Court Opinion

ID: 6332814
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-04-19 14:17:59.86229+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:23:22.902547
License: Public Domain

COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA

              Present: Chief Judge Decker, Judges Ortiz and Causey
UNPUBLISHED

              Argued at Fairfax, Virginia

              KEELEY REID
                                                                            MEMORANDUM OPINION* BY
              v.     Record No. 0985-21-4                                     JUDGE DANIEL E. ORTIZ
                                                                                  APRIL 12, 2022
              WARREN COUNTY DEPARTMENT
               OF SOCIAL SERVICES

                                    FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF WARREN COUNTY
                                            Dennis L. Hupp, Judge Designate

                               (Jason E. Ransom, on brief), for appellant. Appellant submitting on
                               brief.

                               Caitlin Jordan (Robert F. Beard; Sarah Orris, Guardian ad litem for
                               the minor child; Robert F. Beard, PLC; Orris Law Firm, on brief),
                               for appellee.

                    Keeley Reid (“mother”) appeals the termination of her parental rights with respect to her

              son (“J.P.”) by the Circuit Court of Warren County. On appeal, she argues the circuit court erred

              in terminating her parental rights under Code § 16.1-283(C)(2) because the Warren County

              Department of Social Services (“the Department”) did not show by clear and convincing

              evidence that it provided mother with reasonable services. Mother argues that because the

              Department failed to satisfy the statutory criteria, this Court should reverse the circuit court’s

              termination decision. However, because the record contains sufficient evidence to support the

              circuit court’s decision that the Department provided reasonable services under the particular

              circumstances, we affirm the termination of mother’s parental rights.

                     *
                         Pursuant to Code § 17.1-413, this opinion is not designated for publication.
                                          BACKGROUND1

       On May 8, 2020, thirty-one-year-old mother arrived at the Warren Memorial Hospital

emergency department in Front Royal, Virginia, with four-year-old J.P. Mother told the hospital

staff she had worms in her skin, hair, mouth, and nose and reported chest pain. She said she

feared J.P. also had worms. During mother’s examination, she repeatedly tried to show the

examining doctor the worms. The examining doctor did not find worms but observed track

marks and scabs on mother’s arm and suspected mother was delusional. Mother admitted to

hospital staff that she used methamphetamine and heroin in the days before coming to the

hospital. Hospital staff screened mother’s urine sample for drugs, and mother tested positive for

methamphetamine, opiates, and amphetamine. Hospital staff also noticed J.P. was still drinking

from a baby bottle and wearing diapers at four years old.

       Concerned for J.P.’s welfare, hospital staff contacted Child Protective Services. Family

Services Specialist Rachel Oden went to the hospital to investigate the situation. At the hospital,

Oden spoke with J.P.’s maternal grandfather, Walter Peacemaker, who drove mother and J.P. to

the hospital. Peacemaker said he would be able to care for J.P. if mother was admitted to the

hospital. When Oden spoke with mother about CPS’s involvement, mother admitted drug use.

During this conversation, mother became angry and was yelling and pacing around the room.

She left the hospital twice during the conversation and refused to sign a safety plan placing J.P.

with Peacemaker. Due to mother’s erratic behavior and refusal to sign the safety plan, the

       1
         The record in this case was sealed. Nevertheless, the appeal necessitates unsealing
relevant portions of the record to resolve the issues mother has raised. Evidence and factual
findings below that are necessary to address the assignments of error are included in this opinion.
Consequently, “[t]o the extent that this opinion mentions facts found in the sealed record, we
unseal only those specific facts, finding them relevant to the decision in this case. The remainder
of the previously sealed record remains sealed.” Levick v. MacDougall, 294 Va. 283, 288 n.1
(2017).
                                                 -2-
Department determined it could no longer place J.P. with Peacemaker. The Department assumed

emergency custody of J.P. that same day and placed him in a therapeutic foster home.

