1 ... S ee Te x. R. App . P. 47. 4. 2 ... Th e nam es of t he par ent and chi l dr en subj ect t o t hi s appeal have been r e pl a c e d w i t h i ni t i a l s i n a c c or da nc e w i t h Te xa s Ru l e o fApp e l l a t e Pr oc e du r e 9. 8. Te x. R. App . P. 9. 8. 

## COURT OF APPEALS SECOND DISTRICTOFTEXAS FORT WORTH NO. 2 - 0 8 - 1 6 4 - CV IN T H E IN T E R E S TO FS .W . AND S . W . , CH I L DR E N

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FR O M THE 323RD DI STRI CT CO URT O F TARRA NT 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 ant S . B. appeal s t he t r i al court ’ s or der t er m i nat i ng he r par ent al ri g h ts to h e r c h i l d re n , S .W . a n d S .W . 2 I n t w o i ssues, appel l antcont ends t hat t he t r i al co urt abu se d i t s di sc r et i on by den yi ng her m ot i on f orco nt i nua nce , an d t hatt he evi dence pr esent ed att r i al w as f act ual l y i nsuf f i ci entt o pr ove t hat2

t er m i nat i on of t he par ent - chi l d r el at i onshi p w as i n herchi l dr ens’ besti nt er est s. W e a f f i r m. B a c k g rou n d F a c ts O n A p ri l 2 7 , 2 0 0 7 , a p p e l l a n t g a v e b i rth to tw i n d a u g h te rs (th e tw i n s ). Th e t w i ns w er e bor n pr em at ur ely , w e ig hi ng app r oxi m at el y f ourpoun ds each
w h e n d e liv e r e d , a n d b o t h h a d h e a rt m u r m u r s w h ic h r e q u ir e d t h e m t o b e c lo s e ly m o n it o r e d d u r in g a n e x t e n s iv e h o s p it a l s t a y . O n M a y2 9 , 2 0 0 7 , u p o n t h e ir r e l e a s e f r o m t h e h o s p i t a l , t h e T e x a s D e p a rt me n to fF a mi l ya n d P r o t ec t i ve Ser vi ce s ( t he D epa rt m ent ) r em ove d t he t w i ns f r om ap pel l ant ’ s cus t ody and pl ac ed t hem w i t h f os t erpa r ent s. The nex tda y, t he D epa rt m ent f i l ed a p et i t i on t o g a in c o n s e r v a t o r s h ip o ft h e t w in s a n d t o t e r m i n a t e t h e t w in s ’ r e la t io n s h ip
w i th a p p e l l a n t. T h e tri a l c o u r t g ra n te d th e D e p a rtm e n t te m p o ra ry c o n s e r v a t o r s h ip a n d s c h e d u le d a n a d v e r s a r yh e a r i n g u n d e rt h e T e x a s F a m ily C o d e . S ee Tex. Fam . C ode A nn. § 262 . 201 ( V er non Supp . 2008 ) . Appel l ant r ec ei ved a cop y ofa “F am i l y S e rv i c e Pl an”( se r vi cepl an) f r om a D epa rt m ent ca se w or ke ri n Ju ne 200 7, w hi ch r equ i r ed hert o pa rt i ci pat e i n dr ug as se ss m ent s, pa r ent i ng c l as se s, ps ych ol ogi ca l ev al uat i ons , an d c o u n se l i ng se ss i o n s, am o n g o th e r t a sk s. T h e tr i a l co u rto rde red tha t ap p e l l a n t co m p l yw i th t hes e r vi c e p l a n i n Ju l y 2007. How e ve r , a tt het i m e o ft r i a l i n A p ri l 2008 , appel l anthad not com pl et ed any of t he r equi r ed servi ces.3

