Title: Morris v. DSCYF/DFS
Citation: N/A
Docket Number: 228, 2022
State: Delaware
Issuer: Delaware Supreme Court
Date: December 21, 2022

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE 
 
YESSICA MORRIS,1 
 
 
Respondent Below, 
Appellant, 
 
v. 
 
DEPARTMENT OF SERVICES FOR 
CHILDREN, YOUTH & THEIR 
FAMILIES/DIVISION OF FAMILY 
SERVICES, 
 
Petitioner Below, 
Appellee. 
§ 
§    No. 228, 2022 
§ 
§    Court Below—Family Court 
§    of the State of Delaware 
§     
§    File No. CN22-03-13TN                     
§    Petition No. 22-05989 
§                         
§ 
§ 
§ 
§ 
§ 
 
 
Submitted:  November 1, 2022 
Decided:  December 21, 2022 
 
Before VALIHURA, VAUGHN, and TRAYNOR, Justices. 
 
 
 
ORDER 
 
 
Upon consideration of the appellant’s brief filed under Supreme Court Rule 
26.1(c), her attorney’s motion to withdraw, the response of the Department of 
Services for Children, Youth and Their Families, Division of Family Services 
(“DFS”), and the response of the Office of Child Advocate (“OCA”), it appears to 
the Court that:   
(1) 
The respondent below-appellant, Yessica Morris (“the Mother”), filed 
an appeal from the Family Court’s order, dated June 7, 2022, terminating her 
 
1 The Court previously assigned a pseudonym to the appellant under Supreme Court Rule 7(d). 
2 
 
parental rights to her daughter (“the Child”).2  On appeal, the Mother’s counsel 
(“Counsel”) has filed an opening brief and motion to withdraw under Supreme Court 
Rule 26.1(c).  Counsel represents that she has made a conscientious review of the 
record and the law and found no meritorious argument in support of the appeal.  The 
Mother has not submitted any points for the Court’s consideration.  In response to 
Counsel’s submission, DFS and OCA ask this Court to affirm the Family Court’s 
termination of the Mother’s parental rights.  After careful consideration, this Court 
concludes that the Family Court’s judgment should be affirmed. 
(2) 
The Child was born in late June 2021.  On July 7, 2021, DFS filed an 
emergency petition for custody of the Child.  DFS alleged that the Mother was in the 
hospital for a psychiatric disorder and that the maternal grandmother had been caring 
for the Child.  During a visit to the maternal grandmother’s house, a DFS 
investigation worker found that the house was a mess with trash and beer cans 
everywhere.  The maternal grandmother’s two sons, one with a no-contact order as 
to the maternal grandmother and one who was visibly inebriated during the visit, 
were helping the maternal grandmother care for the Child.  The Family Court granted 
the petition. 
(3) 
At the preliminary protective hearing on July 14, 2021, the Family 
 
2 The Family Court also terminated the parental rights of the Child’s father, who is not a party to 
this appeal.  We only recite the facts in the record as they relate to the Mother’s appeal. 
3 
 
Court appointed counsel to represent the Mother.  The Mother was not present 
because she was hospitalized at MeadowWood Behavioral Health.  A DFS employee 
testified about the Mother’s concerning behavior after her discharge from the 
hospital with the Child and her subsequent admission to MeadowWood.  The 
employee also testified about the poor condition of the maternal grandmother’s 
house.  The maternal grandmother had a history with DFS and had been 
substantiated at Level 3 for severe medical neglect.  None of the caregivers in the 
maternal grandmother’s house were appropriate.  After one night at the hospital for 
assessment, the Child was doing well with a foster family.  The Family Court found 
that there was probable cause to believe the Child was dependent and that DFS had 
made reasonable efforts to prevent the unnecessary removal of the Child from the 
home.  
(4) 
On August 26, 2021, the Family Court held an adjudicatory hearing.  A 
Children & Families First employee testified about her interactions with the Mother 
and the events leading to the Mother’s admission to MeadowWood.  The Mother 
was coherent and affectionate with the Child after the Child’s birth, but several days 
later the Mother was incoherent and nonresponsive to questions.  MeadowWood’s 
director of clinical services testified that the Mother was involuntarily admitted on 
July 6, 2021 and discharged on July 26, 2021.  During her stay, the Mother’s mood 
was unstable, she had delusions, and she had assaulted a staff member.  She was 
4 
 
more stable at the time of her discharge.   The Mother’s diagnosis upon discharge 
included schizophrenia and personality disorders.  She received instructions to take 
certain medications. 
(5) 
A DFS employee testified that the main concerns were the Mother’s 
substantial history of unstable mental health, failure to take her prescribed 
medication consistently, and inability to obtain stable housing and care for the Child 
financially.  The Mother had one supervised visit with the Child on August 12th, but 
missed two subsequent visits.  The Child continued to do well with a foster family.  
The Mother, who was living at a motel, testified that she wanted to raise the Child.  
She also testified that a psychologist spoke to her on a monthly basis and that she 
was administered medications on a weekly basis.  The Family Court found that the 
Child continued to be dependent and should remain in DFS custody.   
(6) 
On September 21, 2021, the Family Court held a dispositional hearing.  
The Mother failed to appear for the hearing.  DFS had developed a case plan for the 
Mother, but was unable to review it with her.  The elements of the Mother’s case 
plan included continuation of her mental health treatment and compliance with her 
mental health treatment provider’s recommendations, completion of a substance 
abuse evaluation to determine if treatment was necessary, resolution of her 
outstanding criminal charges, completion of a parenting class, and obtaining and 
maintaining employment and appropriate housing.   
5 
 
