FI RST DI VI SI ON

BA RNES, P. J.

, GOBEI L and PI PKI N, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

https ://w w w

. ga a ppe a ls .us /r ule s

D E A D LIN E S A R E N O LO N G E R TO LLE D IN T

H I S
C O U R T. A LL FILIN G S M U ST B E S U B M I TTE D WITH IN

TH E TIM E S S E T B Y

O U R C O U R T R U LE S

.

Febr uar y 8, 2021



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 0 A2 12 4 . IN THE INTEREST OF T. R. et al . ch i l d ren

.

G O B E I L
, J u d g e.

Fo l l owi n g th e gran t o f h er ap p l i cat io n fo r th i s Co u rt ’ s d i s cret i o n ary rev i ew, t h e

m o th er o f t h ree m i n o r ch i l dren

, T. R

. (1 /9 / 0 7 ), J. R. (4 / 1 5 / 1 1 ), an d R. R. (1 2 / 4 / 1 3 ),

ap p eal s fro m th e ju v en i l e co u rt ’ s o rd er t erm i nat i n g h er p aren t al ri g h t s

. On ap p eal

, s h e

co n ten d s t h at t h e co u rt erred i n fi n d i n g t h at t h ere was cl ear an d co n vi n ci n g ev i d en ce

t h at (1 ) t he reas o n fo r t h e ch i ld ren ’ s d ep en d en cy was l i k el y t o co n t i n u e o r wo u l d n ot

b e rem ed i ed ; (2 ) co n ti n u ed dep en d en cy wo ul d cau s e s eri ou s h arm t o J

. R. an d R. R.; 1

( 3 ) t e rm i n at i o n of p aren tal ri gh t s w as i n th e bes t i nt eres t o f J

. R. an d R. R.; an d (4 )

t h e D ep art m en t o f Fam i l y an d Ch i l d ren Serv i ces (“ DFCS”) m ad e reas o n ab l e effo rt s

1

Th e m o t her ch al l en g ed p o rt i o n s o f th e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er wi t h res pect t o J

. R. an d R. R., b u t n o t wi t h res p ect t o h er el d es t ch i l d , T. R.t o reu n i fy t h e fam i l y , el i m i n at e t h e c a us es o f d ep en d en cy , an d fi n al i ze t h e

p erm an en cy p l an

. Ad d i t i o n al l y , t h e m ot h er arg u es t h at th e t ri al co u rt erred b y d at i n g

i t s t erm in at i o n o rd er n u n c p r o t u n c t o a d at e p ri or to th e d at e o f t h e t erm i n at i o n

h eari n g

. Becau s e th e ev i d en ce w as s u ffi ci en t as t o s o m e fact o rs , bu t t h e ju v en i l e co u rt

fai l ed t o m ak e t h e r e q u i s i t e fi n d i n g s o f fact as t o o t h ers , we v acat e an d rem an d fo r

ad d it i o n al p ro ceed i n g s co n si s t en t wi t h t h i s o p i n i o n

.

Th i s Co u rt rev i ews an ap p eal fro m an o rd er t erm i n at in g p aren tal ri g h t s i n t h e

l i gh t m o s t fav orab l e t o t h e ju v en i l e co u rt ’ s ju d g m en t t o d et erm i n e

wh et h er an y rat i on al t ri er o f fact co ul d h av e fo u nd by cl ear an d

co n v i n ci n g ev id en ce th at t h e n at u ral p aren t ’ s r ights to cu s t o dy h av e b een

l o s t . W e n ei t her wei g h ev i d en ce n o r d et erm i n e wi t n es s cred i b i l it y , b u t

d efer t o t h e j u v e n i l e co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g s o f fact an d affi rm u n l es s th e

ap p el l at e s t an d ard i s n o t m et

.

In t h e In t er es t of U

. G.

, 2 9 1 G a. Ap p

. 4 0 4

, 4 0 4 (6 6 2 SE2 d 1 9 0 ) (2 00 8 ) (ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). W e are ev er m i n d fu l i n o ur rev i ew th at “ t h ere i s n o ju d i ci al

d et erm i n at i o n wh i ch has m o re d ras t i c s ig n ifi can ce t h an t h at o f p erm an en t l y s ev eri n g

a n at u ral p aren t -ch i l d rel at i o n sh i p

. It m u s t b e s cru ti n i zed del i berat el y an d ex erci s ed

m o st cau t i ou sl y

. ” In t h e In t er es t o f E. G. L. B

., 3 4 2 Ga. Ap p. 8 3 9

, 8 4 0 ( 8 0 5 S E 2 d

2 8 5 ) (2 0 1 7 ) (ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

2So v i ewed

, t h e reco rd d em o n s t rat es t h at t h e ch i l d ren wer e rem ov ed fro m t h e

m o th er’ s h o m e in J u l y 2 0 1 6

, aft er DFCS i n ves t i g at ed a rep ort t h at t h e m o t h er u s ed

co cai n e an d was u s i n g h er m o n t h l y SSI b en efi t s t o s u p p o rt h er d ru g h ab it

. Th e m o t h er

t e s t e d p o s i t i ve fo r co cai n e, an d DFCS fi l ed a p et i t i o n fo r d ep en den cy o n J u l y 1 9,

2 0 1 6

. In t h e p et i t i on , DFCS al l eg ed t h at aft er t h e m ot h er’ s d ru g s creen , sh e was as k ed

i f t h ere were fam i l y m em b ers w i t h wh o m t h e ch i l d ren co u l d res i d e, an d i n res p o n s e,

s h e v i o l en t l y t h rew a co ffee m u g n ear t h e cas e m an ag er an d s erv i ce p ro v i d er. DFCS

co n fi rm ed t h at t h e m ot h er was b i p o l ar an d l ea r n e d t h at s h e was recei vi n g s erv i ces

fro m t h e Oco n ee Cen t er. 2 Acc o rd i n g t o t h e rem o v al ord er, DFCS s earch ed fo r

rel at i v es at t h at t i m e b u t co u l d n o t l o cat e a s u it ab l e h o m e fo r t h e ch i l dren

, an d t h e

ju v en i l e co u rt u l t i m at el y p laced t h e ch i ld ren i n DFCS cu s t o d y

. At t h at t i m e, t h e

m o th er s t i p u l at ed t o pro bab l e cau s e fo r rem o val

.

