e rv i c e s M o th e r p a rt i c i p a t e d i n b e c au s e M o th e r d i d n o t p r o v i d e th e n e c e s s a r y i n f o rm a t i o n t o B C C Y S
. W i th r e g ar d t o d o m e s t i c v i o l e n c e c o n c e rn s , a s i n d i c a t e d a b o v e , i n e ar l y 2 0 1 7 , M o th e r
a dv i s e d B C C Y S th a t s h e w a s " h i d i n g 

### o u t ' tt o e s c a p e an a b u s i v e r e l a ti o n s h i p . T h e a ll e g e d a b u s e r
r e s i d e d w i th M o th e r a t th e t i m e . B C C Y S i d e n t i fi e d th i s c o n c e rn , a m o n g o th e r s , d uri n g th e d e p e n d e n c y p ro c e e d i n g s , an d th e C o u rt r e qu i r e d M o th e r t o p a rt i ci p a t e i n d o m e s t i c v i o l e n c e
c o un s e li n g . A lth o u g h M o th e r a tt e n d e d h e r d o m e s t i c v i o l e n c e e v a l u a t i o n an d b e g an tr e a tm e n t , s h e s h o rt l y th e r e a ft e r s t a rt e d fa il i n g t o a p p e a r fo r s e s s i o n s . ' A s a r e s u lt , i n J anu ar y '2 0 1 8 , M o th e r ' s d o m e s t i c v i o l e n c e c o un s e l o r d i s c h ar g e d h e r fr o m tr e a tm e n t
. In 

### c o n v e r s a t i o n s w i th M s .

6E v an s a

b o u t th e s i t

u a ti o n , M o th e r m i n i m i z e d th e r i s k an d fa il e d t o r e c o g n i z e th e d an g e r s o f an
a b u s e r li v i n g i n th e h o m e w i th h e r C hi l dr e n . W h il e a ll o f th i s w a s g o i n g o n w ith M o th e r , th e C h il dr e n h a d b e e n b o n d i n g an d a tt a c h i n g
w i th th e i r fo s t e r p ar e n t s , m o s t n o t a b l y l o o k i n g a t th e m a s b e i n g th e i r p ar e n t s . A lth o u g h M o th e r h a s a b o n d w ith th e C h il dr e n , an d a l th o u g h s h e c l e arl y l o v e s th e m v e r y mu c h , a ll e v i d e n c e p o i n t s t o w ar d th e b e s t i n t e r e s t s o f th e C h i l dr e n b e i n g s e rv e d b y r e m a i n i n g w i th th e ir r e s o u r c e fa m il y . M s . E v an s t e s t i fi e d th e C h il dr e n ar e d o i n g w e ll i n th e i r p l a c e m e n t an d th a t th e y h a v e b o n d e d
w i th th e i r fo s t e r p a r e n t s . F urth e r , M s . E v an s t e s t i fi e d th a t th e C h il dr e n e x p r e s s e d th e ir d e s i r e t o
r e m a i n i n th e c a r e o f th e i r fo s t e r p ar e n t s . M s . E v an s o b s e rv e d th e C h il dr e n i n t e ra c t i n g w i th th e fo s t e r p a r e n t s , an d h e r o b s e rv a t i o n s w e r e c o n s i s t e n t w i th th e d e s ir e s e x p r e s s e d t o h e r b y th e C h il dr e n . M s . E v an s o b s e rv e d th e C h il dr e n t e ll i n g th e fo s t e r m o th e r th a t th e y l o v e d h e r , an d s h e
n o t e d th a t th e C h il dr e n a r e cl e a r l y b o n d e d w i th th e fo s t e r p a r e n t s - th e y l o o k t o th e i r fo s t e r p a r e n t s fo r l o v e , s a fe ty , an d s u p p o rt. S e c t i o n 2 5 1 1 o f th e A c t p ro v i d e s , a m o n g o th e r th i n g s , th a t p ar e n t a l ri g h t s i n r e g a r d t o a
c h il d m ay b e t e rm i n a t e d i f /w h e n : ( I ) T h e p a r e n t b y c o n d u c t c o n t i nu i n g fo r a p e r i o d o f a t l e a s t s i x m o n th s i mm e d i a t e l y p r e c e d i n g th e fil i n g o f th e p e t i t i o n e i th e r b a s e v i d e n c e d a s e tt l e d p ur p o s e o f r e li n qu i s h i n g p a r e n t a l c l a i m t o a c h il d o r h a s r e fu s e d o r fa il e d t o p e r fo rm p a r e n t a l d u t i e s ; ( 2 ) T h e r e p e a t e d an d c o n ti nu e d i n c a p a c i ty , a b u s e , n e g l e c t o r r e fu s a l o f th e p ar e n t h a s c au s e d th e C h il dr e n t o b e w i th o u t e s s e n t i a l p a r e n t a l c ar e , c o n tro l o r s u b s i s t e n c e n e c e s s a r

