Court Opinion

ID: 2698550
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-04 17:51:55.667406+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:14:07.435448
License: Public Domain

[Cite as In re S.H., 2013-Ohio-4441.]

                                        COURT OF APPEALS
                                       KNOX COUNTY, OHIO
                                    FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

IN THE MATTER OF:                            :       JUDGES:
                                             :       Hon. Sheila G. Farmer, P.J.
S.H. (MINOR CHILD)                           :       Hon. Patricia A. Delaney, J.
                                             :       Hon. Craig R. Baldwin
                                             :
                                             :       Case No. 13CA17
                                             :
                                             :       OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING:                             Appeal from the Court of Common
                                                     Pleas, Juvenile Division, Case No.
                                                     2112001

JUDGMENT:                                            Affirmed

DATE OF JUDGMENT:                                    October 7, 2013

APPEARANCES:

For Appellant                                        For Appellee

JOHN A. DANKOVICH                                    MICHAEL D. SCHLEMMER
One Public Square                                    117 East High Street
Mount Vernon, OH 43050                               3rd Floor
                                                     Mount Vernon, OH 43050
Knox County, Case No. 13CA17                                                       2

Farmer, P.J.

      {¶1}     On January 3, 2011, appellee, the Knox County Department of Job &

Family Services, filed a complaint for temporary custody of S.H. born May 13, 2010,

alleging the child to be neglected and dependent. Mother of the child is appellant,

Rebecca Johnson; father is Jeremy Hayes.         An adjudicatory hearing was held on

March 22, 2011 wherein the parents admitted to dependency. The trial court found the

child to be dependent and granted temporary custody to appellee. The determination

was journalized via judgment entry filed April 11, 2011.

      {¶2}     On December 6, 2012, appellee filed a motion for permanent custody of

the child based upon the parents' failure to comply with the case plan. A hearing

commenced on April 4, 2013.       By journal entry filed June 7, 2013, the trial court

granted permanent custody of the child to appellee.

      {¶3}     Appellant filed an appeal and this matter is now before this court for

consideration. Assignments of error are as follows:

                                            I

      {¶4}     "THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN FINDING REASONABLE EFFORTS

WERE MADE TOWARD REUNIFICATION."

                                            II

      {¶5}     "THE   JUDGMENT      OF   THE     TRIAL     COURT   THAT   THE   BEST

INTERESTS OF THE CHILD S.H. WOULD BE SERVED BY GRANTING

PERMANENT         CUSTODY      WAS    AGAINST      THE     MANIFEST   WEIGHT     AND

SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE."
Knox County, Case No. 13CA17                                                          3

                                             I, II

      {¶6}   Appellant claims the trial court erred in finding reasonable efforts toward

reunification were made, and permanent custody was in the best interest of the child.

We disagree.

      {¶7}   A trial court may grant an agency permanent custody of a child upon clear

and convincing evidence of certain factors set forth in R.C. 2151.414.         Clear and

convincing evidence is that evidence "which will provide in the mind of the trier of facts

a firm belief or conviction as to the facts sought to be established." Cross v. Ledford,

161 Ohio St. 469 (1954), paragraph three of the syllabus. See also, In re Adoption of

Holcomb, 18 Ohio St.3d 361 (1985). "Where the degree of proof required to sustain an

issue must be clear and convincing, a reviewing court will examine the record to

determine whether the trier of facts had sufficient evidence before it to satisfy the

requisite degree of proof." Cross, at 477.

      {¶8}   R.C. 2151.414(E) sets out the factors relevant to determining permanent

custody. Said section states the following in pertinent part:

             (E) In determining at a hearing held pursuant to division (A) of this

      section or for the purposes of division (A)(4) of section 2151.353 of the

      Revised Code whether a child cannot be placed with either parent within a

      reasonable period of time or should not be placed with the parents, the

      court shall consider all relevant evidence. If the court determines, by clear

      and convincing evidence, at a hearing held pursuant to division (A) of this

      section or for the purposes of division (A)(4) of section 2151.353 of the
Knox County, Case No. 13CA17                                                         4

     Revised Code that one or more of the following exist as to each of the

     child's parents, the court shall enter a finding that the child cannot be

     placed with either parent within a reasonable time or should not be placed

     with either parent:

            (1) Following the placement of the child outside the child's home

     and notwithstanding reasonable case planning and diligent efforts by the

     agency to assist the parents to remedy the problems that initially caused

     the child to be placed outside the home, the parent has failed continuously

     and repeatedly to substantially remedy the conditions causing the child to

     be placed outside the child's home. In determining whether the parents

     have substantially remedied those conditions, the court shall consider

     parental utilization of medical, psychiatric, psychological, and other social

     and rehabilitative services and material resources that were made

     available to the parents for the purpose of changing parental conduct to

     allow them to resume and maintain parental duties.

