1 ... SeeTe x. R. App . P. 47. 4. 

## COURT OF APPEALS SECOND DISTRICTOFTEXAS FORT WORTH NO. 0 2 - 0 8 - 1 4 5 - CV I N T HE I NT E R E S TOFJ . W . AN D N . W . , CH I L DR E N

----- ----- -- 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 . I nt r oduc t i on I n si x poi nt s, A ppel l antTer esa cont est s t he suf f i ci enc y oft he evi dence to s u p p o rt th e te rm i n a ti o n o f h e r p a re n ta l ri g h ts to J .W . a n d N .W . W e a ffir m . II . F a c tu a la n d P ro c e d u ra lH i s to ry F o l l o w i n g a b e n c h tri a l , T e re s a ’s p a re n ta l ri g h tsto h e r tw o c h i l d re n , J .W . and N . W . , w er e t er m i nat ed. The t r i al courtf oun d t hatTer esa know i ngl y pl aced or kno w i ngl y al l ow ed J. W . and N . W . t o r em ai n i n con di t i onso r s u rro u ndi ngs2 ... Ro n vol untar i l y r el i nqu i shed hi s par ent al r i ghts t o J. W . and N . W . j ust

b e fo re th e te rm i n a ti o n tri a l . 2 t h a te n d a n g e r e d t h e irp h y s ic a l o r e m o t io n a l w e ll-b e in g , t h a tT e r e s a e n g a g e d in c o n d u c to rk n o w in g lyp la c e d J . W . a n d N .W . w it h p e r s o n sw h o e n g a g e d in cond uctt hatendang er ed t hei rphysi cal orem ot i onal w e ll -b e i ng, and t hat te rm i n a ti o n w o u l d b e i n th e b e s t i n te re s t o f th e c h i l d re n . S ee Tex. Fam . Code A n n . § 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 )(D ), (E ), (2 ) (V e rn o n S u p p . 2 0 0 8 ). Th e t r i al courtr evi ew ed t he f ol l ow i ng even t s and ci r cum st ances w hen d e c id in g t o t e r m in a t e T e r e s a ’s p a r e n t a l r ig h t s , in c lu d in g : ( 1 ) n u m e r o u sre f e r r a ls t o t he Texa s D epa rt m ent of Fam i l y and Pr ot ec t i ve Servi ce s ( “TDFPS”) i nvol vi ng K . M . ( Teres a’ s daughterby R al ph) and r eport s t hatRo n ( J. W . and N . W . ’ s f at her a n d a c o n v i c te d fe l o n ) p h y s i c a l l ya b u s e d K .M .; (2 ) T e re s a ’sfa i l u reto ta k e J .W . t o t he doctorf ora f ol l ow - up a ft e r he had a gast r ost om y t ube ( “g- t ube”) sur gi cal l y i m pl ant ed t o al l ow f ood t o be put di r ect l y in to hi s st om ach, even t ho ug h s het ho ug htt hep r oc e du r e h a d fai l e d ; a n d ( 3) a Nov e m be r8, 2006 i n c i d e n t i n v o l v i n g a s e ri o u si n j u ryto N .W . Ter es a a nd Ron l i ved t oge t her , de sp i t e Ron’ s m ar r i aget o a not herw om an. K . M . l i ved w i t h T er esa and Ro n i n 2 00 6, al t h o u gh T er esa l at eragr eed t o an o r d e ra llo w in g K .M . t o liv e w i t h h e rf a t h e r ; K .M . is n o tt h e s u bje c to ft h is app ea l . Ron w or ke d pa rt - t i m e a nd w at che d t he chi l dr en w hi l e Te r es a w or ke d. 23

