1 ... S eeT EX . R. A PP . P. 47. 4. 

## COURT OF APPEALS SECOND DISTRICTOFTEXAS FORT WORTH NO. 2 - 0 7 - 3 4 2 - CV IN T H E IN T E R E S TO FA .L .W ., M I NORCH I L D

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FR O M THE 211TH DI STRI CT CO URT O F DENTO N CO UN TY

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### M E M ORANDU M OP I NI ON 1

----- ----- -- I nt r oduc t i on A ppel l antC . L. W . appeal s t he t r i al court ’ s or dert er m i nat i ng herpar ent al r i ght s t o he rda ught er , A . L. W . I n he rf i r sts i x po i nt s, app el l ant ar gue s t hatt he e v i d e n c e i s l e g a l l y a n d f a c t u a l l y i n s u f f i c i e n t t o s u p p o rt a n y o f t he t hr ee s t a t u t o r yg r o u n d s f o rt e r m in a t io n p le a d e d b yt h e T e x a s D e p a rt m e n to fF a m ily a n d P ro te c ti v e S e rv i c e s (T D F P S ). S ee T EX . F AM . C ODE A NN . § 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 )(D ),2 ... I n Decem ber2006 , t he t r i al co urts i gne d t he f i nal or der i n C . L. ’ s and

C .D .’s c a s e a n d a p p o i n te d a p p e l l a n t’s fa th e r, R o g e r W ., a s th e b o y s ’ p ri m a ry m a n a g i n g c o n s e rv a to r a n d a p p e l l a n t a s p o s s e s s o ryc o n s e rv a to r.

3 ... A . L. W . ’ s al l ege d f at her , C. M . L. , co ul d notbel oca t ed and di d not a pp e a ra tt r i a l . Th e t r i a l c ou rt t e r m i na t e d hi s pa r e nt a l r i gh t s on Se pt e m be r14, 2 0 0 7 . H e d i d n o t a p p e a l th a t o rd e r. 2 ( E) , ( O ) ( V er non Su pp. 20 07 ) . A ppel l ant al so ar gues t hatt he t r i al courter r ed i n ov er r ul i ng he robj ec t i on t o t he St at e’ s st and i ng t o c ont es the ri ndi gen cy f or p u rp o s e s o f a p p o i n tm e n t o f a p p e l l a te c o u n s e l . B a c k g rou n d F a c ts I n Ja nua r y 2006, a ppe l l antad m i t t ed t hats he had done m e t ha m ph e t a m i ne s , w hi l e o n pr ob a t i on f or f e l on y a ut o t he f t . I n M a r c h 2006, appel l antdi scover ed t hatshe w as pr egnan t . A .L .W . w as bor n t en w eeks pr em at ur e on Jul y 29 , 20 06 . O n A ugu st 31 , 20 06 , TD FPS r ecei ved a r ef er r al a l l e gi ng t ha ta pp e l l a nth a d ph ys i c a l l y a bu s e d A. L . W . O n Se pt e m be r11, 2006 , TD FPS r em ove d A. L. W . w hi l e A. L. W . w ass t i l l i n t he hos pi t al be ca us e o f t he r ef er r al an d a ppe l l ant ’ s hi st ory ofdr ug a bus e. Appel l ant ’ s ot hert w o c hi l dr en, C . L. and C . D . , had been r em oved i n Jun e 20 05 because of appel l ant ’ s dr ug use and ne gl ec t f ul s upe rvi si on. T D F P S p l a c e d a l l o f th e c h i l d re n w i th a p p e l l a n t’s 2 fa th e r R o g e r. 33

In M a y2 0 0 7 , d o c t o r s d ia g n o s e d A .L .W . w it h c e r e b r a l p a ls y . S h e w ill p rob a b ly n e v e r be ab l e to w a l k , tal k , o r ca re fo r he rse l f. S h e h a s d i ffi c u l ty eat i ng becau se ofa hi gh pal at e and m uscul arpr obl em s i n and ar oun d her m outh. I n addi t i on, A . L. W . r equi r es speci al assi st ance and equ i pm entt o bat he. S he i s unabl e t o si t up and w i l l conti nue t o st r ugg l e w i t h ot herbasi c l i f e ski l l s. A .L .W . h a s e x te n s i v e m u s c l e p ro b l e m s a n d re q u i re s c o n s ta n t a tte n ti o n . In N o v e m b e r2 0 0 6 , a p p e lla n t a g a in t e s t e d p o s it iv e f o rd r u g s a f t e ra h a ir f ol l i cl e t est . I n Janu ar y and Feb r uar y 20 07 , appel l antadm i t t ed t o usi ng dr ugs, and ur i nary ana l ys i s ( U A ) and hai rf ol l i cl e t es t s con f i r m ed t hats he w aspos i t i ve f orbot h m et ham phe t am i nesan d c oca i ne. I n t he e a rl y m o r ni ng ho ur s of Feb r uary 22, 2007 , pol i c e a r r es t ed app el l antf orpubl i c i nt oxi ca t i on a f t ers he becam e d ru nk and go ti n a f i ght w i t h a gi r l ata bar . A ppel l antm i ssed her T D F P S h e a ri n g l a te r th a t d a ya n d s p e n t th re e m o n th s i n j a i l . O n M a rch 1 8 , 2 0 0 7 , w h i l e a p p e l l a n t w a s i n j a i l , A .L.W . w e n t t o l i v e w i th a p p e lla n t ’s h a lf -s is t e r , P e n n yG ., in C o l o r a d o . A lt h o u g h T D F P S h a d in it ia lly p l a c e d A .L .W . w i th R o g e r, h e g a v e A .L .W . to a p p e l l a n t’s m o th e r, S a n d ra T ., w i t houtt el l i ng TD FPS. Sandr a t hen s oughtt o ha ve A . L. W . pl ac ed w i t h Pe nny. Penn y and herhusband w er e st at e t r oop er s, and t hey had t hr ee chi l dr en. They
w el com ed A . L. W . i nt o t hei r hom e and pr ovi ded herw i t h t her apy and m edi cal c a re . P e n n yw a n te d to a d o p t A .L .W .4

