Court Opinion

ID: 4667686
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-03-15 16:13:54.337833+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:02:58.527827
License: Public Domain

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                        2021 PA Super 41
 IN RE: S.C., A MINOR             :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                  :         PENNSYLVANIA
                                  :
 APPEAL OF: ALLEGHENY COUNTY      :
 OFFICE OF CHILDREN, YOUTH AND    :
 FAMILIES                         :
                                  :
                                  :
                                  :   No. 242 WDA 2020

             Appeal from the Order Entered January 21, 2020
   In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County Orphans' Court at
                     No(s): CP-02-AP-0000093-2019

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

 APPEAL OF: ALLEGHENY COUNTY
 OFFICE OF CHILDREN, YOUTH AND
 FAMILIES

                                           No. 243 WDA 2020

             Appeal from the Order Entered January 21, 2020
   In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County Orphans' Court at
                     No(s): CP-02-AP-0000093-2019

 IN THE INTEREST OF: S.R.C., A         :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
 MINOR                                 :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                       :
                                       :
 APPEAL OF: S.R.C., A/K/A S.C.         :
                                       :
                                       :
                                       :
                                       :   No. 244 WDA 2020

              Appeal from the Order Entered January 21, 2020
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     In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County Orphans' Court at
                       No(s): CP-02-AP-0000093-2019

    IN RE: S.R.C., A MINOR                       :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                                 :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                                 :
    APPEAL OF: S.R.C.A/K/A S.C.                  :
                                                 :
                                                 :
                                                 :
                                                 :
                                                 :   No. 245 WDA 2020

               Appeal from the Order Entered January 21, 2020
     In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County Orphans' Court at
                       No(s): CP-02-AP-0000093-2019

BEFORE: BOWES, J., OLSON, J., and MUSMANNO, J.

OPINION BY OLSON, J.:                                    FILED: MARCH 15, 2021

       Allegheny County Office of Children, Youth, and Families (“CYF”) and

KidsVoice appeal from the January 21, 2020 order denying CYF’s petition for

involuntary termination of parental rights (“termination petition”) of J.C.

(“Mother”) and B.C. (“Father”) (collectively, “Parents”) to their dependent

child, S.C., a male child born October 2017, (“S.C.”) pursuant to Section 2511

of the Adoption Act, 23 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 2101-2938.1 We vacate the January 21,

2020 order and remand the case with instructions.

____________________________________________

1 A single termination petition was brought collectively as to Mother and
Father, and a review of that petition demonstrates that the facts pertinent to
this appeal are the same for both Mother and Father. See Petition for
Involuntary Termination of Parental Rights, 5/15/19.

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     The trial court set forth the following:

     [In November 2017, Parents] took [S.C.] to UPMC Children's
     Hospital of Pittsburgh [“CHP”] and reported that he was vomiting
     blood. Medical staff examined [S.C.] and diagnosed him with
     bucket handle fractures in both of his legs along with [injuries to
     the left and right side of the soft palate region of his mouth].
     [Parents] were unable to provide a plausible explanation for
     [S.C.’s] injuries.   Based on the nature of the injuries and
     [Parents’] lack of explanation, the case was referred to [CHP’s]
     Child Advocacy Unit for concerns of child abuse. Dr. Adelaide
     Eichman, a physician who specializes in child abuse, examined
     [S.C.] based on this referral. After an examination, Dr. Eichman
     reported that [S.C.] also had bruising to both sides of his jaw and
     his lower back. [Parents] reported they had observed a bruise on
     [S.C.’s] leg "a few weeks ago" but were unaware of the bruising
     to the jaw and [lower] back.         After the examination and
     consultation with [Parents], Dr. Eichman concluded that the
     injuries were diagnostic of physical child abuse. A referral was
     made to [CYF] based upon this diagnosis.           [Parents] were
     interviewed by [CYF] and [they] could not provide a plausible
     explanation for the injuries. As a result, [CYF] sought and
     obtained an emergency custody authorization on November 22,
     2017. [S.C.] was placed in the care of [his] paternal grandfather
     and paternal step-grandmother [collectively, “Grandparents”].

     [CYF] filed a dependency petition alleging that [S.C.] was without
     proper parental care or control. An adjudicatory hearing was held
     on December [19], 2017[,] and [S.C.] was adjudicated
     dependent. The [trial] court ordered that [S.C.] remain in
     foster[-]care placement with [Grandparents]. The [trial] court
     ordered Mother and Father to participate in parenting classes and
     non-offenders' treatment. They were also ordered to complete a
     psychological evaluation and follow any recommendations.
     Additionally, Mother was ordered to undergo a mental health
     evaluation and to follow all treatment recommendations.

     Dr. [Terry O'Hara, PhD, a licensed psychologist,] was assigned to
     conduct psychological evaluations of the family. He conducted his
     first set of evaluations on February [19,] 2018, which consisted of
     interactional and individual evaluations of [Parents]. [S.C.] slept
     through most of the interactional evaluation. When [S.C.] did

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        wake up, [Parents] were able to sooth him. Dr. O'Hara opined
        that they exhibited several positive parenting skills. Neither
        parent could provide a plausible explanation about the cause of
        [S.C.’s] injuries. Mother reported that the injuries could have
        occurred when they were changing [S.C.’s] diaper. She reported
        that [S.C.] "arched his back and tried to twist" during diapering
        and that they had to hold him by both ankles. With respect to the
        [injuries] in [S.C.’s] mouth, Mother reported that she may have
        microwaved his bottle too long. During her individual evaluation,
        Mother reported a history of physical and sexual abuse by her
        biological father. She reported this abuse to her mother when she
        was approximately 20 years old. Her father was arrested and
        convicted of the abuse. She began mental health treatment after
        her father's arrest. She reported being prescribed medication for
        anxiety during that time. Dr. O'Hara performed psychological
        testing of Mother and noted that she was defensive. As such, he
        was limited in making an appropriate diagnosis. During the
        individual evaluation of Father, [Dr. O’Hara] did not endorse any
        mental health concerns. When asked about the injuries that
        [S.C.] sustained, Father reported that [S.C.] "would squirm a lot,
        then we would both hold him and secure his thighs". Father did
        not report any mental health concerns and was not defensive
        during any of the testing.