Th e m o t h er s u b m it t ed to a p aren t i n g as s es s m en t o n Au g u s t 1 6

, 2 0 1 6, an d t h e

as s e s s o r reco m

m en d ed t h at s h e ab s t ai n fro m h er u s e of co cai n e an d o t h er m o o d

2

Th e p reci s e n at u re o f t h e s erv i ces t h e m o t her recei ved fro m t h e Oco n ee Cen t er i s

u n cl ear. In a l e t t e r, an Oco n ee Cen t er em p l o y ee n o t ed t h at t h e m ot her at t en d ed

u n s p eci fi ed “ g ro u p t h erap y ”; a cas e pl an p ro g res s rep o rt in d i cat ed t h at s he at t en d ed

“ o u t p at ien t s u b s t an ce g ro u p s ”; an d

, i n h er f a m i ly a s se s sm en t

, th e m o th er rep o rt ed t h at

s h e at t en d ed g ro u p t h erap y at t h e Oco n ee Cen t er fo r “ s ex u al ab us e an d su b s t an ce ab u se t reat m en t

. ”

3al t eri n g s u bs t an ces , co n t i n u e t o at t en d gro u p s es s i o n s at t he Oco n ee Cen t er, p ro v i d e

a st ab l e, s ecu re, d ru g -free ho m e, p art i ci p at e i n s up erv i s ed v i s i t at i o n, at t en d paren t i n g

cl as s es , an d p ro v i d e a m i n im u m o f s i x m o n th s o f n eg at i v e d ru g s creen s

. Th e as s es s o r

co n cl u d ed th at t h e m o t h er need ed s u p p o rt fro m D FCS t o en s u re s he fo l l o wed t h ro u g h

o n t h e reco m

m en d at i on s

. No t ab l y , th e as s es s o r reco m m en d ed a p sy ch o l o g i cal

ev al u at i on “ t o d et erm i n e if [t h e m o t h er] h as s eri o u s m en tal h eal t h p ro b l em s o r ju s t

a l ack o f m o t i v at i o n t o g et h er ch i l d ren b ack .”

Aft er a d i s p o s i ti o n h eari n g o n Au g u st 25

, 2 0 16

, at wh i ch t h e m o t h er s t i p u l at ed

t o d ep en d en cy b as ed o n h er s u b s t an ce ab u s e, DFCS an d t h e m o t h er ag reed t o a

reu n i fi cat i on cas e p lan

, w h ich i n cl ud ed s ub s t an ce ab u s e an d p aren t i n g as s es s m en t s ,

co m p l ian ce wi t h reco m

m en d at i o n s fro m t h e as s es sm en t s , an d n i n e m o n t h s o f d ru g

free t es t i n g twi ce week ly

. Th e act u al cas e pl an was es t ab l i s h ed o n Sep t em b er 1 9,

2 0 1 6

. It req u i red t h at th e m o t h er rem ai n d ru g an d al co h o l free fo r s ix m on t h s an d t h at

s h e m ai n t ai n a s o u rce o f i n co m e fo r t h e ch i ld ren an d s u i t ab l e h o u s in g , am o n g o t h er

t h i n g s

.

At a ju d i ci al rev iew h eari n g o n Sep t em b er 2 2

, 2 0 16

, th e m o t h er was fo u n d to

b e i n co m p li an ce wi t h h er cas e pl an g o al s

. Fu rt h er, s h e s u b m i tt ed t o t he p sy ch o l o g i cal

ev al u at i on o n O ct ob er 6

, 2 0 1 6

, wh i ch p ro m pt ed t h e p s y ch o l o gi st t o reco m m en d t h at

4s h e s ee a p s y ch i at ri st fo r m ed i cat i o n , t ak e o n e-o n -o n e p aren t i n g cl as s es , an d s u bm i t

t o i n d i v i d u al co u n s el i n g

. No t i n g t h e m o t h er’ s h i s to ry o f d ep r e s s i o n an d m o o d

d i s o rd ers , t h e p s y ch o lo gi s t co n cl u d ed t h at g i v en t h e m o th er’ s l ev el of co g n i t i v e

ab i l i t y , p o o r i n s i g h t

, an d li fe ci rcu m s t an ces , s h e li k el y wo u ld b e u nab l e t o pro v i d e t h e

s ecu re, s tab l e, an d h eal t h y en v i ro n m en t t hat h er ch i ld ren n eed ed wi t h o u t s i g n i fi can t

s o ci al su p p o rt

. Sp eci fi cal l y , l on g t erm cas e m an ag em en t i n t h e fo rm of u n an n o u n ced

v i s i t s an d o n g o i n g as s es s m en t s wo u l d b e warran t ed i f reu n i fi cat i o n were ach i ev ed

.

Th e m ot h er t es t ed p o s i t i v e f o r co cai ne i n D ecem

b er 2 0 16 an d Jan u ary 2 0 1 7.

At a p eri o d i c rev i ew h eari n g o n Feb ru ary 9

, 20 1 7, t h e co u rt det erm in ed t h at t h e

m o th er was n o t m ak i ng ap p ro p ri at e p ro g res s o n h er cas e pl an s an d ch an ged h er cas e

p l an to reu n i fi cat i o n co n cu rren t wi t h ad o p ti o n

. At a p erm an en cy h eari n g o n Ap ri l 1 3,

2 0 1 7

, t h e co u rt rel i ev e d DFCS o f it s o bl i g at i o n t o tran s p o rt t h e m o t h er t o t h e

s u p erv i s ed v i s it at i o n

.

