Opinion ID: 1298495
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Deficiencies in the Management of the Instant Matter

Text: In the case sub judice, these procedures simply were not followed. Specifically, nothing in the record suggests the convening of the required multidisciplinary team or its consideration of or input into the child's case plan submitted by the child protective services worker, Mr. Propst. A review of that case plan demonstrates beyond question that it fails to satisfy the requirements of West Virginia Code § 49-6D-3, as also identified by this Court in syllabus point five of Cheryl M., as follows: The purpose of the family case plan as set out in W.Va. Code, 49-6D-3(a) (1984), is to clearly set forth an organized, realistic method of identifying family problems and the logical steps to be used in resolving or lessening these problems. 177 W.Va. at 689, 356 S.E.2d at 182, syl. pt. 5. The case plan in the instant matter neither clearly set[s] forth an organized realistic method of identifying family problems and the logical steps to be used in resolving or lessening those problems nor does it address satisfactorily, if at all, the specific matters required by West Virginia Code § 49-6D-3. Id. Although the family case plan was formulated and submitted to the lower court prior to the dispositional hearing, the strategies recommended in the plan were never employed to address the family's problems. Similar strategies may have been utilized in previous contact between the DHHR and the Appellant, but the forms of outreach referenced in the plan were not attempted. Additionally, the family case plan does not appear to adequately address one of the predominant obstacles facing the Appellant, her alleged lack of financial resources. It does suggest the use of Paul Miller Home-Based Services for weekly monitoring and guidance in instructing the Appellant in scheduling her normal routines. Yet it does not otherwise appear to identify precise methods by which the Appellant might improve her parenting skills, and many desired outcomes are stated in abstract terms, such as problem solving, self-sufficiency, and parenting knowledge/skill. Moreover, it appears that the court below rejected the case plan during the dispositional hearing after the father of three of the children objected and asked the court to proceed to terminate the Appellant's parental rights, contrary to the child case plan filed by the DHHR, and the court proceeded to terminate Appellant's parental rights. In contrast to this procedure, Rule 34 of the West Virginia Rules of Procedure for Child Abuse and Neglect Proceedings requires the court to rule by order on the case plan and, if the court rejects the plan, order the DHHR to submit a revised plan within thirty days and schedule a new dispositional hearing within forty-five days. In violation of Rule 36, the lower court failed to set the date and time for the first permanency review conference.