O n M a y 13, 2007 , a pp e l l a ntw a s r e l e a s e d f r om j a i l . ByJ un e 2007 , app el l antha d notpa rt i ci pat ed i n ou t-p a ti entdr ug t r ea t m entorco uns el i ng, at t ended A l coho l i cs A non ym ous ( A A ) or N ar cot i cs A non ym ous ( N A ) m eet i ngs, o r s u b m i tte d to ra n d o m d ru g te s ts . Th e t e r m i na ti o n b e nc h t r i a l w a s h e l d on J ul y 25 a nd Se pt e m be r14, 20 07 . Shel by Joh nson, a TD FPS casew or ker assi gned t o appel l ant ’ s case si nce A u g u s t2 0 0 6 , t e s t if ie d t h a t a p p e lla n t h a d a p a t t e r n o f n o tt a k in g a n a c t iv e ro le i n herservi ce pl an unti l TD FPS r eached t he poi ntoft er m i nat i ng herpar ent al ri g h ts. Fo r ex a m p l e , i n C .L.’ s. an d C .D .’ s c a se , a p p e l l a n t w o u l d n o t pa rt i c i p a te i n herr equi r ed servi ce pl an unti l she t hou ght she w oul d l ose cust ody o fher sons, and t hen she w oul d becom e m or e ser i ous abou tcom pl et i ng herpr ogr am . O nceTD FPS gav e c us t ody of C. L. an d C. D . t o he rf at her , ap pel l ant d i s c o n ti n u e d h e r s e rv i c e s . John son t est i f i ed t hatappel l anthad t w o year s t o com pl et e t he servi ces r equest ed by T D FP S in C . L. ’ s and C . D . ’ s case, butappel l anthad not yet r esol ved heri ssues. John son had con cer ns about appel l ant ’ s l ong - t er m abi l i t i es a s a p a ren t, h e r p a ttern o f i n c o n sisten c y , a n d h e r r e fu sa l to ta k e res p o n sibi l i ty f orheract i ons. John son st at ed t hat appel l ant had not don e w hatw as needed t o r egai n f ul l cust ody o fher sons, and unl i ke A . L. W . t hey do nothave speci al nee ds . John so n t es t i f i ed t hats he nev err ec ei ved doc um ent at i on t hatap pel l ant5

a tten d e d N A o r A A m e e ti n g s. A p p e l l a n t t o l d J o h n so n tha t sh e d i d n o t w a n t t o at t end N A m eet i ngs because she w oul d see ol d f r i ends, butJohn son t est i f i ed t hats he di d notbe l i eveap pel l antw asbe i ng ho nes tor s e ri ous . Jo hns on bel i eve d t hatap pel l antj us t d i d notw antt o go t o t he m ee t i ngs . Jo hns on t es t i f i ed t hat sh e had w or ke d w i t h app el l ant f or t hr ee yea r s and di d notbe l i eve anyt hi ng app el l antsai d because she had con si st ent l y l i ed t hr oug hou tt he case. John so n r ec om m end ed t hatap pel l ant ’ s par ent al r i ght s be t er m i nat ed bas ed on h e r fa i l u re to c o m p l yw i th h e r s e rv i c e p l a n . C A S A vol unteer June S pl ai n, w ho becam e i nvol ved w i t h appel l ant ’ s case i n O ct ober 20 06 , t est i f i ed r egar di ng app el l ant ’ s em pl oym ent . She st at ed t hat sh e w a s u n a b l e to v e ri fy th ree o f ap p e l l a n t’ s p rev i o u s p l a c e s o f em p l o y m e n t. A ddi t i ona l l y, Spl ai n nev er r ec ei ved any doc um ent at i on f r om ap pel l antr ega r di ng herem p l o y m e n t orhe rA A orN A cl as se s. Spl ai n t es t i f i ed t hatap pel l ant c o m p le t e d p a r e n t in g c la s s e s a n d a p s y c h o lo g ic a l e v a lu a t io n , b u ta p p e lla n td id notco m pl et e t he f ol l ow - up r equ i r em ent s oft he ps ych ol ogi ca l e v a l u a t i on or com pl y w i t h t he cou ns el i ng or der . Spl ai n a l so t es t i f i ed t hatA . L. W . ne ede d a hom e w i t h s t abi l i t y, co ns i st enc y, nurt ur i ng, an d l ove , w hi ch app el l ant had not bee n a bl e t o pr ovi de butPen ny h ad. Addi t i ona l l y, Spl ai n t es t i f i ed t hatap pel l ant and R ogerw er e i n deni al about A . L. W . ’ s cond i t i on and di sagr eed t hat she had n e e d e d t h e r a p yim m e d ia t e ly . A p p e lla n td id n o tu n d e r s t a n d t h e t y p e o fd a ily6

