Court Opinion

ID: 9943476
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-02-23 17:04:12.548767+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:47:04.055171
License: Public Domain

NOTICE: This order was filed under Supreme Court Rule 23 and may not be cited as
           precedent by any party except in the limited circumstances allowed under Rule 23(e)(1).

                                      2024 IL App (3d) 230501-U

                                Order filed February 23, 2024
     ____________________________________________________________________________

                                                IN THE

                                 APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS

                                           THIRD DISTRICT

                                                  2024

     In re K.W.,                            )     Appeal from the Circuit Court
                                            )     of the 12th Judicial Circuit,
             A Minor                        )     Will County, Illinois.
                                            )
     (The People of the State of Illinois,  )
                                            )     Appeal No. 3-23-0501
             Petitioner-Appellee,           )     Circuit No. 19-JA-164
                                            )
             v.                             )
                                            )
     Perrisha E.,                           )     The Honorable
                                            )     Paula A. Gomora,
             Respondent-Appellant).         )     Judge, Presiding.
     ________________________________________________________________________

           JUSTICE HETTEL delivered the judgment of the court.
           Justices Albrecht and Davenport concurred in the judgment.
     ____________________________________________________________________________

                                               ORDER

¶1         Held: Circuit court’s finding that mother was unfit for failing to make reasonable
                 progress toward the return of her child was not against the manifest weight of the
                 evidence where mother, despite occasionally visiting child, completed no services
                 during the relevant nine-month period.
¶2          Respondent, Perrisha E., is the mother of K.W. The trial court entered an order finding her

     unfit and terminating her parental rights to K.W. She contends that the evidence failed to establish

     that she was unfit. We affirm.

¶3                                           I. BACKGROUND

¶4          On October 2, 2019, when K.W. was eight days old, the State filed a petition alleging that

     K.W. was neglected in that his environment was injurious to his welfare because “a) the minor's

     siblings are wards of court and there are petitions to terminate parental rights pending; b) father is

     a registered sexual offender; [and] c) mother has not completed services as to her other children

     ***.” The State requested that K.W. be made a ward of the court.

¶5          A shelter care hearing was held on October 3, 2019. At that hearing, respondent stipulated

     there was probable cause to believe K.W. was neglected due to an injurious environment. The

     circuit court found an immediate and emergent need for K.W. to be placed in shelter care because

     “minor’s siblings are in care due to unexplained injuries to other minors for which [their father]

     pleaded guilty.” The court placed K.W. in the temporary custody of the Illinois Department of

     Children and Family Services (DCFS) with the right to place. The circuit court advised respondent

     that she must cooperate with DCFS, comply with the terms of the service plans, and correct the

     conditions which required K.W. to be in care, or risk the termination of her parental rights.

¶6          On February 3, 2020, an adjudicatory hearing was held. At that hearing, the court found

     K.W. was neglected in that his environment was injurious to his welfare. The factual basis for the

     court’s finding was as follows: “minor’s siblings are wards of court, minor is an infant who cannot

     protect himself. Mother remains dispositionally unfit in 16 JA 118 and 17 JA 115. Father has not

     obtained custody rights as to the minor.” The circuit court admonished respondent that she must

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     cooperate with DCFS, comply with the terms of the service plans, and correct the conditions which

     required K.W. to be in care, or risk the termination of her parental rights.

¶7             On March 10, 2020, the circuit court held a dispositional hearing. At that hearing, the State

     submitted the caseworker’s report and service plan to the court as evidence. The State requested

     that K.W. be made a ward of the court because respondent had not completed services.

     Respondent’s counsel argued that K.W. should be returned to respondent because she was visiting

     K.W. and “doing everything right during the visits.” The trial court entered a written dispositional

     order finding respondent unfit for failure to complete services. Again, the court admonished

     respondent that she must cooperate with DCFS, comply with the terms of the service plans, and

     correct the conditions which required K.W. to be in care, or risk the termination of her parental

     rights.