O n e d a yi n 2 0 0 4 , K .M . sc ratc h e d an o th e r ch i l d at s c h o o l . R o n a t t e m p t e d to p u n i sh the ch i l d b ysc ratc h i n g h e r on the arm . S o m e o n e rep o rt e d this to TD FPS. Af t eri nve st i gat i ng t he m att er , TD FPS di d notr em ovet he chi l d f r om T e re s a ’sh o m e ; T e re s a l a te r a c k n o w l e d g e d th e i n a p p ro p ri a te n e s so f R o n ’s ac t i on. J .W . w a s b o rn S e p tem b e r 1 2 , 2 0 0 3 . H e w a s d i a g n o se d w i th fai l u re to t hr i ve and had di ges t i ve pr obl em s t hatca us ed hi m t o pr oj ec t i l e v om i t . A g- t ube w as sur gi cal l y i m pl ant ed o n O c t ober24 , 20 06 , t o al l ow f ood t o be i nsert ed di r ec t l y i nt o hi s st om ac h. Ter es a r epo rt ed t hat t he pr oce dur e d i d notw or k, but sh e d i d nott ak e J . W . ba ckt o t he doc t or f or ove r a y ea rde sp i t e u nde r st and i ng t hathew ass uppos ed t o ha ve re tu rn e d fo ra f ol l ow - up a ft ert he su r gery. Ter es a j us t i f i ed her i nac t i on by p oi nt i ng ou tt hatan Ea r l y Chi l dhood I nt erven t i on (“ E C I”) d i e ti c i a n w a ss e e i n g J .W . a n d th a t s h e h a d n o i n s u ra n c e a t th e ti m e . N .W . w a sb o rn o n S e p te m b e r 3 0 , 2 0 0 6 . R o n re p o rte d to h i sm o th e r, Kar en, t hatN . W . a l s o ha d di ges t i ve pr obl em s. O n Novem ber8, 2006 , Ron cl ai m ed t hat w hi l e he w as car ryi ng N . W . t hr oug h hi s house atni ght i n t he dar k, he t r i p p e d a n d N . W . f e l l f r o m h i s a r ms , a n d wh e n h e t r i e d t o c a t c h N. W . , he w a so n ly a b le t o g r a b N .W .’ s le g . H e c a lle d T e r e s a , w h o w a s a t w o r k , a n d t o ld hert hatN . W . needed t o go t o t he hospi t al . W hen she ar r i ved hom e, she cal l ed herm ot her , w ho l i ved f ort y- f i ve m i l es aw ay, in s te a d o f cal l i ng R on’ s m ot her4

w ho w ascl os er , t o c om e a nd w at ch t he ot her chi l dr en w hi l e s he and Ron t ook N .W . to the h o sp i tal . I t to o k se v e ral h o u rs a fter th e all e g e d i n c i d e n t t o g e t t o t he hos pi t alan d t o ge tt r ea t m entf orN . W . D u ri n g t he exa m i nat i on a tt he hos pi t al , t he doc t ordi sc ove r ed t hatN . W . ’ s f em urha d a s pi r al fra c tu r e a nd, f i ndi ng R on’ s st or y hi ghl y suspi ci ous, contact ed TD FPS . Th e TD FPS w or kerat t he hos pi t alw r ot e i n he rr epo rtt hatRon a dm i tt ed:

• t hathe “di d not know exact l y w hathappen ed t o t he baby ”;

• t hatt he “baby’ s head neverhi thi s l eg as he had r eport ed”;

• t hathe “di d not know w her e he gr abbed t he baby ”;

• t o “l yi ng abo utsom e oft he i nf or m at i on pr ovi ded t o hospi t al st af f ”;

• t hat“ he had be en r ough w i t h t he bab y t he w ee k b ef or e a nd h a d th e [sic ] c h e c kh i sfi n g e r sto m a k e s u reth e yw e re al r i ght ”; an d

• t hatt hey w er e l ucky t hat he di dn’ t br eak t he baby ’ s neck as t he i nj ur i es coul d have been m uch w or se. N eve rt hel es s, Ter es a s t at ed t hats he bel i eve d t hatt he i nj ury w asac ci den t alan d r ef used t o consi dert he al t er nat i ve. I n t he s a m e r eport , t he T D FPS w or ker des cr i bed an i nt ervi ew w i t h K. M . , “ w ho e xpr es se d gr ea tf ea r , ” beg a n to cry, and asked i f her par ent s w er e goi ng t o be abl e t o see t he vi deotape asshe w as s c a r e d . K .M . r e p o rt e d t o t h e T D F P S w o r k e rt h a th e rp a r e n t sh a d t o ld h e r t o lie and s ay onl y ni cet hi ngsab out t hem w hen as ke d, “o t her w i se t heyw er e g oi ng5