Trial Court Opinion, 4/24/20, at 2-4 (extraneous capitalization omitted). On

February 4, 2019, Parents pleaded guilty to one count each of endangering

the welfare of a child as a result of S.C.’s injuries and were sentenced to a

period of probation.2 Id. at 7.

        On May 15, 2019, CYF filed a termination petition asking the trial court

to terminate Mother’s and Father’s parental rights to S.C. pursuant to 23

Pa.C.S.A. §§ 2511(a)(2), (a)(5), (a)(8), and (b). See Petition for Involuntary

____________________________________________

2   18 Pa.C.S.A. § 4304(a)(1).

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Termination of Parental Rights, 5/15/19, at ¶¶13-14.             Courtney Potter,

Esquire, from KidsVoice, represented the legal and best interests of S.C. Max

C. Feldman, Esquire, represented Parents, and CYF was represented by

Melaniesha L. J. Abernathy, Esquire.           A termination hearing was held on

December 6, 2019, at which the aforementioned counsel, as well as Parents,

participated.

       On January 21, 2020, the trial court denied CYF’s termination petition,

finding that with regard to both Mother and Father, CYF failed to meet its

burden of proof under Sections 2511(a)(2), (a)(5) and (a)(8) of the Adoption

Act. Trial Court Order, 1/21/20. The trial court further found that involuntary

termination of Mother’s and Father’s parental rights did not serve the needs

and welfare of S.C. pursuant to Section 2511(b). Id.

       On February 20, 2020, both CYF and KidsVoice filed separate notices of

appeal of the January 21, 2020 order as it pertained to Mother and separate

notices of appeal of the January 21, 2020 order as it pertained to Father

pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a)(2)(i) (providing that, concise statements of

errors complained of on appeal shall be filed and served with notices of appeal

in children’s fast-track cases).3       The trial court subsequently filed its Rule

1925(a) opinion on April 24, 2020.

____________________________________________

3CYF’s separate, but otherwise identical, appeals challenging the trial court’s
order denying the termination petition as it pertained to Father and Mother

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       CYF raises the following issues for our review:

       [1.]   Did [CYF] prove, by clear and convincing evidence, the
              grounds for the involuntary termination of Father's [and
              Mother’s] parental rights to [S.C.] pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S.A.
              §§ 2511(a)(2), (a)(5), and (a)(8)?

       [2.]   Did [CYF] prove, by clear and convincing evidence, that the
              involuntary termination of Father's [and Mother’s] parental
              rights to [S.C.] best serves the needs and welfare of [S.C.]
              pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 2511(b)?

       [3.]   Did the trial court err as a matter of law and/or abuse its
              [discretion] when the trial court partially denied CYF's
              motion to strike [as] untimely [Parents’] pre-trial statement
              and permitted testimony of Holy Family visit[ation] coach,
              Amy Richter, and A Second Chance[,] Inc. family services
              technician, Dawn Heiser?

CYF’s Brief at 5-6 (extraneous capitalization omitted).4

       KidsVoice raises the following issues for our review:

       [1.]   Whether the trial court erred and/or abused its discretion by
              denying CYF’s petition to terminate [Mother’s and Father’s]
              parental rights to [S.C. pursuant to] 23 Pa.C.S.[A.]
              § 2511(a)(2), [(a)](5), and [(a)](8), where [S.C.] incurred
____________________________________________

were docketed by this Court at 242 WDA 2020 and 243 WDA 2020,
respectively.    KidsVoice’s separate, but otherwise identical, appeals
challenging the trial court’s order denying the termination petition as it
pertained to Mother and Father were docketed by this Court at 244 WDA 2020
and 245 WDA 2020, respectively. In a per curiam order, this Court ordered
that the aforementioned four appeals be listed consecutively before a single
merits panel. See Per Curiam Order, 2/26/20. We consolidate these appeals
for purpose of disposition.

4CYF raises identical issues in its appeals pertaining to Father (242 WDA 2020)
and Mother (243 WDA 2020). We reproduce these issues in tandem and
address them collectively as to both Father and Mother.

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              physical abuse in [Parents’] care when he was only six
              weeks old; [Mother and Father, each,] pleaded guilty to []
              endangering [the] welfare of [S.C.]; [Mother and Father]
              refused to take any responsibility for [S.C.’s] injuries; [S.C.]
              remains in foster care after two years; and [Mother and
              Father were] found to be minimally compliant with [their]
              permanency plan just three weeks before the contested
              termination hearing?

       [2.]   Whether the trial court erred and/or abused its discretion by
              finding that termination [of parental rights] does not [best]
              serve [S.C.’s] needs and welfare under 23 Pa.C.S.[A.]
              § 2511(b) where [S.C.] sustained significant physical
              injuries at six weeks of age when he was in the care of
              [Parents]; was removed from [Parents’] care at age six
              weeks and has remained in the care of [Grandparents] ever
              since; shows signs of secure attachment to [Grandparents];
              and has only had supervised contact with [Parents] since he
              was removed?