(7) 
The Mother had recently refused a prescribed injection and it was 
unclear if she was taking her oral medications.  She had tested positive for marijuana 
and benzodiazepine.  She had left the motel and returned to her maternal 
grandmother’s home, which DFS had previously determined was inappropriate.  She 
received approximately $700.00 a month in disability payments.  The Mother had 
three visits with the Child in September, with two visits going well and the Mother 
being unsure how to handle the Child’s fussiness during another visit.  The Child 
was doing well with her foster family.  The Family Court adopted the case plan for 
the Mother and found that the Child continued to be dependent and should remain 
in DFS custody.   
(8) 
The Family Court held a review hearing on December 17, 2021.  The 
Mother failed to appear.  A DFS employee testified that she reviewed the case plan 
with the Mother in October.  At that time, the Mother objected to elements of the 
case plan and refused to sign it.  It was unknown if the Mother was taking all of her 
prescribed medications.  The Mother had not obtained a substance abuse evaluation.  
The family interventionist testified that the Mother failed to appear for three 
scheduled meetings, but finally appeared for a meeting in November.  Since the end 
of October, the Mother had attended four supervised visits with the Child and missed 
three visits.  The Mother had moved out of the maternal grandmother’s house and 
moved into the house of another relative that DFS did not consider an appropriate 
6 
 
placement resource.  The Child was doing well with her foster family.  The Family 
Court found that the Child continued to be dependent and should remain in DFS 
custody.   
(9) 
After a February 24, 2022 meeting of the permanency planning 
committee, DFS filed a motion to amend the permanency plan from reunification to 
termination of parental rights for purposes of adoption.  The Family Court held a 
permanency hearing on March 8, 2022.  The Mother arrived late for the hearing. 
(10) A DFS employee testified that the Mother was not complying with her 
case plan.  On December 28, 2021, the Mother was involuntarily admitted to 
Wilmington Hospital for low blood sugar and psychosis.  She was under psychiatric 
care until she was discharged on February 23, 2022.  Before her admission, the 
Mother was not compliant with her mental health treatment and medications.  The 
Mother had been compliant since her discharge on February 23, 2022.  
(11) The Mother had not obtained a substance abuse evaluation or 
completed a parenting class.  She testified that she was in the process of obtaining 
employment.  The Mother had an interview for housing with a roommate, but the 
Child would not be permitted to reside there.  The Mother had a visit with the Child 
on December 6, 2021 and March 4, 2022.  The Child was bonding with her foster 
family, which was an adoptive resource for the Child.  The Child was seeing a 
physical therapist at daycare and making progress in sitting up.  The Family Court 
7 
 
granted DFS’s  motion to amend the permanency plan from reunification to 
termination of parental rights for purposes of adoption  
(12) The Family Court held a termination of parental rights hearing on June 
6, 2022.  The Mother failed to appear for the hearing.  The  Family Court heard 
testimony from an employee of the Resources for Human Development, which had 
provided outpatient mental health services to the Mother since January 2020, DFS 
employees involved in the Mother’s case, the Child’s foster parents, and the court 
appointed special advocate appointed to represent the Child.  The testimony reflected 
that the Mother was living in a supervised apartment setting that did not permit 
overnight guests, receiving bi-monthly shots for her psychiatric disorders, and not 
taking all of her prescribed medications.  The Mother’s engagement with her mental 
health treatment was sporadic.  She had not obtained a substance abuse evaluation 
or completed a parenting class, her criminal charges were unresolved, and she had 
only attended approximately 40% of scheduled visits with the Child.   There was no 
indication that the Mother had obtained employment.   
(13) At the conclusion of the hearing, the Family Court issued a bench 
decision terminating the Mother’s parental rights.  The Family Court also issued a 
written order terminating the Mother’s parental rights.  The Family Court found by 
clear and convincing evidence that the Mother had failed to plan adequately for the 
Child’s needs under 13 Del. C. § 1103(a)(5).  The Mother had not complied with her 
8 
 
mental health treatment provider’s recommendations, obtained housing appropriate 
for the Child, obtained a substance abuse evaluation, or completed a parenting class.  
It was unknown if the Mother had obtained employment, but it appeared unlikely.  
The Child come into care as an infant and been in DFS custody for at least six 
months.  The Family Court also considered the best interest factors under 13 Del. C. 
§ 722, and found by clear convincing evidence that termination of the Mother’s 
parental rights was in the best interest of the Child.  The Family Court found that 
DFS had established by clear and convincing evidence that it had employed 
reasonable efforts to reunify the Child with her parents. 
(14) On appeal, this Court reviews the Family Court’s factual and legal 
determinations as well as its inferences and deductions.3  We review legal rulings de 
novo.4  We conduct a limited review of the Family Court’s factual findings to assure 
that they are supported by the record and are not clearly wrong.5  The Court will not 
disturb inferences and deductions supported by the record and the product of an 
orderly and logical reasoning process.6  If the Family Court correctly applied the 
law, the standard of review is abuse of discretion.7   
(15) The statutory procedure for terminating parental rights requires two 
 