y fo r h i s p h y s i c a l o r m e n t a l w e ll

- b e i n g an d th e c o n d it i o n s an d c au s e s o f th e i n c a

p a c ity , a b u s e , n e g l e c t o r r e fu s a l c an n o t o r · w ill n o t b e r e m e d i e d b y th e p ar e n t ; ( 5 ) T h e C h il dr e n h a s b e e n r e m o v e d fr o m th e c ar e o f th e p a r e n t b y th e c o urt o r un d e r a v o l u n t a r y a g r e e m e n t w i th an a g e n c y fo r a p e ri o d o f a t l e a s t s i x m o n th s , th e c o n d i t i o n s w h i c h l e d
7t o th e r e m o v a l o r p l a c e m e n t o f th e C h il dr e n c o n t i nu e t o e x i s t , th e p a r e n t c ann o t o r w ill n o t r e m e dy th o s e c o n d i t i o n s w i th i n a r e a s o n ab l e p e ri o d o f ti m e , th e s e rv i c e s o r a s s i s t an c e r e a s o n a

b l y a v a il a b l e t o th e p ar e n t ar e n o t li k e l y t o r e m e dy th e c o n d it i o n s w h i c h l e d t o th e r e m o v a l o r p l a c e m e n t o f th e C h il dr e n w i th i n a r e a s o n a b l e p e ri o d o f t i m e an d t e rm i n a t i o n o f th e p a r e n t a l ri g h t s w o u l d b e s t s e rv e th e n e e d s an d w e l fa r e o f

th e C h il dr e n ; an d ( 8 ) T h e C h il dr e n h a s b e e n r e m o v e d fr o m th e c ar e o f th e p a r e n t b y th e c o u rt o r un d e r a v o l u n t ar y a g r e e m e n t w ith an a g e n c y , tw e l v e m o n th s o r m o r e h a v e e l a p s e d fr o m th e d a t e o f r e m o v a l o r p l a c e m e n t , th e c o n d i t i o n s w h i c h l e d t o th e r e m o v a l o r p l a c e m e n t o f th e C h il dr e n c o n ti nu e t o e x i s t an d t e rm i n a t i o n o f p a r e n t a l r i g h t s w o u l d b e s t s e rv e th e n e e d s an d w e l fa r e o f th e C h il dr e n . " � e e 2 3 P a . C
. S
. A
. § 2 1 1 l ( a ) (l ) , ( 2 ) , ( 5 ) , an d ( 8 )

. S e c t i o n 2 5 1 1 furth e r p ro v i d e s th a t , " [ w ] i th r e s p e c t t o an y p e t i ti o n fil e d p u r s u an t t o ( a ) (l ) , ( 6 ) , o r ( 8 ) , th e c o u rt s h a ll n o t c o n s i d e r an y e ff ort s b y th e p ar e n t t o r e m e dy th e c o n d i t i o n s d e s c r i b e d th e r e i n w h i c h ar e fir s t i n i t i a t e d s u b s e qu e n t t o th e g i v i n g o f n o t i c e o f th e fi li n g o f th e p e t i t i o n . " 2 3 P a . C
. S
. A. § 2 5 1 l ( b )

. · " P ar e n t a l r i g h t s m ay n o t b e p r e s e rv e d b y w a i t i n g fo r s o m e
m o r e s u i t ab l e fi n an ci a l c ir c u m s t an c e o r c o n v e n i e n t t i m e fo r th e p e r fo rm an c e o fp a r e n t a l d u t i e s
an d r e s p o n s i b i li t i e s . " I

n r e : D

. J. S

. , 7 3 7 A. 2 d 2 8 3 , 2 8 7 ( P a . S u p e r . C t. 1 9 9 9 )

. T h e l o n g - s t an d i n g l aw o f th e C o mm o n w e a l th i s th a t th e i n a b ili ty o f a p a r e n t t o p e r fo rm p ar e n t a l d u t i e s m a k es h i m
o r h e r j u s t a s p a r e n t a ll y un fi t a s a p a r e n t w h o r e fu s e s t o p e rf o rm th e s e d

u ti e s . I n r e : B .L. W. , 8 4 3 A. 2 d 3 8 0 , 3 8 8 ( P a . S u

p e r . C t. 2 0 0 4 )

