SECOND DI VI SI ON

M I LLER, P. J.

, HODGES 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.

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. 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

.

D ecem ber 3, 2021



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 1 A1 38 6 . IN THE INTEREST OF A. B., et al ., ch i l d ren

.

H O D G E S , J u d g e.

In Au gu s t 2 0 1 9

, t he j u v en i l e co u rt t erm in at ed th e m o t h er’ s p aren t al ri g h t s to

A. B., M

. C., an d K. B., al l m i n o r ch i l d ren

. 1 W e g ra n t e d t h e m ot h er’ s d i s cret i o n ary

ap p eal

, i n wh i ch s he co n t en d s t h at t h e ju v en i l e co urt erred in t erm i n at in g h er p aren t al

r i g h t s d es p i t e in s uffi ci en t ev id en ce t o s h o w t h at th e ch i l d ren were harm ed o r w e r e

p r es en t l y d ep en d en t; t h at t h e Dep art m en t o f Fam i ly an d Ch i l d ren Ser v i c e s

(“ DFACS”) fai l ed t o m ak e reas o n ab l e effo rt s to reu n i fy t h e fam i l y ; an d th at t h e t ri al

1 A. B. was b o rn J u n e 1 9

, 2 0 0 8 ; M

. C. w as b o rn Feb ru ary 1 6

, 2 0 1 1 ; an d K. B.

was b orn J un e 1 6

, 2 0 1 6

.co u rt erred b y al l o w i n g t h e ad m i s s i o n o f cert ai n t es t i m on y

. 2 Fo r t h e re a s o n s t h at

fo l l o w , we affi rm i n p art an d v acat e an d rem an d i n p art

.

“ On ap p eal fro m a ju v en i l e co u r t ’ s d eci s i o n t o t erm i n at e p aren t al ri g h t s , we

rev i ew t h e ev i den ce i n t h e l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o th e j u v e n i l e co u rt ’ s ru l i n g an d

d et erm i n e wh et h er an y rat i o n al t ri er o f fact co u ld h av e fo u nd b y cl ear an d co n v i n ci n g

ev i d en ce t h at t h e p aren t ’ s ri g h t s s h o u ld b e t erm in at ed .” In t h e In t er es t o f A. B. , 3 4 6

Ga. Ap p . 2 (8 15 SE2 d 5 6 1 ) (2 0 1 8 ).

So v i ewed

, t h e reco rd s h o ws t h at th e t wo o l d er ch i l d ren , A. B. an d M

. C., were

fi rs t fo u nd d ep en d en t b ecau s e o f t h e m o t h er’ s s u b s tan ce ab u s e, i n ad eq u at e h o u s i n g,

an d l ack o f i nco m e. Th ey were rem o v ed fro m

h er care i n 2 01 5 an d sp en t ab o u t 1 1⁄2

y ears in fo st er care i n Haral s o n Co u nt y

. Th e m o t her co m p l et ed res i d en t i al su b s t an ce

ab u se t reat m en t an d reg ai n ed cu s t o d y

.

In 2 0 1 7, DFACS i n Do u g l as Co u n t y rem o v ed al l t h ree ch i l d ren fro m t h e i r

m o th er’ s care, 3 i n cl u di n g K

. B

. , w h o was t h en a b ab y

. A

. B. an d M

. C.’ s s ch o ol

2 Th i s ap p eal was i n i t i al l y fi l ed as Cas e No

. A 2 1 A0 4 9 9

, b u t th at cas e was fi rs t
d i s m is s ed b ecau s e th e m o t h er fai l ed t o fi l e an ap p el l at e b ri ef, t h en rei n s t at e d

, t h e n l at er rem an d ed t o t h e t ri al co urt fo r co m p l et i o n o f th e reco rd

. It h as b een red o ck et ed

as A2 1A1 3 8 6

.

3 Th e ju v en i l e co u rt fo u n d t h at t h e m ot h er t o o k t h e ch i l d ren t o Do u g las Co u n t y i n an at t em

p t t o av o i d an i n v es t i g at i o n b y Haral s o n Co u n t y

DFACS.

2co n tact ed DFACS becau s e t h e o l d er ch i l d ren cam e t o sch o o l h un g ry an d u n k em p t

,

wi t h m at t ed h ai r, an d weari ng d i rt y cl o t h es t h at were i nap p ro p ri at e fo r t h e weat h er.

Th e m ot h er h ad l eft A. B. an d M. C. i n t h e care o f A. B.’ s g ran dfat h er, w h o l i v ed in

a “ k no wn d ru g h o u se.” Th e m o t h er d i d n o t l i v e i n th at h o u s e, b u t m o v ed fro m p l ace

t o p l ace wi t h K. B., an d av o i d ed co n t act wi t h DFACS. Th e m o t h er h ad a h i s t o ry o f

s u b s t an ce ab u s e an d h a d n o t su b m i t t ed t o d ru g s creen s

. Sh e al s o h ad a h i s t o ry o f

d o m es t ic v i o l en ce i n t h e ch i l d ren ’ s p res en ce wi th o n e o f t h e p u t at iv e fat h ers

. Th e

ju v en i l e co u rt fo u n d th at t h e ch il d ren were s ev erel y neg l ect ed an d i n an u n safe l i v i n g

en v iro n m en t , an d p l aced t h em i n DFACS cu s t o d y

.

