Opinion ID: 885137
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Completion and success of Betty's treatment plans

Text: ¶ 18 The District Court approved four treatment plans designed to stabilize Betty's environment, improve her relationship with her children and provide the Department with information to aid it in determining whether to return her children to her care. The first treatment plan began in June, and ended in September, of 1995. Social worker Lori Baxbaum (Baxbaum), administered the first plan and the first task of that plan required Betty to obtain a psychological evaluation and follow the psychologist's recommendations. The record reflects that Betty obtained the evaluation but, according to Baxbaum, she failed to attend meetings with a co-dependency group as recommended by the psychologist. The plan also required Betty to avoid involvement with persons suspected of criminal activity, but Baxbaum testified that Betty continued to have contact with Bobby even though he was suspected of sexually abusing S.M. ¶ 19 Task five of the first treatment plan required Betty to attend parenting classes and she did so. The record reflects, however, that she was unsuccessful in applying the knowledge and skills taught in those classes. For example, Baxbaum testified that Betty continued to bring unhealthy snacks to her visits, which was inconsistent with encouraging D.D.who was overweightto lose weight. Another task required Betty to work with Family Network, Inc., a parenting workshop, to learn how to apply various parenting skills. Baxbaum testified that Family Network, Inc. discontinued Betty's involvement with the program due to her lack of interest. Baxbaum also testified that Betty was unable to provide controlled, structured and appropriate discipline during visits with the children as required by the treatment plan. ¶ 20 Betty's second treatment plan began in December of 1995 and ended in June of 1996. Social worker Sandy Velin (Velin) administered the plan and observed Betty's progress. One task required Betty to teach the children appropriate grooming skills through verbal communication and by example. Velin testified, however, that Betty's own grooming was inconsistent; she often had strong body odor, bad breath, and appeared to be wearing soiled clothing. Another task required Betty to provide a healthy and safe environment for the children, which included obtaining employment, maintaining her home in a sanitary condition and keeping Bobby away from the household and children. Betty did obtain employment in March of 1996, but Velin testified that the gas heat at Betty's home had been disconnected, resulting in inadequate heat. On a later visit, Velin noted that the home was dirty and cluttered. In addition, Velin testified that Bobby continued to visit the household occasionally. In Velin's opinion, the home was neither safe nor sanitary. Her ultimate opinion was that the second treatment plan was unsuccessful. ¶ 21 The third treatment plan included tasks from the prior treatment plans and covered the period from June through December of 1996. Velin noted that Betty's grooming improved during this time, but still was not consistent. Baxbaum visited the home in September of 1996, and reported that it was kept in an unsanitary condition. The third treatment plan also required Betty to learn about nutrition and bring appropriate servings of food to visits with the children, but Velin observed that Betty brought servings that were too large and allowed the children to eat too much. Betty also failed to prepare a written plan on how to keep the children safe from sexual abuse, as required by the treatment plan. As with the second treatment plan, Velin opined that Betty had not successfully completed the third treatment plan. ¶ 22 Betty's fourth treatment plan began in December of 1996. Baxbaum testified that Betty verified attending only two of eight required co-dependency meetings. According to the record, Betty's home was visited again and found to be unsafe and unsanitary. Betty did not develop a household budget, as required by the treatment plan. Moreover, while another task required Betty to exhibit a willingness and desire to protect her children from Bobby by not having any contact with him, it was Baxbaum's opinion that Betty had not internalized the desire to protect her children from Bobby, but kept him away from the residence only because the Department instructed her to do so. Baxbaum opined that Betty had not successfully completed the fourth treatment plan. ¶ 23 Against this backdrop of evidence supporting the District Court's findings that Betty's minimum compliance with the treatment plans was insufficient and the treatment plans were unsuccessful, Betty points to testimony indicating that she completed some of the required tasks and improved in others. On that basis, she contends that she substantially complied with the treatment plans and that the goals of her treatment plans were successful. ¶ 24 The fact that Betty completed some tasks does not conflict with the District Court's finding that her minimal compliance was insufficient. Moreover, as discussed above, the record is clear that Betty did not complete all the tasks in any of the treatment plans. Further, the fact that Betty improved in certain tasks and goals set forth in the treatment plans does not necessarily equate to the plans being successful. Betty attempted four treatment plans over two years and, in the opinion of both Baxbaum and Velin, the plans were unsuccessful. ¶ 25 There is no question that Betty made well-intentioned efforts towards successful completion of her treatment plans. Such efforts, however, do not demonstrate either the completion or the success of the plans. See Matter of D.S.N. (1986), 222 Mont. 312, 315, 722 P.2d 614, 616. Indeed it is well established that a treatment plan can be unsuccessful even when the tasks were completed. See Matter of R.B.O. (1996), 277 Mont. 272, 281, 921 P.2d 268, 273 (citing Matter of S.C. (1994), 264 Mont. 24, 29, 869 P.2d 266, 269). ¶ 26 The record before us clearly contains substantial evidence supporting the District Court's findings that Betty's minimum compliance with the treatment plans was insufficient and that the treatment plans were not successful. The District Court did not misapprehend the evidence and we are not left with a definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed. We conclude, therefore, that the District Court's findings that the circumstances set forth in § 41-3-609(1)(c)(i), MCA (1995), existed are not clearly erroneous.