t o b e t a k e n a w a yf r o m t h e ir m o t h e r .” T D F P S p la c e d a ll t h r e e o ft h e c h ild r e n in fo s te r c a re . L a te r, N .W . a n d J .W . w e r e p l a c e d i n th e c a reo f R o n ’sm o th e r, K a re n , a n d K .M . w a sp l a c e d i n th e c a reo f h e r b i o l o g i c a l fa th e r. D e s p it e t h e d o c t o r ’s c o n c e r n t h a tN .W .’ sin ju r y w a s n o ta c c id e n t a l, Ter es a con t i nue d t o l i ve w i t h Ron a nd un que st i oni ngl y a cc ept ed hi s ver si on of e v e n t s . T e r e s a a n d R o n v is it e d N .W . a n d J .W ., b u tt h e v is it sd id n o tg o w e ll. Teres a and R on pai d a tt e nt i on t o N . W . dur i ng t he vi si t s, butm ost l y i gno r ed J. W . , wi t h T e r e s a e x h i b i t i n g n o e mo t i o n a n d l i tt l e a f f e c t i o n d u r i n g t h e v i s i t s. W hi l e t he t w o boys l i ved w i t h Kar en, Ter es a a nd Ron p r ovi ded l i tt l e s upportf or t he t w o boy s. A ft err em ovi ng Ter es a’ s chi l dr en, TD FPS de v el ope d a s ervi cepl an, an d l at era r evi se d pl an, w hi ch Ter es a c om pl et ed i n pa rt . Pur su antt o t he pl an, Teres a com pl et ed par ent i ng cl asses , i ndi vi dual coun sel i ng, and a psychol ogi cal eval uat i on. I n addi t i on, she at t ended an addi t i onal par ent i ng cou r se t hatw as not l i st ed on t he se rvi ce pl an, and com pl et ed, on her ow n, a c e rti fi ca t i on pr og r a m t ha tp r ov i de d he rj obs k i l l sf ora b e tt e r pa yi ng j ob . On Aug us t29, 20 07 , t he casew or kerpr esent ed T er es a w ith a r evi sed servi ce pl an t hat in c lu d e d t w o a d d it io n a l t a s k s : c o u p le s c o u n s e lin g (w it h R o n ) a n d a p s y c h ia t r ic eval uat i on. H ow ever , nei t herTer esa nor TD FPS w as abl e t o ar r ange f orTer esa to c o m p l e te th e s e n e w ta s k sa t ti m e sth a t w o u l d n o t c o n fl i c t w i th h e r w o rk6

schedul e. Ter esa acqui r ed sui t abl e hou si ng, beds, cl ot hes, t oys f orhersons, st abl e e m pl oym ent , an d t hr ough herem pl oye r , h e a l t h i ns ur anc e c ove r agef or t he chi l dr en, w ho di d not have any o ngo i ng m edi cal needs. M eanw hi l e, N . W . and J. W . w er e doi ng w el l i n K a re n’ s car e. Both had becom e heal t hy eat er s, w i t h J. W . havi ng hi s g- t ube r em oved. Kar en ar r anged f o rK .M . t o c o m e t o v is it N .W . a n d J .W . r e g u la r ly , s o t h a tt h e yc o u ld m a in t a in th e i r s i b l i n g re l a ti o n s h i p a n d p l a n n e d to a d o p t b o th b o y si f T e r e s a a n d R o n ’s par ent al r i ghtsw er e t er m i nat ed. The t r i al c o u rtsubsequentl y t er m i nat ed Teres a’ s par ent al r i ghtsaft erRo n vol untar i l y r el i nqu i shed hi s. I I I . St 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 so r h e r c h i l d re n a rec o n s ti tu ti o n a l i n te re s t s“ fa r m o re p r e c i o u s t h a n a n y p r o p e rt y r i ght. ” Sa ntosky 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 ( Tex. 2003 ) . “W hi l e par ent al r i ght s ar e o fco ns t i t ut i ona l m agn i t ude , t heyar e n ot 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 oft 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 er est s oft he chi l d not be sacr i fic e d m er el y t o pr eserve t hat r i ght. ” I

nreC. H. , 89 S. W . 3d 17, 26 ( Tex. 200 2) . I n a t er m i nat i on c as e, t he S tate se e k s n o t j u st to l i m i t pa ren tal ri g h ts b u t t o e n d the m p e rm a n e n tl y — to7

