Opinion ID: 1378820
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Relevant facts pertaining to Kidwell

Text: Kidwell signed a parental treatment agreement drafted by CPS which required Kidwell to provide his children with proper care, participate in the Parent Education Program, and submit to periodic monitoring by the agency. The record reflects that Kidwell was informed that the parenting classes were without cost and that additional free counseling was available. Despite an understanding with CPS that Kidwell was to avoid living with Daniels, Kidwell ignored this admonition and continued the cohabitation. Kidwell's custody of Andrea, Christopher and Allen was short-lived. At trial, Kidwell testified that he gave Daniels the rent money, but unbeknownst to Kidwell, Daniels allegedly spent it on drugs. They were evicted on May 19, 1993. Kidwell was homeless and unable to care properly for his children. The inability of the protective services' officer to place the children with their paternal grandmother hastened the children's placement with DCFS on June 24, 1993. Kidwell acceded to the DCFS case plan which required him to: (1) maintain adequate and stable housing; (2) secure stable employment; (3) seek counseling; (4) pay child support in the amount of $300.00 per month; (5) obtain safe child care and utilize community resources; and (6) avoid contact with Daniels during her drug use. The DCFS social worker instructed Kidwell to sever his ties with Daniels. According to DCFS, Kidwell was jeopardizing the children's welfare by fueling Daniels' drug habit with money that he received from Aid to Dependent Children (ADC). Kidwell, however, was unwilling to sever the relationship and claimed that he planned to marry Daniels shortly. Kidwell had sporadic contact with DCFS during the two-and-a-half-year period that followed. The DCFS social worker testified that her inability to contact Kidwell and Daniels posed a formidable problem. For example, the social worker testified that Kidwell's mother was her best contact because Kidwell was frequently changing jobs and residences. Kidwell visited his children on only one occasion during the two-and-a-half-year period, and despite his caseworker's efforts to arrange another visit, Kidwell failed to confirm the arrangement. Kidwell, however, testified that he saw his children approximately six or seven times between June of 1993 and February of 1996. Other than Kidwell's testimony, there is no record of these additional visits. One verified visit occurred at DCFS and the others were allegedly at Child Haven. During his visits, Kidwell testified that the children were hateful towards him and said they had other parents. Kidwell testified that he thought his rights were terminated; therefore, he did not stay in touch with the children. Kathleen Petit (Petit), a DCFS social worker assigned to the case in January 1995, testified at trial that Kidwell failed to make any progress on his case plan. Kidwell was unemployed, without a permanent residence, and living with his mother. Petit suggested to Kidwell that he enroll in a parental training class as a show of good faith. Petit instructed Kidwell to call her the following day and she would arrange a visit with his children. Petit had no further contact with Kidwell. Moreover, Kidwell failed to pay any child support, establish paternity, or comply with the DCFS case plan. Kidwell married a woman other than Daniels in October 1995. Notwithstanding his recent one-month marriage, he tried to reconcile with Daniels following her release from prison. At the time of trial, Kidwell lived with his newlywed and mother-in-law, and relied on their incomes because he was unemployed. Kidwell stated that he earned only $2,600.00 in the previous year.