Court Opinion

ID: 4213948
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-10-23 16:48:10.178157+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:26:09.251943
License: Public Domain

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA

                           SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS

In re: A.L. and F.R.                                                              FILED
                                                                              October 23, 2017
No. 17-0284 (Braxton County 16-JA-39 & 16-JA-40)                                 RORY L. PERRY II, CLERK

                                                                               SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS

                                                                                   OF WEST VIRGINIA

                              MEMORANDUM DECISION
        Petitioner Mother S.R., by counsel Andrew Shumate, appeals the Circuit Court of
Braxton County’s March 13, 2017, order terminating her parental and custodial rights to A.L.
and F.R.1 The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (“DHHR”), by
counsel Lee Niezgoda, filed a response in support of the circuit court’s order. The guardian ad
litem (“guardian”), David Karickhoff, filed a response on behalf of the children supporting the
circuit court’s order. On appeal, petitioner argues that the circuit court erred in finding that the
DHHR made reasonable efforts to achieve reunification despite the constant change in workers
in the case.2

        This Court has considered the parties’ briefs and the record on appeal. The facts and legal
arguments are adequately presented, and the decisional process would not be significantly aided
by oral argument. Upon consideration of the standard of review, the briefs, and the record
presented, the Court finds no substantial question of law and no prejudicial error. For these
reasons, a memorandum decision affirming the circuit court’s order is appropriate under Rule 21
of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.

        In July of 2016, the DHHR filed an abuse and neglect petition against petitioner alleging
that she and her child, A.L., both tested positive for methamphetamine and opiates at the time of
the child’s birth. From the day after the child’s birth in May of 2016, to the day the petition was
filed in July of 2016, petitioner was under an agreed protection plan where the child’s maternal
grandparents would care for the child and petitioner would comply with services, including drug
screens, adult life skills, and parenting training in order to assist her in remedying safety issues
so the child could be placed in her care. According to the DHHR, petitioner failed to comply
with the terms of the plan and continued to abuse drugs.

       1
         Consistent with our long-standing practice in cases with sensitive facts, we use initials
where necessary to protect the identities of those involved in this case. See In re K.H., 235 W.Va.
254, 773 S.E.2d 20 (2015); Melinda H. v. William R. II, 230 W.Va. 731, 742 S.E.2d 419 (2013);
State v. Brandon B., 218 W.Va. 324, 624 S.E.2d 761 (2005); State v. Edward Charles L., 183
W.Va. 641, 398 S.E.2d 123 (1990).
       2
         On appeal, petitioner does not raise a specific assignment of error regarding the circuit
court’s termination of parental rights.
                                                 1

         In August of 2016, the circuit court held an adjudicatory hearing wherein petitioner
stipulated to the conditions of abuse and neglect. The circuit court granted petitioner a post­
adjudicatory improvement period. According to the DHHR, the case plan required petitioner to
remain drug and alcohol free; complete a psychological and drug abuse evaluation; complete
recommended substance abuse treatment; maintain suitable housing and employment; complete
adult life skills, parenting training, and anger management counseling; and participate in
visitation.

        According to the DHHR, petitioner began some services, but failed to complete a single
term or condition of her improvement period. Petitioner tested positive for illicit substances in
June of 2016. Further, petitioner stopped submitting to screens in August of 2016, except for in
January of 2017, when she tested positive for methamphetamine and opiates. Petitioner stopped
participating in parenting and adult life skills training in September of 2016. Petitioner also
failed to appear for her psychological evaluation and substance abuse evaluation. Although
petitioner was allowed visitation with her children, she only visited with them for a few weeks in
July and August of 2016, and then stopped visiting altogether.

         In February of 2017, the DHHR filed a motion to terminate petitioner’s parental and
custodial rights based on her non-compliance with the terms and conditions of her improvement
period. The circuit court held a dispositional hearing addressing the DHHR’s motion. Petitioner
arrived late to the hearing, but was represented by counsel. Once she arrived, she chose not to
testify. The circuit court found that petitioner failed to participate in her improvement period and
found no reasonable likelihood that she could substantially correct the issues of abuse and
neglect in the near future. The circuit court ultimately terminated petitioner’s parental and
custodial rights to the children in its March 13, 2017, order.3 It is from the dispositional order
that petitioner appeals.