Th e ju ven i l e co urt rev i ewed t h e ch il d ren ’ s cas es i n earl y 2 0 1 8, an d

, i n 2 0 1 9,

i s su ed o rd ers o f ad

j u d icat i o n an d d i s p o s i t i o n fi n d i n g th e ch i l dren d ep en d en t

. 4 Th e

ju v en i l e co u rt fo u n d t h at t h e m o t h er h ad ex ecu t ed a d o cu m en t i n 2 01 7 p l aci n g t h e

ch i l d ren i n t he t em

p o rary cu s t o d y o f a wo m an wh o l i ved i n a h o m e wi t h a n um b er o f

o t h er ad u l t s , b u t n o t t h e m o t h er. DFACS was u nab l e t o d et erm i n e ex act l y wh o el s e

l i ved t h ere. Th e ju v en i le co u rt fo un d t h at A

. B. a n d M

. C

. w e re d res s ed

4 Th e m o th er ap peal ed t h e ju v en i l e co u rt ’ s 20 1 8 d ep en d en cy fi n d in g , an d t h i s Co u rt v acat ed an d rem an d ed t h at o rd er fo r fu rt h er fi n d i n g s o f fact an d co n cl u s i on s

o f l aw. In t he In t er es t o

f A. B.

, 3 5 0 Ga. Ap p

. 1 5 8

, 1 5 9 (1 ) (8 2 8 SE2 d 3 9 4 ) (2 01 9 ). Th e ju v en i l e co u rt i s su ed rev i s ed o rd ers , wh ich t h e m o t h er h as n ot ap p eal ed

.

3i n ap p ro p ri at el y fo r sch o o l

, t hat o n e c h i l d h ad n o un d erwear, t h at b o t h ch i l d ren h ad

s eas o n al l y i n ap p ro p ri at e s h o es an d s o ck s o r s ho es t h at d i d n o t fi t

, an d l ack ed s ch o ol

s u p p li es

. Th e s ch o o l p u rch a s e d a l l t h es e i t em s fo r t h em

. Th ei r h ai r was m at t ed an d

t h ey had li ce. Ev en w h en k ep t o u t o f s ch o o l fo r l i ce treat m en t, t h ey ret u rn ed wi t h n i t s

i n t hei r h ai r. Th e s ch o o l ’ s h eal t h m o ni t o r g ro o m ed t h em b ecau se t h e m ot h er t es t i fi ed

t h at s h e co u l d n o t s ee th e n i t s an d n eed ed s o m eo n e el s e to rem o v e t h em

. Bo t h o l d er

ch i l d ren h ad s ev e r e eczem a co n s i s t en t w it h s t res s an d n eg l ect

, an d o n e ch i l d ’ s l eg s

we r e s o s wo l l en t h e s ch o ol s o ug h t m ed i cal at t en t i o n fo r her, as t h e h eal th m o n it o r

was u nab l e t o reach t h e m o t h er. Th e ch il d ren m ad e m o re t h an 2 0 t ri p s t o t h e h eal th

m o ni t o r, an d M

. C. was ab sen t s o m u ch t h at h er t each er bel i ev ed i t i n t erfered wi t h h er

ed u cat i o n

. Th e m o t her was u n res p o n s i v e wh en co n t act ed ab o u t t h e ch i l d ren ’ s

ex ces s i v e ab s en ces , tard i es , an d g rad i n g is s u es

. Al s o , t he o l d er ch i l d ren ’ s Med i cai d

h ad b een al l o wed t o l ap s e.

Th e ju v en i le co u rt fo u n d t h at

, at t h e t im e o f rem o v al

, t h e b ab y , K. B., was “ in

p o o r co n d i t i o n ,” “ very s i ck an d i n n eed o f m ed i cal care,” an d t h at th e m o t h er h ad al s o

al l o wed h er M ed i cai d t o l a pse. Th e ju v en i l e co urt fo u n d th at t h e m o t h er’ s ap p earan ce,

b eh av i o r, an d t es t i m on y at t h e heari n g were “ co n s i s t en t wi th s u bs t an ce ab u s e.” Sh e

h ad rel ap s ed an d n o t ret u rn ed t o t reat m en t

. It fo u n d al l t h ree ch i l dren d ep en d en t

4b ecau s e o f t h e m o t h er’ s ch ro ni c n eg l ect

, i n ad eq u at e s u p e r v i s i o n , an d d el eg at i o n o f

p aren t al res p o n si b il i ty t o o t h ers wh o fai l ed t o p ro v id e ad eq u at el y fo r t h e ch i l d ren ,

i n c l u d i n g a fai l u re t o p ro v i d e i n s u ran ce co v erag e fo r al l t h e ch i ld ren an d ad eq u at e

m ed i cal care fo r K. B.

Th e ju v en i l e co u rt ad di t i o n al l y fo u n d th at DFACS m ad e reas o n ab l e effo rt s to

p rev en t t h e ch il d ren ’ s rem o v al an d faci li t at e t h ei r ret u rn h o m e b y p ro v i d i n g referral s

fo r d ru g s creen s an d fam i l y p res erv at i o n s erv i ces , wh i ch t h e m o t h er refu s ed

.

Al t h o u g h DFACS creat ed a reu n i fi cat i o n cas e p l an , th e m o t h er refu s ed t o s i g n i t

. Th e

m o th er d id n o t ap p eal t hes e d ep en d en cy fi nd i n g s , wh i ch were b as ed u p on h eari ng s

h el d i n earl y

2 0 1 8

.

Th e j u v en i l e co u rt nex t hel d t erm i n at i o n h eari n gs i n J u l y 2 0 1 9

. In ad d i t i o n to

t es t i m o ny ab ou t h ow t h e ch i l d ren were d o i n g i n t h ei r res p ect iv e p l acem en t s , wh i ch

wi l l b e d i s cu s s ed m ore fu l l y b el o w, t h e ju v en i l e co u rt h eard t es t i m o n y t h at t h e m o t h er

refu sed to rev i ew h er reu n i fi cat i o n cas e p l an w i t h DFACS an d fai l ed t o co m p l et e i t

,

an d fai l ed t o g et req u i red p aren t al fi t n es s, p s y ch o l o g i cal

, an d s ub s tan ce ab u s e

as s es s m en t s

. Sh e fai led t o co m p l et e ap p ro x im at el y

fi ve req u es t ed d ru g s creen s , b ut

d i d co m p l et e on e, t es t i n g p o si t i v e fo r THC, m et h am p h et am i n e, an d am

p h et am i n es

.

