Opinion ID: 852115
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: DCS Contact with Mother

Text: We now turn to Mother's due process argument that DCS failed to inform Mother of the CHINS proceedings after she initiated contact with DCS. We note the timeline of Mother's contact with DCS and the DCS response. Once Mother learned of C.G.'s involvement with DCS, she wrote DCS on October 14, 2008. The letter was written in Spanish and informed DCS she was incarcerated, inquired if Child was in DCS custody and if a family member could pick up Child. Once FCM 2 received the letter, sometime in November 2008, he learned that Mother was incarcerated in Henderson, Kentucky. FCM 2 responded on December 15 but did not explicitly state that Child was currently a CHINS. Rather, FCM 2 inquired into Mother's release date and asked what her plans were to parent. FCM 2 did explain that there are legal procedures that go along with this case which can lead to termination of parental rights. Furthermore, he informed Mother that Child was in a pre-adoptive home. Mother immediately responded to FCM 2 with a letter on December 23. Mother wrote that she had a court date in April 2009 which she hoped would work everything out, and in the meantime requested a family member come take Child. After not hearing from DCS, Mother sent another letter on February 12, 2009. This letter again inquired into how Child was doing, requested family come and take Child, and also included a card for Child. It was not until after receiving this February letter that DCS sent Mother an advisement of rights form and a copy of the CHINS petition. Mother then requested counsel in the CHINS. Within the month, DCS filed its termination petition, and Mother did not receive her counsel in the CHINS action until after DCS filed its termination petition. The delay in advising mother of her rights and informing her of the CHINS action is disturbing and inappropriate. There was no reason for this delay. Upon obtaining Mother's letter dated October 14, 2008, DCS should have contacted Mother immediately. The initial response should have included the advisement of rights form and the CHINS petition form. Doing so would have allowed Mother representation in the CHINS proceedings at an earlier stage. However, in this case, we cannot conclude that the dilatory action resulted in fundamental error or deprived Mother of due process. Mother was incarcerated at that time and awaiting a possible ten-year sentence. Although it may have been advisable for DCS to have put the brakes on the termination petition upon locating Mother, or at least temporarily slowed down the proceedings, she was nevertheless in federal custody for transporting drugs. Furthermore, the termination proceeding did not conclude until January 2009. We find the error would have been much more egregious if the court had conducted an expedited termination hearing, sometime shortly after the termination petition being filed. However, the delays in the termination proceeding and the continuances granted provided further opportunity for Mother and her counsel to attempt to prove Mother's fitness to parent and also to prepare for trial. Finally, we note that Mother was fully and diligently represented in the termination proceeding. Counsel was able to question FCM 2 about the lack of communication with Mother, and Mother was able to present her argument to the trial court judge about any due process violations from the lack of contact. The delay from DCS in advising Mother of her rights and serving her with the CHINS petition upon locating Mother is a very poor practice model in the field of child protection. But a reversal is not warranted in this case.