If this opinion indicates that it is “FOR PUBLICATION,” it is subject to 

revision until final publication in the Michigan Appeals Reports.

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S T A T E O F M I C H I G A N

C O U R T O F A P P E A L S

UNPUBLISHED

In re BUTLER, Minors. November 17, 2022

No. 360271

Calhoun Circuit Court

Family Division

LC No. 2018-002434-NA

Before: M. J. KELLY, P.J., and SHAPIRO and PATEL, JJ.

PER CURIAM.

Respondent appeals by right the trial court order terminating her parental rights to her 

children, RB and SB, under MCL 712A.19b(3)(b)(i) and (c)(i), and (j). Because the trial court did 

not err by terminating respondent’s parental rights, we affirm.

I. BASIC FACTS

On August 29, 2018, petitioner, the Department of Health and Human Services, filed a 

petition seeking removal of RB, SB, and KM from respondent’s care and seeking termination of 

her parental rights to each of the children. The petition alleged that SB had been born with 

morphine and oxycodone in his system because of prenatal exposure, that he was diagnosed with 

neonatal abstinence syndrome, and that he was transported to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) 

and treated for opioid withdrawals. Petitioner also alleged that respondent tested positive for 

opiates at the time of SB’s birth, that she had admitted to taking unprescribed opiates during her 

pregnancy, and that she had previously struggled with drug addiction.
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Following a preliminary hearing, RB and SB were placed with their father1and KM was 

placed with her father.

2

 Subsequently, respondent entered a plea of admission to several 

allegations in the petition, including that she had used unprescribed opiates while pregnant with 

SB, that she tested positive for opiates when she was admitted to the hospital to deliver SB, that 

SB had been born positive for opiates, that SB experienced substance-abuse withdrawal symptoms 

after his birth. At that time, the dispositional goal was changed from termination to reunification, 

and the court entered an order taking jurisdiction over the children.

Respondent was provided with numerous services aimed at reunifying her with the 

children, including referrals for psychological evaluations, parenting-time visits, a referral for 

supportive visitation, individual counseling, substance-abuse counseling, parenting classes, drug 

screens, assistance with employment, and housing resources. Yet, after approximately 39 months 

she was, overall, not very compliant with the services offered and had failed to show any visible 

benefit. She continued to have issues with substance-abuse, including testing positive for 

amphetamines, methamphetamines, and marijuana, and being convicted of possession of 

methamphetamines.3 She also continued to inconsistently attend parenting time, had yet to 

complete the offered parenting-time classes, had only recently completed her (fourth) referral for 

a psychological evaluation, had not consistently attended either individual or substance-abuse 

counseling, and remained unemployed.

Respondent’s psychological evaluation was not favorable. Dr. Randall Haugen, who was 

admitted as an expert in psychology, performed the evaluation in July 2021. Respondent reported 

to him that she had a court-related history of drug use, including methamphetamine, that she had 

used substances with the children’s father, that she had previously participated in inpatient 

treatment and had been in sober-living houses, that she was still dealing with the legal 

consequences of her substance-abuse, and that she was still struggling with substance use. Dr. 

Haugen diagnosed respondent with stimulant disorder, moderate to severe personality disorder 

with mixed features, unspecified anxiety, and cannabis-use disorder. He described respondent’s 

manner as defensive and combative, and he stated that individuals with her “profile” tended to be 

 

1 RB and SB were later removed from their father’s care due to allegations of substance abuse and 

domestic-violence involving him throwing a brick at the children’s paternal grandfather. The 

children’s father left the home after the incident with their paternal grandfather, but he later 

returned and continued to be assaultive. When law enforcement arrived, the children’s father 

threatened to attack the police with a weapon so that they would shoot him. At the time, he was 

holding the children in his arms. Following a bench trial, the court found that there were statutory 

grounds to exercise jurisdiction over the children under MCL 712A.2(b). His parental rights to 

the children were terminated following a subsequent termination hearing, and he has not appealed 

that decision.

2 During the pendency of the child protective proceedings, KM’s father obtained a court order 

granting him sole custody of KM. As a result of that custody order, the court terminated its 

jurisdiction over KM.

3 Her caseworker explained that, although marijuana use is not illegal in Michigan, respondent’s 

cannabis use was a problem because she had been diagnosed with cannabis-use disorder.
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impulsive and act in regrettable ways. Dr. Haugen opined that respondent had difficulty managing 

and controlling her emotions, which led to violations of social rules, expectations, and boundaries, 

and that her issues remained chronic or continued despite significant treatment interventions and 

negative consequences arising from her use. Overall, Dr. Haugen explained that respondent’s

overall prognosis was poor because she had long-term substance abuse problems and because part 

of her problem was characteriologically based, and was not the product of a mental illness. He 

opined that she was “quite vulnerable to relapse, once external supervision is decreased.” Dr. 