ca r e and t her api es t hat A . L. W . r equ i r ed. Spl ai n s t at ed t hatap pel l antw asnot i n c o m p l i a n c e w i th h e r s e rv i c e p l a n a n d d i d n o t h a v e th e re q u i re d s k i l l s to c a re fo r A .L .W . S h e b e l i e v e d th a t i t w a s i n A .L .W .’s b e s t i n te re s t f o r a p p e l l a n t’s p a re n ta l ri g h ts to b e te rm i n a te d . N i c o l e J o rda n tes ti fi e d tha t sh e h a d b e e n a p p e l l a n t’ s N A sp o n so r f o r t w o w eeks and t hatappel l anthad been cl ean f orsi x orseven m onths. She st at ed th a t t h e ytal k e d o n a d a i l yb a sis. S h e b e l i e v e d tha t ap p e ll a n t w a n ted to succeed and t hatshe w as a pr ot ect i ve and car i ng m ot her . S he t est i f i ed t hat sh e h ad se en cha nge s i n a ppe l l ant , s uch asm or e l ovean d c om pas si on. A p p e lla n t ’s f a t h e r , R o g e r , t e s t if ie d t h a t h e h a d s e e n d r a m a t ic c h a n g e s in appel l ant ’ s l i f e; f orexam pl e, she di d not have an at t i t ude anym or e, and she w as not aggr essi ve. H e t est i f i ed t hatappel l antw as m or e u n d e rs t andi ng w i t h her so n s a n d n o t as se l fi sh . H e also sta ted tha t ap p e l l a n t ne e d e d m o re ti m e to m ak e a ddi t i ona l ch ang es , buts he w ashe ade d i n t he r i ghtdi r ec t i on. A ppel l ant ’ s m ot her , S andr a, t est i f i ed t hat appel l anthad spor adi cal l y l i ved
w i t h herunt i l Januar y 20 06 w hen S andr a t ol d herto m o v e out because appel l ant w as st ayi ng out al l ni ght. S he st at ed t hatt hey had notal w ays had a good r el at i onship a n d t hatappel l anthad been an gr y, butappel l anthad chang ed i n t he l ast t hr ee m onths. S andr a t est i f i ed t hat appel l antw as no l ong er a n g ry, w a s m o re fo c u se d an d rel a x e d , a n d h a d ap o l o g i ze d f o r t h e p a st.7

A ppel l ant ’ s r el at i onshi p w i t h C . L. and C . D . had al so chang ed; fo r e x am pl e, a p p e l l a n t i n te ra c te d w i th th e m m u c h b e tte r, a n d th e ys e e m e d h a p p yw i th h e r. Sandr a t es t i f i ed t hats he had ne vers ee n a cha nge l i ke t hi s i n a ppe l l ant , an d s he
w oul d notbet es t i f yi ng i n c ourti fs he di d nott hi nk app el l an tha d c han ged . Sandr a b el i eve d t hat app el l ant nee ded m or e t i m e b utt hats he w asf i nal l y go i ng i n t he r i ghtdi r ec t i on. S a n d ra ’sh u s b a n d a n d a p p e l l a n t’s s te p fa th e r, G a ryT ., a g re e d w i th S a n d ra a n d t e s t i f i e d t h a ta p p e l l ant had r e c e n t l yb e c o me a mu c h b e t t e rp a r e n t . He st at ed t hatap pel l antw asm or e l eve l , bal anc ed, and had t ak en r es pons i bi l i t y f or heract i ons. Because he w as al so a f or m er d ru g addi ct , G ar y t est i f i ed t hat
w hen app el l antcutt i es w i t h herdr ug f r i ends, he knew t hatshe w as ser i ous. G ar y al so t est i f i ed t hatappel l antneeded m or e t i m e t o m ake t hese changes. K ade W al l , appel l ant ’ s boyf r i end, t es ti f i ed t hatt hey had been t ogether sinc e F e b rua ry 2 0 0 7 . H e sta ted th a t he h a d se e n ch a n g e s i n h e r t e m p e ram e n t; f or exa m pl e, sh e doe s not f i ght w i t h her f am i l y any m or e. W al l t es t i f i ed t hathe and app el l anthad pl ans f or a l ong - t er m r el at i onshi p and pl anned t o buya house. H e a l so t es t i f i ed t hat app el l ant had not had any con t ac tw i t h he rdr ug f r i end s a n d m a d e a l o t o f p ro g re s s . H e s ta te d h e w a s p re p a re d to ta k e c a re o f A .L .W . i f so m e th i n g h a p p e n e d to a p p e l l a n t.8