Th e m o t h er al s o nev er p ai d ch i l d s u pp o rt

, n ev er o b t a i n e d do m es t i c v i o l en ce

5co u ns el i n g , n ev er p ro v i d ed p ro o f o f an y i n co m e, an d n ev er p ro v i d ed p ro of o f s t ab l e

h o u s in g

. Th e cas e wo rk er wh o v i s i t ed t h e m o t h er’ s h o m e t es t ifi ed th at i t l ack ed

r u n n i n g w a t er, h ad ex p o s ed el ect ri cal wi res , w as v ery cl u t t ered i n s i d e an d o u t

, an d

h ad a weap o n o u t i n t h e o p en

. W h en t h e cas e wo rk er t o l d t h e m o t h er t h at t h e h o m e

was i n ap p ro p ri at e fo r ch il d ren , t h e m o t h er refu s ed to res po n d

. Th e cas e wo rk er

t es t i f i ed t h at

, ot h er t h an i nco n s i s t en t vi s i t s , t h e m o t h er m ad e n o at t em p t t o reu n i t e

wi t h h er ch i l d ren

.

Th e j u v en i l e co u rt s u s p en d ed t h e m o t h er’ s v i s i t at i o n i n M ay 20 1 9, fi n di n g t h at

s h e h ad d em o n st rat ed d i s ru p t i v e an d in ap p ro p ri at e b eh av i o r s a n d ap peared t o b e

u n d er t he i n f

l u e n c e of i l l eg al s u bs t an ces du ri n g v i si t s, an d t hat t h i s b eh av i o r was

n eg at i v el y affect i n g t h e ch i l d ren

. It d o es n o t ap p ear fro m t h e reco rd t h at t h e m o t h er

co n tes t ed t hat s u s p en s io n

. Ho wev er, a th erap i st t es t i fi ed t h at

, in J u n e an d J u l y 2 0 1 9,

s h e at tem p ted t o s et u p t h erap eu t i c v i s i t at i o ns b et w een t h e m o t her an d h er ch i l d ren ,

b u t t h e m o t h er refu sed t o co n fi rm t h e v i s i t s an d s ai d s h e d i d n o t h av e t i m e t o co n fi rm

t h e v i s i t s

.

6Th e m o t h er d i d n o t ap p ear at ei t h er of th e t erm i n at i o n h eari n g d at es , al t h o u g h

an at to rn ey ap p eared o n her b eh al f. In Au g u s t 2 0 1 9

, t h e ju v en i l e co u rt t erm i nat ed t h e

m o th er’ s p aren t al ri g ht s , 5 an d we g ran t ed t he m o t h er’ s d i s cret i o n ary ap peal

.

1

. Th e m o t h er co nt en d s t h at t h e ev id en ce was i n s u ffi ci en t t o s h o w t h at t h e

ch i l d ren were h arm ed b y t h ei r cu rren t ci rcu m s t an ces

. W e fi nd n o erro r as t o A. B. an d

M . C., b u t m

u s t v acat e t h e ju v en i l e co u rt ’ s ju d g m en t as t o K. B.

Becau s e t h e m o t h er d i d n o t ap p eal fro m t h e ju ven i l e co u rt ’ s rev i s ed

d e t e r m i n a t i o n s t h at t h e ch i l d ren were d ep en d en t, t h es e fi nd i n g s are co n cl u s i v e an d

s u ffi ci en t t o s h o w t h at at th at t im e, t h e ch i l d ren were d ep en d en t d u e t o t h e m o t h er’ s

l ack of p ro p er p aren t al care o r co n t ro l

. In t h e In t er es t o f C. A. B.

, 3 4 7 Ga. Ap p

. 4 7 4,

4 7 6

, n

. 2 ( 8 1 9 SE2 d 9 16 ) (2 0 1 8 ). T h u s, o u r i n qu i ry ex am in es , in th e co n t ex t o f t h e

m o th er’ s en u m erat i o n , wh et h er cl ear an d co n v i n ci n g ev i d en ce s h o w s t h at co n t i n u ed

d ep en d en cy

wo ul d h arm

t h e ch i l d ren

.

Th e j u v en i l e co u rt term i nat ed t he m o th er’ s p aren t al ri g ht s p u rs u an t to OCGA

§ 1 5-1 1-3 1 0 (a) (5 ), wh i ch p ro v i d es a g ro u n d fo r t erm i n at i o n wh en

5 Th e ju v en i le co u rt al s o t erm i n at ed t h e p aren t al ri g h t s o f t hree res p o n d en t
fat h ers o r p u t at i v e fat h ers . Th es e fat h ers are n o t p art o f t h e i ns t an t ap p eal

.

7[ a ] c h i l d i s a d ep en d en t ch il d 6 d u e t o l ack o f p ro p er p aren t al care o r

co n t ro l b y h is o r h er p aren t

, reas on ab l e e f f o r t 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 t o co n t i n u e o r wi l l no t l i k el y b e rem ed ied

, an d

t h e co n ti n u ed d ep en d en c y w i l l cau se o r i s li k el y t o cau s e s eri o u s

p h y s i cal , m en t al , em o t io n al , o r m o ral h arm t o s u ch ch i l d

.

In reg ard t o t h e harm p ro v i s i o n o f OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -3 1 0 (5 ) ( A ) a n d (B), a

ju v en i l e co u rt

m u s t as s es s wh et h er a c h i l d cu rren t l y i n fo s t er care i s l ik el y t o s u ffer

s eri o u s h arm as a r e s u l t o f co n t i n u ed d ep en d en cy i f t h e ch i ld rem ai n s

i n d efi n i t el y i n fo s t er care, a n d a l s o t h e l i k e l i h o o d o f h arm i f t h e ch i l d

ret u rn s t o t h e cu s t o d y o f t h e paren t

, n o twi th s t an d in g t h at th e [d ep en d en cy ] p ers i s t s

.

(Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u a t i o n o m i t t ed ; em p h as i s s up p l i ed .) In t h e In t er es t o f A. S

. , 3 3 9

Ga. A p p. 8 75

, 8 81 (3 ) (7 9 4 SE2 d 6 7 2) (2 0 1 6 ); acco rd In t h e In t er es t o f E. M. D.

, 3 3 9

Ga. Ap p . 1 8 9 , 2 0 1-2 02 (II) (B) (7 9 3 SE2 d 4 89 ) (2 0 1 6 ).

6 A “ d ep en d en t ch i ld ” i s a ch il d wh o “ (A) [h ] as b een ab u s ed o r n eg l ect ed an d

i s i n n eed o f t h e p ro t ect i on o f t h e co u rt ; (B) [h ] as b een pl aced fo r care o r ad o p t i o n in

v i o l at i o n o f l aw; o r (C) [i ] s wi th o u t h i s o r h er p aren t

, g u ard i an , o r l eg al cu s t o d i an .” OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -2 (2 2 ).

8(a) K. B. : T h e m o t h er arg u es t h at t h e ev id en ce was in s u ffi ci en t t o sh o w t h at K.

B. was h arm ed b y h er cu rren t l iv i n g ci rcu m st an ces , 7 wh ere s h e h ad b een p laced i n a

fo s t er-t o -ad o pt h o m e. T h e m o t h er al s o arg u es t h at th e ju ven i l e co u rt ’ s o rd er fai l ed to

as s es s t h e ex t en t t o wh i ch i n s t ab i l i ty was s peci fi cal l y harm in g K. B., an d wh et h er s h e

wo u l d be h arm ed b y rem ai ni n g i n f o s t er care “ i n d efi n i t el y .” W e are co n s t rai n ed to

ag ree.

Th e m o t h er p o i n t s o n l y to t es t i m o n y fro m a s o ci al s erv i ces cas e m an ag er wh o

t es t i fi ed th at K. B. i s “ ‘ d oi n g fan t as t i c’ i n h er fo s t er h o m e.” T h e St at e, h o wev er,

p o i n t s to n o ev i d en ce or t es t i m o n y wh at s o e v er reg ard i n g K. B. t h at ad d res s es t h e

i s su e of h arm , ei t h er as i t rel at es t o K. B.’ s rem ai ni n g i n defi n i t el y i n fo s t er care o r h er

l i kel i h o o d o f h arm i f ret u rn ed t o t h e m o t h er. See In t er es t o f A. S

. , 3 39 Ga. A p p

. at 8 8 1

(3 ); In ter es t of

E. M. D.

, 3 3 9 Ga. Ap p. at 2 0 1 -2 02 (II) (B). Th e ju v en i l e co urt ’ s o rd er

m ad e n o fact u al o r l eg al fi n d i n g s s p eci fi c t o K. B. reg ard i ng h arm

.

“ Th es e defi ci en ci es p rev en t u s , i n th i s cas e, fro m m ak i n g an in t el l i g en t rev i ew

o f t h e m o t h er’ s

. . . ch al l en g es t o t h e s u ffi ci en cy o f th e h eari n g ev i d en ce.” (Ci t at i o n

an d p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) In t er es t of A. B.

, 3 5 0 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 5 9 (1 ). Acco rd i n g l y , we

7 Th e m o th er rai s es n o o th er v i ab l e co n t en ti o n s o f erro r rel at ed t o t h e ju v en i l e

co u rt ’ s fi n d i ng s p u rs u an t t o OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -3 1 0 (5 ), s o we d o n o t ad d res s t h em

.

9v acat e t h e j u v en il e co u rt ’ s t erm i n at i o n ord er as t o K. B. an d rem an d th e m at t er “ wi th

d i rect i o n t h at t h e ju v en i l e co u rt p rep are ap p ro p ri at e fi n d i n g s o f fact an d co n cl u s i on s

o f l a w an d en t er a n ew ju d g m en t

, aft er wh i ch an o t h er ap peal [as t o K. B.] m ay b e

m ad e.” Id

.

(b ) M. C. a n d A. B

. : Th e m o t her arg u es t h at t h e ev i d en ce was i n s uffi ci en t to

s h o w t h at A. B. an d M

. C. wo u l d b e harm ed i f ret u rn ed to h er cu s t o d y o r i f t h ey

rem ai n ed i n d efi n i t el y i n fo s t er care, 8 an d t h at t h e ju v en i l e co u rt d i d n o t m ak e

ap p ro p ri at e fi n d i n g s as t o t h es e ch i l d ren . W e d i s ag ree.

Th e m o t h e r pres en t ed n o reco rd ci t at i o n s t o ev i d en ce su p po rt i n g t h es e

co n ten t i o n s rel at ed t o M

. C. an d A. B. Al t h o ug h Co u rt o f Ap p eal s Ru l e 25 (c) (2 ) (i )

p ro v id es t h at we n eed n o t s earch fo r o r co ns i d er an en u m erat ed erro r un s up p o rt ed by

reco rd ci t at i o ns , b ecau s e o f th e i m p o rt an ce o f th e i s s u e at han d

, we h av e rev iewed t h e

reco rd an d fi n d n o m eri t i n t h e m o t h er’ s co n t en t i o n s as t o M . C. an d A. B.

8 Ag ai n , t h e m ot h er rai s es n o o t her v i ab l e co n t en t i o n s o f erro r rel at ed t o t h e ju v en i l e co u rt ’ s fi n di n g s pu rs u an t to O C GA § 1 5

- 1 1-3 1 0 (5 ), so we d o n o t ad d res s

t h em

.