Haugen recommended that respondent maintain a consistent and responsible lifestyle and that she 

participate in a program like AA or NA to aid her stability. He elaborated that to do so she would 

have to maintain all treatment, obtain housing, income, stability, an external support system, and 

develop some insight and awareness of her issues. He opined that, if she were 100% committed 

to following the recommendations, it would take at least 9 months before reunification would be 

possible, but if there was less than 100% compliance it would be longer before reunification would 

be possible.

Dr. Haugen also conducted a psychological evaluation of RB. He stated that RB described 

respondent as detached and not often there and that she had fading memories of respondent fighting 

with RB’s father. RB suffered from a lot of uncertainty because the “adult world” was not able to 

meet her needs, tended to keep others at a distance, had intrusive memories, had a sexual 

preoccupation compared to other children her age, was intelligent but distracted and hyperactive, 

and met the criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Dr. Haugen opined that she really 

needed permanence and direction so that she could form attachments, and he explained that she is 

vulnerable to developing future emotional and behavior difficulties. He added that the significant, 

chronic trauma that she had endured was preventing her from developing close and intimate 

relationships. Given her age (7 years old at the time), he believed that stability was highly 

important to her. He explained that RB’s progress in therapy would “improve” once she has a 

sense of permanency.

With respect to SB, Dr. Haugen testified that he expected that, although SB was only three 

years old, SB would have the same types of issues as RB when he got older. He stated that as SB 

enters the 4-5 year age range, it was particularly important for him to achieve permanence and 

stability so that he would be able to sort relationships into public and private and so that he would 

know who to refer to as his parents.

Dr. Haugen explained that RB identified her foster parents as her parents. The foster 

parents were willing to adopt and the caseworker testified that the children’s needs were being 

met by the foster parents. She clarified that RB had 50% of her life in the care of someone other 

than respondent and that SB had never been in respondent’s care. She also testified that the 

children “absolutely” had an “obvious” bond with respondent; she described them as happy and 

excited to see respondent when respondent would go to the parenting time visits. She believed 

that the termination of respondent’s parental rights would be difficult for the children. To alleviate 

that difficulty, while also providing the children with the permanence that Dr. Haugen opined they 

needed, she suggested that the children continue to have some supervised contact with respondent 

after they were adopted. On questioning from the court, the caseworker stated that a guardianship 

was not appropriate because adoption would provide “a greater level of permanence.” And, again, 

the children needed permanence and stability. She also explained that the recommendation for 
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continued contact was based only on her own opinion, and that Dr. Haugen had not—and was not 

asked to—provide a professional opinion on whether such continued contact would be detrimental.

Following the termination hearing, the trial court found that termination of respondent’s 

parental rights was warranted under MCL 712A.19b(30(b)(i) and (c)(i),4and that termination of 

respondent’s parental rights was in the children’s best interests. This appeal follows.

II. BEST INTERESTS

A. STANDARD OF REVIEW

Respondent argues that the trial court’s best-interests decision was clearly erroneous.5 A 

trial court’s best-interests determination is reviewed for clear error. In re A Atchley, ___ Mich 

App ___, ___; ___ NW2d ___ (2022) (Docket No. 358502); slip op at 6-7. “A finding of fact is 

clearly erroneous if the reviewing court has a definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been 

committed, giving due regard to the trial court’s special opportunity to observe the witnesses.” In 

re Sanborn, 337 Mich App 252, 276; 976 NW2d 44 (2021) (quotation marks and citation omitted).

B. ANALYSIS

Under MCL 712A.19b(5), “[i]f the court finds that there are grounds for termination of 

parental rights and that termination of parental rights is in the child’s best interests, the court shall 

order termination of parental rights and order that additional efforts for reunification of the child 

with the parent not be made.” MCL 712A.19b(5). “[W]hether termination of parental rights is in 

the best interests of the child must be proven by a preponderance of the evidence.” In re Moss 

Minors, 301 Mich App 76, 90; 836 NW2d 182 (2013). “In deciding whether termination is in the 

child’s best interests, the court may consider the child’s bond to the parent, the parent’s parenting 

ability, the child’s need for permanency, stability, and finality, and the advantages of a foster home 

over the parent’s home.” In re Olive/Metts Minors, 297 Mich App 35, 41-42; 823 NW2d 144

(2012) (citations omitted). At this stage of the proceedings, the focus is on the child, not the parent. 