A f t erW al l ’ s t es t i m ony, t he t r i al co urtr ec es se d unt i l ap pel l ant ’ s cou ns el or c o u ld t e s t if y . T h e t r ia l c o u rtre c o n v e n e d o n S e p t e m b e r1 4 , 2 0 0 7 . M ic h e lle G r e e r , a p r o f e s s io n a l c o u n s e lo r , t e s t if ie d t h a t a p p e lla n t b e g a n s e e in g h e rin F e b ru a ry 2 00 6. She st at ed t hatshe and appel l anthad m etf orf ourt een sess i ons and t hatshe had l astseen appel l anti n A ugu st20 07 . G r eert est i f i ed t hatappel l anthad not been soberf ort he r equi r ed si x t o ei ght m onths but t hat sh e h ad m adepr ogr es s. How eve r , G r ee r al so be l i eve d t hatap pel l antco ul d not m ai nt ai n s obr i et y o u ts i d e o fj ai l an d c oul d notca r e f orA . L. W . Addi t i ona l l y, G r ee rt es t i f i ed t hatap pel l antha d not ac ce pt ed r es pons i bi l i t y f or herac t i onsan d
w a s a t ri s kfo r re l a p s i n g a s s h e h a d d o n e p re v i o u s l y . The t r i al co urtde t er m i n e d th atap pel l ant( 1) kn ow i ngl y pl ac ed or know i ngl y al l ow ed A . L. W . t o r em ai n in c o ndi t i ons w hi ch endan ger ed her physi cal and em ot i onal w el l
- bei ng, ( 2) engag ed i n cond uctorknow i ngl y pl aced A . L. W . w i t h per sons w ho engag ed i n cond uct w hi ch endan ger ed herphysi cal orem ot i ona l w el l
- bei ng, ( 3) f ai l ed t o com pl y w i t h pr ovi si onsofhe rs ervi cepl an, a n d th a t ( 4 ) t e r m i n a ti o n w a s i n A .L .W .’s b e s t i n te re s t. S ee T EX . F AM . C ODE A NN . § § 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 )(D ), (E ), (O ) & (2 ). A p p e l l a n t ti m e l yfi l e d th i s a p p e a l .9 S t andar d ofRev i ew A pa r ent ’ s r i ght s t o “ t he com pan i ons hi p, ca r e, cu st ody, an d m a n a g e m e n t” o f h i s o r h e r c h i l d re n a re c o n s ti tu ti o n a l i n te re s ts “ fa r m o re pr eci ous t han anypr opert y r i ght. ” Santosky v. K ram er, 455 U. S. 745, 758- 59, 1 0 2 S . C t. 1 3 8 8 , 1 3 9 7 (1 9 8 2 ); I n reM. S. , 1 1 5 S .W .3 d 5 3 4 , 5 4 7 (T e x . 2 0 0 3 ). “W hi l e par ent al r i ghts ar e of const i t ut i onal m agni t ude, t hey ar e n o t a b sol ut e. Jus t as i t i s i m per at i ve f orco urt s t o r ec ogni z e t he con st i t ut i ona l unde r pi nni ngs of t he par ent - chi l d r el at i onshi p, i ti s al so essent i al t hatem ot i onal and phy si cal i nt er est s oft he chi l d not be sacr i f i ced m er el y t o pr eserve t hatr i ght. ” Inre C. H. , 89 S. W . 3d 17 , 26 ( Tex . 20 02 ) . I n a t er m i nat i on case, t he S t at e seeks notj us tt o l i m i tpa r enta l ri g ht s butt o e nd t hem pe r m ane nt l y— t o di ves tt he p a r e n ta n d c h ild o fa ll le g a l r i g h t s , p r iv ile g e s , d u t ie s , a n d p o w e r s n o r m a lly e x i s ti n g b e tw e e n th e m , e x c e p t fo r th e c h i l d ’sri g h t to i n h e ri t. T EX . F AM . C ODE A NN . § 1 6 1 .2 0 6 (b ) (V e rn o n S u p p . 2 0 0 7 ); Ho l i ckv. Sm ith , 685 S. W . 2d 18, 20 (T e x . 1 9 8 5 ). W e s t r i c t l ys c r u t in iz e t e r m in a t io n p r o c e e d in g s a n d s t r ic t ly c o n s tru e i n v o l u n ta ryte rm i n a ti o n s ta tu te s i n fa v o r o f th e p a r e n t . Hol i ck , 685 S. W . 2d a t20- 21; I

nreE. M. N. , 2 2 1 S .W .3 d 8 1 5 , 8 2 0 ( T e x . A p p .— F o rtW o rt h 2 0 0 7 , n o p e t.). I n pr oceedi ngs t o t er m i nat e t he par ent - chi l d r elat i onshi p br oug htunder se ct i on 161. 001 oft he f am i l y cod e, t he pet i t i one rm us tes t abl i sh onegr ound10

l i st ed unde rs ubdi vi si on ( 1) of t he st at ut e a nd m us tal so pr ovet hatt er m i nat i on i s i n th e b e s t i n te re s t o f th e c h i l d . T EX . F AM . C ODE A NN . § 1 6 1 .0 0 1 ; I n re J. L. , 163 S. W . 3d 79, 84 ( Tex. 2005 ) . Bot h e l em ent s m us tbees t abl i s h e d; t er m i nat i on m ay not be based sol el y on t he b e s t in te r estoft he chi l d as d e te rm i n e d b y t h e t r i e r o ffa c t. Tex. D ep’tof Hum an Servs . v. Boyd, 727 S .W .2 d 5 3 1 , 5 3 3 (T e x . 1 9 8 7 ). Ter m i nat i on ofpa r ent al r i ght s i s a dr as t i c r em edyan d i s ofs uch w ei ght and gr avi t y t hatd u e p ro c e ssr equ i r est he pet i t i one rt o j us t i f y t er m i nat i on by 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 . T EX . F AM . C ODE A NN . § § 1 6 1 .0 0 1 , 1 6 1 .2 0 6 (a ); I nreJ. F. C. , 9 6 S .W .3 d 2 5 6 , 2 6 3 (T e x . 2 0 0 2 ). T h is in t e r m e d ia t e s t a n d a r d f a lls bet w ee n t he pr epo nde r anc e s t an dar d ofor di nary c i vi l pr oce edi ngsan d t he re a s o n a b l e d o u b t s ta n d a rd o f c ri m i n a l p r o c e e d i n g s . I nreG . M. , 596 S. W . 2d 8 4 6 , 8 4 7 (T e x . 1 9 8 0 ); I n reC. S. , 2 0 8 S .W .3 d 7 7 , 8 3 ( T e x . A p p .— F o rtW o rt h 2 0 0 6 , p e t . d e n ie d ). Itisd e f in e d a s t h e “ m e a s u r e o r d e g r e e o f p r o o f t h a tw ill p rod u c e i n the m i n d o f th e tr i e r o f fac t a fi rm b e l i e f o r c o n v i c ti o n as to th e tr u th of t he al l egat i ons sough t t o be est abl i shed. ” T EX . F AM . C ODE A NN . § 10 1. 007 (V e rn o n 2 0 0 2 ). Legalsuff i ci ency I n r evi ew i ng t he evi den cef orl ega l s uf f i ci enc y i n pa r ent al t er m i nat i on c a s e s , w e m u s td e t e r m in e w h e t h e rt h e e v id e n c e is s u c h t h a ta f a c t -f in d e rc o u ld11

r ea so nab l y f or m a f i r m be l i eforco nvi ct i on t h a t th e g r oundsf ort er m i nat i on w e re p ro v e n . I

