Opinion ID: 1253377
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Future Health and Safety of the Children

Text: Finally, we direct our attention to whether the health and safety of the children would be seriously jeopardized by returning to Appellants. It is clear that the children were significantly troubled and in need of constant care and supervision to recover from their earlier trauma. We quote from the testimony of Linda McNeill, a psychologist who attended to the entire family: Q. When you say, you know, the health and safety of the children, what types of things would you expect if the children were returned to the home? What would you expect to see on the professional level? A. I think that their negative behavior would escalate. I think they would be extremely defiant with the parents and with other people. I don't think [Appellants] can provide the nurturing, but also the strong discipline that needs to be done without using physical discipline. .... Neither of these children can tolerate physical discipline or shouldn't have physical discipline, because they are so aggressive themselves and interact in aggressive ways with their peers.... And sometimes its very hard to stick to those kind of guidelines. .... [In regard to ES], it was at about three-and-a-half that I first evaluated each, [JL] and [TL]. And that's when each of their behaviors had escalated to a point that somebody was asking me to evaluate. But I think at this point she would also create the kind of difficulty for them of a child who has her own will and is testing it and being active and exuberant. And I fear that they would not provide appropriate discipline or watch her, ... I don't see them providing the physical care. There is no doubt that after the intensive but unsuccessful efforts made on behalf of Appellants, these children's health and safety would be seriously jeopardized if they were to be returned to the same environment which necessitated their removal in the first place.