d i v e s t th e p a re n t a n d c h i l d o f a l l l e g a l ri g h ts , p ri v i l e g e s , d u ti e s , a n d p o w e rs nor m al l y e xi st i ng be t w ee n t hem , ex ce ptf ort he chi l d’ s r i ghtt o i nhe r i t . Tex . F a m . C o d e A n n . § 1 6 1 . 2 0 6 ( b ) (V e rn o n S u p p . 2 0 0 8 ); Ho l i ckv. Sm ith , 685 S. W . 2d 18, 20 ( Tex. 1985 ) . W e st r i ct l y sc r ut i ni z e t er m i nat i on pr oce edi ngsan 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 si n fa v o r o f th e p a re n t. Hol i ck , 685 S . W . 2d a t20–2 1; I n 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 to 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 tes t abl i sh onegr ound 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 si n th e b e s t i n te re s t o f th e c h i l d . T e x . F a m . C o d e A n n . § 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 n a tio n m a y not be based sol el y on t he besti nt er estoft he chi l d as d e te rm i n e d b yth e tri e r o f fa c t. Tex . D ep ’t o f 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 alr 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 hatduepr oce ssr equ i r e s th e p e t 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 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 ); 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 and ar d ofor di nary c i vi l pr oce edi ngsa nd t he8

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 ro c e e d i n g s . I nreG . M. , 5 9 6 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 ). It is d e f in e d a s t h e “ m e a s u r e o rd e g r e e o fp r o o ft h a tw ill p rod u c e i n the m i n d o f t h e tr i e r o f fac t a fi rm b e l i e f o r co n v i c ti o n as to th e tr u th of t he a l l e ga t i on s s ou gh t t o be e s t a bl i s he d. ” Te x. Fa m . Cod e Ann. § 10 1. 007 (V e rn o n 2 0 0 2 ). I n r evi ew i ng t he evi den ce f orl ega l s uf f i ci enc y i n pa r ent alt 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 iss u c h t h a ta f a c t -f in d e rc o u ld r ea so nab l y f or m a f i r m be l i eforco nvi c ti o n t hatt he gr oundsf ort er m i nat i on w e rep ro v e n . I

n reJ. P. B. , 18 0 S . W . 3d 57 0, 57 3 (T ex. 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 hatw e m ust assum e t hat t he f act - f i nder r esol ved any di sput ed fa c tsi 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 d i s re g a r d a l l ev i 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 if itis c o n tra ryto th e fi n d i n g . Id. T h a t i s, w e m u st c o n side r ev id 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 n d e r coul d, and di sr egar d contr ary evi dence u n l e s sa 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 ca nnot w ei gh w i t nes s cr edi bi l i t y i ss uest hatde pen d on9

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 ti sth e fa c t-fi n d e r’s p ro v i n c e . Id. at573, 574. And eve n w h e n c re d i bi l i t y i ss uesap pea ri n t he a p p e l l a te re c o rd , w e m u s t d e fe r to th e fa c t-fi n d e r’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. I n r evi ew i ng t he evi den cef orf ac t uals uf f i c i e n cy, w e m us tgi ve due d e fe re n c e to th e fa c t-fi n d e 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 n reH. R. M. , 209 S . W . 3d 105, 108 ( Tex. 2006 ) . W e m us tde t er m i ne 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 c o n v i c ti o n o r b e l i e f th a t T e re s a k n o w i n g l yp l a c e d o r k n o w i n g l y a l l o w e d J .W . and N . W . t o r em ai n i n cond i t i ons orsur r oun di ngs t hatendang er ed t hei rphysi cal orem ot i onal w el l - bei ng ort hat Teres a engag ed i n cond uct or know i ngl y pl aced J .W . a n d N .W . w it h p e r s o n sw h o e n g a g e d in c o n d u c t t h a te n d a n g e r e d t h e ir p h y sica l o r em o ti o n a l w e l l -be i n g , a n d tha t t h e term i n a ti o n o f he r pa ren tal ri g h ts w o u l d b e i n th e b e s t i n te re s t o f t h e c h i l d re n . C. H. , 8 9 S .W .3 d a t2 8 . If , in l i ght oft he ent i r e r ecor d, t he di sput ed evi dence t ha t a r easonabl e f act - f i nder coul d not have cr edi t ed i n f avoroft he f i ndi ng i s so s i gni f i cantt hata f act - f i nder c o u l d n o t r e a so n a b l yh a v e form e d a fi rm b e l i e f or c o n v i c ti o n i n the tr u 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 yi n s u fficie n t. H. R. M. , 209 S. W . 3d a t108. I f w e r eve r seon f ac t uals uf f i ci enc y gr ounds , t hen w e m us tde t ai l i n ouropi ni on10

