Opinion ID: 889757
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Termination of J.A.'s Parental Rights.

Text: ¶ 19 The Department petitioned for termination of Father's and Mother's parental rights in June 2010. R.M.T. had been in the Department's custody for almost two years. Gradney alleged that both parents had failed to comply with their treatment plans. Father had not maintained regular contact with R.M.T. or Gradney. The court held the hearing on the Department's petition on August 31, 2010, and September 3, 2010. Father traveled from Vermont to attend the hearing. ¶ 20 In the meantime R.M.T. had moved to Havre to live with Hellebusts. R.M.T. wanted to remain with Hellebusts. R.M.T. informed the court that he did not care whether the court terminated Father's parental rights. R.M.T. told the court that he had seen Father only once in the past two years. R.M.T. requested, however, that the Department allow him to continue to develop a relationship with Father. Father agreed that R.M.T. should continue to live with Hellebusts. ¶ 21 Father admitted at the hearing that he had not completed his treatment plan. Father claimed that he had problems accessing his treatment plan. The Department confirmed, however, that Father received a copy of the plan in April of 2009 shortly after he had requested it from his counsel. Gradney and a social worker in Vermont both discussed the treatment plan with Father. Father also discussed the treatment plan with a counselor in Vermont. Father understood the treatment plan. Father admitted that he had decided to take a better look at [the] treatment plan about two to three weeks before the termination hearing. ¶ 22 Father ultimately failed to complete many of the tasks on his treatment plan. VDCF reported that Father had not maintained an adequate home. Father testified at the termination hearing that he had obtained permanent housing with his girlfriend and her children since VDCF had filed its report. The District Court stated in its oral ruling that Father had completed this part of the plan's first goal that required him to provide a stable home. This goal also required Father, however, to maintain a home free of alcohol. The court did not have enough information to determine whether Father's home remained alcohol free. ¶ 23 The plan's second goal required Father to attend age-appropriate parenting classes. Father attended no parenting classes. This goal also required Father to develop a relationship with R.M.T. Gradney testified that Father had not satisfied this task. Gradney expressed concerns about Father's commitment to R.M.T. Father testified that he had gone to great lengths to build a relationship with R.M.T. Father highlighted the fact that he had traveled from Vermont to Montana on two separate occasions despite his limited budget. Father purchased a cell phone for R.M.T. the week before the termination hearing in order to make it easier to communicate. The court considered the telephone calls, however, a long way from making best efforts to develop a relationship. ¶ 24 The plan's next goal required Father to call Gradney monthly to discuss his progress on the treatment plan. Father had not complied with this task. Father did not return Gradney's phone calls. Father offered no explanation as to why he had failed to communicate with Gradney. Finally, the plan's final goal required Father to write a personal history. Father failed to write a history. The court noted the relatively simple nature of this task. ¶ 25 The court recognized that Father's piecemeal attempts to comply with his treatment plan failed to reach the level necessary to complete his treatment plan. The court determined that the termination of Father's parental rights was in R.M.T.'s best interest. The court terminated both Father's and Mother's parental rights. Father appeals.