Court Opinion

ID: 4107698
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-12-15 18:11:22.221248+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:36:37.905830
License: Public Domain

J-S82004-16

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

IN THE INTEREST OF: C.B., A MINOR                IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                                       PENNSYLVANIA

APPEAL OF: S.K., RESPONDENT
MOTHER

                                                     No. 1140 MDA 2016

                   Appeal from the Order June 7, 2016
           In the Court of Common Pleas of Lancaster County
          Juvenile Division at No(s): CP-36-DP-0000018-2015
*************************************************************

IN THE INTEREST OF: G.B., A MINOR                IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                                       PENNSYLVANIA

APPEAL OF: S.K., RESPONDENT
MOTHER

                                                     No. 1141 MDA 2016

                       Appeal from the Order June 7, 2016
               In the Court of Common Pleas of Lancaster County
              Juvenile Division at No(s): CP-36-DP-0000019-2015

BEFORE: OTT, J., DUBOW, J., and PLATT, J.*

MEMORANDUM BY OTT, J.:                           FILED DECEMBER 15, 2016

____________________________________________

*
    Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
J-S82004-16

S.K. (“Mother”) appeals from the June 7, 2016 orders in the Court of

Common Pleas of Lancaster County that changed the permanency goals for

her sons, C.B.1 and G.B.2 (collectively, “the Children”), from reunification to

placement with a permanent legal custodian with concurrent goals of

adoption. Upon careful review, we affirm.3

        The trial court set forth the following facts and procedural history,

which the record evidence supports.

        The Agency [Lancaster County Children and Youth Services] has
        a lengthy history with the family dating back to 2001 concerning
        physical mistreatment of a child, parenting, housing, and
        income. The children were in foster care from October 2004 to
        November 2005. The Agency began to provide family support
        services on March 22, 2013, due to reported concerns for
        homelessness, [the Children’s school] truancy, and Mother’s
        mental health. On July 23, 2014, Mother had emergency open-
        heart surgery. She also has had significant issues involving her
        diabetes.

        On December 2, 2014, [C.B.’s] and [G.B.’s] school developed a
        truancy elimination plan for both the boys, as [G.B.] had missed
        twenty-eight days, and [C.B.] had missed twenty-nine days. On
        December 19, 2014, a family group conference was held, and
        family based services were initiated due to Mother’s healthcare
        problems, truancy, and the children’s care. On December 27,
        2014, the Lancaster City Bureau of Police informed the Agency
        that [G.B.] and [C.B.] had reportedly broken into a church to

____________________________________________

1
    C.B. was born in July of 2004.
2
    G.B. was born in July of 2002.
3
 The Children’s father, G.A.B. (“Father”), is deceased. The date of death is
not included in the certified record before this Court.

                                           -2-
J-S82004-16

       steal food. The Agency verified the family’s lack of food, and
       provided the family with a food order.

       On January 16, 2015, another family group conference
       determined that [M]other was not following through with the
       plan developed at the first family group conference. These
       concerns, along with [the] fact that [B.E.][4] was handling many
       of the parental responsibilities for herself and her two brothers,
       led to the children’s placement into the Agency’s custody on
       January 28, 2015.

Trial Court Opinion, 7/28/16, at 2-3.

       The Children were adjudicated dependent on April 16, 2015.                  The

Agency established a Family Service Plan (“FSP”) requiring Mother to

improve her mental and physical health; to acquire good parenting skills; to

obtain appropriate housing; and to attend supervised visitation with the

Children one hour per week.

       Permanency review hearings occurred at regular intervals.              By the

second permanency review hearing, on August 6, 2015, the trial court found

that   Mother     had    made     substantial    progress   toward   alleviating   the

circumstances that necessitated the Children’s placement.                 The court

directed that the Children “were permitted to transition home if a

personalized parent trainer (“PPT”) was assigned and it was verified that no

other people were residing in Mother’s home.” Trial Court Opinion, 7/28/16,

at 2. However, the transition never occurred. The court explained, in part:
____________________________________________

4
  B.E. is Mother’s then seventeen-year-old daughter, and the half-sister of
the Children. The Agency requested a goal change to adoption for B.E.,
which B.E. desired. By order entered on June 7, 2016, the court changed
B.E.’s goal, and Mother did not file a notice of appeal.