n reJ. P. B. , 18 0 S . W . 3d 57 0, 57 3 ( Tex . 20 05 ) . W e m ust rev i e w allthe ev i d e n c e i n the l i g h t m o st fav o rab l e to th e fi n d i n g an d j u d g m e n t. Id. Thi s m eans t hat w e m ust assum e t hat t he f act - f i nderr esol ved any d i sput ed fa c ts i n fa v o r o f i ts fi n d i n g i f a re a s o n a b l e fa c t-fi n d e r c o u l d h a v e d o n e s o . Id. W e m us tal so di sr ega r d a l l e vi den cet hata r ea so nab l e f ac t - f i nde rco ul d ha ve d i s b e l i e v e d . Id. W e m u s t c o n s id e r , h o w e v e r , u n d is p u t e d e v id e n c e e v e n ifitis con t r ary t o t he f i n d i n g . Id. T h a t i s, w e m u st c o n side r ev i d e n c e fav o rab l e to t er m i nat i on i fa r easonabl e f act - f i ndercoul d, and di sr egar d contr ar y ev id e n ce u n l e s s a re a s o n a b l e fa c t-fi n d e r c o u l d n o t. Id. W e m u s t th e re fo re c o n s i d e r a l l o f th e e v i d e n c e , n o t j u s t th a t w h i c h fa v o rs th e v e rdict. Id. Butw e c ann otw ei gh w i t nes s cr edi bi l i t y i ss uest hatde pen d on th e a p p e a ra n c e a n d d e m e a n o r o f th e w i tn e s s e s , fo r th a t i s th e f a c t-fi n d e r’s p ro v i n c e . Id. at573, 574. And eve n w hen cred i b i l i ty i ss uesap pea ri n t he appel l at e r ecor d, w e m ustdef ert o t he f act - f i nder ’ s det er m i nat i ons as l ong as th e ya re n o t u n re a s o n a b l e . Id. a t573. Fact ualsuff i ci ency I n r evi ew i ng t he e v i d enc e f orf ac t uals uf f i ci enc y, w e m us tgi ve due def er enc e t o t he f ac t - f i nde r ’ s f i ndi ngs and not su ppl ant t he j udgm ent w i t h our o w n . I nreH. R. M. , 209 S . W . 3d 105, 108 ( Tex. 200 6) . W e m us tde t er m i ne12

w h e th e r, o n th e e n ti re re c o rd , a fa c t-fi n d e r c o u l d re a s o n a b l yfo rm a fi rm con vi c ti o n orbe l i eft hatt he par entvi ol at ed su bs ec t i on ( D ) or( E) ofs ec t i on 161 . 00 1 (1 ) a nd t hatt he t er m i nat i on oft he par ent ’ s par ent al r i ght s w oul d be i n th e b e s t i n te re s t o f th e c h i l d . C. H. , 89 S . W . 3d a t28. Enda nge r m entFi ndi ngs In a p p e lla n t ’s f ir s tt h r o u g h f o u rt h p o in t s , s h e a r g u e s t h a tt h e e v id e n c e is l egal l y and f act ual l y i nsuf f i ci entt o suppo rt t he t r i al court ’ s det er m i nat i on t hat sh e ( 1) kno w i ngl y pl ac ed orkn ow i ngl y a l l ow ed A . L. W . t o r em ai n i n c ondi t i ons ors ur r ou nd i ng s t ha te nd a ng e r e d he rp h y sica l o re m ot i on a l w e l l
- be i ng a nd ( 2) e n g a g e d in c o n d u c t o r k n o w in g lyp la c e d A .L .W . w it h p e r s o n s w h o e n g a g e d in c o n d u c t th a t e n d a n g e re d h e r p h y s i c a l o r e m o ti o n a l w e l l -b e i n g . S eeT EX . F AM . C ODE A NN . § 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 )(D ), (E ). E n d a n g e rm e n t m e a n s to e x p o s e t o l o s s o r i n j u ry , to j e o p a rd i z e . Boyd, 727 S . W . 2d a t533; I nreJ. T

. G. , 1 2 1 S .W .3 d 1 1 7 , 1 2 5 (T e x . A p p .— F o rt W or t h 2 0 0 3 , n o p e t . ) . U n d e rs u b s e c t i o n ( D ) o ff a mi l yc o d e s ec t i on 161 . 001 ( 1) , w e m us tex am i ne t he evi den cer el at ed t o t he env i r onm entoft he c h i l d to d e term i n e i f t h e en v i ron m e n t w a s th e so u rce o f th e e n d a n g e rm e n t t o th e c h i l d ’sp h y s i c a l o r e m o ti o n a l w e l l -b e i n g . J. T . G. , 1 2 1 S .W .3 d a t 1 2 5 ; Inre D. T. , 3 4S .W .3 d 6 2 5 , 6 3 2 (T e x . A p p .— F o rt W o rth 2 0 0 0 , p e t. d e n i e d ). C onduc tofa par ent i n t he hom e ca n cr ea t e an env i r onm ent t haten dan ger s t he13