In No v em

b er 20 1 7

, DFCS fi l ed a pet i t i o n s eek i n g t o t erm in at e t h e m o t h er’ s

p aren t al ri g h t s

. In t h e p et i ti o n, DFCS al l eg ed t h at t h e m o t h er’ s m ed i cal l y v eri fi ed

m en t al an d em o t i o n al h eal t h defi ci en cy ren d ered h er u nab l e t o p ro v i d e ad eq u at el y fo r

h er ch i l d ren , th at s h e t es t ed i n t h e “ v ery lo w” ran g e of co g n i t i ve ab i l i t y , an d t h at s h e

was u n l i k el y t o b e ab l e t o p ro vi de ad eq u at e care wi th o u t si g n i fi can t s up p o rt g i v en h er

5i s su es

. Th e p et i t i o n al s o al l eg ed t h at s h e t hreat en e d t o ki l l a cas e m an ag er an d a

s erv i ce p ro v i der; sh e h ad a h i s t o ry o f ch ro n i c u n reh ab i l i t at ed s u b s t an ce ab u se i s s u es ;

s h e p h y s ical ly

, m en tal l y , an d em o t i o nal l y neg lect ed h er ch i l d ren wh i l e u s i n g co cai n e;

an d s h e fai l ed to m ai n t ai n a paren t al b o n d wi t h th e ch il dren an d co m p l y wi t h h er cas e

p l an

. Th erefo re, DFCS rep res en t ed t h at t h e ch i l d ren ’ s bes t i nt eres t warran t ed t h e

t erm i n at i o n o f t h e m ot her’ s ri g h t s

.

At t h e t erm i n at i on h eari n g , h el d i n J u ne 2 01 8

, th e m o t h er tes t i f i e d t h at s h e

m o ved fro m Sp art a to M aco n i n 2 0 1 7 t o get away fro m “ n e gat i v e s tu ff.” Si n ce t h e

m o ve, sh e had fai l ed t o en ro ll i n s erv i ces o r co m p l et e cas e p l an reco m

m en d at i o n s

.

Sh e co n fi rm ed t h at s h e d i d n o t h av e a d ri v er’ s l i cen s e o r t ran s p o rt at i o n t o g et to

s u b s t an ce ab u se t reat m en t o r m o n ey t o p ay fo r d ru g s creen s , an d t h at s h e req u es t ed

t h at DF C S s e n d serv i ce p ro v i d ers t o her ho m e. Sh e ad m i t t ed t hat s h e had fai l ed to

c o m p l et e h er cas e p l an

. Sp eci fi cal ly

, t h e m o t h er h ad fai l ed t o at t en d m en t al h eal th

ap p oi n t m en t s

. Th e m o t h er d en i ed b ei n g d iag n o sed as b i p o l a r, des p i te h av i n g s el frep o rt ed t h i s di ag n os i s t o t h e p s y ch o l o g i st

. T. R., th e m o th er’ s el d es t ch i l d

, recei v es

$ 4 9 0 p er m o nt h i n SSI d i s ab i l i ty b en efi t s , b u t t h e m o t h er ad m i t ted t h at sh e h ad n ev er

t ak en T. R. t o t h e d o ct or.

6A DFCS rep res en t at i v e p ro v i d ed t es t i m o n y t h at DFCS w as req u i red t o p ro v i d e

t ran s po rt at i o n to v i s i t at i o n , b ut n o t t o o t h er s erv i ces , s uch as p aren ti n g cl as ses

. Th u s ,

i t w as t h e m o t her’ s res p o n s i b i l i t y t o arran g e t ran s p o rt at io n t o her ap p o i n t m en t s t o

fu l fi l l h er cas e pl an

. Th e r ep res en t at i v e fu rt h er tes t ifi ed t h at t he m o t h er h ad n ot

r e a ch ed o u t t o arran g e s erv i ces an d h er b i p o l ar d is ord er rem ai n ed u n t reat ed

. T. R.

t es t i fi ed t h at s h e d i d n o t wi sh t o h av e co n t act wi t h h er m o t h er, b u t t h e y o u n g er t wo

ch i l d ren , J

. R. an d R. R., ex p res s ed a d es i re t o co n t i n ue t o v i s it wi t h h er. Th e fo s t er

fat h er t es t i fi ed t h at al l t h ree ch i l d ren d em on s trat ed b eh av i o ral i s s u es aft er v i s i t s wi th

t h e m o t h er.

Th e ju v en i l e co u rt n o ted t h at i t h ad “ s o m e p ro b l em s wi t h t h i s cas e,” b ut

u l t i m at el y t erm i nat ed t h e m o t h er’ s p aren t al ri g h t s t o al l t h ree ch i l d ren , co n cl u d i n g

t h at t h e v eri fi ab l e d efi ci en cy i n t h e m o t h er’ s m en t al an d e m o t i o n al h eal th ren d ered

h er u n ab l e t o p ro v i d e ad eq u at el y fo r h er ch i l d ren , t h at s h e fai l ed t o co m p l y wi t h t h e

cas e p l an , t h at s h e m o v ed away fro m t h e ch i l d ren of h er o wn free wi l l

, t h at sh e fai l ed

t o fo l l o w t h e reco m

m en d at i o n s o f t h e paren t i n g as s es s m en t

, an d t h at t h e cau s e o f

d ep en d en cy

wo ul d co n t i n u e d u e t o h er u nad d res s ed m en t al h eal t h i s s u es

.