       On May 11, 2020, the Department filed a petition for removal and the juvenile and

domestic relations district court (“the JDR court”) granted the Department temporary custody of

J.P. in an emergency removal hearing. In the meantime, Family Services Specialist Ana Portillo

called three relatives mother gave the Department contact information for, but each relative was

unable to care for J.P. On May 15, 2020, the JDR court held a preliminary removal hearing, and

it again granted the Department custody of J.P. Also that day, Portillo met with mother to

complete a visitation plan and discuss information releases. The visitation plan allowed mother

weekly, supervised visits with J.P. as well as phone and FaceTime calls. Portillo summarized

this meeting in a letter to mother on May 19, 2020, and asked mother for contact information for

other possible relative placements.

       On June 4, 2020, Portillo administered a urine drug screen, and mother tested positive for

amphetamine, methamphetamine, and methadone. On June 10, 2020, Portillo sent relative letters

asking known relatives if they could provide help and support to mother and J.P. Meanwhile, on

May 26 and June 2, 2020, mother missed or was over ten minutes late to scheduled visitation

video calls with J.P.

       On June 12, 2020, the JDR court entered an adjudicatory order finding J.P. was abused or

neglected and ordered the Department to prepare a foster-care plan (“the plan”). On June 16,

2020, Portillo and mother worked together to prepare the plan. The plan’s goal was to return J.P.

home with a concurrent goal of relative placement. The plan required mother to avoid drug use,

submit to drug screens, complete evaluations to determine appropriate services, complete

background checks, sign information releases, and provide the Department with financial

information. Mother was also to prepare and follow a visitation plan consistently, obtain suitable

                                              -3-
accommodations, and attend and participate in all meetings regarding J.P., including Family

Assessment and Planning Team (“FAPT”) meetings. The plan required the Department to

provide drug screens, arrange visitation, invite mother to meetings, and pursue relative

placements. The plan stated if mother “wishes to receive substance abuse counseling or

treatment she will advise the [Department] foster care worker of her request in writing” and the

Department will consider the proper level of treatment. After they prepared the plan, mother

continued to miss or appear late to video calls with J.P. on June 16, July 7, July 14, and July 21,

2020.

        On July 2, 2020, the JDR court held a dispositional hearing and entered an order that

transferred custody of J.P. to the Department and approved the plan. On the Department’s

motion, the JDR court issued mother a three-ring binder, known as a “parent binder,” in which

she was to keep all documentation. She was ordered to bring the parent binder to all meetings.

After court, Portillo administered a drug test and mother again tested positive for

methamphetamine and methadone. Portillo and mother scheduled a follow-up appointment on

July 9, 2020, to review the plan and work on transitioning from virtual visitation to in-person

visitation.

        However, on July 9, 2020, a few minutes before the appointment, mother told Portillo she

could not make it because she did not have transportation. They rescheduled the appointment to

the next day, but mother canceled this appointment as well and told Portillo she would contact

her to reschedule. Mother did not do so. Instead, Portillo emailed and called mother again on

July 22, 2020, to reschedule and inform mother she scheduled a required parental capacity

evaluation for August 6, 2020. The Department would have used this evaluation to determine

the type and level of services a parent should receive. It would have included substance abuse

                                                -4-
and mental health components. Portillo could not reach mother but sent a letter confirming the

parental capacity evaluation appointment.

       On July 23, 2020, Portillo learned mother was arrested the day before for drug

possession. Due to mother’s incarceration, Portillo canceled the upcoming evaluation. Mother

signed a plea agreement related to both the July and other prior charges, was granted bond, and

was released on August 5, 2020. Pursuant to the plea agreement, mother was on supervised

probation for two years.

       Without the Department’s involvement, but compelled by her bond conditions, mother

then began an inpatient drug rehabilitation program at Bethany Hall in Roanoke, Virginia, where

she stayed until October 19, 2020. During this time, mother was drug tested weekly and

participated in therapy and Narcotics Anonymous (“NA”) meetings. While the Department

knew mother was in this program, Portillo stated she could not remember whether mother

informed the Department she was being drug tested. While mother was at Bethany Hall, Portillo

contacted mother again on September 2, 2020, to create another visitation plan. Mother had a

successful virtual visit with J.P. on September 10, 2020. However, she never visited J.P. again

because she missed visitation on September 17 and 24, 2020, and either failed to explain her

absence or cited internet connection issues.