KidsVoice Brief at 5.5

       In matters involving involuntary termination of parental rights, our

standard of review is well-settled.

       The standard of review in termination of parental rights cases
       requires appellate courts “to accept the findings of fact and
       credibility determinations of the trial court if they are supported
       by the record.” In re [] S.P., 47 A.3d 817, 826 (Pa. 2012). “If
____________________________________________

5KidsVoice raises identical issues in its appeals pertaining to Mother (244 WDA
2020) and Father (245 WDA 2020). We reproduce these issues in tandem
and address them collectively as to both Mother and Father.

Moreover, because CYF’s and KidsVoice’s first and second issues raise the
same challenges to the trial court’s denial of the termination petition, namely
that the trial court erred in finding CYF did not satisfy its burden of proof
pursuant to Section 2511(a)(2), (a)(5), (a)(8), and (b), we address each
parties’ issues in tandem.

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      the factual findings are supported, appellate courts review to
      determine if the trial court made an error of law or abused its
      discretion.” Id. “A decision may be reversed for an abuse of
      discretion     only     upon    demonstration         of     manifest
      unreasonableness, partiality, prejudice, bias, or ill will.” Id. The
      trial court’s decision, however, should not be reversed merely
      because the record would support a different result. Id. at 827.
      We have previously emphasized our deference to trial courts that
      often have first-hand observations of the parties spanning
      multiple hearings. See In re R.J.T., 9 A.3d [1179, 1190 (Pa.
      2010)].

In re T.S.M., 71 A.3d 251, 267 (Pa. 2013) (original brackets omitted). “[T]he

trial court is free to believe all, part, or none of the evidence presented, and

is likewise free to make all credibility determinations and resolve conflicts in

the evidence.” In re Q.R.D., 214 A.3d 233, 239 (Pa. Super. 2019) (citation

omitted). “If competent evidence supports the trial court’s findings, we will

affirm even if the record could also support the opposite result.” In re B.J.Z.,

207 A.3d 914, 921 (Pa. Super. 2019) (citation omitted).

      The termination of parental rights is guided by Section 2511 of the

Adoption Act, which requires a bifurcated analysis of the grounds for

termination followed by an assessment of the needs and welfare of the child.

      Our case law has made clear that under Section 2511, the [trial]
      court must engage in a bifurcated process prior to terminating
      parental rights. Initially, the focus is on the conduct of the parent.
      The party seeking termination must prove by clear and convincing
      evidence that the parent’s conduct satisfies the statutory grounds
      for termination delineated in Section 2511(a). Only if the [trial]
      court determines that the parent’s conduct warrants termination
      of his or her parental rights does the [trial] court engage in the
      second part of the analysis pursuant to Section 2511(b):
      determination of the needs and welfare of the child under the

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      standard of best interests of the child. One major aspect of the
      needs and welfare analysis concerns the nature and status of the
      emotional bond between parent and child, with close attention
      paid to the effect on the child of permanently severing any such
      bond.

B.J.Z., 207 A.3d at 921 (citation omitted, emphasis added). We have defined

clear and convincing evidence as that which is “so clear, direct, weighty, and

convincing as to enable the trier[-]of[-]fact to come to a clear conviction,

without hesitance, of the truth of the precise facts in issue.” In re Z.P., 994

A.2d 1108, 1116 (Pa. Super. 2010) (citation omitted). A child has a right to

a stable, safe, and healthy environment in which to grow, and the “child's life

simply cannot be put on hold in the hope that the parent will summon the

ability to handle the responsibilities of parenting.” In re I.J., 972 A.2d 5, 9

(Pa. Super. 2009).

      Here, CYF and KidsVoice appeal the trial court’s determination under

Sections 2511(a)(2), (a)(5), and (a)(8).      Sections 2511(a)(2), (a)(5), and

(a)(8) provide as follows:

              § 2511. Grounds for involuntary termination

      (a)   General rule.--The rights of a parent in regard to a child
            may be terminated after a petition filed on any of the
            following grounds:

                                        ...

            (2) The repeated and continued incapacity, abuse,
            neglect or refusal of the parent has caused the child to
            be without essential parental care, control or subsistence
            necessary for his physical or mental well-being and the

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           conditions and causes of the incapacity, abuse, neglect
           or refusal cannot or will not be remedied by the parent.

                                      ...

           (5) The child has been removed from the care of the
           parent by the court or under a voluntary agreement with
           an agency for a period of at least six months, the
           conditions which led to the removal or placement of the
           child continue to exist, the parent cannot or will not
           remedy those conditions within a reasonable period of
           time, the services or assistance reasonably available to
           the parent are not likely to remedy the conditions which
           led to the removal or placement of the child within a
           reasonable period of time and termination of the parental
           rights would best serve the needs and welfare of the
           child.

                                      ...

           (8) The child has been removed from the care of the
           parent by the court or under a voluntary agreement with
           an agency, 12 months or more have elapsed from the
           date of removal or placement, the conditions which led
           to the removal or placement of the child continue to exist
           and termination of parental rights would best serve the
           needs and welfare of the child.

23 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 2511(a)(2), (a)(5), and (a)(8).

        In order to terminate parental rights pursuant to 23
        Pa.C.S.A. § 2511(a)(2), the following three elements must
        be met: (1) repeated and continued incapacity, abuse,
        neglect or refusal; (2) such incapacity, abuse, neglect or
        refusal has caused the child to be without essential parental
        care, control or subsistence necessary for his [,or her,]
        physical or mental well-being; and (3) the causes of the
        incapacity, abuse, neglect or refusal cannot or will not be
        remedied.