¶8             On September 1, 2020, the court held a permanency hearing. At that hearing, counsel

     informed the court that respondent was regularly visiting K.W. and showing some effort. The State

     argued that while services had been referred, respondent had not completed any of her required

     services. The court found respondent had not made reasonable progress or efforts to follow the

     service plan and achieve the goal of K.W. returning home.

¶9             Respondent did not appear for the permanency review hearing on March 23, 2021. On

     April 19, 2021, respondent’s attorney filed a motion to withdraw, asserting that respondent was no

     longer communicating with her. On June 14, 2021, at a hearing on the motion, respondent’s

     counsel stated that she had not heard from respondent in over a year. Counsel filed another motion

     to withdraw on July 21, 2021. On August 30, 2021, the trial court granted counsel’s motion to

     withdraw.

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¶ 10          On April 19, 2022, the State filed a motion to terminate respondent’s parental rights. On

       May 17, 2022, respondent did not appear in court for the hearing on the State’s petition, so the

       circuit court entered an order of default against her.

¶ 11          Respondent appeared in court on September 8, 2022. At that time, the court advised

       respondent that an order of default had been entered against her. Respondent appeared in court

       again on October 7, 2022. The court again advised respondent that a default order had been entered

       against her and that no motion to vacate that order had been filed. The court refused to vacate the

       default judgment and proceeded on the hearing to terminate parental rights. Following the hearing,

       the court found respondent unfit. The matter proceeded to a best interest hearing where the court

       found it was in K.W.’s best interest for his parents’ rights to be terminated and for him to remain

       with his current caregivers.

¶ 12          On October 13, 2022, respondent filed a motion stating she wanted to work to get K.W.

       back. The circuit court treated the motion as a notice of appeal. On appeal, respondent argued that

       the trial court erred in allowing her counsel to withdraw and failing to appoint her new counsel

       prior to the termination hearing. We agreed that the trial court erred in failing to appoint new

       counsel for respondent when she appeared in court on September 8, 2022. See In re K.W., 2023 IL

       App (3d) 220425-U, ¶ 2. We, therefore, reversed the trial court’s termination order and remanded

       the case to the trial court for the reappointment of counsel to represent respondent in termination

       proceedings. Id. ¶¶ 36, 38.

¶ 13          On May 4, 2023, the circuit court appointed counsel to represent respondent. On July 17,

       2023, the State filed an amended motion to terminate parental rights. That motion alleged, in part,

       that respondent “failed to make reasonable progress towards the return of the Child to such parent

       within 9 months after the adjudication of neglected or abused minor Child under Section 2-3 of

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       the Juvenile Court Act, 1987, or dependent minor under Section 2-4 of that Act, pursuant to 750

       ILCS 50/1D, that period beginning on May 6, 2021 to the present.”

¶ 14          On August 25, 2023, the court held a hearing on the State’s motion to terminate. At that

       hearing, the court took judicial notice of the orders it entered terminating respondent’s parental

       rights to K.W.’s siblings.

¶ 15          Devin Dittrich, director of programs for foster care services at One Hope United, testified

       that K.W.’s case was opened in September 2019. Dittrich testified that K.W. came into care at

       birth because his two siblings were in care and K.W. tested positive for marijuana when he was

       born. Dittrich was familiar with K.W.’s case because she directly supervised the case from October

       2019 to December 2020 and again from January 2022 through May 2022.

¶ 16          Dittrich testified that respondent completed an integrated assessment. As a result of that

       assessment, the services recommended for respondent included individual counseling, parenting

       classes, domestic violence counseling, a substance abuse assessment and a psychological

       assessment. From January 1, 2022 to May 2022, respondent did not attend any individual or

       domestic violence counseling sessions, parenting classes or substance abuse treatment. She also

       did not obtain a substance abuse assessment or psychological assessment during that time period.

¶ 17          Prior to January 1, 2022, respondent attended some counseling sessions but was

       “discharged unsuccessfully because of poor attendance.” Prior to January 1, 2022, respondent

       attended four parenting classes. Prior to January 1, 2022, respondent did not obtain a substance

       abuse or psychological assessment. During the times Dittrich supervised K.W.’s case, the service

       plan recommendations for respondent did not change.