       On October 14, 2020, Portillo called mother to discuss creating another new visitation

plan so mother could resume visitation after she missed visits. Mother told Portillo she would be

unable to resume visitation until she was settled into Carter House, a sober-living home in

Roanoke she would transition to after completion of the Bethany Hall program on October 19,

2020. Portillo asked mother to notify the Department when she could resume visits. On October

15, 2020, Portillo sent mother a letter summarizing the phone conversation and informing mother

                                               -5-
it was important for her to contact the Department when she was settled into Carter House so the

parental capacity evaluation could be rescheduled, and visitation could resume.

        On October 16, 2020, the JDR court held a foster care review hearing and entered an

order that continued the Department’s custody of J.P. Mother failed to appear at the hearing.

        Over the next month, the Department did not hear from mother until mother called

Portillo on November 22, 2020, and left a voicemail. Mother updated the Department on her

new address at Carter House, the NA meetings she was attending, and her work schedule. She

requested that visitation resume. On November 24, 2020, Portillo returned mother’s call and left

a voicemail. Portillo did not hear from mother until Portillo called mother again on December 2,

2020. During this conversation, mother said she did not get the prior voicemail because her

phone was turned off. Portillo explained to mother that she needed to complete the parental

capacity evaluation before visitation could resume. Portillo said mother told her she was still

taking NA classes at Carter House, but Portillo was unsure if mother was being drug tested at the

time.

        After this, mother sent Portillo updated contact information. On December 9, 2020,

Portillo sent mother an invite to a FAPT meeting. On December 7, 2020, Portillo sent mother

pictures for J.P.’s birthday, and mother did not respond. On the day of the FAPT meeting,

mother said she was unable to attend because she could not figure out how to log into the Zoom

meeting.

        Mother moved out of Carter House on January 5, 2021, but continued to reside in

Roanoke. Five days later, she was arrested for methamphetamine possession and a bond

violation when she was a passenger in a vehicle that had a pipe with residue in the back seat.

Mother claimed the pipe did not belong to her, and she was unaware it was in the vehicle. An

investigator also found a syringe in mother’s purse. After mother’s arrest, she was denied bond

                                               -6-
by a magistrate, and her attorney refused to file for bond with the court because mother was

already released on bond for her earlier charges. Mother remained incarcerated until July 22,

2021, when the charge was dismissed. While incarcerated, she participated in parenting and

substance abuse classes but had no contact with the Department. After mother’s release, she

lived with a substance abuse counselor in his home in Roanoke and regained employment.

       Meanwhile, Portillo learned of mother’s arrest and incarceration in mid-January. While

mother was incarcerated, Portillo prepared a new foster-care service plan (“the new plan”) on

January 25, 2021. The new plan changed the goal from reunification or relative placement to

adoption because mother “ha[d] made minimal progress completing the responsibilities listed on

the plan.” The new plan did not pursue relative placement because known relatives, including

Peacemaker, were unwilling or unable to care for J.P.

       On January 27, 2021, the Department filed a petition for a permanency planning hearing

with the new plan, requesting that the JDR court change the permanent goal from return home to

adoption. On March 23, 2021, the Department filed a petition requesting the JDR court

terminate mother’s parental rights to J.P. The JDR court held a permanency planning and

termination of parental rights hearing on April 23, 2021. After hearing the evidence, the JDR

court terminated mother’s parental rights under Code § 16.1-283(C) and approved the goal of

adoption. Mother then appealed to the circuit court.

