Opinion ID: 1973902
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Appropriateness of Termination of Parental Rights

Text: On the merits, we have no hesitancy in affirming the termination of appellant's parental rights. Succinctly, the record fully sustains the trial court's conclusion that appellant has neither the capacity nor the inclination to take the remedial steps required to meet the irreducible minimum parenting skills necessary to perform parenting functions for the four children involved in this case, either now or in the foreseeable future. Lamentable as termination of parental rights is, it is both necessary and appropriate in this case. Appellant asserts that she has always asserted a desire for reunification, she is now willing to fully cooperate in any program of therapy or education required, and that her case worker had undermined her from the start. We find these arguments entirely unpersuasive. Appellant, in fact, has always avowed her intent to perform a parental role toward her children. However, adequate parenting requires action as well as intent. During the five year period between the date of her release from in-patient mental health treatment and the date of the final termination hearing held in this case, appellant's actions fell far short of her avowed intent to acquire the irreducible minimum parenting skills required. Shortly before the termination hearing, appellant, on advice of counsel, scheduled an appointment with Mental Health Services and indicated her willingness to follow any program they prescribed. The trial court rejected this evidence of appellant's intent to reform as untimely and incredible. We find no abuse of discretion. Avowals of remorse or intent to reform made from the bar of a court (or within its shadow) are generally deemed to ring hollow; indeed, the evanescent nature of such pledges is proverbial. Cf. In Interests of J.J., supra ; In re G.D.G., supra ; Commonwealth ex rel. M.D. v. M.D., supra ; In re Adoption of J.F., supra . Finally, appellant attempts to shift the responsibility for her failure to make progress toward reunification onto Children and Youth Services, and her case worker in particular. No evidence was presented that appellant was denied services or opportunities provided to similarly situated persons. Rather, appellant makes a general claim that her efforts (unspecified) were undermined by the case worker's expressed intent to seek termination of parental rights. There is, inherent in this argument, a credibility question which the trial court resolved in favor of the case worker and CYS. The trial court specifically dismissed appellant's claim of a plot against her as mere paranoia. Trial Court Opinion at 7. Cf. In re G.D.G., supra . The record sustains that conclusion. Assuming, arguendo, that the case worker had expressed to appellant some opposition to reunification (even at an early date in the process) and that the case worker's opposition to reunification deflated appellant's hopes and expectations, such would hardly be remarkable or improper in this case. While CYS and case workers have a duty to promote reunification by providing assistance to parents working toward that goal; they have no obligation to force parents to make such efforts, to guarantee the success of such efforts, or to promote unreasonable expectations concerning such efforts regarding the prognosis for reunification. [3] It is important to remember the context in which CYS's involvement arose in this case. The family was living in an unsanitary, garbage strewn residence, the father was sexually abusing his two oldest daughters, and the mother was aware of this for ten months but took no steps to prevent her husband's sexual abuse of her own pre-teenage daughters. After the children were placed in state care, the father committed suicide, the mother attempted suicide, and then the mother was treated for schizophrenia as an in-patent in a mental hospital for 15 months. Moreover, the mother's irratic and irresponsible conduct after her release strongly reinforced the original negative prognosis for reunification. Indeed, appellant resisted all assistance and took no discernable steps toward acquiring the skills and means to perform her parental responsibilities until on the eve of termination, on the advice of counsel, she suddenly announced her intent to abandon all resistance and cooperate fully in any program prescribed. How in this context could CYS or the case worker be faulted for recognizing the painful realities in this case, or in preparing for eventual and inevitable termination of parental rights? The trial court found no fault in CYS or the case worker. Neither do we. These children have been repeatedly victimized by parental neglect and abuse during their short lives. What little solace may be had by the establishment of nurturing ties to foster and/or adoptive parents, and/or by the development of stability and a sense of permanence in their lives at this late date in their childhoods was their right to ask of this Commonwealth. It was a request the trial court was fully empowered to grant under the circumstances presented. Order Affirmed.