                                           -3-
J-S82004-16

      On August 14, 2015, the Agency visited the residence and found
      non-family members present. On August 19, 2015, Mother
      admitted that the non-family members were residing with her.
      Mother continued to live in this residence . . . until November 3,
      2015, when she began staying in a succession of motels and
      homeless shelters.

Id. at 3-4.

      At the next permanency review hearing on January 8, 2016, the court

found that Mother had made moderate progress toward alleviating the

circumstances that necessitated the Children’s placement. The court found,

in part, that Mother still needed housing and parenting classes.

      In April of 2016, the Agency filed a petition requesting that the court

schedule the fifteen-month permanency review hearing, and requested

orders changing the goal to placement with a permanent legal custodian

with a concurrent goal of adoption.   At that time, G.B. and his older half-

sister, B.E., resided in the same foster home, and C.B. resided in a different

foster home. A hearing occurred on June 2, 2016. The Agency presented

the testimony of its caseworker, Jacqueline McNelis. The Guardian Ad Litem

(“GAL”) presented the testimony of B.E. Mother testified on her own behalf.

      By orders dated June 2, 2016, and entered on June 7, 2016, the court

found that Mother had made moderate progress toward alleviating the

circumstances that necessitated the Children’s placement.          However, the

court changed the Children’s permanency goals.        In addition, the court

directed that Mother’s supervised visits occur biweekly for one hour. Mother

timely filed notices of appeal and concise statements of errors complained of

                                    -4-
J-S82004-16

on   appeal   pursuant     to   Pennsylvania   Rule   of   Appellate   Procedure

1925(a)(2)(i) and (b), which this Court consolidated sua sponte. The trial

court filed its Rule 1925(a) opinion on July 28, 2016.

      On appeal, Mother presents the following issues for our review:

      A. Whether the [c]ourt[’]s decision to change the goal for the
      [C]hildren was supported by the evidence[?]

      B. Whether the [c]ourt[’]s decision to change the goal was in the
      best interests of the [C]hildren[?]

Mother’s brief at 10.

      It is well-established that “goal change decisions are subject to an

abuse of discretion standard of review.” In re R.M.G., 997 A.2d 339, 345

(Pa. Super. 2010) (citation omitted).

         In order to conclude that the trial court abused its
         discretion, we must determine that the court’s judgment
         was “manifestly unreasonable,” that the court did not
         apply the law, or that the court’s action was “a result of
         partiality, prejudice, bias or ill will,” as shown by the
         record. We are bound by the trial court’s findings of fact
         that have support in the record. The trial court, not the
         appellate court, is charged with the responsibilities of
         evaluating credibility of the witness and resolving any
         conflicts in the testimony.        In carrying out these
         responsibilities, the trial court is free to believe all,
         part, or none of the evidence. When the trial court’s
         findings are supported by competent evidence of record,
         we will affirm, “even if the record could also support an
         opposite result.”

Id. (citations omitted).

                                      -5-
J-S82004-16

      At permanency review hearings for dependent children removed from

the parental home, a trial court must consider the factors set forth in the

Juvenile Act, 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 6301 et seq., as follows:

      (f) Matters to be determined at permanency hearing.—

      At each permanency hearing, a court shall determine all of the
      following:

         (1) The continuing necessity for and appropriateness of
         the placement.

         (2) The appropriateness, feasibility and extent of
         compliance with the permanency plan developed for the
         child.

         (3) The extent of progress made toward alleviating the
         circumstances which necessitated the original placement.

         (4) The appropriateness and feasibility of the current
         placement goal for the child.

         (5) The likely date by which the placement goal for the
         child might be achieved.

         (5.1) Whether reasonable efforts were made to finalize
         the permanency plan in effect.

         (6) Whether the child is safe.

                                     ...