     In re [] M.E.P., 825 A.2d 1266, 1272 (Pa. Super. 2003) (citation
     omitted). “The grounds for termination due to parental incapacity
     that cannot be remedied are not limited to affirmative misconduct.

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      To the contrary, those grounds may include acts of refusal[,] as
      well as incapacity to perform parental duties.” In re A.L.D., 797
      A.2d 326, 337 (Pa. Super. 2002) (citations omitted).

In re C.D.R., 111 A.3d 1212, 1216 (Pa. Super. 2015).

      Unlike subsection (a)(1), subsection (a)(2) does not emphasize a
      parent's refusal or failure to perform parental duties, but instead
      emphasizes the child's present and future need for essential
      parental care, control[,] or subsistence necessary for his physical
      or mental well-being. Therefore, the language in subsection
      (a)(2) should not be read to compel courts to ignore a child's need
      for a stable home and strong, continuous parental ties, which the
      policy of restraint in state intervention is intended to protect. This
      is particularly so where disruption of the family has already
      occurred and there is no reasonable prospect for reuniting it.

Z.P., 994 A.2d at 1117 (citation omitted).             “[W]hen a parent has

demonstrated a continued inability to conduct his[, or her] life in a fashion

that would provide a safe environment for a child, whether that child is living

with the parent or not, and the behavior of the parent is irremediable as

supported by clear and competent evidence, the termination of parental rights

is justified.” Id. at 1118 (citation omitted). “A parent's vow to cooperate,

after a long period of uncooperativeness regarding the necessity or availability

of services, may properly be rejected as untimely or disingenuous.”            Id.

(citation and original quotation marks omitted).

      “Termination of parental rights under Section 2511(a)(5) requires that:

(1) the child has been removed from parental care for at least six months; (2)

the conditions which led to removal and placement of the child continue to

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exist; and (3) termination of parental rights would best serve the needs and

welfare of the child.” Id.

      To terminate parental rights pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S.A.
      § 2511(a)(8), the following factors must be demonstrated: (1) the
      child has been removed from parental care for 12 months or more
      from the date of removal; (2) the conditions which led to the
      removal or placement of the child continue to exist; and (3)
      termination of parental rights would best serve the needs and
      welfare of the child. Section 2511(a)(8) sets a 12-month time
      frame for a parent to remedy the conditions that led to the
      [child's] removal by the [trial] court. Once the 12-month period
      has been established, the [trial] court must next determine
      whether the conditions that led to the child's removal continue to
      exist, despite the reasonable good faith efforts of the [a]gency
      supplied over a realistic time period. Termination under Section
      2511(a)(8) does not require the [trial] court to evaluate a parent's
      current willingness or ability to remedy the conditions that initially
      caused placement or the availability or efficacy of [a]gency
      services.

Id. (original quotation marks, original brackets, and some citations omitted).

      Section 2511, in “permitting the termination of parental rights[,]

outlines certain irreducible minimum requirements of care that parents must

provide for their children, and a parent who cannot or will not meet the

requirements within a reasonable time following intervention by the state may

properly be considered unfit and have his[, or her,] parental rights

terminated.” Id. (citation and original quotation marks omitted).

      Parental duty requires that the parent act affirmatively with good
      faith interest and effort, and not yield to every problem, in order
      to maintain the parent-child relationship to the best of his[, or
      her,] ability, even in difficult circumstances. A parent must utilize
      all available resources to preserve the parental relationship, and

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      must exercise reasonable firmness in resisting obstacles placed in
      the path of maintaining the parent-child relationship. Parental
      rights are not preserved by waiting for a more suitable or
      convenient time to perform one's parental responsibilities while
      others provide the child with the child's physical and emotional
      needs.

Id. at 1119. (citation and original brackets omitted).

      We begin our analysis by identifying the precise basis for the trial court’s

refusal to terminate parental rights.     The order denying the termination

petition stated, “[CYF] has not met its burden of proof by clear and convincing

evidence that grounds exist for termination of parental rights” of both Mother

and Father. Trial Court Order, 1/21/20. Despite having found that CYF failed

to establish grounds for the involuntary termination of parental rights under

Section 2511(a), the trial court, nonetheless, proceeded to find that

termination of parental rights “does not serve the needs and welfare of the

child” pursuant to Section 2511(b). Id. This apparent inconsistency carried

over to the trial court’s Rule 1925(a) opinion, which stated:

      Based upon the evidence presented, [the trial] court found that
      [CYF] met its burden as it related to 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 2511(a)(2)
      only. "Subsection (a)(2) does not emphasize a parent's refusal or
      failure to perform parental duties, but instead emphasizes the
      child's present and future need for essential parental care, control
      [or] subsistence necessary for his physical and mental
      well-being". In re E.A.P., 944 A.2d 79, 82 (Pa. Super. 2008).
      "Parents are required to make diligent efforts towards the
      reasonabl[y] prompt assumption of full parental responsibilities.
      A parent's vow to cooperate, after a long period of
      uncooperativeness regarding the necessity or availability of
      services, may properly be rejected as untimely or disingenuous".
      In re A.L.D., 797 A.2d 326, 340 (Pa. Super. 2002). [Here, S.C.]