            (4) The parent has demonstrated a lack of commitment toward the

     child by failing to regularly support, visit, or communicate with the child

     when able to do so, or by other actions showing an unwillingness to

     provide an adequate permanent home for the child;

            (16) Any other factor the court considers relevant.

     {¶9}   R.C. 2151.414(B)(1)(d) states the following:
Knox County, Case No. 13CA17                                                             5

               (B)(1) Except as provided in division (B)(2) of this section, the court

      may grant permanent custody of a child to a movant if the court

      determines at the hearing held pursuant to division (A) of this section, by

      clear and convincing evidence, that it is in the best interest of the child to

      grant permanent custody of the child to the agency that filed the motion for

      permanent custody and that any of the following apply:

               (d) The child has been in the temporary custody of one or more

      public children services agencies or private child placing agencies for

      twelve or more months of a consecutive twenty-two-month period, or the

      child has been in the temporary custody of one or more public children

      services agencies or private child placing agencies for twelve or more

      months of a consecutive twenty-two-month period and, as described in

      division (D)(1) of section 2151.413 of the Revised Code, the child was

      previously in the temporary custody of an equivalent agency in another

      state.

      {¶10} R.C. 2151.414(D) sets out the factors relevant to determining the best

interests of the child. Said section states relevant factors include, but are not limited to,

the following:

               (a) The interaction and interrelationship of the child with the child's

      parents, siblings, relatives, foster caregivers and out-of-home providers,

      and any other person who may significantly affect the child;
Knox County, Case No. 13CA17                                                            6

             (b) The wishes of the child, as expressed directly by the child or

      through the child's guardian ad litem, with due regard for the maturity of

      the child;

             (c) The custodial history of the child, including whether the child has

      been in the temporary custody of one or more public children services

      agencies or private child placing agencies for twelve or more months of a

      consecutive twenty-two-month period, or the child has been in the

      temporary custody of one or more public children services agencies or

      private child placing agencies for twelve or more months of a consecutive

      twenty-two-month period and, as described in division (D)(1) of section

      2151.413 of the Revised Code, the child was previously in the temporary

      custody of an equivalent agency in another state;

             (d) The child's need for a legally secure permanent placement and

      whether that type of placement can be achieved without a grant of

      permanent custody to the agency;

             (e) Whether any of the factors in divisions (E)(7) to (11) of this

      section apply in relation to the parents and child.

      {¶11} In its journal entry filed June 7, 2013, the trial court specifically found, "by

clear and convincing evidence that in spite of reasonable case planning and diligent

efforts by CSU/KCDJFS, this child cannot be safely returned to either of her parents at

this time or in the foreseeable future." The trial court further found the child had been

in appellee's temporary custody "for the past two years. This far exceeds the statutory
Knox County, Case No. 13CA17                                                         7

standard for granting motions for permanent custody, which is 12 months out of a

consecutive 22 month period."      This court has adopted the position that proof of

temporary custody with an agency for twelve or more months of a consecutive twenty-

two-month period alone is sufficient to award permanent custody. In the Matter of A.S.,

V.S., and Z.S., 5th Dist. Delaware No. 13 CAF 050040, 2013-Ohio-4018.

      {¶12} The pertinent period of time in consideration is May 13, 2010 (birth of the

child) to December 6, 2012 (filing of the motion for permanent custody). The trial court

found the child was placed in appellee's temporary custody on March 22, 2011. The

permanent custody motion was filed almost twenty-one months later on December 6,

2012. Therefore, R.C. 2151.414(B)(1)(d) has been met.

      {¶13} Appellee formulated a case plan for the parents and amended it several

times. Each case plan's linchpin was the need for appellant to obtain stable, suitable

housing and a job, as well as mental health and drug and alcohol assessments. T. at

12-16.   From the time of the child's birth, appellant has been virtually homeless,

"[u]pwards of 15 to 18" times throughout the case. T. at 124. She survived by staying

with friends and relatives, agency housing until she was evicted for non-payment of

rent, and a hotel until the hotel closed. T. at 38, 53, 62, 63-67, 72, 84-85, 98-99, 102-

105, 112, 117-118, 119-120, 185-186, 193-196. Most of appellant's housing problems

were the result of a lack of finances and employment, and the child's father living with

her on and off and not contributing. T. at 40-41, 46, 49-50, 55-56, 61, 68, 70, 74-75,

108-109, 193.