Th e m o t h er fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, i n wh i ch s h e as s ert ed t h at t h e ju d g m en t

was co n t rary t o l aw an d ag ai n st t h e wei g h t o f t h e ev i d en ce. Th e ju ven i l e co urt en t ered

7a t em

po rary o rd er res erv i n g i t s ru l i n g , p en di n g t h e p rep arat io n o f t h e t ri al t ran s cri p t

.

Th e m o t h er l at er co n s en t ed t o t h e d en i al o f h er m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al t o ex ped i t e t h e

a p p e a l p ro ces s

. Sh e t h en fi l ed an ap p l i cat i on fo r d i s cret io n ary rev i ew, wh i ch w e

g ran t ed . Th e i n s t an t ap p eal fo l lo wed

.

Th e ju v en i l e co d e cal l s fo r a t wo -p ro n g ed an al y s i s i n a t erm i n at i o n o f p aren t al

ri gh t s cas e. OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -3 1 0. Fi rs t

, t h e ju v en i l e co u rt d et erm i nes wh et her o n e o f

fi ve s tat u t o ry g ro u n d s fo r term in at i o n h as b een m et

, i n cl ud i n g t he p ri m ary g ro u n d o n

wh i ch t h e co u rt rel ied i n t h i s cas e :

A ch i l d i s a d ep en d en t ch i ld d u e to l ack o f pro p er p a r e n t a l care o r

co n t r o l by h is o r h er p aren t

, reas o n ab l e effo rt s t o rem ed y th e

ci rcu m s t an ces h av e b een u n s u cces sfu l or w ere n ot req ui red

, s u ch cau s e

o f d ep en d en cy i s l i k el y to co n t i n u e o r wi l l no t l i k el y b e rem ed i ed i n th e

fo res eeab l e fu t u re, an d :

(A) Ret u rn i n g s u ch ch il d t o h i s o r h er p aren t i s l i k el y t o cau s e s eri o u s

p h y s i cal

, m en t al

, m oral

, o r em o t i o n al h arm t o s uch ch i l d or th reat en th e

p h y s i cal s afet y

o r wel l -b ei n g o f s u ch ch i l d ; o r

(B) Co n t i n uat i o n o f t h e p aren t an d ch i l d rel at i o n s h i p wi l l cau s e o r i s

l i kel y t o cau s e seri o u s p h y s i cal

, m en tal

, m o ral

, o r em o t i o n al harm t o

s u ch ch i l d

.

8OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -3 10 (a) (5 ). In d et erm i n i n g wh et her a ch i l d i s w i th o u t p ro p er p aren t al

care an d co n t ro l

, co u rt s s h al l co n s i d er a paren t ’ s m ed ical l y veri fi ed m en t al h eal th

d efi ci en cy

. OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -3 1 1 (a) (1 ). Seco n d, i f o n e o r m o re s t at u t o ry g ro u n d s h av e

b een m et

, t he ju v en i l e co u rt t h en co ns i ders wh et h er term i n at i on i s i n each ch i l d ’ s b es t

i n t eres t b y

co n s i d eri n g t he fo l l o wi n g fact o rs :

(1 ) Su ch ch i l d ’ s sen se of at t ach m en ts

, i n cl u d i n g h i s o r h e r s e n s e o f

s ecu ri t y an d fam i l i ari t y , an d t h e co n t i n u i t y o f affect i o n fo r s uch ch i l d ;

(2 ) Su ch ch i l d ’ s wi sh es an d l o n g -t erm g oal s ;

(3 ) Su ch ch i l d ’ s n eed fo r p erm an en ce, i n cl u d i n g h i s o r h er n eed fo r

s t ab il i t y an d co n t i nu i t y o f rel at i o n s h i p s wi t h a p aren t

, s i b li n g s, an d o t h er

rel at iv es ;

(4 ) An y b en efi t t o s u ch ch i l d o f b ei n g in t eg rat ed i n t o a s t ab l e an d

p erm an en t h o m e an d t h e l i k el y effect o f d el ay i n g s uch i n t eg rat i o n i n t o

s u ch s t ab l e an d p erm an en t h o m e en v i ro n m en t ;

(5 ) Th e det ri m en t al i m

p act o f t h e l ack o f a s t ab le an d p erm an en t h o m e

en v i ro nm en t o n s u ch ch il d ’ s s afet y , w el l -b ei ng , o r p h y s i cal

, m en t al

, o r

em o t i o n al h eal t h;

(6 ) Su ch ch il d ’ s fu t u re p hy s i cal

, m en tal

, m o ral

, o r em o ti o n al wel l -b ei n g ;

an d

9( 7 ) An y o t h er fact o rs , i n cl u d i n g t h e fact o rs s et fo rt h i n Co d e Sect i o n

1 5 -1 1 -2 6

, co n s i d ered b y t h e co u rt t o b e re l e v an t an d p ro p er t o i t s

d et erm i nat i o n

.

OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -3 10 (b ). In rev i ewi n g a jev en i l e co u rt ’ s d et erm i n at i o n o f t h es e i s s u es ,

t h i s Co u rt n ei t h er w ei g h s ev i den ce n o r d et erm i n es t h e cred i b i l i t y o f wi t n es s es

. In t h e

In t er es t o f D. L. T. C. , 2 9 9 G a. Ap p. 7 6 5 , 7 65 (6 8 4 SE2 d 2 9 ) (2 0 0 9 ).

1

. Th e m o t h er fi rs t arg u es t h at t h e ju v en i le co urt erred i n co n cl u d i n g t h at t h e

reas on fo r t h e ch i l d ren ’ s d ep en d en cy was l i k e l y t o co n t i nu e o r wo u l d n o t b e

re m e d i e d

. Sh e p o i n t s o u t t h at t h e ju v en il e co u rt b as ed it s ru l i n g o n h er m ed i cal l y

v eri fi ab le d efi c i e n c y, b u t th at o t h er th an s h o wi n g t h at s h e h ad a m en t al h eal th

d i ag n o s is an d ep i so d es o f b eh av i o ral i n st ab i l i t y , DFCS fai led t o s h ow t h at i t was t h e

m o th er’ s m en t al h eal t h d i ag n o si s rat h er t h an h er d ru g u s e t h at cau s ed t he ch i l d ren ’ s

d ep en d en cy

.