         (9) If the child has been in placement for at least 15 of
         the last 22 months or the court has determined that
         aggravated circumstances exist and that reasonable
         efforts to prevent or eliminate the need to remove the
         child from the child’s parent, guardian or custodian or to
         preserve and reunify the family need not be made or
         continue to be made, whether the county agency has filed
         or sought to join a petition to terminate parental rights
         and to identify, recruit, process and approve a qualified
         family to adopt the child unless:

                                    -6-
J-S82004-16

            (i) the child is being cared for by a relative best
            suited to the physical, mental and moral welfare of
            the child;

            (ii) the county agency has documented a compelling
            reason for determining that filing a petition to
            terminate parental rights would not serve the needs
            and welfare of the child; or

            (iii) the child’s family has not been provided with
            necessary services to achieve the safe return to the
            child’s parent, guardian or custodian within the time
            frames set forth in the permanency plan.

                                    . . .

      (f.1)     Additional determination.      — Based      upon   the
      determinations made under subsection (f) and all relevant
      evidence presented at the hearing, the court shall determine one
      of the following:

                                     ...

        (3) If and when the child will be placed with a legal
        custodian in cases where the return to the child’s parent,
        guardian or custodian or being placed for adoption is not
        best suited to the safety, protection and physical, mental
        and moral welfare of the child.

                                     ...

42 Pa.C.S.A. § 6351(f)(1)-(6), (9); (f.1)(3).

      We have stated that, “[t]hese statutory mandates clearly place the

trial court’s focus on the best interests of the child.” In re S.B., 943 A.2d

973, 978 (Pa. Super. 2008) (citation omitted). “Safety, permanency, and

well-being of the child must take precedence over all other considerations.”

Id. (citation omitted) (emphasis in original).   Moreover, “the burden is on

                                     -7-
J-S82004-16

the child welfare agency . . . to prove that a change in goal would be in the

child’s best interest.” In re R.I.S., 36 A.3d 567, 573 (Pa. 2011).

     Further, this Court has explained:

     The agency is not required to offer services indefinitely, where a
     parent is unable to properly apply the instruction provided. In
     re A.L.D., 797 A.2d 326, 340 (Pa. Super. 2002). See also In
     re S.B., supra at 981 (giving priority to child’s safety and
     stability,  despite   parent’s   substantial   compliance     with
     permanency plan); In re A.P., 728 A.2d 375, 379, (Pa. Super.
     1999), appeal denied, 560 Pa. 693, 743 A.2d 912 (1999)
     (holding where, despite willingness, parent cannot meet
     “irreducible minimum parental responsibilities, the needs of the
     child must prevail over the rights of the parent”). Thus, even
     where the parent makes earnest efforts, the “court cannot and
     will not subordinate indefinitely a child’s need for permanence
     and stability to a parent’s claims of progress and hope for the
     future.” In re Adoption of R.J.S., 901 A.2d 502, 513 (Pa.
     Super. 2006).

In re R.M.G., 997 A.2d at 347.

     Instantly, the trial court determined that, “[a]fter more than fifteen

months, Mother has not demonstrated the requisite responsibility to

appropriately parent the children.”   Trial Court Opinion, 7/28/16, at 7. In

addition, the court explained its decision to change the goal to placement

with a permanent legal custodian for the following reason:

     Adoption is not an appropriate goal for [G.B.] and [C.B.] at this
     time. There have been conflicting reports about the desires of
     the two boys. They both have a relationship with their mother,
     and their visits with her go well, though [C.B.] and [G.B.]
     primarily interact with each other while Mother and [B.E.] talk.
     They are both twelve years of age or older, and as per 23
     Pa.C.S.A. § 2711(a)(1), their consent would be necessary for
     adoption.    Neither of the boys has expressed a desire or
     willingness to be adopted. . . .

                                      -8-
J-S82004-16

Id. Upon review, the testimonial evidence supports the court’s findings.

       On appeal, Mother argues that it was not in the Children’s best

interests for the goal to be changed.5 Specifically, Mother asserts that the

Children “have not done well in placement, have run away, and only seem

happy during visitation with their mother.”      Mother’s brief at 15.   Mother

also asserts that the trial court placed too much weight on the testimony of

her daughter, B.E. We disagree.