A ppe l l antvi si te d th e tw i ns t w i cei n Ju ne 200 7, an d t hen l eftal one f or A t l a n t a , Ge o r g i a i n J u l y 2 0 0 7 . Ap p e l l a n t r e t u r n e d t o T e x a s ar ound Thank sg i vi ng oft h a t y e a r a nd v i si t ed t he t w i ns t w i cem or e b ef or e t r ave l i ng b a c kto A tl a n ta. Fina l l y , a p p e l l a n t retu rne d a g a i n to T e x a s a n d h a d tw o v i sit s w i t h t he t w i ns i n M ar ch and A pr i l 20 08 . I n t ot al , f r om t hei rr em oval f r om her cus t ody i n M ay 200 7 unt i l t he t er m i nat i on t r i al i n Apr i l 2008 ( a p er i od s pan ni ng al m ostel even m onths) , appel l ant saw t he t w i ns si x t i m es, f oran hour on each occ as i on. Dur i ng t he vi si t s, t he t w i ns oft en bec am e a gi t at ed and be gan cryi ng w h e n s e p a ra te d fro m th e i r fo s te r m o th e r. O n A p ri l 1 0 , 2 0 0 8 , b a se d i n p a rto n i n fo rm a ti o n rec e i v e d fr o m ap p e l l a n t, t he D epa rt m entam end ed i t s pet i t i on f ort er m i nat i on t o na m e a ne w f at herof th e tw i n s. O n A p ri l 1 5 , 2 0 0 8 (t h e tr i a l d a te), th e D e p a rt m e n t f i l e d a m o ti o n to s e v e rt h e a lle g e d f a t h e rf r o m a p p e lla n t ’s c a s e , s o t h a t a p p e lla n t ’s c a s e c o u ld p ro c e e d to tri a l . T h a t d a y , a p p e l l a n t m o v e d fo r a c o n ti n u a n c e to a l l o w h e r m o re ti m e to c o m p l e te h e r s e rv i c e p l a n , a n d s h e a rg u e d a g a i n s t th e D e p a rtm e n t’s se ver anc e m ot i on. The t r i al co urtgr ant ed t he se v e ra n ce , de ni ed t he con t i nua nce , an d he ar d t es t i m ony f r om ap pel l antan d t w o Depa rtm ent em pl oye eson t he t er m i nat i on pe t i t i on. Th e evi dence est abl i shed t hatappel l anthas gi ven bi rt h t o a t ot al ofseven chi l dr en, i ncl udi ng m os tr ec ent l y t he t w i ns . Appel l antdoe s notha ve cus t ody4

ofany ofherp re vi ous f i ve chi l dr en, and herpar ent al r i ghtshave been term i n a ted w i th res p e c t t o thre e o f t h e se ch i l d ren . D u ri n g h e r pre g n a n c yw i th t he t w i n s , app el l ants m oke d m ar ij uan a, an d s he t es t ed pos i t i ve f orm ar ij uan a att hei rbi rt h. Appel l antal so t es t i f i ed t hats he sm oke d m ar ij uan a e ac h oft he t w o da yspr ec edi ng he rt er m i nat i on t r i al , t hat sh e has had pr obl em s w i t h dr ugs f orei ght year s, and t hatshe has never ent er ed any dr ug r ehabi l i t at i on pr ogr am . U pon g i vi ng bi rt h t o her f i f t h c hi l d, ap pel l antt es t ed pos i t i ve f orm ar ij uan a a nd cocai ne. Th e evi den c e f urt heri ndi cat ed t hatappel l antw as unem pl oyed b utw as l ook i ng f ora j ob a tf as tf ood r es t aur ant s and gr oce r y s t or esan d w asr ec ei vi ng $3 08 perm onth i n soci al secur i t y i nsur ance paym ent s. A ppel l antsai d t hat upo n f i ndi ng em pl oym ent , a si st er( w ho has a t hef tconvi ct i on) had agr eed t hat she w oul d w at ch t he t w i ns w hi l e appel l ant w or ked. Test i m ony d em onst r at ed t hatt he t w i ns ha d no pl a c e to pe r m ane nt l y r es i de, ha d no opt i onsf or pl ac em entw i t h r el at i ves , an d ha d no m edi ca l i ns ur anc e ( t hough ap pel l ant te s ti fi e d t h a t s h e w o u l d a p p l yfo r b e n e fi ts fro m M e d i c a i d o r th e C h i l d re n ’s H ea l t h I ns ur anc e Pr ogr am ) . A l so , app el l antha d no cr i bs orot hers uppl i esf or t he t w i ns an d ha d no st abl e t r ans port at i on. A fte r th e e v i d e n c e w a s c l o s e d a n d c o u n s e l a rg u e d , th e tri a l c o u rt t e rm i n at ed app el l ant ’ s par ent al r el at i ons hi p w i t h t he t w i ns . Spec i f i ca l l y, t he5

