Opinion ID: 884214
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: issues

Text: Did the District Court err in terminating the mother's parental rights? The State petitioned to terminate the mother's parental rights pursuant to § 41-3-609(1)(c)(i) and (ii) (since renumbered § 41-3-609(1)(e)(i) and (ii)), MCA, which provides as follows: (1) The court may order a termination of the parent-child legal relationship upon a finding that any of the following circumstances exist: .... (c) the child is an adjudicated youth in need of care and both of the following exist: (i) an appropriate treatment plan that has been approved by the court has not been complied with by the parents or has not been successful; and (ii) the conduct or condition of the parents rendering them unfit is unlikely to change within a reasonable time.... Following the August 15, 1995, hearing on DFS's petition for temporary custody, and by stipulation of the parties, the court adjudicated W.Z. as a youth in need of care. The court approved the second of two appropriate treatment plans for he mother on November 9, 1995. Therefore, the first issue on appeal is whether the District Court erred in finding that the mother did not comply with, or successfully complete, her treatment plan. The second issue on appeal is whether the District Court erred in finding that the conduct and conditions which make the mother unfit to parent W.Z. are unlikely to change within a reasonable time. We address each issue in turn.
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.
In terminating the mother's parental rights, the District Court additionally found that the conditions which make her unfit to parent her son are unlikely to change in a reasonable time, and that continuation of the parent-child relationship will likely result in the continued abuse or neglect of the child. In so finding, the court reviewed the following factors set out in § 41-3-609(2), MCA: (a) emotional illness, mental illness, or mental deficiency of the parent of such duration or nature as to render the parent unlikely to care for the ongoing physical, mental, and emotional needs of the child within a reasonable time; (b) a history of violent behavior by the parent; .... (d) excessive use of intoxicating liquor or of a narcotic or dangerous drug that affects the parent's ability to care and provide for the child; .... [and] (g) any reasonable efforts by protective service agencies that have been unable to rehabilitate the parent. The court found that the mother suffers from chronic emotional and mental problems such that she cannot care for W.Z.'s emotional needs and noted her history of violent encounters with the father. The court additionally found that the mother's addiction to alcohol renders her unable to effectively parent her child. Finally, the court recognized DFS's lengthy involvement with the mother and her continued inability to provide a stable home for her child, who has remained in foster care since January 12, 1995. Substantial evidence of record clearly supports these findings by the District Court. For example, in a written assessment of the mother's fitness as a parent, clinical psychologist Frank Seitz identified her most significant problem as alcoholism. Furthermore, witness testimony at the termination hearing referred to the mother's long standing alcoholic behavior. Likewise, in an April 15, 1995, report, licensed counselor Joseph Scalia opined that the mother has a borderline personality defect. Incorporated into Dr. Seitz's August 14, 1995, court-ordered assessment of the mother's fitness as a parent, is the conclusion of Dr. Charles Kelly that the mother probably has a borderline personality disorder. The record additionally reveals continued intervention by DFS on the mother's behalf for a period of time in excess of two years. In light of these facts of record, the court did not err in finding that the conditions which make the mother unfit to parent her son are unlikely to change in a reasonable time. Again, the mother argues that, at the time the State filed its petition to terminate her parental rights, she was in the midst of successfully altering her conduct and the conditions which had previously rendered her an unfit parent. She points out that she successfully completed inpatient chemical dependency treatment just two months before the State filed its petition to terminate, and maintains she has not consumed alcohol since. The mother further argues she regularly attended AA meetings, and made extensive efforts to remain in contact with her son. However, the record does not substantiate the mother's claim that she has been attending AA meetings, nor does it document efforts on her part to remain in contact with her son. Although the record contains no evidence that she has consumed alcohol since her release from inpatient treatment in December 1995, the District Court properly looked to the mother's extensive history of alcoholic behavior and inadequate parenting prior to finding that her conduct and behavior was unlikely to change within a reasonable time. In re Matter of K.F.L. and N.L. (1996), 275 Mont. 102, 106, 910 P.2d 241, 244. Finally, pursuant to § 41-3-609(3), MCA, in determining whether the condition or conduct rendering the mother unfit was likely to change within a reasonable time, the District Court was bound to give primary consideration to the physical, mental, and emotional conditions and needs of the child. Indeed, the best interest of the child is paramount and takes precedence over parental rights. In re Custody of T.M. (1994), 267 Mont. 75, 79, 881 P.2d 1333, 1336 (citing In re Matter of J.J.C.H. (1992), 252 Mont. 158, 165, 827 P.2d 812, 816). The record in this case clearly indicates, and the District Court correctly found, that the termination of the mother's parental rights was in W.Z.'s best interest. For example, W.Z.'s counselor testified at the termination hearing that the child was thriving in his foster home and opined that termination of the mother's parental rights would be in W.Z.'s best interests. Based on the foregoing, we hold that the District Court correctly found that the mother failed to comply with and successfully complete her treatment plans, and that the conditions that made the mother unfit as a parent were unlikely to change within a reasonable time. Therefore, we hold that the District Court's findings of fact terminating the mother's parental rights are not clearly erroneous.