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      came into [CYF’s] care after he suffered serious injuries [while] in
      the care of [Parents]. [Parents] and the maternal grandmother
      were the only caregivers for [S.C.] at the time he sustained these
      injuries. Despite pleading guilty to criminal charges relating [to]
      these injuries, [Parents] have never taken responsibility for
      causing the injuries. As Dr. O'Hara noted, "there is no way to
      address any sort of underlying issue that would have contributed
      to these injuries without anyone acknowledging what has
      happened". Without a plausible explanation, there is no way to
      ensure that [S.C.’s] present and future need for essential parental
      care, control or subsistence necessary for his physical and mental
      well-being will be met.

Trial Court Opinion, 4/24/20, at 11-12 (extraneous capitalization omitted).

      It is well-settled under Pennsylvania law that the trial court’s analysis

under Section 2511(b) is only necessary if grounds for termination exist under

Section 2511(a). See B.J.Z., 207 A.3d at 921 (stating, “[o]nly if the [trial]

court determines that the parent’s conduct warrants termination of his or her

parental rights does the [trial] court engage in the second part of the analysis

pursuant to Section 2511(b)”). Because the trial court in the case sub judice

analyzed the needs and welfare of S.C. pursuant to Section 2511(b), it

logically follows that the trial court found that CYF met its burden of proof

under Section 2511(a)(2) as expressed in its Rule 1925(a) opinion. CYF and

KidsVoice agree that the trial court properly determined that CYF met its

burden of proof for termination of both Mother’s and Father’s parental rights

pursuant to Section 2511(a)(2).       See CYF’s Brief at 21-22; see also

KidsVoice’s Brief at 41-42.

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      “This Court need only agree with the trial court’s decision as to any one

subsection [of Section 2511(a)] in order to affirm the termination of parental

rights.” In re A.S., 11 A.3d 473, 478 (Pa. Super. 2010) (citation, original

brackets, and original quotation marks omitted). Accordingly, we focus our

review in the case sub judice on Section 2511(a)(2).

      Here, a review of the termination petition reveals that CYF became

involved with Parents in November 2017, over concerns that S.C., a

six-week-old infant, sustained serious physical injuries synonymous with child

abuse. See Petition for Involuntary Termination of Parental Rights, 5/15/19,

at ¶8. Dr. Eichman, an expert in pediatric medicine with a specialty in child

abuse, diagnosed S.C.’s injuries during an examination at CHP on November

20, 2017. N.T., 12/6/19, at 173. Parents took S.C. to CHP the preceding day

after discovering that S.C. was vomiting blood. Id. at 173 and CYF Exhibit 6.

Upon her examination of S.C., Dr. Eichman stated that S.C. suffered injuries

inside his mouth due to trauma, fractures of both his legs, and bruising to

both sides of his jaw and his lower back. Id. at 171, 173-174; see also id.

at CYF Exhibit 6 (stating, S.C. suffered acute bucket-handle fractures of both

legs compatible with non-accidental trauma and, in and of themselves, nearly

diagnostic of physical child abuse). S.C. at the time of the evaluation was six

weeks old. Id. at 180. Dr. Eichman reported that, Parents “denie[d] trauma

to [S.C.] but [they] wondered whether [S.C.’s] leg fractures could have been

sustained during a diaper change.”    Id. at 174.   Dr. Eichman stated that,

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Parents’ explanations “did not account for [S.C.’s] injuries, and there was no

acknowledgement on the part of [Parents] of abuse or causation.” Id. at 187.

Dr. Eichman’s medical diagnosis, given to a reasonable degree of medical

certainty, was that S.C. was “the victim of physical child abuse.” Id. at 176,

180. Dr. Eichman proffered that due to the history of a bruise on S.C.’s leg

from several weeks prior, Dr. Eichman was “very concerned that [S.C.] had

been abused more than once.” Id. at CYF Exhibit 6. When asked about the

pain S.C. suffered due to the abuse, Dr. Eichman stated that at the time the

fractures to both of S.C.’s legs occurred, S.C. would have suffered “substantial

pain.” Id. at 176. The injuries to S.C.’s mouth and the bruising on his jawline

and lower back also would have caused S.C. pain. Id. Dr. Eichman opined

that generally speaking, when a child has been physically abused and there is

no explanation for the abuse, there is concern that without some sort of

intervention, and if the violence goes unchecked, the violence would escalate

and the child could sustain worsening injuries during subsequent episodes of

abuse. Id. at 180.

      CYF obtained emergency custody of S.C. because S.C.’s safety could not

be ensured while in the care of Parents due to Parents’ refusal to provide a

plausible explanation as to the causation of S.C.’s injuries. See Petition for

Involuntary Termination of Parental Rights, 5/15/19, at ¶10. On February 4,

2019, Parents pleaded guilty to one count each of endangering the welfare of

a child, S.C. Id. at CYF Exhibits 3 and 4. Parents’ convictions stemmed from

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the significant injuries S.C. sustained, the causation of which Parents were

unable to explain.    Id.   Since his removal from Parents’ care, S.C. has

remained in placement because both Mother and Father failed to successfully

complete the goals established in a Family Plan and as ordered by the trial

court, including, inter alia, participation in anger management counseling.

See Petition for Involuntary Termination of Parental Rights, 5/15/19, at

¶¶9-12.

     The CYF case supervisor stated that CYF continued to have concerns

about the safe parenting of S.C. because Parents did not provide an

explanation of how S.C. sustained the significant injuries. N.T., 12/6/19, at

33, 41, 49-50. Due to CYF’s concerns, neither Mother nor Father has had

unsupervised visitation of S.C. since S.C. was removed from their care. Id.

at 48, 52.      CYF observed that S.C. is “very comfortable” living with

Grandparents, and S.C. “seems very bonded to his caretakers.” Id. at 53.