In i t s d ep ri v at i o n o rd er, t h e ju v en i l e co u rt n o t ed t h e m o t h e r ’ s bip o l ar d i ag n o s i s

.

Becau s e t h e m o t h er d i d no t ap p eal fro m t h e co u rt ’ s p ri o r d et erm i n at io n s t h at t h e

ch i l d ren were d ep en d en t, t hes e fi n d i n g s are co n cl u s i v e an d t h us su ffi ci en t t o s h o w

t h a t t he ch i l dren were dep ri v ed d ue t o t h e m o t h er’ s l ack o f p ro p er paren t a l c a r e o r

co n tro l

. In t h e In ter es t o

f S

. R. R.

, 3 3 0 Ga. Ap p

. 8 1 7

, 8 2 0 ( 7 6 9 SE2 d 8 17 ) (2 0 1 5 ).

10Here, t he ju v en i l e co urt ’ s t erm i n at i o n o rd er s h o ws t h a t t h e m ed i cal d efi ci en cy was

o n l y o n e o f t h e reas o n s s u p p o rt i n g t h e m ot h er’ s p aren t al i n s t ab i li t y

.

As fo u n d b y th e t ri al co u rt

, t h e m o t h er fai l ed t o co m p l y wi t h t h e co u rt -o rd ered

cas e p l an , w h i ch i n cl u d ed ad d res s in g h er m en t al h eal t h i s s ues

. Th e co u rt n o t ed t h at

s h e “ m o v ed f

ro m Han co ck Co u n t y t o Bi b b Co un t y o n h er o w n free wi l l ,” an d t h i s

m o ve p reci p i t at ed h er fai l i ng to k eep ap p o i n t m en t s an d p ro g res s o n h er cas e p l an

.

Ad d i t i o n al l y , t h e co u rt fo un d t hat s he h ad n o t fo l l o wed t h e reco m m en d at i o n s o f t h e

p aren t i n g as s es s m en t an d th at th e cau s e o f d ep en d en cy wo u l d l i k el y co n ti n u e d u e to

h er u n ad d res s ed m en tal h eal t h i s s u es . Th es e fi n d in g s w ere cl earl y s u p p o rt ed b y t h e

reco m m en d at i o ns fro m

t h e p s y ch o l o g i cal ev al uat i o n

.

A p aren t ’ s p as t co n d u ct p ro p er l y i s co n s id ered w h en t h e co u rt d et erm i n es

wh et h er t h e co n d it i on s o f d ep en d en cy are l i k el y to co n t i n ue, an d t h e ju v en i l e co u rt

t h erefo re was au t h o ri zed t o ev al u at e t h e m o t h er’ s pas t beh av i or i n d eci d in g t h i s cas e.

In t h e In ter es t o

f T. A.

, 3 3 1 Ga. Ap p

. 9 2

, 9 6 (3 ) (c) (7 6 9 SE2 d 7 9 7 ) (2 0 1 5 ). See al s o

In t h e In ter es t o

f C. H.

, 30 5 Ga. Ap p

. 5 4 9

, 56 1 (2 ) (c) (7 0 0 SE2 d 2 0 3 ) ( 2 0 1 0 ) ( a

“ p aren t [‘ s ] co nd uct o v er t h e y ears was a b et t er p red i ct o r o f [h er] fu t u re co n d u ct t h an

a few m o n t h s o f p art ial s t ab i l i ty ”) (ci t at io n an d p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). As prev i o u s l y

s t at ed

, t h e m o t h er was s h o wn t o h av e d i ffi cu l t y d ev el op i ng p aren t i n g s ki l l s an d was

11n o t l i k el y t o i m p ro v e wi t h o u t s i g n i fi can t s u pp o rt

, as set fo rt h i n t h e paren t i n g

as s es s m en t a n d p s yc h o l o g ical ev al u at i o n. Fu rt h erm o re, t h e co urt fo un d t h at t h e

m o th er’ s i n ab i l i t y t o m eet h er cas e p l an g o al s an d h er fai l u r e t o a d d res s h er m en t al

i l ln es s b o t h cau s ed h er t o n eg l ect h er ch i l d ren

. Gi v en th es e ci rcu m st an ces , we can n ot

s ay t h at t h e ju v en i l e co u rt erred i n fi n d i ng t h at t h e ch i l d ren ’ s d ep en d en cy was l i k el y

t o co n t i n u e an d n o t b e rem ed i ed

. See In th e In t er es t of S

. P.

, 3 3 6 Ga. A p p

. 48 8

, 4 9 8

(2 ) (b ) (7 84 SE2 d 8 4 6 ) (2 0 16 ) (p h y s i cal p reced en t o n l y ) (m ot h er’ s fai l ure t o co m p l et e

cas e p l an b ecau s e of h er i n ab i li t y o r u nwi l l i n gne ss t o ad d res s her p s y ch o l o g i cal i s s u es

s u p p ort ed ju v en i l e co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g s as t o dep en d en cy ); In th e In t er es t o f C. J. V.

, 3 3 3

Ga. Ap p

. 8 4 4

, 84 7 (1 ) (7 77 SE2 d 6 9 2 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (res u l t s o f h er p s y ch o l o g i cal ev al u at i o n

es t ab l i s h ed m o t her i n cap ab l e o f p ro v i d i n g b as i c n eed s o f ch il d).