. R e g a r d l e s s o f i n a

b i li ty o r r e fu s a l , o n c e a p ar e n t d e m o ns tra t e s a fa il u r e t o fu lfi ll h i s o r h e r p a r e n t a l d u t i e s ,' th e c h il d ' s r i g h t t o fu lfi ll m e n t o f h i s o r h e r p o t e n t i a l i n a p e rm an e n t , h e a l th y ,

3 T h e r e i s n o s i mp l e o r e a s y d e fi n it i o n o f p a r e n t a l d u t i e s . P a r e n t a l d

u ty i s b e s t un d e r s t o o d i n r e l a t i o n t o th e n e e d s o f a c h il d

. A c h il d n e e d s l o v e , p r o t e c t i o n , g u i d an c e , an d s u p p o rt. T h e s e n e e d s , p h y s i c a l an d e m o t i o n a l , c an n o t b e m e t b y a m e r e l y p a s s i v e i n t e r e s t i n th e d e v e l o p m e n t o f th e c h i l d

. T hu s , th i s c o urt h a s h e l d th a t th e p a r e n t a l o b l i g a t i o n i s a p o s i t i v e d u ty w h i c h r e qu i r e s a ffi rm a t i v e p e r fo rm an c e . I n r e A d o p t i o n o f A

. C. , 1 6 2 A. 3 d a t 1 1 2 9
. 

### 8s a fe e n v i r o n m e n t w ith p ro p e r p a r e n t i n g s u p e r s e d e s th e p ar e n t' s b a s ic c o n s t it u t i o n a l r i g h t t o
c u s t o dy an d r e ari n g o f th e c h il d

. I d. I n t e rm i n a t i n g th e ri g h t s o f a p are n t , th e c o urt mu s t g i v e

" p ri m ar y c o n s i d e ra t i o n t o th e d e v el o p m e n t a l , p h y s i c a l , an d e m o t i o n a l n e e d s an d w e l fa r e o f th e [ c [ h i l dre n . " 2 3 P a . C
. S
. A
. § 2 5 1 1 ( b )

. T h e C o u rt c an a

p p r e c i a t e th a t M o th e r c a r e s fo r th e C hi l dr e n . T h a t s a i d , g i v e n nu m e ro u s
o p p o rt un it i e s , M o th e r h a s s h o w n a p ro p e n s i ty fo r b e g i n n i n g s e rv i c e s b u t fa i l i n g t o fo ll o w th ro u g h

. M o th e r b e g an b u t fa il e d t o c o mp l e t e d o m e s ti c v i o l e n c e c o un s e li n g . M o th e r b e g an b u t fo il e d t o c o mp l e t e dru g an d a lc o h o l tr e a tm e n t. M o th e r b e g an b u t fa il e d t o c o mp l e t e i n d i v i d u a l

m e n t a l h e a lth c o un s e li n g . M o th e r b e g an , b u t fa il e d t o p art i c i p a t e i n c a s e w o rk s e rv i c e s . B a s e d u p o n M s . E v an s ' s t e s t i m o n y , th e C h il dr e n a r e b o n d e d w ith th e fo s t e r p a r e n t s . T e rm i n a ti n g M o th e r ' s p a r e n t a l r i g h t s w ill n o t d e tri m e n t a ll y a ff e c t th e C h il dr e n . I n fa c t , th e fo s t e r p a r e n t s ar e r e s o u r c e s w h o c an c o n t i nu e t o m e e t th e C h i l dr e n ' s d e v e l o p m e n t a l , p h y s i c a l , an d e m o t i o n a l n e e d s . I t i s , th e r e fo r e , i n th e C hi l dr e n ' s b e s t i n t e r e s t t o c o n t i nu e i n th e c a r e o f th e i r fo s t e r p a r e n t s . M o th e r w a s un a

b l e o r un w i lli n g t o c o mp l y w i th C o ur t
- o r d e r e d s e rv ic e s , an d t o m a k e th e
c h an g e s n e c e s s a r

y t o p ro v i d e fo r a s a fe , h e a l th y , an d p e rm an e n t li v i n g e n v i ro n m e n t fo r th e C h il dr e n . A ft e r mu c h r e fl e c t i o n o n th e m a tt e r , an d a ft e r c ar e fu l c o n s i d e ra t i o n , th e C o u rt t e rm i n a t e d M o th e r ' s p a r e n t a l ri g h t s t o o ff e r th e C h il dr e n th e p e rm an e n c y th e y n e e d

. T h e C h il dr e n d e s e rv e s t a

b i li ty , p e rm an e n c y , an d an o p p o rt un i ty t o g ro w u

p i n an e n v i ro n m e n t fr e e o f th e d i s ru p t i o n an d tu rm o i l s u r

ro un d i n g th e d e p e n d e n c y p ro c e s s . H e r e , M o th e r ' s " ri g h t t o th e c u s t o dy an d r e ari n g o f [ C] h il dr e n i s c o n v e rt e d , u p o n th e fa il ur e t o fu l fi ll h e r p ar e n t a l d u t i e s .j o th e [ C) h il dr e n ' s ri g h t t o h a v e p ro p e r p a r e n ti n g an d fu l fi ll m e n t o f h i s o r h e r p o t e n t i a l i n a p e rm an e n t , h e a lth y s a fe 

### e n v i r o nm e n t , H I n r e : B

. L. 