¶ 18          Dittrich testified that respondent has “maintained a relationship” with K.W. by visiting

       him, but Dittrich did not believe respondent visited K.W. consistently and thought there were

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       periods when respondent did not visit K.W. at all. Respondent’s visits with K.W. were always

       supervised. Dittrich testified that for a child to be returned home, visits needed to be consistent

       and at least weekly, which respondent never achieved. Dittrich testified that respondent “didn’t

       successfully complete services” and failed to show an active interest in K.W. On cross-

       examination, Dittrich admitted that respondent visited K.W. at least twice a month from May 2021

       to January 2022.

¶ 19          India Jones, a supervisor at One Hope United, became supervisor of K.W.’s case in May

       2022 and was still supervising the case at the time of the hearing. Jones testified that according to

       respondent’s integrated assessment, respondent was supposed to engage in individual therapy and

       parenting classes. From May 2022 to the date of the hearing, respondent did not engage in

       individual therapy or complete any parenting classes. Jones also testified that respondent was

       supposed to complete domestic violence victim classes and obtain a psychological assessment.

       From May 2022 to October 7, 2022, respondent did not complete a substance abuse assessment,

       participate in domestic violence victim classes or obtain a psychological assessment.

¶ 20          Jones testified that respondent visited K.W. while she was supervisor, but she did not

       remember when or how often. Aside from visitation, Jones was unaware of any attempts by

       respondent to communicate with K.W. or give him gifts.

¶ 21          On September 8, 2023, the trial court entered an order finding that respondent was unfit by

       clear and convincing evidence because “she failed to make reasonable progress toward the return

       of the child to such parent *** during any 9 month period after the initial 9 months period as

       specified in the motion to terminate parental rights said time period being February 7, 2022 through

       November 7, 2022.” Thereafter, the court held a best interest hearing and determined it was in

       K.W.’s best interest to terminate respondent’s parental rights.

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¶ 22                                              II. ANALYSIS

¶ 23          Respondent appeals only the trial court’s finding of unfitness. She argues that the State

       failed to prove that she was unfit by clear and convincing evidence because the State did not

       introduce service plans into evidence and she visited K.W. during the relevant nine-month period.

¶ 24          The involuntary termination of parental rights is governed by the Juvenile Court Act of

       1987 (705 ILCS 405/1-1 et seq. (West 2022)), and the Adoption Act (750 ILCS 50/1 et seq. (West

       2022)). In re D.F., 201 Ill. 2d 476, 494 (2002). It involves a two-step process. Id. First, the State

       must prove by clear and convincing that a respondent is an unfit parent, as that term is defined in

       section 1(D) of the Adoption Act (750 ILCS 50/1(D) (West 2022)). In re D.F., 201 Ill. 2d at 494-

       95. Second, if the court makes such a finding, it must determine if it is in the best interests of the

       child that parental rights be terminated. Id. at 495.

¶ 25          Under section 1(D)(m)(ii) of the Adoption Act, a parent may be found unfit when there is

       a “[f]ailure by a parent * * * to make reasonable progress toward the return of the child to the

       parent during any 9-month period following the adjudication of neglected or abused minor under

       Section 2-3 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 or dependent minor under Section 2-4 of that Act.”

       750 ILCS 50/1(D)(m)(ii) (West 2022). Section 1(D)(m)(ii) further provides:

               “If a service plan has been established *** to correct the conditions that were the basis for

              the removal of the child from the parent and if those services were available, then, for

              purposes of this Act, ‘failure to make reasonable progress toward the return of the child to

              the parent’ includes the parent’s failure to substantially fulfill his or her obligations under

              the service plan and correct the conditions that brought the child into care during any 9-

              month period following the adjudication under Section 2-3 or 2-4 of the Juvenile Court Act

              of 1987.” Id.