3 Long v. Div. of Family Servs., 41 A.3d 367, 370 (Del. 2012). 
4 Id. 
5 Powell v. Dep’t of Servs. for Children, Youth and Their Families, 963 A.2d 724, 731 (Del. 2008). 
6 Id. 
7 CASA v. Dep’t of Servs. for Children, Youth and Their Families, 834 A.2d 63, 66 (Del. 2003). 
9 
 
separate inquires.8  First, the Family Court must determine whether the evidence 
presented meets one of the statutory grounds for termination.9  When the statutory 
basis for termination of parental rights is failure to plan adequately for the child’s 
needs under Section 1103(a)(5) and the child is in DFS custody, there must be proof 
of a least one additional statutory factor under Section 1103(a)(5).10  Second, the 
Family Court must determine whether termination of parental rights is in the best 
interests of the child.11  Both of these requirements must be established by clear and 
convincing evidence.12   
(16) The Mother has not submitted any points for this Court’s consideration 
on appeal. Counsel represents that she has determined that no arguably appealable 
issue exists, but also states that if “required to make an argument” she would argue 
that the Family Court failed to give sufficient weight to certain best-interest factors.13  
 
8 Shepherd v. Clemens, 752 A.2d 533, 536-37 (Del. 2000). 
9 13 Del. C. § 1103(a) (listing the grounds for termination of parental rights). 
10 Powell, 963 A.2d at 731. 
11 Id.   The best interest factors include: (i) the wishes of the parents regarding the child’s custody 
and residential arrangements; (ii) the wishes of the child regarding her custodians and residential 
arrangements; (iii) the interaction and interrelationship of the child with her parents, grandparents, 
siblings, persons cohabitating in the relationship of husband and wife with a parent of the child, 
and any other residents of the household or persons who may significantly affect the child’s best 
interests; (iv) the child’s adjustment to her home, school, and community; (v) the mental and 
physical health of all individuals involved; (vi) past and present compliance by both parents with 
their rights and responsibilities to the child under 13 Del. C. § 701; (vii) evidence of domestic 
violence; and (viii) the criminal history of any party or any resident of the household. 13 Del. C. § 
722(a).   
12 Powell, 963 A.2d at 731. 
13 Opening Brief at 11.  Once counsel has made a conscientious examination of the record and the 
law and concluded that the appeal is wholly without merit, she should not make hypothetical 
arguments that she has determined to be without merit. Rather, counsel should refer to any facts, 
10 
 
Specifically, the Mother’s wishes under the first factor,  her love for the Child and 
the impact of her mental health on her relationship with the Child under the third 
factor, and her follow-up with her mental health treatment under the sixth factor.  
We find no merit to this hypothetical argument.  
(17) In determining that termination of parental rights was in the Child’s 
best interests, the Family Court  emphasized the third (the interaction and 
interrelationship of the child with her parents and others), fourth (the child’s 
adjustment to her home, school, and community), fifth (the mental and physical 
health of all individuals involved), and sixth (past and present compliance by both 
parents with their rights and responsibilities to the child) best-interest factors.  The 
Family Court found that the Mother was unable to maintain a relationship with the 
Child, the Mother’s mental health issues and sporadic compliance with her mental 
health treatment prevented her from providing a stable home for the Child, and the 
Mother was not capable of meeting the Child’s needs.  The Mother’s wishes, love 
for the Child, and sporadic compliance with her mental health treatment do not 
outweigh the other best-interest factors weighing in favor of termination of her 
parental rights.  The court may give different weights to different factors, and may 
decide that one or a few of the factors outweigh the remaining factors.14 
 
evidence, or significant pretrial and trial applications and rulings that may support the appeal and 
provide the appellant's points, if any. Del. Supr. Ct. R. 26.1(c)(i). 
14 Powell, 963 A.2d at 735. 
11 
 
(18) Having considered the parties’ positions and the record on appeal, we 
conclude that the Mother’s appeal is wholly without merit.  There is ample evidence 
supporting the Family Court’s termination of the Mother’s parental rights based on 
failure to plan and that such termination is clearly in the Child’s best interests.  We 
find no error in the Family Court’s application of the law to the facts and no abuse 
of discretion in the Family Court’s factual findings.   
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that the judgment of the Family 
Court is AFFIRMED.  The motion to withdraw is moot.   
 
 
 
 
 
 
BY THE COURT: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/  James T. Vaughn, Jr. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Justice