t r i al co urtf ound t hat app el l ant( 1) kn ow i ngl y pl ac ed orkn ow i ngl y a l l ow ed t he t w i ns t o r em ai n i n cond i t i ons orsur r oun di ngs w hi ch endan ger ed t hei rphysi cal orem ot i ona l w el l
- bei ng, ( 2) en gag ed i n con duc t or kno w i ngl y pl ac ed t he t w i ns w i t h pe r so ns w ho e nga ged i n c onduc tw hi ch end ang er ed t hei rphy si ca l or e m o t io n a l w e l l
- b e in g , a n d (3 ) h a d p r e v io u s lyh a d h e rp a r e n t -c h ild re la t io n s h ip t er m i nat ed w i t h r es pec tt o a not her chi l d bas ed on a n a dve r sef i ndi ng r ega r di ng th e s e p re v i o u s tw o s ta n d a rd s . S ee T e x . F a m . C o d e A n n . § 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 )(D ), (E ), (M ) (V e rn o n S u p p . 2 0 0 8 ). T h e c o u rt a l s o fo u n d th a t te rm i n a ti o n o f a p p e l l a n t’s par ent al r el at i onship w i t h t he t w i ns w as i n t hei rbesti nt er est s. Id . § 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (2 ). A p p e lla n tt im e lyf ile d t h is a p p e a l. D eni aloft he M ot i on f orC onti nuan ce I n he rf i r sti ss ue, ap pel l ant con t end s t hatt he t r i al co urter r ed i n de nyi ng herm ot i on f orco nt i nua nce . W e r evi ew a t r i al co urt ’ s r ul i ng gr ant i ng orde nyi ng a m o ti o n fo r c o n ti n u a n c e fo r a n a b u s e o f d i s c re ti o n . S e eBM CSo ftwa reBel g ., N. V. v. Marchand, 83 S. W . 3d 789, 800 ( Tex. 200 2) . W e d o nots ubs t i t ut e o ur d i s c re ti o n fo r th a t o f th e tri a l c o u rt. I n reNitl aS . A. deC. V. , 92 S . W . 3d 419, 422 ( Tex. 200 2) ( or i g. pr oce edi ng) . I ns t ea d, w e m us tde t er m i ne w het hert he t r i al court ’ s act i on w as so ar bi t r ar y and unr easonabl e as t o am oun t t o a cl ear a n d p rej u d i c i a l e rro r o f l a w . Ma rc han d, 83 S. W . 3d at800. The f ocu s i s on w het hert he t r i al courtact ed w i t hou tr ef er ence t o gui di ng r ul es orpr i nci pl es.6

G oode v. Sh oukfeh , 943 S . W . 2d 441, 446 ( Tex. 1997 ) . A m ot i on f or conti nuan ce shal l notbe g ra n ted exceptf orsuf f i ci entcause support ed by an a f f i da vi t , c on s e nto ft hep a rt i e s , o rb y op e r a t i o n o f l a w . Te x. R. Ci v. P. 251; s e eal s o InreE.L .T

., 9 3 S .W .3 d 3 7 2 , 3 7 4 (T e x . A p p .— H o u s to n [1 4 th D i s t.] 2 0 0 2 , n o p e t .) (n o t in g t h a t“ t o g r a n t o r d e n ya m o t io n f o rc o n t in u a n c e is w it h in th e tri a l c o u rt’s s o u n d d i s c re ti o n ” ). A ppel l antcont ends t hat a conti nuan ce shoul d have been gr ant ed because s h e n e e d e d m o re ti m eto c o m p l e te h e r s e rv i c e p l a n a n d th e tw i n s ’ fa th e r’s t e r m in a t io n c a s e w a s s t ill p e n d in g ; t h e r e f o r e , a d e la yin t h e p r o c e e d in g s w o u ld n o t ha v e h a rm e d the tw i n s b yd e l a y i n g the i r pe rm a n e n t plac e m e n t. W e h a v e h e ld t h a t w h e n a p a r e n t , t h r o u g h h is o r h e ro w n c h o ic e s , f a ils t o com pl y w i t h a servi ce pl an and t hen att he t i m e oft he t er m i nat i on t r i al r equ es t s a con t i nua nce i n or der t o com pl et e t he pl an, t he t r i al cou rt doe s not a b u s e i ts d i s c re ti o n b yd e n y i n g th e c o n ti n u a n c e . S e eInreL .D .K., N o. 0 2 -0 7 -0 0 2 8 8 -C V , 2 0 0 8 W L 2 9 3 0 5 7 0 , a t* 2

– 3 (T e x . A p p .— F o rtW o rt h J u ly 3 1 , 2 0 0 8 , n o p e t.) (m e m . o p .); s e eg en era l lyE.L .T

