Opinion ID: 1612093
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Mother's Evidence

Text: The mother testified on her own behalf. Her testimony focused primarily upon her efforts at reunification with her children. She stated that she was not made aware of many of the case plans in her case. She understood that the goal of the court's orders was reunification of her family, and she therefore tried to comply with the orders. She obtained housing, obtained a legal income, began learning to read, and attended a domestic violence course on her own. She completed psychiatric evaluations that were requested of her and lined up her own doctors and therapists without assistance from DHHS. The mother testified that she requested family therapy and that she understood after her first meeting with McMahon that the children would be at the second meeting. When the children were not present at the second meeting, she informed McMahon that she already had an individual therapist and walked out. She testified that she never missed a visit with her children. She expressed concern about the manner in which DHHS transported the children to visits because Colette and Chelsea were not in car seats and Clifford was riding in the front seat of a car equipped with an airbag. The mother testified that she terminated her relationship with T.C. in 1995 and is willing to participate in family and individual therapy. She denied being informed that there was no point in attempting to comply with the other portions of the court's orders if she refused to admit the abuse. The mother testified that she has done everything asked of her by the court and DHHS. On cross-examination, the mother admitted that DHHS accepted all of the services she obtained on her own as a fulfillment of the court's orders and that DHHS paid for at least a portion of the services she obtained. She testified that she receives Social Security disability benefits probably for her mental health due to her depression and anxiety, but that raising three kids would not be stressful. She denied telling McMahon that she wanted to confront Clifford about why he was lying. She testified that she understood the family therapy was first to be individually and then with the family. She thought it was in the best interests of the children to be with her and that they could be treated with counseling. The mother stated that she needed the children to be made available by DHHS for family therapy. She further testified that she did not trust McMahon's diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder and that such diagnosis would have to be made in writing by someone she could trust. The mother testified that she has never admitted or denied Clifford's account of the alleged sexual abuse. She stated that criminal charges which were pending against her in 1995 had been dismissed. She testified that she does not understand why the State is seeking to terminate her parental rights and believes that it is in the best interests of her children to be with her. She requested 24-hour supervised visitation with her children.