p h y s i c a l o r e m o ti o n a l w e l l -b e i n g o f a c h i l d . J. T . G. , 121 S. W . 3d a t125; Inre W. S. , 899 S . W . 2d 772, 776 ( Tex. A pp. — F o rt W ort h 1995, no w r i t ) . Fo r exam pl e, par ent al and car egi veri l l egal dr ug use and d r ug- r el at ed cr i m i nal act i vi t y suppo rt th e concl usi on t hatt he chi l d’ s sur r oun di ngs endan gerher p h y s i c a l o r e m o ti o n a l w e l l -b e i n g . J. T . G. , 121 S. W . 3d a t125. U ndersubsect i on ( E) , w e m ustdet er m i ne w het herevi dence exi st s t hat t he end ang er m entoft he chi l d’ s phys i ca l w el l
- bei ng w ast he di r ec tr es ul toft he p a re n t’s c o n d u c t, i n c l u d i n g a c ts , o m i s s i o n s , o r fa i l u re s to a c t. Id. A ddi t i ona l l y, t e r m in a t io n u n d e rs e c t io n 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 )( E ) m u s t b e b a s e d o n m o r e t h a n a s in g le ac torom i ss i on; a vol unt ary, de l i ber at e, and con sc i ousco ur seofco nduc tby t he p a re n t i s re q u i re d . T EX . F AM . C ODE A NN . § 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 )(E ); D. T. , 34 S. W . 3d at 634 . How eve r , i ti s not nec es sa r y t hat t he par ent ’ s con duc tbedi r ec t ed att he c h i l d o r th a t th e c h i l d a c tu a l l ys u ffe r i n j u ry . Boyd, 7 2 7 S .W .2 d a t 5 3 3 ; J. T . G. , 121 S . W . 3d a t125. T o d e te rm i n e w h e th e r te r m i n a ti o n i s n e c e s s a ryu n d e r s u b s e c ti o n (E ), c o u rts l o o k to p a re n ta l c o n d u c t b e fo re a n d a fte r th e c h i l d ’sb i rth . J. T . G. , 121 S. W . 3d a t125 ;I

nreD . M. , 58 S. W . 3d 801, 812 ( Te x. App . — Fo rtW ort h 2001, no pet. ) . A m ot her ’ s dr ug use dur i ng pr egnan cy m ay am oun t t o cond uctt hat e n d a n g e rs th e p h y s i c a l a n d e m o ti o n a l w e l l -b e i n g o f th e c h i l d . J. T . G. , 121 S. W . 3d a t125 ;I

n reK. M. B. , 91 S . W . 3d 18, 25 ( Te x. App . — Fo rtW ort h 2002,14

n o p e t. ). A d d i ti o n a l l y , d rug ad d i c ti o n an d i ts e ffec t on a p a ren t’ s l i fe a n d ab i l i ty to p a re n t m a y e s ta b l i s h a n e n d a n g e ri n g c o u rs e o f c o n d u c t a s w e l l . J. T . G. , 121 S. W . 3d a t125- 26. I m pr i sonm ental one do es not const i t ut e endan ger i ng cond uct , but i t i s a fa c to r th a t th e tri a l c o u rt c a n c o n s i d e r o n th e i s s u e o f e n d a n g e rm e n t. Boyd, 727 S . W . 2d a t533- 34; D . M. , 58 S. W . 3d at81 2. The S t at e, how ever , does no t need t o show t hati ncar cer at i on w as a res ultofa cour se ofcondu ctt hat endan ger ed t he chi l d; i tonl y needs t o show in car cer at i on w as a p a rto f a c o u rs e o f c o n d u c t th a t e n d a n g e re d th e c h i l d . D . M. , 58 S. W . 3d at81 2. Thu s, i ft he evi dence, in c lu d ing i m pr i sonm ent , pr oves a cour se ofcondu ctt hathas th e effe c t of e n d a n g e ri n g t h e ch i l d , th e req u i rem e n t of su b se c ti o n ( E ) i s m e t. Boyd, 7 2 7 S .W .2 d a t 5 3 3 -3 4 ; D . M. , 58 S . W . 3d a t812. A n a ly s is Th e evi dence show s t hatappel l antcont i nuo usl y abused dr ugs, even dur i ng he rpr egn anc y. Appel l antbe gan us i ng dr ugsw hen s he w ass i xt ee n a nd con t i nue d doi ng dr ugs unt i l a f ew m ont hs bef or e t he t r i al . Appel l antus ed dr ugs bef or e a nd a f t er TD FPS r em ove d hert w o s ons , C. L. an d C. D . , w hi l e p r egn ant w i th A .L .W ., a n d a fte r T D F P S re m o v e d A .L .W . A ddi t i onal l y, appel l ant had t hr ee year s t o part i ci pat e i n her servi ce pl an and get dr ug t r eat m ent , butat t he t i m e of t r i al , appel l ant had j ustst art ed her15

dr ug t r ea t m entpr ogr am , w hi ch had be en oneofTD FPS’ s m ai n c onc er ns . The r ec or d de m ons t r at es t hatal t hough ap pel l antco m pl et ed i n- pat i entdr ug r eha b, sh e d i d notpa rt i ci pat e i n out - pat i entt r ea t m ent . A p p e l l antt es t i f i ed t hats he a tten d e d N A an d A A m e e ti n g s a l th o u g h sh e d i d n o t pro v i d e d o c u m e n tati o n to John son orSp l ai n. A ppel l ant had m ai nt ai ned st r eetsobr i et y f ort w o t o t hr ee m onths bef or e t r i al an d te s t i f i ed t hatshe vol untar i l y t ook U A s every M ond ay a n d F ri d a y . Th e r ecor d al so dem onst r at es t hatappel l antdi d not com pl et e herservi ce pl an or pr oba t i on r equ i r em ent s, w hi ch i ncl ude d s ec ur i ng e m pl oym ent , obt ai ni ng hou si ng, and payi ng chi l d suppo rt . H ow ever , appel l antt est i f i ed t hatshe had c o mp l e t e d a l l of her s e rv i c e p l a n r e q u i r e me n t s e x c e p tf o ra t t e n d i n g NA m ee t i ngsf i ve t i m esa w ee k o rha vi ng a j ob f ort he r eq u i re d s i x m ont hs . She st at ed t hats he att end ed N A an d AA m ee t i ngsf r om Jul y 2006 unt i l Ja nua r y or Feb r uary 2007, buts he di d notpr ovi de TD FPS w i t h a ny d ocu m e n ta t i on. A ppe l l antal so t es t i f i ed t hat , att he t i m e of t r i al , sh e w as i nvol ved i n i nt ens i ve outpat i entt r eat m entf ourt i m es a w eek and a tt e n d e d N A m eet i ngs once a w e e k . A ppel l antal so t est i f i ed t hatshe had had a j ob f or t he pastt w o m onths. She a dm i t t ed t hats he had not w or ke d r egu l ar l y t hr ougho ut A . L. W . ’ s ca se , but4 ... A tt r ia l, t h e t r ia l ju d g e a r r a n g e d a n o r d e rf o r a p p e lla n t t o p a yh e rc h ild