2

. N ex t, t h e m o t h er arg u es t h at t h e ju v en il e co u rt erred i n fi n d i ng b y cl ear an d

co n vi n ci n g ev i d en ce t hat co n t i nu ed d ep en d en cy wo u ld cau s e s eri ou s harm t o t h e t wo

y o u n g e s t c h il d ren

. J

. R. an d R. R. Th e m o t h er p o i n t s o u t t h at Geo rg i a l aw req u i res

ex p li ci t fi n d i n g s t o su p po rt th i s co n cl u s i o n , rel y i n g o n th e ru le t h at “ a m ere reci t at i o n

t h at t h i s l eg al req u i rem en t was m et wi l l n ot s u ffi ce.” In In ter es t o f A. B

. , 3 4 6 Ga. Ap p.

2 , 1 0 (1 ) (d ) (8 1 5 SE2 d 5 6 1 ) (2 0 1 8 ) (ci t at i o n an d p un ct u at io n o m it t ed ).

12We h a v e l o ng s ai d th at a fi n d i n g t h at d ep en d en cy i s l i k el y t o co n ti n u e

d o es n o t ne c e ss ari l y ju s t i fy a fi n d in g o f h arm , al t h o u gh d ep en d en cy

co u l d s u p p o rt a fi nd i n g o f h arm i n part i cu l ar ci rcu m s t an ces

. Rat h er, i n

d et erm i ni n g wh et h er h arm t o t h e ch i l d ex i s t s , ou r l aw req u i res a ju v en i l e

c o u rt t o co n si d er b o t h t h e rel at i o ns h ip b et ween t he p aren t an d ch i l d a t

t h e t i m e o f t h e t erm i n at i on h eari ng an d wh at m i g h t h ap p en i f t h e ch i l d

were ret urn ed t o t h e paren t

. Th u s , t h e co u rt m u s t as s es s wh et h er a ch i l d

cu rren t l y i n fo s ter care i s l i k el y t o s u ffer s eri ou s h arm as a r e s u l t o f

co n t in u ed d ep en d en cy i f t h e ch i ld rem ai n s i n d e fi ni t el y i n fo s t er care,

an d al s o t h e li k el i h oo d o f h arm i f t h e ch i l d ret urn s t o th e cu s to d y o f h i s

p aren t , n o t wi t h s tan d i n g t h at t h e d ep ri v at i o n p ers i s t s

.

In th e In t er es t of L

. P

. , 3 3 9 G a. Ap p. 6 5 1

, 6 5 6 -6 5 7 (2 ) (7 94 SE2 d 2 5 2 ) (2 0 1 6 )

(c i t a t i o ns an d pu n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed ). Here, ho wev er, t h e term i n at i on ord er co n t ai n s

l i tt l e co n s i d e r a t i o n o f t h e rel at i o n s hi p bet ween t h e m o t h er an d t h e ch i l d ren at al l

.

Rat h er, i n as s es s i ng t h e p ot en t i al h arm t o t h e ch i l d ren , t h e co u rt s t at es : “ i t wo u l d b e

b o t h h arm fu l t o ret urn t h e c h i l d r e n t o th e m o t h er an d

. . . t h ere i s ev i d en ce t h at t h e

ch i l d ren ex h i b i t ag g res s i ve beh av i o rs aft er co n t act wi t h t he m o t h er w h i ch wo u ld

res u l t i n b o t h em o t io nal an d ed u cat io n al h arm t o t h e ch il d ren .”

“ Th e t ri al ju d g e i s t o as cert ai n t h e fact s an d t o st at e n o t on l y t h e en d res u l t o f

t h at i n q u iry b u t t h e pro ces s b y wh i ch i t was reach ed .” In t h e In t er es t o f D. T. A.

, 3 1 2

Ga. Ap p

. 2 6

, 3 3 (1 ) (d ) (7 1 7 SE2 d 5 3 6 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (ci t at i o n an d p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

13Th i s di d n o t o c cu r h ere. 3 “ [A] l t h o u g h t h e j u v en i l e co u rt m ad e fi n d i n g s as t o t h e

m o th er’ s u n fi t n es s an d co n d uct

, i t m ad e no fi n d in g s as t o th e ch i ld ren ’ s rel at i o n s h ip

wi t h th e m o t h er, t hei r s t at u s i n fo s t er care, th ei r n eed fo r p erm an en cy , o r t h e

l i kel i h o o d t h at t h e ch il d ren wo u l d b e h arm ed if ret u rn ed t o t h ei r m o t h er.” In t h e

In t er es t of K. L. M

. , 3 1 6 Ga. Ap p

. 24 6

, 25 2 -2 5 3 ( d ) ( 7 2 9 SE2 d 45 2 ) (2 0 1 2 ).

Acco rd in g ly

, we v acat e t h e o rd er an d rem an d t h e cas e fo r t h e ju ven i l e co urt t o m ak e

ap p ro p ri at e fi n d i n g s o f f

a c t

. S e e In t er es t o

f D. M.

, 3 3 9 Ga. Ap p

. 4 6

, 5 5 -5 6 (2 ) (a)

3

No t ab l y , t h e ju v en i l e co urt ’ s o ral fi n d i n g s co n t ai n m o re d et ai l t h an i t s wri t ten o rd er. Sp eci fi cal l y , t he co u rt fo u n d t h at t h e m o th er’ s fai lu re to at t en d vi s i t at i o n an d “ co m p l y wi t h t h e co u rt -o rd ered cas e p l an d es i g n ed t o reu n i t e h er wi t h h er ch i l d ren ”
d em o n s t rat e d a w eak p aren t al b o n d

. As t o h arm , t h e co urt was t ro u bl ed t h at t h e ch i l d ren w ere i n th ei r t w en t y -s eco n d m o n t h o f fo s t er care an d t h e m o t h er s t i l l h ad

fai l ed to ad d res s h er m en t al h eal t h i s s u es , rem ark in g t h at y o u n g ch i l d ren are

p art i cu l arl y su scep t i b l e t o h arm fro m b ro k en p ro m i s es

. Ho wev er, th es e “ o ral fi n d i ng s i n t h e t ran s cri p t are n o t s u ffi ci en t t o s at i s fy t h e req u i rem en t fo r ex p r e s s , wri t t en fi nd i ng s o f fact an d co n cl u s i o n s o f l aw.” Ma yn a r d v. Br o wn , 27 6 Ga. Ap p