w hy w e have concl uded t hat a r easonabl e f act - f i ndercoul d not have cr edi t ed 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 . J. F. C. , 96 S . W . 3d a t266– 67. I V . End ang er m ent In h e rf ir s ta n d s e c o n d p o in t s , T e r e s a a s s e rt st h a tt h e e v id e n c e isle g a lly and f act ual l y i nsuf f i ci entt o suppo rt t he f i ndi ng t hatTer esa engaged i n cond uct orknow i ngl y pl aced t he chi l dr en w i t h per sons w ho engag ed i n cond uctw hi ch e n d a n g e re d th e 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 th e c h i l d re n . S eeT e x . F a m. C ode A nn. § 1 61 . 00 1( 1) ( E) . I n her t hi r d and f ourt h poi nt s, Ter esa ass ert s t hat t he evi dence i s l egal l y and f act ual l y i nsuf f i ci ent t o suppo rt t he f i ndi n g t hat T e r e s a k n o w in g lyp la c e d o r k n o w in g lya llo w e d t h e c h ild r e n t o re m a in in c o n d it io n so rs u r r o u n d in g s w h ic h e n d a n g e r e d t h e p h y s ic a l o re m o t io n a l w e llbei ng oft he chi l dr en. Se ei d. § 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 )(D ). U nde rs ec t i on 161. 001 ( 1) ( E) oft he Texa s Fam i l y Code, t he t er m “endanger ” m eans t o expose t o l oss or i nj ur y, t o j eopar di ze. A c c o rding l y , w h e n an a l y zi n g a j u ry’s fi n d i n g s p u rsu a n t t o subsect i on ( E) , w e m ust d e te r m i ne w het hersuf f i ci entevi dence exi st s t hat t he endan ger m ent of t he chi l d’ s physi cal w el l - bei ng w as t he di r ect r esul t of t he par ent ’ s cond uct , i ncl udi ng act s, om i ssi ons, orf ai l ur es t o act . Ter m i nat i on un dersect i on 1 61 . 00 1( 1) ( E) m ust be bas ed on m or e t han a si ngl e a c t orom i ss i on; a vol unt ary, d e lib e r a t e , a n d c o n s c io u sc o u r s e o f c o n d u c tb yt h e p a r e n tis r equi r ed. H ow ever , i t i s not necessary t hat t he par ent ’ s c o n d u ct be di r ec t ed att he chi l d or t hatt he chi l d a ct ual l y s uf f eri nj ury. The sp ec i f i c d ang e r to t he chi l d’ s w el l - bei ng m ay be i nf er r ed f r om par ent al m i scondu ctst andi ng al one.11 To det er m i ne w het her t er m i nat i on i s necessary, court s m ay l o o kto p a re n ta l c o n d u c t b o th b e fo rea n d a fte r th e c h i l d ’s b i rth . . . . [ S] ci e n te r i s onl y r equ i r ed unde rs ubs ec t i on ( E) w hen a par ent pl aces t he chi l d w i t h ot her s w ho engag e i n an endan ger i ng cou r se o f co n d u c t. A s a g ene r alr ul e, co nduc tt hats ubj ec t s a c hi l d t o a l i f e o f uncert ai nt y and i nst abi l i t y endan ger s t he phy si cal and em ot i onal w e l l -b e i n g o f a c h i l d . InreR.W. , 1 2 9 S .W .3 d 7 3 2 , 7 3 8

