Opinion ID: 2167237
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 18

Heading: Marcia Shaw

Text: Marcia Shaw, a licensed clinical social worker with Family Consultation Service, testified that she met respondents in November 1997. Diane attended 14 or 15 counseling sessions with Shaw; Mark attended an unspecified number of sessions. According to Shaw, Diane has book knowledge of parenting, but does not apply it. Mark, however, applied the parenting skills he learned, and due to Diane's job, did the bulk of the parenting. Shaw testified that, in terms of dealing with the sexual abuse of S.S. and C.N., Diane made progress in that she verbalized her responsibility for the abuse, acknowledging that she failed to protect her child. Mark also made progress in that his initial anger over the removal of C.N. was replaced with sadness and compassion, which Shaw believed was more real. The counseling sessions did not address how to parent a child who was a victim of sexual or physical abuse. Shaw testified that, as a result of the removal of S.S. and C.N., Diane was depressed, and that such depression interfered with Diane's ability to be responsible. According to Shaw, Diane is less depressed with medication and more able to accept responsibility. Diane is working less hours and is able to be at home more of the time. Mark, who is a cook by profession, has assumed the role of a house husband. Respondents' anger with DCFS has lessened. Respondents rested. Following argument, on April 28, 1998, the circuit court ruled that the State had proved, by clear and convincing evidence, that respondents were unfit in that they failed to make reasonable progress toward the return of C.N. within 12 months of the neglect adjudication. As set forth in its written order, the circuit court found, inter alia, that respondents failed to accept responsibility for the abuse sustained by C.N. and her sibling; respondents focused energy on hostility toward DCFS and its agents and not on attaining reunification with C.N.; respondents repeatedly failed to comply with the court's directives regarding services which needed to be completed in order to accomplish reunification; and respondents repeatedly refused to attend services, or attended sporadically, resulting in termination of the services. The court also found that evidence of respondents' ability to parent two later-born children was irrelevant. [3] The matter was continued for a hearing to determine whether termination of respondents' parental rights was in the best interests of C.N. Following that hearing, on May 8, 1998, the court entered an order terminating respondents' parental rights to C.N. Respondents appealed, and the appellate court reversed. Nos. 2-98-0565, 2-98-0674 cons., 303 Ill.App.3d 1105, 254 Ill.Dec. 697, 747 N.E.2d 1109 (unpublished order under Supreme Court Rule 23). We granted the State's petition for leave to appeal. See 177 Ill. 2d R. 315.