., 93 S . W . 3d a t374 (e x p l a i n i n g th a t to b e re v e rs i b l e , a d e n i a l o f a c o n ti n u a n c em u s t b e “ s o a rb i tra ry as t o exceed t he bou nds ofr easonabl e di scr et i on”) . The r ecor d dem onst r at es t hatappel l antr ecei ved herservi ce pl an i n Jun e 20 07 , t hatt he D epart m entf i l ed th e se rvi c e p l a n i n J u l y2 0 0 7 , a n d tha t t h e tri a l co u rto rde red ap p e l l a n t t o7

com pl y w i t h t he servi ce pl an’ s pr ovi si ons l at er t hat sam e m onth. H ow ever , at t he t i m e of t r i al i n A pr i l 200 8, app el l antha d notco m pl et ed anyoft he servi ce pl an’ s r equi r em ent s. In s t e a d , a p p e lla n ts p e n t m u c h o ft h e t im e b e t w e e n J u n e 2 0 0 7 a n d A p r il 20 08 i n G eor gi a f ora t em por ar y vi si tt o “getaw ay f r om t r oub l e” and gi ve her “p ea ceofm i nd. ” Though ac kno w l edg i ng t hat sh e unde r st ood t he se r vi cepl an, appel l antt est i f i ed t hatshe chose t o t r avel t o G eor gi a vol untar i l y and t o negl ect he r s e r v i c e p l a n d u r i n g h e r t r i p . I n t h e t i me a p p e l l a n t wa s a wa y , t hr ee docu m ent s w er e f i l ed w hi ch i ndi cat ed appel l antw as non c o m pl i antw i t h her se r vi cepl an. Appel l ants i m i l ar l y f ai l ed t o com pl et e hers ervi cepl ansdur i ng pr i or ca se s i nvol vi ng he rot herch i l dr en. U n d e r t h e se fac ts, w e ca n n o t co n c l u d e t h a t t h e tr i a l co u rtab u se d i ts di scr et i on bydenyi ng app el l ant ’ s cont i nuan ce f orm or e t i m e t o com pl et e her se r vi cepl an. Li kew is e , w e ar e unper suaded t hata cont i nuan ce shoul d have been g ra n te d b e c a u s e th e tw i n s ’ fa th e r’sc a s e re m a i n e d u n re s o l v e d . T h e re c o rd i ndi ca t est hatt he D epa rt m entw aspr oce edi ng w i t h e xpl or i ng pe r m ane nto p t i ons f ort he t w i ns . Fo ri ns t anc e, a D epa rt m entca se w or ke rt es t i f i ed t hatw i t hi n a cou pl e w ee ksofap pel l ant ’ s t er m i nat i on t r i al , s he pl ann ed on be gi nni ng t o s t udy t h e p l a c e me n to p t i o n s r e l a t e d t o f o u rf a mi l i e s wh o h a d a l r e a d ys u bm i t t ed3 ... W e a r e r evi ew i ng he r e e vi den cer el at i ve t o t he t er m i nat i on on l y f or

pur pos esofev al uat i ng t he t r i al co urt ’ s di sc r et i on i n gr ant i ng o r d e n y i ng t he conti nuan ce. 8 ado pt i on a ppl i ca t i ons . O ncea pr os pec t i ve ado pt i ve f am i l y w as c h o se n, t he D epa rt m ent pl ann ed t o beg i n sc hed ul i ng i nt er ac t i on be t w ee n t hatf am i l y a nd t he t w i ns . Fu rt her , app el l ant t es t i f i ed t hatt he t w i ns ’ f at herpl ann ed on c ont i nui ng t o r es i de i n Geor gi a ( m ak i ng i tunl i k e l y t hathe w oul d c ont es tt he t er m i nat i on p ro c e e d i n g s a g a i n s t h i m ). F i n a ll y , w e n o te th a t ev e n i f ap p e l l a n t ha d b e e n g ran ted m o re ti m e to com pl et e herservi ce pl an, she cannotde m o nst r at e t hatt he r esul toft hese pr oce edi ngs w oul d hav e cha nge d bec aus e app el l ant ’ s r el at i ons hi p w i th t he t wi n s was not te r m i nat ed f orf ai l i ng t o com pl et e herservi ce pl an, butw as i nst ead t er m i nat ed f or ot her st at ut or y r easons. For t hi s r eason as w el l , t he t r i al courtdi d not abuse i t s di scr et i on by denyi ng her m ot i on f orcont i nuan ce. 3 S ee In reH. B. , N o . 0 2