suppo rtt o t he court ’ s r egi st r y dur i ng t he af t er noo n r ecess. 16 sh e h ad bee n w or ki ng a tt he 440 Ranc h t he pas tt w o m ont hs . A tt he t i m e o f t r i a l , a p p e l l a n t l i v e d wi t h b o y f r i e n d W a l l i n a n a p a rt me n t . S h e a l s o g o th e rGE D. A ppel l anthad not pai d chi l d suppo rtatt he t i m e oft r i al , butshe t est i f i ed t hats he had t he m one y a nd t r i ed t o m ak e p aym ent s butw a s to l d th att he ac cou ntw asno t s e t u p . H ow eve r , Joh ns on t es t i f i ed t hats he di d notkn ow w hatap pel l antw ast al ki ng a boutan d t h a t a p pel l antha d ne veras ke d he rf or h e l p w i th the ac c o u n t. 4 The r ec or d sh ow s t hat app el l ant com pl et ed par ent i ng c l as se s, al t hough she di d n otat t end t he f i nal r evi ew sess i on. A ppel l antal so com pl et ed her p s y c h o l o g i c a l e v a l u a ti o n a l th o u g h d i d n o t fo l l o w th ro u g h w i th h e r d o c to r’s r ec o m m e n dat i ons . She al so ad m i t t ed t hats he vi ol at ed hers ervi cepl an by com m i t t i ng cr i m i nal of f enses. A ddi t i onal l y, t he r ecor d dem onst r at es t hat ever y t i m e appel l an t used m et ha mp h e t a mi n e s , s h e a l s o e n g a g e d i n c r i mi n a l a c t i v i t y . As a r e su l t of appel l ant ’ s cr i m i nal act i vi t y, she had been i n j ai l oron pr obati on befor e and af t er A . L. W . ’ s bi rt h. Fo rex am pl e, pol i ce ar r es t ed app el l ant f orD W I an d pos se ss i on ofm et ham phetam i nes i n D ent on C oun t y i n Janu ar y 20 03 . A ppel l antr ecei ved f i ve yea r s pr oba t i on f ort hos e c har gesan d w aspl ac ed on ho us e a r r es t f orei ght17

m onths. O n A ugu st 19 , 20 06 , pol i ce ar r est ed appel l antf orpubl i c l ew dness; t het r i a l c ou rtr e vo k e d he rp r ob a t i on a nd a pp e l l a nt w e ntt o j a i l u nt i l Apr i l 2005 . I n Sept em ber2005 , pol i cear r es t ed app el l ant f or f el ony aut o t heft . Appel l ant re c e i ved pr oba t i on a nd e nt er ed an i npa t i entdr ug t r ea t m entpr ogr am , butt he t r i al courtr evoked h erpr obati on w hen she t est ed posi t i ve f ordr ugs i n M ar ch 200 6. I n Novem ber2006 , ap pel l ant ’ s ha i r fo l l i cl e e xam t es t ed pos i t i ve f or m et ham phetam i nes, al t hou gh app el l antt e s tified t hatshe di d not use m e th a m p h e ta m i n e s ; sh e s ta te d th a t s h e w a s i n a ro o m w h e re h e r fri e n d s w e re us i ng dr ugs . I n Feb r uary 2007, pol i cear r es t ed app el l antf orpubl i c i nt oxi ca t i on a n d s h e s p e n t t h r e e m o n t h s in ja il. F r o m A .L .W .’ s b irt h u n t il t h e t im e o ft r ia l, app el l antha d be en i n j a i l t hr eem ont hsofhe rt w el ve- m ont h l i f e f orpr oba t i on v i o l a ti o n s . A ppel l ant ’ s cont i n u o u sa b u se ofi l l egal dr ugs t hr eat ened A . L. W . ’ s physi cal and em ot i ona l w el l
- bei ng. Addi t i ona l l y, A . L. W . s uf f er ed f r om ce r ebr al pa l syan d re q u i re d c o n s ta n t c a re a n d s u p e rv i s i o n . Buts eeI n re D. J. J. , 178 S. W . 3d 424, 429

- 30 ( Tex. A pp. — FortW ort h 2005, no p et . ) (h o l di ng e vi den cei ns uf f i ci ent t o pr ove endan ger m ent because t her e w as no evi dence t hatpar ent ’ s dr ug use c re a te d a d a n g e ro u s e n v i ro n m e n t). A p p e l l a n t te s ti fi e d th a t A .L .W .’s pr em a t u r i t y wa s l i n k e d t o h e r c e r e b r a l p a l s y , n o t t o a p p e l l a n t ’ s d r u g use. A p p e l l a n t t e sti fi e d tha t sh e h a d m a d e p rov i sion s fo r A .L.W . a t t h e S c o tti sh R i te18