       The circuit court heard the appeal on September 7, 2021. After hearing testimony and

receiving evidence, the circuit court found by clear and convincing evidence it would be in J.P.’s

best interests to terminate mother’s parental rights. The circuit court noted J.P. had been in

foster care for sixteen months and was doing very well in a stable home. The circuit court then

found by clear and convincing evidence mother had been unable or unwilling to remedy

substantially the conditions that led to removal. Although the circuit court acknowledged

                                                -7-
mother’s progress, it was concerned by mother’s “track record.” Specifically, the circuit court

pointed to mother’s drug use and arrests when she was not in confinement or a controlled

environment, her inconsistent contact with J.P. and the Department, and her lack of stability due

to her probation conditions and lack of suitable housing. The circuit court also found the

Department had offered mother services and worked with mother on the plan to return J.P. home,

but mother failed to meet “a number of the terms of that agreement.” The circuit court then

terminated mother’s parental rights under Code § 16.1-283(C)(2) and approved the goal of

adoption. This appeal followed.

                                            ANALYSIS

       The trial court has “broad discretion in making the decisions necessary to guard and to

foster a child’s best interests.” Farley v. Farley, 9 Va. App. 326, 328 (1990). Upon review of a

termination decision, this Court presumes the trial court “thoroughly weighed all the evidence,

considered the statutory requirements, and made its determination based on the child’s best

interests.” Fields v. Dinwiddie Cnty. Dep’t of Soc. Servs., 46 Va. App. 1, 7 (2005) (quoting

Farley, 9 Va. App. at 329). Given this, we will not disturb a trial court’s judgment based on

evidence heard ore tenus “unless plainly wrong or without evidence to support it.” Id. (quoting

Logan v. Fairfax Cnty. Dep’t of Hum. Dev., 13 Va. App. 123, 128 (1991)). When reviewing

termination decisions, “we view the evidence in the light most favorable to the prevailing party

below.” Harrison v. Tazewell Cnty. Dep’t of Soc. Servs., 42 Va. App. 149, 151 (2004).

   A. A Department Must Make Reasonable and Appropriate Efforts to Assist Mother Under
                               Code § 16.1-283(C)(2).

       On appeal, mother alleges the Department provided insufficient services to assist her in

remedying the conditions that led to J.P.’s removal, specifically her substance abuse problems.

She argues Code § 16.1-283(C)(2) contemplates more than advising a parent she can request

substance abuse services in writing. Mother does not argue termination is not in the child’s best
                                               -8-
interests and admits that she needed more time, and the Department’s proper assistance, to

remedy substantially the conditions that led to removal.

       Under Code § 16.1-283(C)(2), a court may terminate residual parental rights when it

finds based on clear and convincing evidence that (1) termination is in the child’s best interests

and (2) the parent was unwilling or unable to remedy substantially the conditions that led to

removal within a reasonable period of time not to exceed twelve months. Additionally,

termination is only appropriate under Code § 16.1-283(C)(2) when a department shows by clear

and convincing evidence that a parent was provided with “reasonable and appropriate efforts of

social, medical, mental health or other rehabilitative agencies” to remedy the conditions that led

to a child’s foster care placement.

       Whether a department made reasonable and appropriate efforts depends on “the

circumstances of a particular case.” Harrison, 42 Va. App. at 163 (quoting Ferguson v. Stafford

Cnty. Dep’t of Soc. Servs., 14 Va. App. 333, 338 (1992)). Therefore, a court must necessarily

determine whether sufficient efforts are made based on “the facts before the court.” Id. (quoting

Ferguson, 14 Va. App. at 339).

       In its efforts, a department is “not required to force its services upon an unwilling or

disinterested parent.” Tackett v. Arlington Cnty. Dep’t of Hum. Servs., 62 Va. App. 296, 323

(2013) (quoting Harris v. Lynchburg Div. of Soc. Servs., 223 Va. 235, 243 (1982)). Further, a

department has no obligation to offer services to a parent who is incarcerated. Harrison, 42

Va. App. at 163-64 (holding it would be “patently unreasonable” to require a department to offer

services to a parent who is in long-term custody). This Court in Harrison stated this rule exists

because a parent’s long-term custody leaves a department “no avenue” to offer services aimed at

reuniting that parent with a child. Id. at 164. However, a parent held in pre-conviction

incarceration may be entitled to reasonable services under the circumstances before a department