- 0 6

- 0 0 1 0 2

- C V , 2 0 0 6 W L 3 4 3 8 1 9 3 , a t * 2 n . 6 ( Tex. A p p .— F o rt W o rth N o v . 3 0 , 2 0 0 6 , n o p e t.) (o p . o n re h ’g ) (m e m . o p .). Ther ef or e, w e h ol d t hatt he tri a l c o u rtdi d notab us e i t s di sc r et i on by d e n y in g a p p e lla n t ’ s m o t io n f o rc o n t in u a n c e . A c c o r d in g ly , w e o v e r r u le appel l ant ’ s f i r sti ssue.9 Fact ualI nsuff i ci ency In h e rs e c o n d is s u e , a p p e lla n tc o n t e n d s t h a tt h e e v id e n c e w a s f a c t u a lly i ns uf f i ci entt o s how t hat t er m i nat i on ofhe rpa r ent al r el at i ons hi p w i t h t he t w i ns w as i n t hei rbesti nt er est s. S t andar d ofRev i ew In re v i e w i n g th e e v i d e n c e fo r fa c tu a l s u fficie n c yi n a te rm i n a ti o n c a s e , w e m us tgi ve due de f er enc e t o t he f ac t - f i nd er ’ s f i ndi ngsan d nots uppl antt he j u d g m e n t w i th o u r o w n . I nreH. R. M. , 2 0 9 S .W .3 d 1 0 5 , 1 0 8 (T e x . 2 0 0 6 ). W e m u s td e t e r m in e w h e t h e r , o n t h e e n t ir e r e c o r d , a f a c t -f in d e rc o u ld re a s o n a b ly fo r m a fi rm co n v i c ti o n o r be l i e f t h a t t e rm i n a ti o n o f ap p e l l a n t’ s p a ren tal ri g h ts w a s i n th e b e s t i n te re s t o f th e tw i n s . I nreC. H. , 8 9 S . W . 3d 17, 28 ( Tex. 2 0 0 2 ). If , in lig h t o ft h e e n t ir e re c o r d , t h ed is p u t e d e v id e n c e t h a ta re a s o n a b le f act - f i ndercoul d not have cr edi t ed i n f avor of t he f i ndi ng i s so s i gni f i cantt hat a f ac t - f i nde r cou l d notr ea so nab l y ha ve f or m ed a f i r m be l i eforco nvi ct i on i n t he tru th o f i ts fi n d i n g , th e n th e e v i d e n c e i s fa c tu a l l y i n s u f f i c i e n t. H. R. M. , 209 S . W . 3d at10 8. I fw e r ever se on f act ual suff i ci ency gr oun ds, t hen w e m ust d e t a il in o u r o p in io n w h y w e h a v e c o n c lu d e d t h a ta re a s o n a b le f a c t -f in d e rc o u ld n o t h a v e c re d i te d d i s p u te d e v i d e n c e i n fa v o r o f i ts fi n d i n g . I nreJ. F. C. , 96 S .W .3 d 2 5 6 , 2 6 6

– 6 7 (T e x . 2 0 0 2 ).10

A ppl i cabl e Law 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 a n y p ro p e rt y r i ght. ” Santosky v. K ram er, 455 U. S. 745, 7 5 8

– 5 9 , 1 0 2 S . C t . 1 3 8 8 , 1 3 9 7 (1 9 8 2 ); I n reM. S. , 115 S. W . 3d 534, 547 (T e x . 2 0 0 3 ). “ W h i l e p a re n ta l ri g h ts a re o f c o n s ti tu ti o n a l m a g n i tu d e , th e ya re not absol ut e. Justas i ti s i m per at i ve f orcourt s t o r ecogn i ze t he const i t ut i onal und er pi nni ngs of t he par ent - chi l d r el at i onshi p, i t i s al so essent i al t hatem ot i onal and ph ysi cal i nt e re s t s oft he chi l d not be sacr i f i ced m er el y t o pr eserve t hat r i ght. ” C. H. , 89 S . W . 3d at 26 . I n a t er m i nat i on case, t he S t at e seeks not j ust t o l i m i tpa r ent al r i ght s but t o e nd t hem pe r m ane nt l y— t o di ves tt he par entan d chi l d ofal l l egal r i ghts , pr i vi l eges, dut i es, and pow er s nor m al l y exi st i ng betw een t hem , exc ept f or t he chi l d’ s r i ght t o i nhe r i t . Tex. Fam . C ode A nn. § 161. 206 ( b) (V e rn o n S u p p . 2 0 0 8 ); Ho l i ckv. Sm ith , 6 8 5 S .W .2 d 1 8 , 2 0 (T e x . 1 9 8 5 ). W e s tri c tl ys c ru ti n i z e te rm i n a ti o n p ro c e e d i n g s a n d s tri c tl yc o n s tru e i n v o l u n ta ry te rm i n a ti o n s ta tu te s i n fa v o r o f th e p a re n t. Hol i ck , 6 8 5 S .W .2 d a t 2 0