H o s p i ta l a n d fo u n d a re ti re d n u rs e to c a re fo r h e r d u ri n g th e d a y . H o w e v e r, P e n n yte s ti fi e d th a t R o g e r, S a n d ra , a n d a p p e l l a n t to l d h e r th a t a l th o u g h A .L .W . w a s b o rn p re m a tu re , n o th i n g w a s w ro n g w i th h e r. P e n n ys ta te d th a t i f A .L .W . had r ecei ved t her apy befor e com i ng t o herhom e, A . L. W . w oul d have been fu rth e r a l o n g i n h e r d e v e l o p m e n t. A l th o u gh app el l antt est i f i ed t hatshe needed m or e t i m e t o w or k on her l i f e, TD FPS gave appel l antl ong ert han m ostpar ent s t o m ake changes and g et herl i f e i n or der , buts he had co nt i nue d t he s a m e cyc l e o fdr ug a bus e a nd cr i m i nalac t i vi t y. The r ec or d s how s t hatap pel l antr epe at ed l y e nga ged i n a vol untary, del i ber at e, and consci ous cour se ofcondu ctr el at ed t o dr ug use, c ri m i n a l a c ti v i t y , u n e m p l o y m e n t, a n d i n s ta b i l i ty . T EX . F AM . C ODE A NN . § 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 )(D ), (E ); D. T. , 3 4S .W .3 d a t 6 3 4 . Based o n ourr evi ew oft he ent i r e r ecor d, w e concl ude t hat a f act f i nder c o u ld re a s o n a b lyf o r m a f ir m b e lie fo rc o n v ic t io n t h a ta p p e lla n t(1 ) e n g a g e d in c on du c tt ha te nd a ng e r e d t hep hy s i c a l or e m ot i on a l w e l l
- be i ng of A. L . W . a nd ( 2) kno w i ngl y pl ac ed orkn ow i ngl y a l l ow ed herch i l d t o r em ai n i n c ondi t i onsor s u rro u n d i n g s th a t e n d a n g e re d h e r p h y s i c a l a n d e m o ti o n a l w e l l -b e i n g . S ee T EX . F AM . C ODE A NN . § 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 )( D ), (E ). T h e r e f o r e , w e h o ld t h a t t h e e v id e n c e is l ega l l y a nd f ac t ual l y su f f i ci ent t o s upportt he t r i al co urt ’ s f i ndi ngsunde rs ec t i on 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 )(D ) a n d (E ). Id. ; s e eInreS.B., 207 S. W . 3d 877, 885 ( Tex.19

A pp. — FortW ort h 2006, no p et . ) . W e ove r r ul e app el l ant ’ s f i r st , s ec ond, t hi r d, and f ourt h poi nt s. F a i l u retoC o m p l yw ith C o u rt O rd e r I n appel l ant ’ s f i f t h and si xt h poi nt s, she cl ai m s t hatth e e vi dence w as l e g a l l yan d fac tu a l l yi n su ffi c i e n t t o t e rm i n a te h e r pa ren tal ri g h ts fo r f a i l u re to com pl y w i t h t he pr ovi si onsofa cou rtor derne ce ss ary t o obt ai n t he r et ur n of A .L .W . SeeT EX . F AM . C ODE A NN . § 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 )(O ). O n l yo n e fi n d i n g u n d e r se c ti o n 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 ) i s n e c e ss a ry to su p p o rta j u d g m e n t o f te rm i n a ti o n . Id. § 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 ); InreK.A .S., 131 S . W . 3d 215, 225 (T e x . A p p .— F o rt W o rth 2 0 0 4 , p e t. d e n i e d ); D .M., 58 S . W . 2d at 81 3. Because
w e co n c l u d e tha t t h e re is b o th l e g a l l yan d fac tu a l l ysu ffi c i e n t ev i d e n c e to su pportt he t r i al cou rt ’ s f i ndi ngs unde rf am i l y c odes ec t i on 161. 001 ( 1) ( D ) an d ( E) , w e need not addr ess appel l ant ’ s r em ai ni ng po i nt s w i t h r espectt o t he t r i al c o u rt’sfi n d i n g u n d e r s e c ti o n 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 )(O ). T EX . F AM . C ODE A NN . § 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 )(D ), (E ), (O ); see T EX . R. A PP . P . 4 7 .1 ; K.A .S . , 131 S. W . 3d a t225. A ppel l ant ’ s O bj ect i on t o t he S t at e’ s St andi ng t o C ontestH erI ndi gency In h e rs e v e n t h p o in t , a p p e lla n ta r g u e s t h a tt h e t r ia l c o u rte r r e d in ove r r ul i ng he robj ec t i on t o t he St at e’ s st and i ng to c o n t es the ri ndi gen cy f or p u rp o s e s o f a p p o i n tm e n t o f a p p e l l a te c o u n s e l a n d a fre e re p o rte r’sre c o rd .20

B e c a u se the tr i a l co u rtfou n d ap p e ll a n t i n d i g e n t, ap p o i n ted ap p e l l a te c o u n s e l, a n d o r d e r e d a f r e e re p o rt e r ’s re c o r d , a p p e lla n t ’s is s u e o n a p p e a l is m o o t. V

a l le yBap ti

s t Me d. C tr. v. G o nza lez, 3 3 S .W .3 d 8 2 1 , 8 2 2 (T e x . 2 0 0 0 ). T o a v o id i ss u i n g an ad v i so ry o p i n i o n , w ed o n o t ad d res s a p p e l l a n t’ s s e v e n th p o i n t. Id.; s e e a l

s o InreD .D .J., 1 3 6 S .W .3 d 3 0 5 , 3 1 5 ( T e x . A p p .— F o rtW o rt h 2 0 0 4 , n o p e t.). C onc l us i on H avi ng ov er r ul ed al l of appel l ant ’ s di sposi t i ve poi nt s, w e af f i r m t he t r i al c o u rt ’s j u d g m e n t.

T E R R I E L I VI NGS T ON J U S T I C E PA N EL F: LI V I N G STO N , W A LKER, an d M C C O Y, JJ. DEL I VERE D: Apr i l 17, 2008