      {¶14} Despite the litany of living places, appellant thought she was not homeless

because she always found some place to go.         T. at 196-197. At the time of the
Knox County, Case No. 13CA17                                                          8

hearing, appellant was working with Moundbuilder's Guidance Center (kna Behavioral

Healthcare Partners), trying to obtain a place to live, but it could take a couple weeks.

T. at 186. In the meantime, she was staying with the child's father and a known

sexually oriented sex offender. T. at 75, 100, 119, 133-134, 191-193. Appellant only

formulated a plan for housing stability some twenty-four months after the child was

placed in appellee's temporary custody.

      {¶15} Appellant completed an alcohol and drug assessment one month before

the hearing.   T. at 15, 91.   At the same time, she started taking medications for

depression and anxiety disorder.     T. at 122-123.    She did not follow through with

domestic violence classes.      T. at 15, 117.     Appellant attended 176 of the 208

scheduled visitations; many times she did not interact with the child, slept, texted,

argued with the child's father or joked about alcohol binges. T. at 68-69, 73-74, 76-77,

103, 110, 147, 149, 154. Once the parents appeared at a visitation with all of their

belongings in garbage bags as they were homeless. T. at 99.

      {¶16} Appellee's involvement with appellant began prior to S.H. being born. T.

at 9. Appellee became involved due to complaints of neglect involving S.H.'s older

half-sibling. Id. At the time of the hearing, the older half-sibling was sixteen years old

and under a planned permanent living arrangement with appellee. T. at 13, 23. After

S.H. was born, appellee provided hotel placement, paid the deposit and rent for an

apartment, helped obtain needed birth certificates, provided a Pack-N-Play, gave

appellant formula, helped get appellant's medical card reinstated, set up 208

visitations, provided transportation, and helped with Christmas gifts and furniture. T. at

19, 28-29, 39, 58, 62, 65, 79, 143, 149. In fact, appellee gave appellant a second
Knox County, Case No. 13CA17                                                         9

chance when it dismissed an earlier permanent custody motion that had been filed on

May 14. 2012.

      {¶17} It is abundantly clear that appellant has been victimized by the fathers of

her two children, and has severe depression and an anxiety disorder that adds to her

dependent personality. T. at 216, 218, 223-224. Because of her emotional distress

and rigid parenting style, she has difficulty parenting. T. at 220-221. The psychologist

that evaluated appellant opined her ability to complete the case plan was "guarded." T.

at 232. Appellant has been alone and struggling most of her life. T. at 174. Although

all of these factors make appellant a sympathetic person, it is the best interests of the

child that is the central issue.

      {¶18} The child has been in foster care with the same foster parents for slightly

over two years. T. at 138. It is a prospective adoptive home, and the child is doing

very well and has bonded with the foster parents, as well as appellant. T. at 138-139.

      {¶19} We find the record as a whole supports the trial court's conclusions that

appellee made reasonable efforts and permanent custody to appellee is in the best

interests of the child.

      {¶20} Assignments of Error I and II are denied.
Knox County, Case No. 13CA17                                              10

      {¶21} The judgment of the Court of Common Pleas of Knox County, Ohio,

Juvenile Division is hereby affirmed.

By Farmer, P.J.

Delaney, J. and

Baldwin, J. concur.

                                        _______________________________
                                        Hon. Sheila G. Farmer

                                        _______________________________
                                        Hon. Patricia A. Delaney

                                        _______________________________
                                        Hon. Craig R. Baldwin

SGF/sg 919
[Cite as In re S.H., 2013-Ohio-4441.]

                     IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR KNOX COUNTY, OHIO

                                    FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

IN THE MATTER OF:                              :
                                               :
S.H. (MINOR CHILD)                             :       JUDGMENT ENTRY
                                               :
                                               :
                                               :       CASE NO. 13CA17

        For the reasons stated in our accompanying Memorandum-Opinion, the

judgment of the Court of Common Pleas of Knox County, Ohio, Juvenile Division is

affirmed. Costs to appellant.

                                               _______________________________
                                               Hon. Sheila G. Farmer

                                               _______________________________
                                               Hon. Patricia A. Delaney

                                               _______________________________
                                               Hon. Craig R. Baldwin