Opinion ID: 2000455
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: failure to comply with rehabilitation plan

Text: Cheyenne assigns that the trial court erred in terminating her parental rights pursuant to § 43-292(6). In order to terminate parental rights under this subsection, the State must prove by clear and convincing evidence that (1) the parent has failed to comply, in whole or in part, with a reasonable provision material to the rehabilitative objective of the plan and (2) in addition to the parent's noncompliance with the rehabilitative plan, termination of parental rights is in the best interests of the child. In re Interest of Joshua M. et al., 251 Neb. 614, 558 N.W.2d 548 (1997). The State is required to prove that the parents have been provided with a reasonable opportunity to rehabilitate themselves according to a court-ordered plan and have failed to do so. In re Interest of L.H. et al., 241 Neb. 232, 487 N.W.2d 279 (1992). Cheyenne was first ordered by the trial court on April 17, 1996, to maintain a legal source of income, obtain adequate housing, attend therapy, and complete parenting classes; these provisions were repeatedly reordered over the course of these proceedings. Nonetheless, the evidence overwhelmingly demonstrated that by October 22, 1998, Cheyenne had not accomplished these basic goals, which are necessary for a parent to be able to provide for a child. With respect to employment, in the 2frac12; years between the initial rehabilitation order and the termination hearing, the evidence established that Cheyenne had been employed at two different jobs, both for only a few weeks, between her release from jail in Council Bluffs, Iowa, in December 1997 and her reincarceration in Arizona in April 1998. On one other occasion, Cheyenne obtained employment but never actually reported for work before she lost that job, again because she was arrested. At the time of the termination hearing, Cheyenne was without adequate housing because she was still in an Arizona correctional facility, and at no time during the pendency of these proceedings had she maintained a stable residence. The evidence further indicated that Cheyenne did not regularly attend therapy. Generally, her attendance was sporadic; she would attend therapy for a few weeks and then fail to attend for weeks at a time, often without contacting her therapist or the Department. Cheyenne also failed to complete a parenting class as she had been directed to do. Testifying over the telephone at the termination hearing, Cheyenne indicated that she had taken a parenting class in her Arizona jail and that her last class was to be the same day as the hearing. Even if true, this is hardly persuasive, given the 2frac12; years in which Cheyenne failed to complete such a class. Last-minute attempts by parents to comply with the rehabilitation plan do not prevent termination of parental rights. In re Interest of Tabitha J., 5 Neb.App. 609, 561 N.W.2d 252 (1997). See, also, Gomez v. Savage, 254 Neb. 836, 580 N.W.2d 523 (1998); In re Interest of V.M., 235 Neb. 724, 457 N.W.2d 288 (1990). Cheyenne was also provided by the trial court with the opportunity for supervised visitation. Although Cheyenne claims that she was denied visits by the Department and Kassara's foster parents, the evidence indicates that Cheyenne on many occasions failed to take advantage of the opportunity to visit. Cheyenne claims that her failure to demonstrate her intention and fitness to maintain her parental rights stems, in part, from her various instances of incarceration. It need hardly be said that this is far from a compelling excuse. Although incarceration alone is not a basis for termination of parental rights, we may note that Cheyenne's incarceration has contributed to her neglect of Kassara. See In re Interest of Joshua M. et al., 256 Neb. 596, 591 N.W.2d 557 (1999). This is not to say that any parent who is incarcerated will automatically have his or her parental rights terminated. These cases need to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and will always be based on the best interests of the child. Cheyenne claims, in particular, that she violated the terms of her Arizona parole because she feared that if she did not return to Nebraska, she would lose Kassara. Furthermore, Cheyenne claims that she returned to Arizona to finish her jail term because she was motivated by her desire to keep Kassara. It should be noted that Cheyenne's motivation and desire to be a parent are not at issue. The State is not required to show that noncompliance with a court-ordered rehabilitation plan is willful in order to prove that termination of parental rights should be ordered under § 43-292(6). In re Interest of Joshua M. et al., 251 Neb. 614, 558 N.W.2d 548 (1997). Instead, the evidence concerns Cheyenne's ability to be a parent. In any event, Cheyenne's fear of losing Kassara might justify seeking legal permission to leave Arizona to participate in the proceedings regarding Kassara. It does not justify Cheyenne's actions in illegally leaving Arizona in knowing violation of parole. Moreover, Cheyenne admitted that she lied to the Department upon her return to Nebraska, informing Hemphill that Cheyenne had legally left Arizona when Cheyenne knew that to be untrue. In short, the evidence presented at the termination hearing demonstrated, by clear and convincing evidence, that Cheyenne failed to comply with nearly every aspect of the court-ordered rehabilitation plan. The trial court did not err in so determining.