. 2 2 9

, 3 3 1

n

. 2 (6 2 2 SE2 d 90 1 ) (2 0 05 ) (i n p ro ceed i ng fo r ad o p t i o n an d t erm i n at io n o f p aren t al

r i g h t s , co n cl u d i n g th at o ral fi n d i n g s were i n s uffi ci en t an d v acat i n g ju d g m en t an d

rem an di n g cas e t o t ri al co u r t w i t h d i rect i o n s to en ter n ew d ecree wi t h s p eci fi c fi nd i ng s an d co n cl u s i o n s).

Fu rt he r m o r e , nei t h er t h es e o ral fi n d i n g s no r t h e co u rt ’ s wri tt en fi nd i ng s s p eci fy

wh at h arm m i g h t res u l t t o t h e ch i l d ren i f t h ey are ret u rn ed t o t h e m o t h er. In s t ead

, t h e i n s t an ce s o f h arm p ert ai n t o th e ch i l d ren ’ s rel at i on s h i p t o t h e m o t her i n t h e co n t ex t

o f fo s t er care an d v i s i t at i o n (e.g

., ag g res s iv e b eh av i o r at sch o o l fo l lo wi n g v i s i t at i o n,

t h e m o t h er p ro m i s i n g t o b u y t h e ch i l d ren fo o d du ri n g v i s i t at i o n b u t b ei n g u n ab l e t o affo rd t o d o s o ; an d t h e m ot h er’ s “ b ro k en p ro m i ses ” t o t h e ch i l d ren t h at th ey wi l l b e

ret u rn ed t o h er cu s t o d y ).

14(7 9 3 SE2 d 4 2 2) (2 0 16 ) (v acat i n g an d rem an d in g fo r t h e ju v en i l e co u rt t o m ak e

ap p ro p ri at e an d ex p l i ci t fi n d i n g s o f fact an d co n cl u si o n s o f l aw, wh ere i t s t erm i n at i o n

o rd er di d n ot p ro v i de an y s p eci fi c fi n d i n g s o f fact reg ard in g th e l i k el i h o od o f s eri ou s

h arm fro m t h e co n ti n u ed d ep en d en cy , b u t m erel y ci t ed t o g en eral ized co n cern s o f

d o u b t , u n cert ai n ty , h es i t an cy i n l i fe, an d t h e n eed fo r s tab i l i t y an d p erm an en ce).

W e fu rt h er n o t e t h at th e m o t her d id no t arg ue o n ap peal t h at t h e j u v en i l e co u rt

erred i n fi n d i n g b y cl ear an d co n v i n ci n g ev i den ce th at co n t i nu ed d ep en den cy wo u ld

cau s e s eri o u s h arm t o h er el des t ch i l d

, T. R. Ho wev er, b as ed o n t h e p art i cu l ar

ci rcu m s t an ces o f th i s cas e, u p o n r e m a n d

, t h e ju v en i l e co u rt ’ s o rd er s h o u l d i n cl u d e

s p eci fi c fi n d i n g s as t o each ch il d

.

In a term i n at i o n p ro ceed i n g , each ch i l d i n t h es e ci rcu m s t an ces d es erv es

an d req u i res a fu l l

, s ep arat e, an d t h o ug h t fu l rev iew b y t h e ju v en i l e co u rt

o f t h e i s su es rel at i n g t o t h e ch il d

, an d th i s can n o t an d w i l l no t h ap p en i f

t h e ch i l d i s t reat ed as i f s h e were m erel y part o f s o m e d et ach ed

h y p o t h et i cal in q u i ry

—rat h er t h an as w h at s h e act u al l y i s , a h u m an b ei n g

wi t h i n h eren t d i g n i t y an d wo rt h

. W i t h o u t s p eci fi c fact u al fi n d i n gs as t o
[t he ch i ld ren i n d i v i d ual l y ] o n t h e q u e s t i o n of t h e l i k el i h oo d of s eri o u s

h arm fro m co n t i n u ed d ep ri v at i on , we h av e n o b as i s to ev al u at e wh et h er

t h e ju v en i le co u rt pro perl y det erm i n ed t h at cl ear an d co n v in ci n g

ev i d en ce s u p p o rt ed t h e co u rt ’ s co ncl u s io n o n t h at i s s u e.

15In t er es t o

f D. M.

, 3 3 9 G a. Ap p

. at 5 5 -5 6 (2 ) (a) (ci tat i on , pu n ct uat i o n , an d em p h as i s

o m it t ed ).

At t h e h eari n g o n t h e t erm i n at i o n pet i t i o n , T. R. t es t i fi ed t h at s h e h ad b een in

fo s t er care s i n ce s h e w as a b ab y

. Sh e fu rt h er t es t i fi ed t h at s h e d id n o t wan t t o v i s i t

wi t h her m o t h er, an d

, wh en as k ed i f s h e h ad an y th i n g s h e wo u ld l ik e t h e co u rt to

k n o w, s h e rep l i ed : “ Do n ’ t l et [t h e m o t h er] g et m e b ack .” In co nt ras t

, J

. R. an d R. R.

b o t h i nd i cat ed t hat t h ey l i k ed to v i s i t wi t h t h ei r m ot h er an d w an t to s ee h er. Si m i l arl y ,

t h e GAL t es t i fi ed t hat “ t h ere i s a b o n d bet ween [t h e m o t h er] an d [J .R.] an d [R. R.]

