Opinion ID: 884214
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Completion and success of appropriate treatment plan.

Text: In its findings of fact and conclusions of law terminating the mother's parental rights, the District Court found that the mother did not complete either of her court-approved treatment plans, and that the plans were unsuccessful. The record is replete with factual evidence which indicates the mother failed to comply with or successfully complete either of her treatment plans. Among the requirements of her first court-ordered treatment plan, approved by the court on November 25, 1994, were that the mother maintain sobriety, attend two AA meetings each week, and avoid leaving her son alone or without proper care. It is undisputed, however, that a mere two months after the plan's implementation, W.Z. was found wandering outside alone in the middle of the night while the mother was intoxicated. The evidence further indicates the mother continued to consume alcohol and minimize her addiction. For example, the mother arrived at her social worker's office for two visits with W.Z. in February and March 1995, smelling of alcohol. On March 20, 1995, the mother refused to continue with the counseling sessions mandated by her treatment plan. In addition, the mother was intoxicated when she appeared for the second day of the August 15, 1995, hearing on DFS's petition for temporary custody. Accordingly, the District Court's finding that the mother failed to comply with her first treatment plan is supported by substantial evidence and is not clearly erroneous. The factual record additionally supports the District Court's finding that the mother failed to complete her second treatment plan and that the plan was unsuccessful. Among the requirements of the mother's second treatment plan, approved by the court on November 9, 1995, were that she complete inpatient and aftercare alcohol treatment programs and continue to participate in AA. The plan further required that the mother abstain from consuming alcohol and drugs, avoid breaking the law, attend counseling sessions, and request visits with her son. There is testimony in the record to support the court's finding that the mother continued to drink up until the time she began inpatient treatment in November 1995. Although the mother completed inpatient treatment as required, she failed to complete an aftercare program and failed to document her alleged continuing participation in AA. Although the mother claims she has maintained sobriety since completing inpatient treatment in December 1995, she was arrested for obtaining dangerous drugs with a fraudulent prescription within weeks of completing treatment. Further, the mother did not participate in counseling, as required, and visited only infrequently with her son. The mother argues, however, that because her second treatment plan had only been in effect for three months when the State filed its petition to terminate her parental rights in February 1996, she did not have adequate time to demonstrate that the plan had been successful. The mother notes that the State filed for termination of her parental rights within two months of her discharge from inpatient chemical dependency treatment on December 22, 1995. Therefore, she argues, the State moved to terminate her rights just weeks after she had finally gained control over her alcoholism. The mother's argument that she did not have adequate time to demonstrate that the treatment plan was a success presupposes that she complied with the objectives of the plan and completed it. As discussed above, we hold the District Court properly found that the mother did not comply with either her first or second court-approved treatment plan. Further, this Court notes that, although the mother claims progress since the implementation of her second treatment plan, she was arrested for fraudulently obtaining dangerous drugs within weeks of completing inpatient treatment and roughly three weeks before DFS filed its petition to terminate her parental rights. Finally, the record indicates that DFS first became involved with the mother in September 1994 in an attempt to help her improve her parenting skills and control her chemical dependency. In the two-year period following DFS's initial involvement and the eventual filing of the petition to terminate her parental rights, the mother consistently failed to comply with either of the treatment plans approved for her. Any progress made by the mother in the two months prior to the filing of the petition does not accurately reflect DFS's efforts to rehabilitate her relationship with W.Z. throughout the preceding two years. See In re Matter of B.T.B. and B.B. (1992), 254 Mont. 449, 452-53, 840 P.2d 558, 559-60 (citing In re Matter of M.J.D., C.K.D., A.R.D. (1987), 225 Mont. 200, 205, 731 P.2d 937, 939-40). Based on the foregoing, we hold the court properly found that the mother failed to successfully complete her second treatment plan.