10M

. C

. a n d A. B. h ad b ot h b een p l aced i n t h e care o f J o s h u a Dav i s , 9 wh o

t es t i fi ed t h at h e was M

. C.’ s b i o l o g i cal fat h er, al t h o u g h h e h ad n o t t ak en a DNA t es t

. 1 0

He i s no t A. B.’ s b i o l og i cal fat h er, bu t h e i s o n t rack t o ad o p t h er. Bo t h o l d er g i rl s h ad

ex p res s ed a d es i re t o co n t i n u e l i v i n g wi t h h i m b ecau s e o f t h e s e c u r i t y h i s h o m e

p ro v id ed

.

A l i cen s ed p ro fes si o nal co u n s el o r an d p lay t h erap i s t was q u al i fi ed as an ex p ert

wi t h o u t o b

ject io n fro m t h e m ot her’ s co u n s el

, 1 1 wh o q u es t i o ned th e ex p ert ex t en s i v el y

ab o ut h er q ual i fi cat i o n s. T h i s co u n s el o r t es t i fi ed t h at

, wh en M. C. en t ered fo s t er care,

s h e was “ s tu bb o rn , d i so b ed i en t

, . . . an d h av in g tem per ou t b u rs t s an d rap i d m o o d

9 A. B. al s o was l i v i ng wi t h Dav i s, al t h o u g h s he i s n o t h i s b i o lo g i cal d au g h t er.

1 0 Th e ju v en i l e co urt term i n at ed t h e p aren t al ri g ht s o f M

. C.’ s l eg al fat h er, wh o h as n ot ap p eal ed

.

1 1 Th e m o t h er arg ues t h at t h e ju v en i l e co u rt erred i n ad m i t t i n g ex p ert t es t i m o ny fro m t h i s t h erap i s t, wh o m s h e co n t en d s l ack ed s p eci al i zed k n o wl ed g e, s k i l l

,

ex p eri en ce an d t rai n i n g

. Th e m o t h er ci t es t o a s i ng l e tran s cri p t p ag e i n su p po rt o f h er

co n ten t i o n s , wh ere t h e t h erap i s t t es t i fi es ab o u t h e r e d u cat io n , qu al i fi cat i o n s an d

ex p eri en ce. Th e m o t h er pro vi d es n o reco rd ci t at io n s t o t h e s p eci fi c t es t i m o n y wh i ch

s h e co nt en d s t h e t h erap i s t was u n qu al i fi ed t o gi v e, an d w e wi l l n o t cu ll th e reco rd o n h er b eh al f i n s earch o f erro r. Gu i l fo r d v. Ma r r i o tt In t l

., 2 9 6 Ga. Ap p

. 5 0 3, 50 4 (6 7 5

S E2 d 2 47 ) (2 0 09 ); acco rd Co u rt o f Ap p eal s Ru l e 2 5 (c) (2 ) (i ). As t h e m o t h e r

“ p r o v i d e s n o reco rd ci t at i o n t o s h o w wh ere t h i s v i o l at io n al l eg ed l y o ccu rred

, [s h e]

t h erefo re h as fai led t o s h ow erro r b y th e reco rd .” Jo n es v. S t at e , 3 1 8 Ga. Ap p

. 3 4 2,

3 4 8 (3 ) (a) (i v), n . 5 (7 3 3 SE2 d 4 0 0 ) (2 0 1 2 ).

11ch an ges

. ” Sh e was d i ag n o s ed wi t h ad ju s t m en t d i s o rd er an d m i x ed d i s t u rb a n ce o f

em ot i o n s an d co n d uct

. Si n ce l i v i n g wi t h h er fat h er an d i n fo s t er care, h er b eh av i o r h as

i m p ro v ed an d s h e h as b een b et t er ab l e t o co m m u n i cat e ab o u t h er feel i n gs

.

Th e co u n s el o r, w h o w as act i v el y treat i n g M

. C., t es t i fi ed th at

, s in ce en t eri n g

fo s t er care an d t h en m o v i n g in wi t h h er fat her, M

. C.’ s beh av i o r h ad i m p ro v ed

. Sh e

t es t i fi ed t h at to co n t i n u e M. C.’ s h eal in g an d b eh av i o ral im p ro v em en ts

, i t was

i m p o rt an t th at s he o b tai n a p erm an en t h om e, an d t h at s h e wo u l d b e p s y ch o lo g i cal l y

h arm ed i f s h e was rem o v ed fro m Dav i s ’ s care an d ret u rn ed t o her m o t her b ecau s e s h e

h ad fears o f ab an d on m en t

. Th e c ou n s el o r t es t i fi ed t h at

, i f M

. C. d i d no t ach i ev e a

p erm an en t h o m e, b eca u s e o f h er p as t t rau m as wi t h h er m o t h er, s he was l i k el y to

s u ffer l earn i n g i s su es , em o t i on al p ro b l em s , p ers o n al i t y d is o rd ers , lo w s el f-es t eem ,

an d l o w ab i l i t y

t o em p at h i ze i n h er fu t u re l i fe.

Th e co u n s e l o r al s o t es t i fi ed ab o u t A

. B., wh o m s h e al s o w as t reat i n g

. Th e

co u ns el o r t es t ifi ed t h at A. B. had b een d iag n o sed wi t h ad j u s tm en t d i s o rd er an d m i x ed

d i s t u rb an ce o f em o t io n s an d co n d u ct “ [b ] ecau s e o f th e ch an g es t h at sh e ’ s e xpe ri en ced

t h ro u g h ou t her l i fe[,] ” an d t h at s h e al s o p res en t ed wi t h s y m p t o m s o f t rau m a an d

ADHD. Th e t rau m a s y m p t o m s i n cl u d ed t em

p er o u t b urs t s , d es t ru ct iv e b eh av i o r,

ag g res s i o n , p eer co n fl i ct

, l o w s el f-es t eem , an d lo w em p at hy am o un t i n g t o “ p o s t

12t rau m at i c s t res s s y m p t o m s ” b ecau s e o f t h e s t res s fu l ev en ts s h e h ad b een ex p o s ed to

o v er t h e y ears

. Sh e t es t i fi ed t h at A. B.’ s sy m p t o m s h ad im

pro v ed i n fo s t er care wi th

Dav is b ecau se o f t h e co n s i s t en cy an d s ecu ri t y

t h e h o m e o ffered

.