Grandparents are nurturing of S.C., show him love, and meet his educational,

psychological, and developmental needs. Id. When asked why the parental

rights of Mother and Father should be terminated as to S.C., CYF explained,

     [S.C.] has been in [CYF] care for almost his entire life. He has
     been cared for appropriately by [Grandparents]. There has never
     been any plausible explanation given to [CYF] about how he
     sustained these very concerning injuries at such a young age, and
     [CYF] does not believe that there would be any way to safely
     reunify him with his parents and he deserves permanency.

Id. at 57-58.

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      Dr. O’Hara stated that, Mother reported “having no choice with respect”

to pleading guilty to endangering the welfare of S.C. and denied ever

endangering S.C. Id. at 196. Dr. O’Hara stated that Father pleaded guilty to

endangering the welfare of S.C. and continued to provide no explanation of

how S.C.’s injuries occurred and assumed no responsibility for the injuries.

Id. at 199-200. Dr. O’Hara’s foundational concern in the instant case was

that there was no explanation provided as to how S.C. sustained the

significant injuries. Id. at 196. Dr. O’Hara opined that, there is “no way to

address any sort of underlying issue that would have contributed to [S.C.’s]

injuries without [Parents] acknowledging” how the injuries occurred.          Id.

Parents’ underlying issues, Dr. O’Hara explained, included anger management

issues, low frustration tolerance, and impulsivity. Id. Dr. O’Hara stated that

it is important for Parents to acknowledge responsibility for the abuse because

it can then be determined if Parents are capable of making the necessary

changes, i.e. seek the necessary treatment and develop the necessary

parenting skills, to care for S.C. in the future. Id. at 201. The three factors

that lead to child abuse, according to Dr. O’Hara, are (1) the inability to handle

one’s own presentation, (2) the inability to handle the child’s presentation,

and (3) the bond that exists between the caregiver and the child.          Id. at

201-202.     Dr. O’Hara expressed that, “it's important to acknowledge

responsibility in these cases so that the actual issues that contributed to the

injuries can be sufficiently addressed.” Id. at 203. Dr. O’Hara conveyed a

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great deal of concern over Parents’ lack of prioritizing their anger management

treatment and their continued lack of acknowledgement of responsibility for

S.C.’s injuries or an explanation of how the injuries occurred. Id. at 204. The

effectiveness of Parents’ anger management treatment was limited, according

to Dr. O’Hara, because neither Parent acknowledged any responsibility for

S.C.’s injuries. Id. at 221. Dr. O’Hara proffered that, “[he] would have some

level of concern about [Parents having] unsupervised contact [with S.C.,]

especially if the anger management [treatment] hasn’t been completed.” Id.

at 205. Dr. O’Hara recommended that Parents complete four to five months

of weekly anger management treatment. Id. The executive director of Family

Services of Beaver County testified that Parents completed a six-week anger

management treatment program over the course of eight months and then

returned for a few additional treatment sessions.6 Id. at 134, 147. Dr. O’Hara

stated that, in his opinion, neither Parent complied with the recommendations

for anger management treatment. Id. at 206. To illustrate his concern, Dr.

O’Hara explained that in his most recent evaluation of Mother, Mother stated

____________________________________________

6  The executive director testified that Mother participated in anger
management treatment sessions on April 8, 2019, May 16, 2019, July 2, 2019,
September 12, 2019, October 21, 2019, November 14, 2019, November 20,
2019, November 25, 2019, and December 2, 2019. N.T., 12/6/19, at 134,
147, and CYF Exhibit 5. She testified that Father participated in anger
management treatment sessions on April 8, 2019, May 16, 2019, July 2, 2019,
October 15, 2019, November 14, 2019, November 25, 2019, and December
2, 2019. N.T., 12/6/19, at 134, 147, and CYF Exhibit 5.

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that, “[S.C.] will throw, hit hard, [and] his temperament is bad[.]” Id. at 229.

Dr. O’Hara stated that he felt Mother’s description of S.C. was “a huge

mischaracterization” and revealed Mother’s lack of comprehension of S.C.’s

development and personality dynamics. Id. Dr. O’Hara explained that it was

not uncommon for children within S.C.’s age group to demonstrate occasional

periods of mild aggression and that he was concerned about Mother’s

characterization of S.C.’s temperament as “bad.” Id.

       Based upon a review of the record, we concur with the trial court that

CYF satisfied its burden of proof under Section 2511(a)(2). CYF demonstrated

with clear and convincing evidence that Parents repeatedly refused to provide

a plausible explanation of or take responsibility for S.C.’s injuries and failed to

complete anger management counseling.              Parents’ refusal to provide an

explanation of the causation of the injuries, take responsibility for the injuries,

or complete anger management counseling made it impossible to determine

if   Parents   can   provide   a   safe    environment   for   S.C.   Without   an

acknowledgement of causation, acceptance of responsibility, or completion of

anger management treatment, Parents caused S.C. to be without essential

parental care necessary for his physical and mental well-being, including, inter

alia, providing a safe, secure, and nurturing environment in which to grow,

and Parents’ refusal to acknowledge causation, accept responsibility, or

complete the recommended anger management treatment has not been

remedied. Accordingly, we discern no error of law or abuse of discretion in

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the trial court’s termination of Mother’s and Father’s parental rights to S.C.

pursuant to Section 2511(a)(2).      See Z.P., 994 A.2d at 1118 (holding,

termination of parental rights pursuant to Section 2511(a)(2) is justified when

Parents continue to conduct their lives in a fashion that provides an unsafe

environment for a child and parents refuse to remedy the behavior).