       The Court has previously established the following standard of review:

               “Although conclusions of law reached by a circuit court are subject to de
       novo review, when an action, such as an abuse and neglect case, is tried upon the
       facts without a jury, the circuit court shall make a determination based upon the
       evidence and shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law as to whether
       such child is abused or neglected. These findings shall not be set aside by a
       reviewing court unless clearly erroneous. A finding is clearly erroneous when,
       although there is evidence to support the finding, the reviewing court on the entire
       evidence is left with the definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been
       committed. However, a reviewing court may not overturn a finding simply
       because it would have decided the case differently, and it must affirm a finding if
       the circuit court’s account of the evidence is plausible in light of the record

       3
         According to the DHHR, J.J., the father of A.L., voluntarily relinquished his parental
rights to A.L., who is placed with his maternal grandparents with a permanency plan of adoption
in that home. F.R. is also currently placed with the maternal grandparents. According to the
guardian and the DHHR, the permanency plan for F.R. is to be placed with a family member.
                                                 2

       viewed in its entirety.” Syl. Pt. 1, In Interest of Tiffany Marie S., 196 W.Va. 223,
       470 S.E.2d 177 (1996).

Syl. Pt. 1, In re Cecil T., 228 W.Va. 89, 717 S.E.2d 873 (2011). Upon our review, the Court finds
no error in the findings below.

        In her sole assignment of error, petitioner argues that the circuit court erred in finding that
the DHHR made reasonable efforts to achieve reunification despite the constant change in
workers in the case. In support of her argument, petitioner asserts that the DHHR’s efforts were
“thwarted by the constant change in workers and the failure of the Department to maintain
constant communication with petitioner.” Petitioner is correct that the DHHR was obligated to
provide services to achieve reunification. Here, petitioner was granted a post-adjudicatory
improvement period and the circuit court ordered the DHHR to provide services to petitioner,
including drug screens, psychological and drug abuse evaluations, substance abuse treatment,
adult life skills and parenting training, anger management counseling, and visitation. The record
shows that the DHHR made these services available to petitioner.

        West Virginia Code § 49-4-610(4)(A) requires a parent that has been granted an
improvement period be responsible for the initiation and completion of all terms of the
improvement period. The record shows that petitioner failed to complete any of the terms of her
improvement period. Petitioner tested positive for illicit substances in June of 2016 and stopped
submitting to drug screens in August of 2016, except for one screen in January of 2017, for
which she tested positive for illicit substances. She also stopped participating in parenting and
adult life skills training in September of 2016 and failed to appear for her psychological
evaluation and substance abuse evaluation. Further, petitioner visited her children for a few
weeks in July and August of 2016, and then stopped visiting altogether. Based on this evidence,
we find no error in the circuit court’s finding that the DHHR made reasonable efforts to achieve
reunification despite the constant change in workers in the case.

       Lastly, this Court reminds the circuit court of its duty to establish permanency for the
children. Rule 39(b) of the Rules of Procedure for Child Abuse and Neglect Proceedings
requires:

       At least once every three months until permanent placement is achieved as defined
       in Rule 6, the court shall conduct a permanent placement review conference,
       requiring the multidisciplinary treatment team to attend and report as to progress
       and development in the case, for the purpose of reviewing the progress in the
       permanent placement of the child.

       Further, this Court reminds the circuit court of its duty pursuant to Rule 43 of the Rules of
Procedure for Child Abuse and Neglect Proceedings to find permanent placement for the
children within twelve months of the date of the disposition order. As this Court has stated,

             [t]he [twelve]-month period provided in Rule 43 of the West Virginia
       Rules of Procedures for Child Abuse and Neglect Proceedings for permanent
       placement of an abused and neglected child following the final dispositional order

                                                  3

       must be strictly followed except in the most extraordinary circumstances which
       are fully substantiated in the record.

Cecil T., 228 W.Va. at 91, 717 S.E.2d at 875, Syl. Pt. 6. Moreover, this Court has stated that

               [i]n determining the appropriate permanent out-of-home placement of a
       child under W.Va.Code § 49-6-5(a)(6) [1996] [now West Virginia Code § 49­
       4604(b)(6)], the circuit court shall give priority to securing a suitable adoptive
       home for the child and shall consider other placement alternatives, including
       permanent foster care, only where the court finds that adoption would not provide
       custody, care, commitment, nurturing and discipline consistent with the child’s
       best interests or where a suitable adoptive home can not be found.

        Syl. Pt. 3, State v. Michael M., 202 W.Va. 350, 504 S.E.2d 177 (1998). Finally, “[t]he
guardian ad litem’s role in abuse and neglect proceedings does not actually cease until such time
as the child is placed in a permanent home.” Syl. Pt. 5, James M. v. Maynard, 185 W.Va. 648,
408 S.E.2d 400 (1991).

      For the foregoing reasons, we find no error in the decision of the circuit court, and its
March 13, 2017, order is hereby affirmed.

                                                                                         Affirmed.

ISSUED: October 23, 2017

CONCURRED IN BY:

Chief Justice Allen H. Loughry II
Justice Robin Jean Davis
Justice Margaret L. Workman
Justice Menis E. Ketchum
Justice Elizabeth D. Walker

                                                 4