An o th er l i cen se d p r of

e ssiona l c ounse lor a nd tr au m a as s es s o r al s o was q u al i fi ed

as an ex p ert

, an d t he m o t h er’ s co u n s el s p eci fi cal l y st at ed s h e h ad n o o b j ect i o n s t o t h i s

q u al i fi cat i o n

. 1 2 Sh e co m

p l et ed a t rau m a as s es s m en t o f M . C. T h i s c o u n s e l o r

t es t i fi ed t h at M

. C. was d i ag n os ed wi t h ad ju s t m en t d i s o r d e r an d d i scl o s ed t rau m a

fro m wi t n es s i n g d om es t i c v i o l en ce wh i l e l i v i n g wi t h her m ot her. Sh e t es t i fi ed t h at M

.

C. was b o n d ed to Dav i s an d wo u l d b e h arm ed i f sh e d id n o t h av e a perm an en t

,

co n si s t en t careg i v er, res u l t i n g i n d i s ru p t i ve beh av i o rs , an x iet y , d ep res si o n , an d

ab an do n m en t i s s u es

. It was i n t h e b es t i n t eres ts o f M

. C., t h e co un s el or t es t i fi ed

, to

rem ai n wi t h Dav i s.

Th i s co u n s el o r al s o as t o A. B. Sh e t es t i fi ed t h at d u ri n g t rea t m e n t

, A

. B. h ad

t o l d h er ab o u t w i t nes s i n g m u l t i p l e i nci d en ts o f d o m es t i c v i o l en ce i n vo l v i n g h er

m o th er an d o n e o f t h e ch il d ren ’ s p u t at i v e fat hers

. A. B. t o l d t h e co un s el or ab o u t b ei n g

h i t i n th e h ead wi t h a m al l et w h en t h e p u t at i v e fat h er t h rew i t du ri n g an arg u m en t

, an d

1 2 T h e m o t h er rai s es n o co n ten t i o n o f erro r as t o t h is co u n s el o r’ s e x p e r t

t es t i m o ny

.

13s ai d s h e w as afrai d fo r h ers el f an d h er s i s t ers . A. B. al s o t o l d t h e co un s el o r s h e h ad

b een t h reat en ed wi t h b ei n g h it wi t h a b el t w i t h s p i k es o n it

. Sh e had b een d i ag n o s ed

w i t h s y m p to m s of p os t -t rau m at i c s t res s di s o rd er, an d n eed ed on g o i n g th erap y

. T h e

co u ns el o r t es t i fi ed t h at A. B. was b o n d ed to D av i s an d t h at h er p lacem en t i n h i s h o m e

was ap p ro p ri at e.

Th e ch i l d ren ’ s g uard i an ad l i t em t es ti fi ed t h at s h e h ad v i s i t ed t h e g i rl s ’

p l acem en t wi t h Dav i s , t h at t h ey were d o i n g wel l an d s h o wi n g i m p ro v em en t s i n t h ei r

p h y s i cal an d em o t i o n al wel l -b ei n g

. Sh e t es t i fi ed t h at t h e g i rl s wi s h ed t o rem ai n in

t h ei r cu rren t p l acem en t , an d t h at i t was i n t h ei r b es t i n t eres t s t o d o s o

.

Th e ju v en i l e co u rt

, co ns i s t en t wi t h an d rel y i n g u p o n t h es e fact s , fo u n d t h at A.

B. an d M

. C. wo u l d b e h arm ed i f t h ey w e r e r e t u r n e d t o t h e m o t her’ s n eg l ect fu l

t reat m en t an d i f t h ey rem ai n ed

, wi t ho u t an y p erm an en cy , i n fo s t er care. In li g h t o f t h i s

ex t en s i v e ev i d en ce an d t es t i m o n y , t h ere was cl ear an d co n v i n ci n g ev i d en ce su ffi ci en t

t o s u p p ort t h e j u v en i l e co u rt ’ s d et erm i n at i o n p u rs u an t to OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -3 1 0 (a) (5 ).

See In t h e In t er es t o

f L

. P

. , 3 3 9 Ga. Ap p

. 6 5 1

, 6 5 6 -6 5 7 (2 ) (7 9 4 SE2 d 25 2 ) (2 0 1 6 )

(fi n di n g cl ear an d co n v i n ci n g ev i d e n c e s h o wed h arm i f ch i l d ren were ret u rn ed to

p aren t s b ecau s e o f p a r e n t s ’ s u b s t an ce ab u s e an d i n ab i l i t y t o p ro v i d e s t ab i l i t y , an d

14fi nd i ng h a r m i f ch i l d ren rem ai n ed i n d efi n i t el y in s tat u s q u o wi t h o u t perm an en ce,

wh ere fo st er p aren t s wi s h ed t o ad o p t t h em ).

OCGA § 1 5 -1 1

- 3 1 0 (b ) p ro v id es th at

, “ [i ] f an y o f t he s t at u t ory g ro u n d s fo r

t erm i n at i o n h as b een m et

, t h e c o u rt s h al l t h en co n s i d er w h et h er t erm i n at i o n i s i n a

ch i l d ’ s b es t i n t eres t s aft er co n s i d eri n g [cert ai n d el i n eat ed ] fact o rs

. . ..” “ On ap p eal

,

[t he m o t h er] d oes n o t ch al l en g e t he s u b s t an ce of t h e c o u rt ’ s fi n d i n g t h at t h e

t erm i n at i o n o f [h er] p aren t al ri g h t s was i n [M

. C. an d A. B.’ s ] b es t i n t eres t s , an d t h u s ,

[s ] h e h as ab an d o ned an y s u ch arg u m e n t o n ap p eal

. ” (Em p h as i s om i t t ed .) In t h e

In t er es t o f C. S

. , 3 5 4 Ga. Ap p . 1 3 3 , 1 4 0 (1 ) (8 4 0 SE2 d 4 7 5) (2 02 0 ).