– 2 1 ; In reE. M. N. , 2 2 1 S .W .3 d 8 1 5 , 8 2 0 (T e x . A p p .— F o rt W o rth 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 el at 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 tpr ovet hatt er m i nat i on4 ... A pe t i t i one rm us tal so pr ovet hatt he par entha s vi ol at ed on e o ft he

se ver al s t at ut or y pr ovi si onsco nt ai ned i n t he f am i l y cod e. Tex . Fa m . Code Ann. § 161 . 001 ( 1) . How eve r , ap pel l antha s agr ee d t hata vi ol at i on ofatl ea stone oft hes e p r ovi si onsw ases t abl i sh ed a t tri a l , a nd w e w i l l t her ef or e l i m i tour a n a l y s i s to w h e th e r te rm i n a ti o n w a s i n th e tw i n s ’ b e s t i n te re s ts . S e eid. § 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (2 ). 11 i s i n t he bes ti nt er es toft he chi l d. 4 Tex. Fam . C ode A nn. § 161. 001 ( V er non S u p p . 2 0 0 8 ); I

n re J. L. , 163 S . W . 3d 79, 84 ( Tex. 2005 ) . Ter m i nat i on of par ent al r i ght s i s a dr as t i c r em edy and i s ofs uch w ei ghtan d gr avi t y t hatdue pr oce ssr equ i r est he pet i t i one rt o j u s ti f y t er m i nat i on bycl ea ran d c onvi nci ng e v i d e n c e . T e x . F a m . C o d e A n n . § § 1 6 1 .0 0 1 , 1 6 1 .2 0 6 (a ); J. F. C. , 96 S . W . 3d a t 2 6 3 . T h i s i n te rm e d i a te s ta n d a rd fa l l s b e tw e e n th e p re p o n d e ra n c e s ta n d a rd ofor di nar y ci vi l pr o c eedi ngs and t he r easonabl e doub tst andar d ofcr i m i nal p ro c e e d i n g s . I

nreG . M. , 5 9 6 S .W .2 d 8 4 6 , 8 4 7 (T e x . 1 9 8 0 ); I n reC. S. , 208 S. W . 3d 77, 83 ( Tex. A pp. — Fort W ort h 200 6, pet . den i ed) . I ti s def i ned ast he “m e a su re o r d e g ree o f p roo f t h a t w i l l p rod u c e i n the m i n d o f t h e tr i e r of fac t a f i rm b e l i eforco nvi ct i on a s t o t he t r ut h oft he al l ega t i onss oughtt o be e s t a bl i s he d. ” Te x. F a m . Cod e Ann . § 10 1. 007. P r om pt an d pe r m an en t pl ac em en t of t he ch i l d i n a safe en vi r on m e n t is p re s u m e d to b e i n th e c h i l d ’ s b e s t i n te re s t. T e x . F a m . C o d e A n n . § 263 . 307 ( a) . Ther e i s al so a st r ong p r es um pt i on t hatke epi ng a ch i l d w i t h a p a re n t i s i n th e c h i l d ’s b e s t i n te re s t. I n reR. R. , 209 S . W .3 d 1 12, 116 ( Tex.12

20 06 ) . N onexcl usi ve f act or s t hatt he t r i eroff acti n a t er m i nat i on case m ay use i n det er m i ni ng t he besti nt er estoft he chi l d i ncl ude: ( 1) t he des i r esoft he chi l d; ( 2) t he em ot i ona l an d phy si ca l ne eds of t he chi l d now an d i n t he f ut ur e; ( 3) t he em ot i ona l an d phy si ca l da nge r t o t he chi l d now an d i n t he f ut ur e; (4 ) th e p a re n ta l a b i l i ti e s o f th e i n d i v i d u a l s s e e k i n g c u s to d y ; (5 ) th e p rog ram s a v a i l a b l e to a ss i st th e se i n d i v i d u a l s to p rom o te t he bes ti nt er es toft he chi l d; ( 6) t he pl ans f ort he chi l d by t hese i ndi vi dual s or by t he agency se ek i ng c us t ody; (7 ) th e sta b i l i ty o f t h e h o m e o r pro p o se d p l a c e m e n t; ( 8) t he act s orom i ssi ons oft he par ent w hi ch m ay i ndi cat e t hat t he exi st i ng pa r ent - chi l d r el at i ons hi p i s not a p r ope rone ; an d (9 ) a n yex c u se for the ac ts o r om i ss i o n s o f t h e p a ren t. Ho l le yv. A da ms , 5 4 4 S .W .2 d 3 6 7 , 3 7 1