      Once a trial court determines that involuntary termination of parental

rights is warranted under Section 2511(a), the trial court must engage in an

analysis pursuant to Section 2511(b) to determine whether termination is in

the best interests of the child. Section 2511(b) of the Adoption Act states,

              § 2511. Grounds for involuntary termination

                                     ...

      (b) Other considerations.--The court in terminating the rights
      of a parent shall give primary consideration to the developmental,
      physical and emotional needs and welfare of the child. The rights
      of a parent shall not be terminated solely on the basis of
      environmental factors such as inadequate housing, furnishings,
      income, clothing and medical care if found to be beyond the
      control of the parent. With respect to any petition filed pursuant
      to subsection (a)(1), (6) or (8), the court shall not consider any
      efforts by the parent to remedy the conditions described therein
      which are first initiated subsequent to the giving of notice of the
      filing of the petition.

23 Pa.C.S.A. § 2511(b).

      As this Court has explained, “Section 2511(b) does not explicitly
      require a bonding analysis and the term ‘bond’ is not defined in
      the Adoption Act. Case law, however, provides that analysis of
      the emotional bond, if any, between parent and child is a factor to
      be considered” as part of our analysis. In re K.K.R.-S., 958 A.2d
      529, 533 (Pa. Super. 2008). “While a parent's emotional bond

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      with his or her child is a major aspect of the [Section] 2511(b)
      best[-]interest analysis, it is nonetheless only one of many
      factors to be considered by the [trial] court when determining
      what is in the best interest of the child.” In re N.A.M., 33 A.3d
      95, 103 (Pa. Super. 2011) (citing K.K.R.-S., 958 A.2d at
      533-[5]36).

         In addition to a bond examination, the trial court can
         equally emphasize the safety needs of the child, and
         should also consider the intangibles, such as the love,
         comfort, security, and stability the child might have with the
         foster parent. Additionally, this Court stated that the trial
         court should consider the importance of continuity of
         relationships and whether any existing parent-child bond
         can be severed without detrimental effects on the child.

C.D.R., 111 A.3d at 1219 (Pa. Super. 2015) (emphasis added, original

brackets omitted); see also In re J.N.M., 177 A.3d 937, 943-944 (Pa. Super.

2018) (stating, that in performing a best-interest analysis pursuant to

Section 2511(b), the trial could should consider the parent-child bond, if any

exists, the safety needs of the child, intangibles, such as love, comfort,

security, and stability the child may have with the current caregiver, and the

importance of continuing any relationship the child may have with the

caregiver), appeal denied, 183 A.3d 979 (Pa. 2018).

      Here, CYF argues that the trial court erred in denying the termination

petition “because, while termination may prove detrimental to S.C., the harm

is mitigated by his relationship with [Grandparents] and the safety that their

home provides.” CYF’s Brief at 40. CYF contends that the trial court failed to

properly consider the safety concerns if S.C. were returned to Parents’ care,

including, inter alia, that without Parents’ acknowledgement of responsibility

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or causation, the issues which lead to S.C.’s serious injuries remain

unaddressed. Id. at 33-40. CYF submits that the trial court focused, instead,

on the parent-child bond and did not consider S.C.’s safety. Id. at 33-40.

CYF asserts that the trial court further failed to consider S.C.’s bond with

Grandparents or the safe and nurturing environment Grandparents provided

S.C. and “chastise[d Grandparents] for identifying successor caregivers” in

the event they are unable to care of S.C. due to health considerations and

advancing age. Id. at 35-38.

      KidsVoice argues that while the record supports a finding that S.C. had

a bond with Parents, the trial court erred in determining that maintaining this

parent-child bond was necessary and beneficial.        KidsVoice’s Brief at 49.

Rather, KidsVoice contends, “there is no evidence that termination would

cause [S.C.] to suffer extreme emotional consequences” and S.C.’s secure

relationship with Grandparents would mitigate the impact of termination. Id.

at 49-50 (original quotation marks omitted). KidsVoice asserts that the trial

court “notably failed to consider [the] safety concerns if [S.C.] were returned

to the care of [Parents].” Id. at 52. KidsVoice submits that,

      Although the trial court rightly found that Mother and Father “have
      never taken responsibility for causing the injuries” to [S.C.] and
      accepted Dr. O’Hara’s testimony that “there is no way to address
      any sort of underlying issue that would have contributed to these
      injuries without anyone acknowledging what has happened” in its
      analysis of grounds for termination under Section 2511(a)(2) of
      the Adoption Act, it failed to consider these facts in its needs and
      welfare analysis. Throughout his testimony, Dr. O’Hara expressed
      this “foundational concern,” yet the trial court ignored it entirely.

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Id. at 54-55 (record citation omitted).