2

. Th e m o t h er arg ues t h at t h ere was i n s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce o f cu r r en t

d ep en d en cy b ecau s e Dav i s i s m eet i n g A. B. an d M

. C.’ s n eed s

. 1 3 See OCGA § 1 5 -1 1

-

3 1 0 (a) (5 ). W e d o n o t ag ree.

W h i l e t h e m o t h er d o es ci t e s o m e g en eral l eg al au t h ori t y , s h e ci t es n ot h i n g o n

p o i n t t o h er s p eci fi c co n t en ti on an d m ak es o n l y co n cl us o ry s t at em en t s u n s u p p o rt ed

b y a s i n g le reco rd ci t at i o n

. Th i s i s no t t h e t y p e of m ean i n g fu l arg um en t co n tem p l at ed

b y ou r ru l es

. Co u rt o f Ap p eal s Ru l e 2 5 (c) (2 ) (“ An y en u m erat i o n of erro r t h at i s n ot

1 3 Th e m o th er d o es n o t m en t i o n K. B. i n t h i s en um erat io n

.

15s u p p o r t e d i n th e b ri ef by ci t at i o n o f au th o ri t y o r arg u m en t m ay b e d eem ed

ab an do n ed .”).

To t h e ex t en t t h at t h is en u m erat i on h as n o t b een ab an d o n ed

, w e f i n d t h at i t

l ack s m eri t b ecau se ou r l a w pro v i d es t h at “ [t ] h e t es t i n d et erm i n i ng t erm i n at i o n o f

p aren t al ri g h t s

. . . i s wh et h er t h e mo t her

, u l ti ma t el

y s ta n d i n g a l o n e , i s c ap ab l e o f

m as t eri n g an d ut i l i z i n g t he n eces s ary sk i l l s to m eet h er p aren t i n g o bl i g at i o n s .”

(Ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed ; em p has i s i n ori g i n al .) In t h e In t er es t o f A. R.

, 3 0 2

Ga. Ap p

. 7 0 2

, 7 1 0 (1 ) (c) (6 9 1 SE2 d 4 0 2 ) (2 0 1 0 ). Th e m o t h er’ s c o n t e n t i o n t h at

s o meo n e o t h er t h a n h er

s el f i s cari n g fo r her ch i l d ren d o es no t s at i s fy t h e req u i rem en t

t h at s h e m eet s t h e t es t o f b ei n g ab l e t o m eet h er o wn paren t i n g o b l i g at i o n s “ s t an d i n g

al o n e.” Id

.

3

. Ci t i n g OCGA § § 1 5 -1 1 -2 0 2 1 4 an d 15 -1 1 -2 3 3 (b ) (3 ), t h e m o t h er arg u es t h at

t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n term in at i n g her p aren tal ri g h t s des p i te DFACS’ s fai l u re to

1 4 OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -2 0 2 p ro v i d es , i n ter al i a, t h at DFCS s h al l m ak e reas o n ab l e effo rt s t o p res erv e o r reu n i fy fam i l i es : “ (1 ) Pr i o r t o t h e p l acem en t o f an al l eg ed

d ep en d en t ch i l d i n D FCS cu s t o d y t o p rev en t t h e n eed fo r rem o vi n g h i m o r h er fro m h i s o r h er h o m e; o r (2 ) To el i mi n a t e t h e n eed f o r remo va l an d m ak e i t p os s ib l e fo r a ch i l d al l eg ed t o b e o r ad

j ud icat ed a s a d

ep en d en t ch i l d to r et u r n s a

f el y t o h i s o r h er h o m e at t h e earl ies t p o s s i b l e t i m e.” (Em p h as is s u p pl i ed .) OCGA § 1 5-1 1 -2 0 2 (a).

16m ak e “ reas o n ab le effo rt s ” t o reu n it e t h e fam i l y b y p ro v i d i n g h er wi t h t ran sp o rt at i o n

s erv i ces fo r v i s i t at i on

. 1 5 W e d i s ag ree.

It i s cl ear fro m t h e J u ven i l e Co d e “ t h at OCGA § 15 -1 1 -2 0 2 p ert ai n s to

d ep en d en cy p ro ceed i n g s , n o t t erm i n at io n pro ceed i n gs

. Term in at i o n p ro ceed i n g s are

a s ep arat e m at ter an d are g ov ern ed b y Art i cl e 4 of t h e J u v en i l e Co de. See OCGA §

1 5 -1 1-2 60 et s eq .” In t he In t er es t o f E. M.

, 3 4 7 Ga. Ap p

. 3 5 1

, 3 59 (3 ) (a) (8 1 9 SE2 d

5 0 5 ) (2 0 18 ). OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -2 3 3

, 1 6 wh i ch i s wi t h i n th e dep e n d e n c y s ect i o n o f t h e

J u v en i l e Co d e, d o es n o t co n tai n a “ reas o n ab l e effo rt s ” p ro v is i on

. As n o t ed ab o v e, t h e

m o th er n ev er ap p eal ed t h e d ep en d en cy fi n d i n g s

.

OCGA § 1 5 -1 1 -3 1 0 (5 ), h o wev er, co n t ai ns a “ reas on ab l e effo rt s ” req u i rem en t

p ert ai n i n g t o t erm i n at i o n p ro ceed i n g s, p ro v i d in g , i n p ert i n en t p art

, t h at t h e ju v en i l e

1 5 Al t h ou g h t h e m o th er al l eg es o t h er d efi ci en ci es i n DFACS’ s reu n i fi cat i o n effo rt s , s h e fai l s t o s u p p ort t h o s e co n ten t i o n s wi t h arg u m en t o r w i t h ci t at i o n t o t h e

reco rd o r au t ho ri t y

. T h es e co n t en t i o n s h av e b een ab an d o n ed . See Co u rt o f Ap p eal s Ru l e 2 5 (c) (2 ).

