Opinion ID: 1717179
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: ¶ 2. On March 3, 2005, J.L.N., then a fourteen-year-old male, and E.D.F., then a ten-year-old female, were placed in the custody of the Stone County Department of Human Services (DHS) when their mother, J.C.N.F., was an hour late in picking them up from school. School officials contacted DHS because the school was preparing to close for the day. A DHS employee went to the school and brought the children to the DHS office pursuant to a Stone County Youth Court order. The DHS supervisor assigned to the case testified at the termination hearing that when the mother arrived at the school, she appeared to be unable to take the children home. A DHS social worker assigned to the case and the DHS supervisor both testified that the mother was then arrested by police. The supervisor stated that she was arrested for driving under the influence and driving with a suspended license. The social worker stated that she was arrested for driving with a suspended license and possession of a controlled substance. The following day, the youth court conducted a shelter hearing and the children remained in DHS custody. ¶ 3. On March 16, 2005, the mother was presented with an Individual Service Plan (the Service Plan or Service Agreement) developed by DHS. The Service Plan required that she complete thirteen tasks in order for DHS to determine whether or not to recommend that the court return her children to her. In exchange, DHS agreed to provide case management for [the] client. The overall goals for the mother were: 1) to obtain and maintain employment and provide support to the children; 2) to be free from substance use and abuse; 3) to obtain and maintain stable housing; 4) to have dependable transportation; and 5) to know and understand the effects of sexual abuse on victims and families. The mother did not sign the Service Agreement on March 16, 2005 because she wished to have it reviewed by her attorney at the time. ¶ 4. In April 2005, both children were adjudicated neglected by the youth court. The youth court also entered a Disposition Order stating, in part, that the mother would not be permitted to visit her children until she entered into a service agreement with DHS and made a good faith effort to comply with its terms. The mother signed the Service Agreement in October 2005. ¶ 5. In May 2006, the youth court suggested that DHS initiate proceedings to terminate the mother's parental rights. Accordingly, on August 28, 2006, DHS filed a Petition to Terminate Parental Rights. In the petition, DHS alleged that parental rights should be terminated on the basis of six separate factors set out in Mississippi Code Section 93-15-103(3). The petition essentially tracks the language in Mississippi Code Section 93-15-103(3)(d)(i)-(ii), (e)(i)-(ii), (f), and (h). Miss.Code Ann. § 93-15-103(3) (Rev.2004). The petition states that it is in the best interest of the children to have their mother's parental rights terminated so that a permanent and stable plan for the adoption of the Minor Petitioners may be made and so that the Minor Petitioners will be eligible for adoption. The termination hearing was scheduled for December 4, 2006. On the day of the hearing, the guardian ad litem submitted a report citing the behavioral problems of the children, which the guardian ad litem attributed to the environment in which they had lived with their mother before they were placed with DHS. ¶ 6. The hearing was rescheduled for February 5, 2007 because the chancellor recused herself due to a conflict of interest. At the hearing on February 5, 2007, J.C.N.F. was present, but was not represented by counsel. The chancellor, however, decided to proceed because the guardian ad litem stated that it would be in the best interest of the children to do so. At the conclusion of the hearing, the chancellor terminated the mother's parental rights. The chancellor also signed a Judgement [sic] Termination Parental Rights, which was presented to him by the DHS attorney at the close of the hearing. Although the chancellor signed the judgment, he crossed off the paragraph stating that parental rights were being terminated on the basis of the substantial erosion of the parent-child relationship pursuant to Mississippi Code Section 93-15-103(3)(f). The Judgment states that parental rights were terminated based on the other grounds cited in the petitionSection 93-15-103(3)(d)(i)-(ii), (e)(i)-(ii), and (h). Miss.Code Ann. § 93-15-103(3) (Rev.2004). The mother timely appealed to this Court.