      In determining that CYF failed to demonstrate by clear and convincing

evidence that the termination of parental rights was in S.C.’s best interest

pursuant to Section 2511(b), the trial court recognized,

      that the existence of a bond between a child and parent will not
      necessarily result in a denial of a termination petition. Once it has
      been determined that there is a bond, the [trial] court must
      conduct further analysis in order to ascertain the nature of the
      bond. Based upon the evidence presented, [the trial] court
      determined that [S.C.] has a necessary and beneficial bond with
      [Parents]. There has been no indication that the bond is an
      unhealthy or pathological one. With respect to attachment, Dr.
      O'Hara reported that [S.C.] "values" his relationship with
      [Parents] and has benefited from it. He reported that there were
      several indications that [S.C.] had a secure attachment with
      [Parents]. He opined that [S.C.] will suffer negative consequences
      if his relationship with [Parents] were to be severed. [Dr. O’Hara]
      also opined that [S.C.] demonstrated several cues that he had a
      secure attachment with [Grandparents]. Dr. O'Hara testified that
      there would be "a lot of positives" if [S.C.] was adopted by
      [Grandparents]. When asked about mitigating the negative
      consequences of termination, Dr. O'Hara concluded that there was
      literature to support [the] notion that children who experience
      security and attachment with at least one caregiver are able to
      handle stress better than those who do not. But he was unable
      to give an ultimate opinion about whether termination of
      Mother[’s] and Father's parental rights would best suit the needs
      and welfare of [S.C.] The testimony of Dr. O'Hara gave the [trial]
      court pause as it was clear that [S.C.] would suffer psychological
      harm if he could not continue his relationship with [Parents]. Dr.
      O'Hara's contention that [S.C.] may be able to handle the stress
      better because he displayed indications of a secure bond with
      [Grandparents] was not compelling.           The [trial] court had
      concerns about [Grandparents] being a long-term placement.
      They have already made arrangements for alternative caregivers
      should their health prohibit them from doing so[.]

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Trial Court Opinion, 4/24/20, at 15-16.

       A review of the trial court’s analysis pursuant to Section 2511(b)

demonstrates that the trial court failed to consider the safety needs of S.C.,

as well as the love, comfort, security, and stability Grandparents provide S.C.,

and the importance of continuing S.C.’s relationship with Grandparents.

Instead, the trial court focused overwhelmingly on the parent-child bond. See

Trial Court Opinion, 4/24/20, at 12-16 (stating, “[t]he best[-]interests

analysis includes many factors that the court must consider[,] [m]ost notably,

the bond that exists between the child and the parent”). While this Court does

not minimize the importance of considering the bond a child shares with a

parent, our case law makes clear that the parent-child bond, if one exists, is

only one of many factors that must be considered by the trial court in

determining whether termination of parental rights is in the child’s best

interest.   See C.D.R., 111 A.3d at 1219; see also J.N.M., 177 A.3d at

943-944.

       When asked about the bond S.C. exhibited with Parents and with

Grandparents, Dr. O’Hara expressed that S.C. showed similar reactions to

both sets of individuals (Parents and Grandparents) indicating that he had a

similar attachment to each set of individuals.7 See N.T., 12/6/19, at 209-211.
____________________________________________

7Dr. O’Hara explained that, a “bond refers to the relationship a caregiver has
with a child [while an] attachment refers to the child’s relationship with the
caregiver.” N.T., 12/6/19, at 209.

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In demonstrating his attachment to Parents, as well as to Grandparents, S.C.

smiled, laughed, was playful and interactive, and showed affection. Id. at

210.   Dr. O’Hara expressed that there would be a detriment to S.C. if his

relationship with any of the parties involved, Mother, Father, or Grandparents,

was terminated, but a child who experiences security, such as the security

that S.C. experienced with Grandparents, would be able to handle the stress

better.   Id. at 213-214, 243.    Although Dr. O’Hara recognized that S.C.

benefited from his attachment with Parents, Dr. O’Hara’s foundational concern

remained that S.C. “sustained substantial injury in [Parents’] care, and [there

has] been no explanation as to what actually happened[.]” Id. at 214, 243.

Dr. O’Hara, in making his recommendation as to the best interest of S.C.,

stated, “I do think that there would be benefit and advantages for [S.C.] if he

were to be adopted by [Grandparents].” Id. at 215, 255-256.

       This Court does not minimize the trial court’s assessment that S.C.

exhibited an attachment with both Mother and Father and that the parent-child

bond must be considered in determining the needs and welfare of S.C. The

record demonstrates that S.C. has a similar attachment with Mother, Father,

and Grandparents, and that S.C. will suffer some detriment if any of these

bonds are terminated.    However, the parent-child bond, or caregiver-child

bond, is only one factor of consideration. In the instant case, it is axiomatic

that S.C.’s bond with Parents comes with limitations given that S.C. was

removed from Parents’ care at six weeks of age and had been in the care of

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Grandparents for the past two years, with only supervised visitation with

Parents.    S.C.’s physical safety prompted his removal from the care and

custody of Parents and the trial court abused its discretion and erred as a

matter of law in failing to consider this factor in conducting its best-interest

analysis.   Dr. O’Hara expressed concerns about returning S.C. to Parents

because Parents failed to acknowledge any responsibility for the significant

injuries S.C. sustained or to provide a logical explanation regarding causation.

Even after attending anger management treatment, albeit less than Dr.

O’Hara’s recommended treatment regimen, and after pleading guilty to

endangering the welfare of S.C., neither Mother nor Father acknowledged

responsibility for S.C.’s injuries or explained how S.C. suffered, inter alia,

internal injuries to his mouth, bruising to his jawline and lower back, and

fractures in both his legs, which were indicative of physical child abuse.

Furthermore, the trial court erred in failing to consider the love, stability, and

security provided to S.C. by Grandparents, who have cared for and nurtured

S.C. from the time he was six weeks old.

      When all essential best-interest factors are considered pursuant to

Section 2511(b), CYF presented clear and convincing evidence that it was in

S.C.’s best interest to terminate the parental rights of Mother and Father.

Consequently, we vacate the trial court’s order denying the termination

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petition and remand this case with the instruction that the trial court enter an

order terminating the parental rights of both Mother and Father.8

        Order vacated.        Case remanded with instructions.        Jurisdiction

relinquished.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 3/15/2021

____________________________________________

8   In light of our decision herein, we do not address CYF’s final issue.

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