1 6 OCGA § 1 5

- 1 1

- 2 3 3 (b ) (3 ) p ro v i d es t h at “ [t ] erm i n at i o n o f p aren tal ri g h t s

m ay no t b e i n th e b es t i n t eres t s o f a ch i l d a d ju d i c a t ed as a d ep en d en t ch i ld wh en :

. . . DFCS h as n o t p ro v i d ed t o t h e fam i l y o f s u ch ch i l d s erv i ces d eem ed n eces s ary fo r h i s o r h er s afe ret urn t o h i s o r h er h o m e, co n s i s t en t wi t h t he s peci fi c t i m e fram es fo r

t h e acco m

p l i s h m en t of t h e cas e p l an g o al s .”

17co u rt d et erm i n e wh et her “ reas o n ab l e effo rt s to rem ed y t he ci rcu m s t an ces h av e b een

u n s u cces s fu l o r were n o t req ui red [.] ”

Here, t h e m o t her’ s cas e m an ag er tes t ifi ed t h at s h e referre d t h e m o t h er t o a

s erv i ce t h at pro v id ed p sy ch o l o g i cal

, p aren t al fi t n es s , an d s u b s t a n c e ab u s e

as s es s m en t s , an d th at n o t ran s p o r t a t i o n w as req u i red as t h i s s erv ice o ffered h o m e

v i s i t s

. Sh e ad d it i o n al ly t es t i fi ed t h at sh e referred t h e m o t h er fo r d ru g s creen s , an d t h e

m o th er n ev er t o l d h e r t h at s h e n eed ed tran s p o rt at i o n as s i s t an ce i n t hat reg ard

. Th e

c a s e m an ag er d id t es t ify t h at

, al t h o u g h D FACS wo u l d o ccas i o n al ly p ro v i d e

t ran s po rt at i o n t o vi s i t a t i o ns , on t wo o ccas i o n s , t h e m o t h er req u es t ed t ran sp o rt at i o n

s erv i ces t h e sam e d ay as h er s ch ed ul ed v i s i t at i o n wi t h t h e ch i ld ren , b u t t h at

, b ecau s e

o f t h e s h o rt t i m el i n e, DFACS was u n ab l e t o p ro v id e t ran s po rt at i o n

.

Th e ju v en i l e co u rt ’ s o rd er fo u nd t h at at t im es t h e m o t her h ad acces s to

t ran s po rt at i o n to as s i s t wi t h reu n i fi cat i o n an d at t i m es s h e d i d no t

, b u t al s o fo u n d t h at

t h e m o t h er was “ res i s t an t t o fam i l y p r e s erv at i o n s erv i ces ” an d “ d i d n o t u t i l i ze

referral s fo r s erv i ces t o reu n ify wi t h t h e ch il d ren ,” al t h o u g h DFACS co nt i n u ed to

p ro v id e t h em

. O n t hi s b as i s , i t fo u nd t h at D FACS’ s effo rt s to p ro m o t e p erm an en cy ,

a v o i d f os t er care, p res erv e an d reu n i fy t h e fam i l y were reas o n ab l e. Gi v en t h at o n

ap p e a l f ro m a t erm i n at i on ord er, it i s t h e ro l e o f t he ju v en i l e co u rt

, rat h er t h an t h i s

18Co u rt

, t o wei g h th e ev i d en ce an d res o l v e i s s u es o f cred i b i l i t y or co n fl i ct i n g ev i d en ce,

s ee In t h e In t er es t o

f L. B.

, 3 56 Ga. Ap p

. 4 8 8

, 4 91 (2 ) (8 47 SE2 d 8 6 1 ) (2 0 2 0), we fi n d

n o erro r.

4

. Th e m o t her ad d it io n al ly co n t en d s i n vari o us en u m e r a t i o n s t h at t h e

t erm i n at i o n o f h er p aren t al ri gh t s v i o lat ed her co n s t i t u ti o n al ri gh t s an d t h at t h e

ju v en i l e co u rt erred i n al lo wi n g p ro t ect ed p at i en t-t h erap is t t es t i m o n y t h at “ v i o l at [ed ]

t h e eq u al p ro t ect i o n c l a u s e o f t h e Un i t ed St at es Co n s ti t ut i o n .” Ho wev er, s h e fai l ed

t o s h o w t h at s h e rai s ed an y co n s t i t u t i o n al arg u m en t s b el o w o r o b t ai n ed a ru l i n g fro m

t h e ju ven i l e co u rt o n an y

co n s t i t u t i o n al cl ai m s

.

“ A co n s t i t u t i o nal i s s ue can n o t b e co n s i d ered wh en as s ert ed fo r t he fi rs t t i m e

o n ap p eal b u t m

u s t b e cl earl y rai s ed i n t h e t ri al co u rt an d d is t i n ct l y ru l ed u p o n t h ere.

. . . Th u s , as t h e arg u m en t s were n ei t h er rai s ed n o r ru l ed u po n b e l o w, we d o n ot

u n d ert ak e s u ch ex erci se o n ap peal .” (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i on o m i t t ed .) Co cker h a m

v. Co cker h a m , 3 5 9 Ga. Ap p. 8 91 , 9 0 1 (6 ) (8 6 0 SE2 d 1 6 3 ) (2 0 2 1 ).

In s u m , fo r t h e reas o n s o u t l i n ed ab o v e, t h e ju v en i le co urt ’ s o rd e r i s a f f i rm ed

as t o M . C. an d A. B., an d v acat ed an d rem an ded wi t h d i rect i o n as t o K. B.

Ju d g men t a f f i r med i n p a r t a n d va ca t ed a n d r ema n d ed i n pa r t. Mi l l er

, P. J., a n d

Pi p ki n , J., co ncu r

.

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