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       A witness who has direct knowledge about a respondent’s service plans may testify about the

       contents of those plans, including what services the respondent did or did not complete. See In re

       D.D., 2022 IL App (4th) 220257, ¶¶ 44-45; In re Z.J., 2020 IL App (2d) 190824, ¶¶ 63-64.

¶ 26          Whether a parent has made reasonable progress “is judged by an objective standard based

       upon the amount of progress measured from the conditions existing at the time custody was taken

       from the parent.” In re Daphnie E., 368 Ill. App. 3d 1052, 1067 (2006). “At a minimum, reasonable

       progress requires measurable or demonstrable movement toward the goal of reunification.” Id.

       “Reasonable progress exists when the trial court can conclude that it will be able to order the child

       returned to parental custody in the near future.” Id.

¶ 27          A parent’s failure to complete recommended services supports a finding that the parent

       failed to make reasonable progress. See In re Ta. T., 2021 IL App (4th) 200658, ¶ 53. In

       determining if a parent is unfit based on a lack of reasonable progress, the court may only consider

       evidence from the relevant time period. In re D.D., 2022 IL App (4th) 220257, ¶ 39.

¶ 28          We afford great deference to a trial court's finding of unfitness because the trial court is in

       the best position to view and evaluate the parties and their testimony. In re Je. A., 2019 IL App

       (1st) 190467, ¶ 46. As a result, we will not reverse a trial court’s finding of unfitness unless it was

       against the manifest weight of the evidence. Id. A decision is against the manifest weight of the

       evidence where the opposite result is clearly evident. Id.

¶ 29           Here, Dittrich and Jones, the two supervisors of K.W.’s case during the relevant time

       period of February 7, 2022, to November 7, 2022, testified to the services respondent was to

       complete. Those services included parenting classes, domestic violence classes, individual

       counseling, a psychological assessment and a substance abuse assessment. Both Dittrich and Jones

       testified that defendant failed to complete any of the required services during the relevant nine-

                                                         8
       month period. That testimony was sufficient to support the trial court’s determination that

       respondent failed to make reasonable progress toward the return of K.W. from February 7, 2022,

       to November 7, 2022. See In re D.D., 2022 IL App (4th) 220257, ¶¶ 43-46 (finding that even

       without considering service plans themselves, “the State provided ample evidence to establish

       respondent’s unfitness” through case supervisor’s testimony about the respondent’s participation

       in services); see also In re Ta. T., 2021 IL App (4th) 200658, ¶¶ 25, 53 (State’s presentation of

       testimony from caseworker that mother failed to complete services was sufficient to support trial

       court’s finding of unfitness based on failure to make reasonable progress).

¶ 30          Respondent, however, contends that the trial court’s finding was against the manifest

       weight of the evidence because she maintained a relationship with K.W. by visiting him. While

       Dittrich and Jones testified that respondent visited K.W. during the relevant time period, Dittrich

       described respondent’s visitation with K.W. as inconsistent and insufficient to support a

       recommendation that K.W. return to respondent’s custody.

¶ 31           “Ultimately, the trial court’s ability to return the child[] to a parent’s care in the near future

       is the lodestar of whether a parent has made reasonable progress.” In re Ta. T., 2021 IL App (4th)

       200658, ¶ 55. “[W]hen the State is able to prove, by clear and convincing evidence, that the court

       will not be able to return the child home in the near future, despite ample time and opportunity for

       compliance with the court’s directives, then a finding of unfitness is appropriate.” Id. A parent’s

       visitation with her child is not enough to establish reasonable progress where the parent fails to

       complete other tasks required by the service plan and the court. See In re A.S., 2014 IL App (3d)

       140060, ¶¶ 18-19.

¶ 32          In this case, other than some visits with K.W., respondent did nothing during the relevant

       nine-month period to progress toward the goal of K.W. returning to her care. Based on the evidence

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       presented, the trial court’s determination that respondent was unfit was not against the manifest

       weight of the evidence.

¶ 33                                         III. CONCLUSION

¶ 34          The judgment of the circuit court of Will County is affirmed.

¶ 35          Affirmed.

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