       Contrary to Mother’s assertions, the trial court found with respect to

the Children:

       [G.B.] struggles in school, but is receiving learning support
       services in core subjects.     He needs to improve his anger
       management. He has been in therapy since 2015, but has been
       unwilling to open up to his therapist. Nevertheless, [G.B.] is
       typically happy in the resource home. Visits with Mother go well,
       but they cause him to be moody for the rest of the day as
       [Mother] does not spend much time directly interacting with him.

       [C.B.] is doing well in his current placement, and is connecting
       with the resource family. He attends a life skills class, and he
       was successfully discharged from Art Therapy in October 2015.
       ...

       [C.B.’s] and [G.B.’s] relationship with their Mother is limited due
       to her actions that led to their placement and is evidenced by
       the way Mother interacts with them at visits. The boys have
       expressed uncertainty about returning to Mother’s care. At their
____________________________________________

5
  In her brief, Mother neither divides the argument into separate parts nor
distinctively displays her claims. See Pa.R.A.P. 2119 (providing “[t]he
argument shall be divided into as many parts as there are questions to be
argued; and shall have at the head of each part -- in distinctive type or in
type of distinctively displayed -- the particular point treated therein, followed
by such discussion and citation of the parties as are deemed pertinent”).

                                           -9-
J-S82004-16

      weekly visits with Mother, [C.B.] and [G.B.] play with each other
      while Mother primarily talks with [B.E.]. . . .

Trial Court Opinion, 7/28/16, at 8-9 (citations to record omitted).        Upon

review, the testimony of Jacqueline McNelis, the Agency caseworker, and

B.E. support the court’s findings.

      Further, there is no testimonial evidence that C.B. has ever run away

from his foster home. With respect to G.B., Ms. McNelis testified on cross-

examination by Mother’s counsel as follows:

      Q. [W]as there testimony that . . . one of the two boys just sort
      of disappeared for a few hours [from the foster home] and –

      A. It’s my understanding that . . . [G.B.] will leave without
      letting the resource parents know and he’s gone for an hour or
      two at a time and doesn’t keep the resource parents updated
      about where he’s going or what he’s doing.

      Q. Does this happen frequently?

      A. It’s my understanding it’s [sic] happened just a few time[s]. I
      don’t believe it happens all the time.

N.T., 6/2/16, at 29.

      With respect to Mother’s assertion that the court improperly weighed

B.E.’s testimony, we disagree. B.E. testified as follows regarding taking care

of Mother and the Children from the age of seven.

      I gave up my whole life for her, ever since I was seven. I don’t
      want my brothers to do that because, like I said, my GPA sucks,
      and I know I could’ve done a whole lot better, but I wasn’t . . .
      able to go to school because I had to take care of my mom and
      my brothers. . . . I don’t want that life for my brothers. They
      deserve more. They deserve to go to school and not have to
      worry about things at the ages they are right now.

                                     - 10 -
J-S82004-16

Id. at 39. B.E. testified that, if the Children return home:

       [G.B.] is just gonna run the streets. He’s gonna get into trouble.
       So is [C.B.]. [C.B.]’s going to follow along and they’re not going
       to go to school, because they’ll wake up and they’ll say they
       don’t want to go to school, and I know this because they did that
       when we were home. They’ll get up and say, we don’t feel like
       going to school today, and they’ll make up some kind of lie
       about not wanting to go to school, and [Mother will] fall right
       into it and believe it.

Id. at 50.

       In addition, B.E. testified that, in her opinion, Mother wants the

Children’s death benefits, which the record reveals the Children receive due

to Father’s death.6      Id. at 10.     B.E. testified that Mother will “have more

money to spend because she’ll receive those death benefits back because of

the boys, and I know this because every time I’m with her, she always

brings it up about the money. [ ] So that’s all she wants out of us is money

and someone to take care of her.” Id. at 50-51. To the extent that the trial

court based the subject orders, in part, on the foregoing testimony of B.E.,

we discern no abuse of discretion. See In re R.M.G., 997 A.2d at 345

(stating that “[t]he trial court, not the appellate court, is charged with the

responsibilities of evaluating credibility of the witness and resolving any

____________________________________________

6
  It is important to note that B.E.’s father is also deceased, and she receives
Social Security death benefits as a result. N.T., 6/2/16, at 9-10. Moreover,
Ms. McNelis agreed on direct examination that, prior to the placement of
B.E. and the Children, Mother’s household received more than $2,000 in
income per month. Id. at 10.