                                                -9-
changes the goal to adoption. See Cain v. Commonwealth ex rel. Dep’t of Soc. Servs. for City of

Roanoke, 12 Va. App. 42, 45-46 (1991) (reversing the trial court’s termination of parental rights

when the department did not contact a parent while she was held in pre-conviction incarceration

for most of the time between removal and the department’s change-of-goal to adoption). This

Court in Cain reasoned that unlike a case of post-conviction incarceration, a parent who is

awaiting trial will not necessarily be incarcerated thereafter and made unavailable for

rehabilitative services. See id. at 46.

 B. The Circuit Court Did Not Err in Terminating Mother’s Parental Rights when There Was
Sufficient Evidence the Department Made Reasonable and Appropriate Efforts to Assist Mother.

        Here, the circuit court found termination was in J.P.’s best interests and mother failed to

remedy the conditions that led to removal notwithstanding the Department’s reasonable and

appropriate efforts to assist her. Despite mother’s argument, we find the record supports a

finding by clear and convincing evidence that the Department made reasonable and appropriate

efforts to assist mother. In the over eight months between removal and the Department’s

change-of-goal to adoption in late January 2021, Portillo attempted to maintain contact with

mother even though mother was either incarcerated or irregularly responsive. In the months

before Portillo prepared the new plan, she contacted mother by telephone and mail to urge her to

comply with the plan, maintain consistent visitation with J.P., complete a parental capacity

evaluation, and attend meetings regarding J.P. Despite these efforts, mother did not meet the

plan’s requirements and did not reciprocate contact with the Department as she was incarcerated

or transitioning to different living situations. While mother sometimes explained her absences,

other times she did not.

        Even though the record shows evidence of mother’s improvement in controlled living

environments at various times over the eight months, mother did not fully communicate this

improvement to the Department or meet the plan’s specific requirements. And although the
                                               - 10 -
record shows evidence of mother’s improvement beyond the twelve-month period, mother’s

various transitions presented a barrier to her receiving the Department’s offered services, such as

scheduled visitation with J.P., within the relevant time period.

       Unlike the facts of Cain, mother was not in jail for most of the time between removal and

the Department’s change-of-goal to adoption without the Department contacting her to offer

suggestions for rehabilitation. Mother was in jail from July 22, 2020, to August 5, 2020, and

January 10, 2021, through termination on April 23, 2021. Before and in between mother’s

incarcerations, Portillo met with mother and contacted her multiple times to urge her to comply

with the plan’s requirements. Portillo particularly urged mother to complete a parental capacity

evaluation that contained a substance abuse component. Additionally, the plan that mother and

Portillo reviewed together on June 16, 2020, required mother to submit to drug testing and stated

mother needed to request substance abuse services in writing. While requiring a parent

struggling with substance abuse issues to request services in writing may not be the most

effective method of assistance, the Department informed mother of this treatment option and was

not required to force substance abuse services on mother.2 Under these circumstances, we find

the record supports the circuit court’s determination the Department made reasonable and

appropriate efforts to assist mother in the months between removal and its change-of-goal to

adoption.

       2
          Aside from Portillo’s continued attempts to schedule the parental capacity evaluation,
the record contains no evidence the Department encouraged mother to take advantage of
substance abuse services, even though it knew mother had drug problems. While the Department
is not required to force substance abuse services on a disinterested parent, it surely could offer
more proactive facilitation of these services, beyond the uniform substance abuse services
language contained in the plan, to parents facing these issues.
                                                - 11 -
                                           CONCLUSION

       The circuit court did not err in finding the Department made reasonable and appropriate

efforts to assist mother as required by Code § 16.1-283(C)(2). Therefore, the circuit court did not

err in terminating mother’s parental rights. For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the circuit

court’s decision.

                                                                                          Affirmed.

                                               - 12 -