– 3 9 ( T e x . A p p .— F o rtW o rt h 2 0 0 4 , p e t. den i ed) ( ci t at i ons om i t t ed) . I nap pr opr i at e orab us i ve con duc tby per so nsw ho l i ve i n t he chi l d’ s hom e or w i t h w hom t he chi l d i s com pel l ed t o as so ci at e on a r e g u l a r b a s i s i n h i s h o me i s a p a rt o f t h e “ c o n d i t i o n s o r s u r r o u n d i n g s ” oft he c h i l d ’sh o m e u n d e r s e c t i o n 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 )(D ). SeeCastorenav. Tex. D ep’tof Protec tive & Regul

atory Servs . , No. 03- 02- 00653

- CV , 2004W L9039 06, a t*8 (T e x . A p p .— A u s ti n A p r. 2 9 , 2 0 0 4 , n o p e t.) (m e m . o p .); I n reB. R. , 822 S . W . 2d 1 0 3 , 1 0 6 (T e x . A p p .— T y l e r 1 9 9 2 , w ri t d e n i e d ) (o p . o n re h ’g ); s e ea l s o Inre W. S. , 899 S . W . 2d 772, 776 (T e x . A pp. — FortW ort h 1995, no w r i t ) ( st at i ng t hat “e nvi r onm ent ” r ef er s not onl y t o t he ac ce pt abi l i t y ofl i vi ng c ondi t i ons , but a l so to th e c o n d u c t i n the h o m e ). B e c a u se the ev i d e n c e p e rt a i n i n g to su b se c ti o n s 1 6 1 .0 0 1 ( 1 ) ( D ) an d ( E ) i s i n terrel a ted , w e m a yco n d u c t a c o n s o l i d a te d re v i e w . I n reM. C. T. , 2 5 0 S .W .3 d 1 6 1 , 1 6 9 (T e x . A p p .— F o rt W o rth 2 0 0 8 , n o p e t.)12

Th e courthad bef or e i tt he f ol l ow i ng evi dence:

• Ter es a k new t hatRon w asa con v i c te d f el on bu tha d not a sk e d ab o u t t h e d e tai l s o f his cri m i n a lp a st.

• R o n w a s d e s c r i b e d a sh a v i n g a t e mp e ra n d h a d s o me psychi at r i c i ssues.

• Ron ha d notw ant ed chi l dr en.

• R on had scr at ched K . M . as puni shm entand had been s u s p e c te d o th e r ti m e so f p h y s i c a l l ya b u s i n g h e r.

• T e res a f ai l ed t o t ak e J . W . f orhi s f ol l ow - up t r ea t m ent f ol l ow i ng hi s g- t ube s u rg e ry even t hou gh she bel i eved t hat t h e s u r g e r y w a sn o ts u c c e s s f u l a n d e v e n t h o u g h J .W . s t ill h a d “ s e v e re d i a rrh e a .”

• Te r e s a b e l i e v e d t h i si n a c t i o n w a sj u s t i f i e d be ca us e a n E CI di et i ci an w as se ei ng J. W . and sh e di d notha ve i ns ur anc e f or J .W . H o w e v e r, a d i e ti c i a n c a n n o t a c t a s a s u b s ti tu te fo r a d o c to r.

• M o re th a n a y e a r p a s s e d fro m th e ti m e o f th e g -tu b e s u rg e ry unti lt he t i m e oft he chi l dr en’ s r em oval w i th no phy si ci an f ol l ow - up.

• N .W . w a sb a r e lya m o n t h o ld w h e n h e w a sin ju r e d w h ile in R on’ s car e.

• I t t o o k a l mo s t f i v e h o u r s b e f o r e T e r e s a t o o k h i m t o t he hospi t al and he w as seen by a do c to r w ho deter m i ned t hat N . W . ’ s f em urhad a spi r al f r act ur e.

• Th e doct orsuspect ed i nt ent i onal i njury and con t act ed TDFP S.13

• Teres a schedul ed hersuperv ised vi si t s dur i ng herl i m i t ed lu n c h h o u ra n d d id n o tf o llo w -u p o n a n o f f e rt o re s c h e d u le som e oft he vi si t s w hen she coul d have extr a t i m e.

• J. W . w as i gno r ed dur i ng t he vi si t s.

• Teres a di d not pr ovi de suppo rtf ort he boy s.

• T e res a fai l e d to g i v e N .W . a b i rt h d a yp res e n t.

• Teres a br oug htJ. W . ’ s pr esentl at e.

• K ar en of f er ed to t ake J. W . and N . W . t o H aw ai i ; Ter esa r ef us ed t o gi ve herpe r m i ss i on.

• Ter es a f ai l ed t o def i ni t i vel y s t at e t hats he w asgoi ng t o l ea ve Ro n a l t h o u g h s h e k n e w t h i s wo u l d i n c r e a s e h e r c h a nce s of k e e p in g h e rc h ild r e n , a n d R o n v o lu n t a r ilyre li n q u is h e d h is par ent al r i ghtsand i nvoked hi s Fi ft h A m endm entr i ght agai nst se l f - i ncr i m i nat i on.