                                          - 11 -
J-S82004-16

conflicts in the testimony.       In carrying out these responsibilities, the trial

court is free to believe all, part, or none of the evidence.”).

       Importantly, the trial court changed the Children’s permanency goals,

in part, based on the following findings, which Mother’s testimony supports:

       Mother blames the Agency’s involvement during the last fifteen
       months for making her life worse, essentially denying any
       responsibility. During the same period[,] she failed to stay in
       regular contact with her caseworker. When asked about the
       children’s truancy, Mother alternatively blamed her daughter and
       the caseworker. According to Mother, [B.E.] was not going to
       school because she was lying to Mother about being bullied.
       Mother then blamed the caseworker for not making the child
       attend school.

Trial Court Opinion, 7/28/16, at 6-7 (citations to record omitted).

       Further, the trial court concluded that:

       [C.B.] and [G.B.] are currently receiving the oversight and
       support that they need. Permanent legal custodianship provides
       them with necessary support while allowing them to maintain
       their relationship with their Mother.     At the June 2, 2016,
       hearing, the children’s [GAL] echoed [B.E.]’s testimony, and
       opined that permanent legal custodianship was in the best
       interest of [C.B.] and [G.B.].[7] Mother’s conduct over the last
       fifteen months, and her testimony at the hearing, clearly show
       that she is not a permanent resource for the boys at this time.

Id. at 9. We discern no abuse of discretion. As such, Mother’s argument

that a change of goal was not in the Children’s best interests is without

merit.

____________________________________________

7
 The GAL filed a brief in this appeal in support of the Children’s goal change
orders.

                                          - 12 -
J-S82004-16

      In addition, Mother asserts that the Agency “stopped working [to

reunify her with the Children] before being permitted to do so by the

[c]ourt” by “directing her to a one-bedroom instead of a two[-]bedroom”

apartment. Mother’s brief at 17. Further, Mother asserts that the Agency

failed to renew the referral for a personalized parent trainer so that she

could have had parent training in her home for two months before the

subject proceedings. Id. at 16. To the extent Mother asserts that the court

abused its discretion in changing the Children’s permanency goals due to the

Agency’s alleged failures in this regard, we disagree.

      The trial court aptly found that Ms. McNelis “explained that she advised

Mother to start with a smaller apartment to help her avoid homelessness,

and to allow her to make progress on her goals.”         Trial Court Opinion,

7/28/16, at 6 (citation to record omitted). Ms. McNelis testified that Mother

moved into a one-bedroom apartment on April 19, 2016. N.T., 6/2/16, at 6-

7.   She described the apartment as having “a small living room, and the

bedroom is right off of the living room, and there’s a kitchen and a

bathroom.”    Id. at 8.   Further, she described the apartment as being “all

open, so [Mother’s] bedroom is off of the living room, but there’s no door for

privacy. [E]verything is [just] open.”    Id. at 28. Ms. McNelis testified as

follows with respect to her review of the lease agreement:

      Q. Any indication on the lease as to how many individuals can
      live in this one-bedroom apartment?

      A. I believe just one person can live there.

                                    - 13 -
J-S82004-16

Id. at 7. Ms. McNelis further testified that she does not know if it would be

appropriate for the Children to share the one bedroom and for Mother to

sleep on the couch.       Id. at 28.     She testified on cross-examination by

Mother’s counsel, in part, “I guess it could be looked into.” Id. at 29.

      As   discussed     supra,   the    testimonial   evidence   overwhelmingly

demonstrates that, independent of her housing situation and the size of her

apartment, Mother “has not demonstrated the requisite responsibility to

appropriately parent” the Children, and the subject orders serve their best

interests. Trial Court Opinion, 7/28/16, at 7. Therefore, we will not disturb

the orders.   Mother’s issues fail.     Accordingly, we affirm the goal change

orders.

      Orders affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 12/15/2016

                                        - 14 -