,

b u t t h ere i s n o b o n d b et ween [t h e m ot h er] an d [T. R.] .” W h en d es cri bi n g t h e

r e l a t i o n sh i p b et ween t h e m ot h er an d T. R., t h e G AL s t at ed

, “ th ey co u l d p as s e a c h

o t h er an d i t ’ s l i k e s h e co u l d care l es s

– [T. R.] co u l d care l es s ab o u t s eei n g h er m o m ,

t al k i n g t o h e r m o m .” In l i g h t o f t h i s t es t i m o n y , u po n rem an d

, t h e t ri al co u rt s h o u ld

m ak e s ep arat e fi n di n g s as t o each ch i l d

.

3

. Th e m o t h er al s o arg u es th at t h e ju v en i l e co u rt erred i n f i n d i n g t h at

t erm i n a t i o n was i n t h e ch i l d ren ’ s b es t i nt eres t

. In i ts w ri t t en o rd er, th e co u rt

co n cl u d ed s u m

m ari l y t h at t erm i n at i o n wo u l d be i n t h e ch i l d ren ’ s b es t i nt eres t

. 4 Fo r

4

A g ai n , t he co u rt ’ s o ral fi n d i n g s i n cl u d ed g reat er d et ai l t han i t s wri t t en o rd er. At t h e h eari n g , t h e co u rt no t ed t h at t he ch il d ren d i sp l ay an at t ach m en t t o t h ei r fo s t er p aren t s ,

16t h e reas o n s set fo rt h in Di v i s i o n 2, t h i s is s u e wi l l n e e d t o b e ad d res sed m o re

s p eci fi cal l y b y t he tri al co u rt u p o n rem an d

. In t er es t o f D

. M.

, 3 3 9 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 6 -5 7

(2 ) (b ).

4

. Th e m o t h er n ex t arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n fi nd i n g t h at DFCS m ad e

reas on ab l e effo rt s t o el im i n at e t h e cau ses o f d ep en d en cy an d fi nal i ze t h e perm an en cy

p l an , wh i ch was a vi o l at i o n o f t h e m o t her’ s ri g ht s u n d er T i t l e II o f t h e Am eri can s

wi t h Di s ab i l i ti es Act of 1 9 90 (t he “ ADA”), 4 2 USC § 1 2 1 0 1 et s eq

. Ou r rev i ew o f t h e

reco rd d em o n s t rat es t h at t h i s arg u m en t was n o t rai s ed b el o w. 5

Is s u es ‘ p res en t ed fo r t h e fi rs t t i m e o n ap p eal fu rn i s h n o t h i n g f or u s t o

rev i ew, fo r t h i s i s a co urt fo r co rrect i o n of erro rs o f l aw co m m i t t ed b y

t h e t ri al co urt w h ere p ro p er ex cep t io n i s t ak en , b ecau s e on e m ay n o t

an d p erm an en cy i s i m

p o rt an t t o t h e ch i l d ren ’ s b es t i n t eres t . Aft er fi n di n g t hat T. R.
d i d n o t wan t t o l iv e wi t h t h e m o t h er, t h e co u rt wen t o n to fi n d t h at t h e ch i l d ren s h o u ld

n o t b e s ep arat ed

.

5

Th e o n l y m en ti o n o f t h e ADA i n t h e reco rd i s t h e m o t h er’ s co u n s el ’ s q u es t i o n t o t h e Han co ck Co u n t y Di rect o r, wh o s u p erv i s es cas e m a n a g e r s , t o wi t : “ Is [DFCS] n ot

req u i red t o acco m

m o d at e

. . . t h e fact t h at [t h e m o th er]

, o bv i o u s l y , l ack s c ert ai n

c a p a b i l i ti es of g et t i n g t o t h es e p l aces to m ak e u s e of t h es e serv i ces h ers el f ?

. . . M ean i n g t h e [ADA]

, req u ired t o acco m m o d at e p eo pl e wi t h d i s ab i l it i es b y p ro v i d i n g

t h o s e s erv i ces ? ” Th e co u n t y d i rect o r res p o n d e d : “ No

, we d o n o t p ro v i d e

t ran s po rt at i o n t o s erv i ces

. W e p ro v i d e t ran sp o rt a t i o n t o v is it at i o n .” T h e m o t h er’ s

co u ns el res p o n d ed : “ Ok ay ,” an d t h e i s s u e was n o t m en t i on ed ag ai n

.

17ab an d o n a n i s s u e in t h e t ri al co u rt an d o n ap p eal rai s e q u es t i o n s o r

i s su es n ei t h er rai s ed n o r ru l ed o n b y t h e t ri al co u rt .’

Fo r el a nd v. S t a t e , 22 3 Ga. Ap p

. 3 2 6

, 3 2 7 ( 2 ) ( 4 7 7 S E 2 d 6 3 3 ) (1 99 6 ); s ee In t h e

In t er es t o f J. P. V

. , 2 61 G a. Ap p

. 1 9 4, 1 9 7 (3 ) (5 8 2 SE2 d 1 7 0 ) (2 0 0 3 ). Becau s e t h e

m o th er fai l ed t o s u ffi ci en t l y rai s e t h i s i s s u e b el o w, s h e d i d n o t p res erv e t h is cl ai m fo r

rev i ew o n ap p eal

.

5

. Las t l y , t h e m o t her arg u es t h at th e co u rt erred b y d at i n g i t s t erm i n at i o n o rd er

n u n c p ro t u n c t o a d at e p ri or t o t h e dat e o f t h e t erm in at io n h eari n g

. B a s e d o n o u r

d eci s i o n t o v acat e t h e ju d g m en t an d rem an d t h i s cas e, t h i s i s s ue i s m o o t

.

Ju d g men t va ca t ed a n d ca s e r ema n ded wi t h d i r ect i o n

. Ba r n es

, P

. J

. , and Pi p ki n,

J., co n cu r

.

18