– 7 2 (T e x . 1 9 7 6 ). U ndi sput ed evi dence of j ustone f act orm ay be su f f i ci enti n a part i cul ar ca set o s upporta f i ndi ng t hatt er m i nat i on i s i n t he bes ti n te re s t oft he chi l d. C. H. , 89 S . W . 3d at 27 . O n t he ot her hand , t he pr esence of s c a n t e v id ence re l e v a n t to e a c h fa c to r w i l l n o t s u p p o rt s u c h a fi n d i n g . Id. T h e s e fa c to rs a re not exhaust i ve; som e l i st ed f act or s m ay be i napp l i cabl e t o som e cases; ot her13

fa c to rs n o t o n th e l i s t m a ya l s o b e c o n s i d e re d w h e n a p p ro p ri a te . Id. F o rt h is r e a s o n , we wi l l o n l y d i s c u s s t h e f a c t o r s wh i c h we r e ma d e r e l e v a n tby t he evi den ces ubm i t t ed at t r i al and w i l l co m bi ne ouran al ys i s off ac t or s w her e t he evi den cem ay con cur r ent l y a ppl y. A n a ly s is The de si r esoft he t w i nsan d t he parent alab i l it i esofap pel l ant W hi l e t he t w i ns w er e l es s t han a yea rol d a tt he t i m e o ft he t er m i nat i on t r i al and coul d not t her ef or e speci f i cal l y expr ess t hei rdesi r es, t est i m ony at t r i al i ndi ca t ed t hat t he t w i ns w er e e m ot i ona l l y a tt ac hed t o t hei rf os t erpa r ent s and had notbond ed em ot i ona l l y w i t h a ppe l l ant . H o w eve r , pe r m ane ntpl ac em ent w i t h t he t w i ns’ f ost er par ent s w as notan opt i on, and a D epart m entcasew or ker t es t i f i ed t hatt he tw i ns w oul d ne ed t o de vel op a bond w i t h a ny p er m ane nt pl acem ent , w het herappel l antoradopti ng par ent s. To t hatend, t he evi dence show ed t hatappel l antw as l ovi ng, pat i ent , and appr opr i at e w i t h t he t w i ns i n her lim it e d v is it s w it h t h e m a f t e rre m o v a l. H o w e v e r , a p p e lla n t c h o s e t o v is it G eor gi a w hi l e hert er m i nat i on case w as pendi ng r at hert han com pl et e her servi ce pl an, w hi ch m ay i ndi cat e t hat she w as not m ot i vat ed i n devel opi ng her par ent al abi l i t i es.14

The pres entan d f ut ur e p hys i ca lan d e m ot i ona lne edsoft he t w i ns Th e evi dence subm i t t ed at t r i al i ndi cat ed t hatappel l antw as unpr epar ed t o c ar e fo r t he t w i ns ’ phy si ca l ne eds . Fo ri ns t anc e, t hough t es t i m ony dem onst r at ed t hatt he t w i ns w oul d conti nue to h ave m i norm edi cal i ssues, i ncl udi ng t he pos si bl e n ee d f or out pat i ent su r gery, app el l ant had notap pl i ed f or i nsur ance f ort he t w i n s att he t i m e oft r i al . The evi dence al so show ed t hat appel l antm ay not have been aw ar e oft he t w i ns’ m edi cal needs. Fori nst ance, t h o u g h t h e t w i n s h a d h e a rtm u r m u r s w h ic h re q u ir e d t h e m t o b e c lo s e ly m oni t or ed att he hospi t al f orm or e t han a m onth f ol l ow i ng t h e i rbi rt h, w hen as ke d a boutw het hert h e t w i ns ha d m edi ca l pr obl em s atbi rt h, ap pel l ant re s p o n d e d th a t th e yw e re “j u s t p re m a tu re .” The e vi den ce al so es t abl i sh ed t hatap pel l antdi d notha ve a j ob ( t hough s h e w a s l o o k i n g fo r w o rk , sh e h a d n o t m a i n ta i n e d e m p l o y m e n t s i n c e 1 9 9 8 ),
w as r ecei vi ng on l y $3 08 perm onth i n soci al secur i t y i nsur ance, had l i t t l e f or m al edu ca t i on ( sh e d r oppe d outofs cho ol i n t he ni nt h gr ade ) , had no pl ac e se tup f ort he chi l dr en t o r es i de ( t hough s he w ason t he w a i ti n g l i stf orSect i on 8 h o u s in g ), h a d n o m e a n s o ft r a n s p o rt in g t h e t w in s (o t h e rt h a n p o s s ib le p u b lic t r ans port at i on) , an d ha d no cr i bs or ot her su ppl i es nee ded by i nf ant s. Fi nal l y, t hough app el l ant had gi ven bi rt h t o f i ve pr evi ousch i l dr en, s he di d notr ai sean y oft hes e c hi l dr en.15