In re A Atchley, ___ Mich App at ___; slip op at 7.

 

4 Respondent has not challenged the trial court’s finding that there was clear and convincing 

evidence of statutory grounds to terminate her parental rights. Accordingly, we do not address 

that aspect of the court’s order terminating respondent’s parental rights.

5 Respondent’s appellate lawyer quotes the former version of MCL 712A.19b(5), which required 

the trial court to find that termination of the respondent’s parental rights was “clearly not in the 

child’s best interests.” In 2008, however, the legislature amended that part of MCL 712A.19b(5)

to require the court to instead find that “termination of parental rights is in the child’s best interests” 

before the court may order termination of parental rights. See 2008 PA 199. Thus, under the 

current version of MCL 712A.19b(5), the trial court must make an affirmative finding that 

termination is in the child’s best interests as opposed to a negative finding that termination is not

in the child’s best interests. Although it is concerning that respondent’s appellate lawyer would 

cite to a former version of the statute, the trial court applied the correct version of the statute and 

we are able to review that decision for clear error.
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Respondent argues that the trial court did not consider any of the above factors, nor did it 

take any testimony relating to the children’s best interests. The record, however, refutes that 

assertion. First, testimony related to the children’s best-interests was presented. Dr. Haugen 

testified and the caseworkers testified at length regarding the children’s need for permanence, 

stability, and finality. Additionally, there was testimony related to the children’s bond with 

respondent and to the advantages of the children’s pre-adoptive foster home over respondent’s 

home.

Second, the trial court made express findings related to several of the best-interest factors. 

The court found that it was “highly important” for RB to have stability and finality. The court 

found that her memories of her biological parents were fading, but that she remembered arguing, 

fighting, and respondent’s absence. He noted testimony that RB’s uncertainty regarding the future 

was “absolutely limiting her progress” and that she needed permanence quickly so that she could 

overcome her PTSD and her struggles with the trauma she endured because of her parents’ actions. 

With regard to SB, the court found that he also needed permanence and stability, noting that he 

was showing confusion as to who his parents were. The court also considered the advantages of 

the foster home over respondent’s home. The court specifically found that there was a bond 

between the children and their foster parents. Next, contrary to respondent’s claim on appeal, the 

court also recognized that there was a bond between the children and respondent. Despite that 

bond, the court determined that “these children can’t wait any longer for their mother to get her 

situation straight.”

Respondent argues that the court failed to consider that, because she had completed a 

parenting class, her parenting ability had improved. Yet, the caseworker testified that she had not 

successfully completed the class because she had not turned in required homework. Respondent 

also suggests that a comparison between her home and the foster home is unfair because a foster 

home will always have advantages. The focus, however, is on the child’s best interests, not the 

level of fairness to the respondent parent. In considering the child’s best interests, advantages over 

the foster home can be considered. In re Olive/Metts, 297 Mich App at 41-42. In this case, after 

over 1,000 days in care, respondent was no closer to reunification with her children. Primarily, 

she continued to struggle to maintain sobriety. The children demonstrated a need for permanence 

and stability that respondent was not in a position to provide them with. Further, in light of her 

psychological evaluation and subsequent failure to fully comply with the recommendations made 

by Dr. Haugen, it appears that any reunification would be delayed by a minimum of 9 months. In 

contrast, the foster parents were willing to adopt the children and provide them with immediate 

permanence. The children’s needs were being met in foster care, including RB’s need for therapy 

to address her trauma-related mental health issues and detachment problems. The trial court did 

not clearly err by finding that the advantages of the foster home, which was readily available to 

provide the children with needed permanence, weighed in favor of finding that termination of 

respondent’s parental rights was in the children’s best interests.

Finally, respondent contends that the court made no efforts to place the children with 

relatives. The children, however, were initially placed with their biological father. They were 

only placed in unrelated foster care after their father’s substance abuse and domestic violence led 

to him assaulting the children’s paternal grandfather and attempting to get the police to shoot him 

while he was holding the children. Respondent has not identified which other relatives were 

willing to accept placement of the children and whom would constitute appropriate placements.
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On this record, the trial court heard evidence related to the children’s best-interests and 

made findings relevant to multiple best-interests factors. Further, the court’s factual findings were 

not clearly erroneous. Termination, therefore, was mandated under MCL 712A.19b(5).

Affirmed.

/s/ Michael J. Kelly

/s/ Douglas B. Shapiro

/s/ Sima G. Patel