## w : , 8 4 3

9A
. 2 d a t 3 8 8
. A s th e S u p e ri o r C o u rt h a s o b s e rv e d , " i t i s t i m e t o g i v e [ th e C h i l dr e n ] a c h a n c e t o h a v e [ th e i r ] fu n d a m e n t a l n e e d s m e t w i th o u t th e c o n s t a n t i n s e c ur i ty th a t c o m e s w i th kn o w i n g th a t

s o m e d a y , p e r

h a p s i n th e u nre a s o n ab l y d i s t a n t fu tu r e , [ th e y ] m i g h t a g a i n b e w r e n c h e d a w a y fr o m [ th e i r ] c o m m i tt e d a n d c a p a b l e c a r e g i v e rs . " 

### I

d. ( qu o t i n g 

### I

n r e N. C. , 7 6 3 A
. 2 d 9 1 3 , 9 1 9 ( P a . S u p e r . C t. 2 0 0 0 ) )

. F o r th e fo r e g o i n g r e a s o n s , th e C o u rt fo un d th a t B C C Y S c a r ri e d it s b u r d e n o f e s t ab li s h i n g b y cl e a r an d c o n v i n c i n g e v i d e n c e th a t M o th e r ' s p a r e n t a l r i g h t s s h o u l d b e t e rm i n a t e d , an d th a t , i n fa c t , it i s i n th e b e s t i n t e r e s t o f th e C h il dr e n th a t th i s o c c ur . A s s u c h , th e C o urt e n t e r e d i t s D e c r e e t e rm i n a t i n g th e p ar e n t a l ri g h t s o f M o th e r t o th e C h il dr e n . 4

B Y T H E C O U R T :

D i s tr i b u t i o n : C l e rk o f th e O r

p h an s ' C o ur

t B C C Y S S o li ci t o r G u a r d i an A d L i t e m A tt o rn e y fo r M o th e r A tt o rn e y fo r F a th e r

4 W i th r e g a r d t o M o th e r ' s o b j e c t i o n s b a s e d u

p o n e v i d e n t i ary ru l i n g s , w h i c h ar e n o t p r e s e rv e d o n a p p e a l , " [ a ] tr i a l c o u rt h a s b ro a d d i s c r e t i o n t o d e t e rm i n e w h e th e r e v i d e n c e i s a dm i s s i b l e an d a tr i a l c o ur t ' s ru li n g o n an e v l d e n t i ary i s s u e w ill b e r e v e r s e d o n l y i f th e c o u r t a b u s e d it s d i s c r e t i o n . " C

o m . v . C o o k , 6 7 6 A. 2 d 6 3 9 , 6 4 7 ( P a . 1 9 9 6 )

. A c c o r d i n g l y , a ru l i n g a dm i tt i n g e v i d e n c e " w ill n o t b e d i s t ur b e d o n a p p e a l un l e s s th a t ru li n g r e fl e c t s m an i f e s t un r e a s o n a b l e n e s s , o r p ar t i a l i ty , p r e

j u d i c e , b i a s , o r i l l

- w i l l , o r s u c h l a c k o f s u p p o rt t o b e cl e a r l y e rr o n e o u s . " C o 111

. v . M i n i c h , 4 A. 3 d I 0 6 3 , 1 0 6 8 ( P a . S u p e r . C t. 2 0 I 0 ) ( c it a t i o n s o m i tt e d ) ; s e e a { s o C o m . v . H u g g i n s , 6 8 A
. 3 d 9 6 2 , 9 6 6 ( P a . S u p e r . C t. 2 0 1 3 )

. H e r e , th e C o u rt e n t e r t a i n e d , c a r e fu l l y c o n s i d e r e d , an d ru l e d o n e v i d e n t l a r y o b j e c t i o n s . A ll d o c u m e n t s a dm i tt e d a r e d o c u m e n t s o f B C C Y S k e p t i n th e o r d i n a r y c o u r s e o f th e d e p e n d e n c y an d o r p h an s ' c o u r t p ro c e e d i n g s , an d

/ o r p r e p a r e d b y it s c a s e w o rk e r s . 1 0