The pres entan d f ut ur e p ot ent i al e m ot i ona lan d phy si ca lda nge rt o t he t w i ns , t he ac t s or om i ss i ons oft he app el l antw hi ch m ay i ndi ca t e t hatt he exi st i ng parent - chi l d r el at i ons hi p i s not a pr ope r one , and an y e xcu sef or app el l ant ’ s ac t s orom i ss i ons Ext ens i ve t es t i m ony at t r i al i ndi ca t ed t hatap pel l antha d a l ong- st and i ng, per si st entdr ug pr obl em . Fo ri ns t anc e, app el l antha d be en sm oki ng m ar ij uan a f orei ghtye ar s, us ed m ar ij uan a w hi l e p r egn antw i th t he t w i ns , us ed coc ai ne w hi l e p r egn ant w i t h a pr evi ous chi l d, and had nev eratt em pt ed t o e nt era dr ug r eha bi l i t at i on pr ogr am . Fu rt her , t hough ap pel l antr ec ogni z ed t hatth e t w i ns shoul d not be ar oun d dr ugs and off er ed t o seek counsel i ng f orherdr ug i ssues, s h e a dm i t t ed t o s m oki ng m ar ij uan a o n e ac h oft he t w o da yspr ec edi ng t he te rm i n a ti o n tri a l a n d i n d i c a te d th a t m a rij u a n a w a s h e r “ d ru g o f c h o i c e .” T h e p l a n s f o rt h et w in sb yt h eD e p a rt m e n ta n d t h es t a b ilityo ft h e ir pr opos ed pl ac em ent A s not ed, att he t i m e oft r i al , f ourf am i l i es had al r eady expres sed i nt er est i n ad o p ti n g the tw i n s to g e th e r. T h e D e p a rt m e n t w a s re a d yto p roc e e d w i th st udyi ng t hos e o pt i onsan d w asco nf i den tt hata l ovi ng ho m e c oul d bef ound f ort he t w i ns. Pr om ptand per m anent pl acem entf ort he t w i ns t her ef or e seem ed t o bea very a tt ai nab l e g oal . I n c ont r as t , ap pel l anti ndi ca t ed att r i al t hats he
w as r equest i ng t hatt he courtgi ve herm or e t i m e t o com pl et e her servi ce pl an and t hatt he i ssue ofper m anent pl acem entcoul d be deci ded ata l at erdat e.16

W e hol d t hatt hese f act s, appl i ed cum ul at i vel y t o t he Hol ley f act or s, enabl ed t he t r i al courtt o r easonably fo rm a f i r m convi ct i on orbel i eft hat t er m i nat i on of appel l ant s’ s par ent al r i ghtsw as i n t he t w i ns’ besti nt e re st s. C. H. , 89 S. W . 3d at28 . W e t her ef or e over r ul e appel l ant ’ s second i ssue. C onc l us i on H a v i n g o v e rru l e d b o t h o f a p p e l l a n t’s i s s u e s , w e a ffir m th e tri a l c o u rt’s o rd e r te rm i n a ti n g a p p e l l a n t’s p a re n ta l ri g h ts to S .W . a n d S .W .

T E R R I E L I VI NGS T ON J U S T I C E PA N EL: CA YC E, C. J. ; LI V I N G STO N , A N D M C C O Y, JJ. C A YC E, C. J. di ss ent s w i t houtopi ni on. DEL I VERE D: Oct ob e r9, 2008