• Teres a st at ed t hatshe bel i eved t hatRo n pr esent ed no dan ger t o he r c h i l dr en eve n t hough Ron ha d t ol d t he TD FPS i n v e sti g a to r t h a t:

• th a t he “d i d n o t k n o w e x a c tl y w h a t h a p p e n e d to t he baby ”;

• t hatt he “baby’ s head never hi t hi s l eg as he had r eport ed”;

• t hathe“ di d n o t kno w w her e h e g r abb ed t he baby”;

• t hathel i ed “a bo u t so m e o ft he i nf or m at i on pr ovi ded t o hospi t al st af f ”;14 • t hat“he had been r oug h w i t h t he baby the w eek b e fo re a n d h a d the [ sic] ch e c kh i s fi n g e rs to m ak e s ur e t heyw er e a l r i ght ”; an d

• t hatt heyw er e l uc k y thathedi dn’ tbr ea k t he baby’ s neck as th e inj ur i es coul d have been m uch w or se. Bas ed on t he f or ego i ng e vi den cebe f or e t he cou rtan d und ert he app r opr i at e s t and a rd ofr evi ew , w e h ol d t hatt he evi den cei s l ega l l y a nd f act ual l y suf f i ci entt o sust ai n t he court ’ s f i ndi ngs t hat Teres a know i ngl y pl aced orkn ow i ngl y a l l ow ed J. W . a n d N .W . t o r em ai n i n c ondi t i onsors ur r oundi ngs t hatendang er ed t hei r physi cal or em ot i onal w el l - bei ng and t hat Teres a engaged in c o n d u c to rk n o w in g ly p la c e d J .W . a n d N .W . w it h p e r s o n sw h o e n g a g e d in co nd uc tt ha ten da ng ered the i rph ys i ca l or em oti on al w el l - be i ng . W e o ve r r u le Teres a’ s f i r stf ourpoi nt s. V. B e st I n tere sts In h e rf ift h a n d s ix t h p o in t s , T e r e s a a s s e rt st h a tt h e e v id e n c e isle g a lly a n d fa c tu a l l yi n s u fficie n t to s u p p o rt th e fi n d i n g th a t te rm i n a ti o n o f T e re s a ’s par ent alr i ght s i s i n t he bes ti nt er es toft he chi l dr en. P r o m p ta n d p e r m a n e n tp la c e m e n to ft h e c h ild in a s a f e e n v ir o n m e n tis p res u m e d to b e i n the ch i l d ’s b e st i n tere st. Tex . Fam . C ode A nn. § 2 63 . 30 7( a) (V e rno n 2 0 0 2 ). T h e re i s a l so a s tr o n g p res u m p ti o n tha t ke e p i n g a c h i l d w i th a par ent i s i n t he chi l d’ s besti nt er est . I n reR. R. , 209 S . W . 3d 112, 116 ( Tex.15

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 nee ds oft 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 rt o t he chi l d now an d i n t he f ut ur e; ( 4) t he par ent alab i l i t i esof t he i ndi vi dua l s se ek i ng c us t ody; (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 pr om ot e t he bes ti nt er es toft he chi l d; ( 6) t he pl ansf ort he chi l d byt hes e i ndi vi dua l s or b y t he age ncys ee ki 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 ) th e ac ts o r om i ss i o n s o f t h e p a ren t w h i c h m a yi n d i c a te th a t t h e ex i sti n g p a ren t- c h il d r e l a ti o n sh i p i s n o t a pr 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 , 544 S. W . 2d 367, 371– 72 ( Te x. 1976 ) T h e s e f a c t o r sa r e n o t e x h a u s t iv e ; s o m elis t e d f a c t o r sm a yb e in a p p lic a b le t o som e cases; ot herf act or s n o t o n t he l i stm ay al so be consi der ed w hen a p p ro p ri a te . C.H . , 89 S. W . 3d at 27 . Furt her m or e, undi sput ed evi dence of j ust one f act orm ay be suf f i ci entin a part i cul arcase t o suppo rta f i ndi ng t hat t er m i nat i on i s i n t he bes ti nt er es toft he c h i l d . Id. O n t he ot herha nd, t he16

pr es enc e o fs ca ntev i den cer el eva ntt o e ac h f ac t orw i l l nots u p p o rt s uch a fi n d i n g . Id. Th e t r i al courthad bef or e i tt he f ol l ow i ng add i t i onal evi dence:

• T e r e s a s h o w e d a la c ko fb o n d in g t o t h eb o y sa n d u s u a lly d i s p l a y e d a “ fl a t a ffe c t.”

• T e r e s a f a ile d t o h e lp s u p p o rtt h e b o y sa ft e rt h e irre m o v a l.

• T e re s a c o n ti n u a l l y p u t h e r o w n i n te re s tsa b o v e th o s e o f J .W . a n d N .W . b yre m a i n i n g w i th R o n . • Teres a f ail ed t o pr om pt l y and com pl et el y do t he servi ces r equ es t ed by TDFPS; h o w e ver , s he di d c om pl et e p ar ent i ng cl as s e s , i n d i v i d u a l c o u n s e l i n g , a n d a p s y c h o l o g i c a l e v a l uat i on, and s he att end ed an add i t i ona l pa r ent i ng cou r set hatw asnot l i s te d on t he se rvi ce pl an and com pl et ed, on her ow n , a c e rti fi c a ti o n p r o g ra m th a t p ro v i d e d h e r w i th j o b s k i l l sfo r a bett erpa yi ng j ob.

• Teres a has f oun d sui t abl e housi ng a n d has acqui r ed beds, c lo t h e s , a n d t o y sf o rh e rs o n s , b u th e rh o m e h a sp r e v io u s ly been unst abl e, as she m oved t hr ee or f ourt i m es i n t he year aft ert he boy s w er e r em oved fr om hercar e.

• Ter es a o bt ai ned s t abl e e m pl oym ent and be gan a f ul l - t i m e j ob i n Se pt e m be r 2007 a nd , t hr ou gh he r e m pl oy e r , i s a bl e to pr ovi de hea l t h i ns ur anc e c ove r agef ort he chi l dr en.

• T e res a ’ s pl a ns f or t he bo ys a r e va gu e a s s he s e e m s to unde r st and t hat sh e ca nnot su pport t hem al onei n he rcu r r ent apart m entbased on hercur r entw ages.

• T he bo ys are w el l - bo nd ed t o an d ha pp y l i vi ng w i t h t h e ir f os t erm om an d pa t er nalgr and m ot her , Kar en.17

• Th e boys have beco m e heal t hi eri n K ar en’ s hom e, and K ar en h a s m a d e a rr a n g e m e n ts so th a t th e y c a n sp e n d ti m e w i th th e i r h a l f-s i s te r, K .M . • N .W . a nd J. W . ’ s em ot i onal and phy si cal needs have been b e s t m e t b yK a re n . • K ar en pl ans t o adop tt he boy s.

• K a r e n isc u r r e n t lyp r o v id in g f o rt h e m w it h o u tf i n a n c ia l h e lp f r om Ter esa.

• Kar en’ s hom e i s st abl e a nd pr ovi des a “n urt ur i ng a nd l ovi ng e n v i ro n m e n t fo r th e b o y s .”

• Th e chi l dr en’ s C A S A vol unteerst r ong l y r ecom m e n ded t er m i nat i on oft he par ent s’ r i ght s and ad opt i on byKar en. Bas ed on t he f or ego i ng e vi den cebe f or e t he cou rtan d und ert he app r opr i at e s t and ar d ofr evi ew , w e h ol d t hatt he evi den cei s l ega l l y a nd f ac t ual l y s uf f i ci entt o s us t ai n t he cou rt ’ s f i ndi ng th a t te r m i nat i on w asi n t he besti nt er estoft he chi l dr en. W e over r ul e Ter esa’ s f i ft h and si xt h poi nt s. V I . Concl us i on H a v i n g o v e rru l e d a l l o f T e re s a ’sp o i n ts , w e a ffir m th e t ri a l c o u rt’s j u d g m e n t te rm i n a ti n g T e re s a ’sp a re n ta l ri g h tsto J .W . a n d N .W .

B OBM CC OY J U S T I C E PA N EL: D A U PH I N O T, W A LKER, an d M C C O Y, JJ. DEL I VERE D: Nov e m be r26, 2008