Court Opinion

ID: 4279442
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-05-30 15:05:08.499692+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:34:33.017253
License: Public Domain

FILED
MEMORANDUM DECISION                                                    May 30 2018, 9:08 am

                                                                            CLERK
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), this                             Indiana Supreme Court
                                                                           Court of Appeals
                                                                             and Tax Court
Memorandum Decision shall not be
regarded as precedent or cited before any
court except for the purpose of establishing
the defense of res judicata, collateral
estoppel, or the law of the case.

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT                                    ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Rebecca R. Vent                                           Curtis T. Hill, Jr.
Howard County Public Defender’s Office                    Attorney General
Kokomo, Indiana
                                                          Abigail R. Recker
                                                          Deputy Attorney General
                                                          Indianapolis, Indiana

                                           IN THE
    COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

In the Matter of the Involuntary                          May 30, 2018
Termination of the Parent-Child                           Court of Appeals Case No.
Relationship of C.M., A.M. and                            34A02-1711-JT-2578
Z.M. (Minor Children), and                                Appeal from the Howard Circuit
N.M. (Father),                                            Court
                                                          The Honorable Lynn Murray,
Appellant-Respondent,
                                                          Judge
        v.                                                Trial Court Cause Nos.
                                                          34C01-1704-JT-139, -140, -141
The Indiana Department of
Child Services,
Appellee-Petitioner

Crone, Judge.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 34A02-1711-JT-2578 | May 30, 2018             Page 1 of 18
                                                  Case Summary
[1]   N.M. (“Father”) appeals the trial court’s order involuntarily terminating his

      parental rights to his minor children C.M., A.M., and Z.M. (collectively “the

      Children”). We affirm.

                                     Facts and Procedural History
[2]   The Department of Child Services (“DCS”) filed petitions to terminate Father’s

      parental rights on April 6, 2017. Less than a week before the scheduled

      termination hearing, Father filed a motion to continue which was denied by the

      trial court. Evidentiary hearings were held on July 24, July 31, August 7, and

      August 14, 2017. Thereafter, the trial court found the following relevant facts:1

                 2. C.M. was born on November 14, 2002 and is currently 14
                 years old.

                 3. A.M. was born on June 8, 2009 and is currently 8 years old.

                 4. Z.M. was born on April 18, 2014 and is currently 3 years old.

                 5. M.M. [(“Mother”)2] is the biological mother of [the Children].

                 6. Father is the biological father of [the Children].

                 7. On July 8, 2015, DCS received a report that the condition of
                 the home in which Mother and the Children were living was
                 unsanitary and inappropriate, and Mother was using non-

      1
       The trial court refers to the parties by their full names. We use “Father,” “Mother,” “DCS,” and the minor
      children’s initials where appropriate.
      2
          Mother’s parental rights were also terminated. However, she does not participate in this appeal.

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 34A02-1711-JT-2578 | May 30, 2018                Page 2 of 18
        prescribed medications and heroin while caring for the Children.

        8. DCS investigated the family’s home and confirmed that the
        conditions were unsanitary and inappropriate for the Children.

        ….

        11. Due to Mother professing that she wanted to address her drug
        issues, a Safety plan was worked out temporarily removing the
        Children from the residence while Mother corrected the home
        conditions.

        12. At the time that this investigation was commenced, Father
        was incarcerated at the Howard County Criminal Justice Center.

        13. When interviewed by DCS, Father said that he started using
        illegal drugs when he was 7 years old and was currently addicted
        to heroin and prescription pain medications.

        14. Because both parents expressed that they wanted to address
        their substance abuse issues, and the fact that the home
        conditions had improved, DCS and the parents entered into
        Informal Adjustment Agreements for each child that were
        approved by the Court on August 21, 2015.

        15. The Informal Adjustment Programs required both parents to
        refrain from using any illegal substances or non-prescribed
        medications and for both parents to submit to random drug
        screens.

        16. Despite DCS’ involvement, both parents had multiple
        positive drug test results primarily for heroin.

        17. After approximately one (1) month, both parents stopped
        participating and could not be located.

        18. DCS subsequently located the parents at the Garden Inn

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 34A02-1711-JT-2578 | May 30, 2018   Page 3 of 18
        Hotel on October 26th, 2015, where they had been living with
        the children for several weeks.

        19. Mother informed DCS that she and Father were no longer
        interested in participating in the Informal Adjustment Programs.

        20. DCS received a subsequent report on November 2nd
        indicating that on October 30th the Kokomo Police Department
        had made contact with the parents at the Garden Inn Hotel and
        located two rocks of heroin inside a prescription bottle.

        21. DCS investigated this new report and on November 4th
        proceeded to the parents’ hotel room accompanied by law
        enforcement.

        22. Located inside the hotel room were white residue, scales,
        razor blades, a straw, and frozen urine located inside the freezer.

        ….

        25. Due to the parents’ continued use of illegal and/or
        nonprescribed medications, all three children were removed from
        the parents’ care.

        26. C.M. and A.M. were placed with their maternal
        grandparents.

        27. Due to the maternal grandparents’ age and health, the
        youngest child Z.M. was placed in foster care.

        28. Verified Petitions were filed on November 5, 2015 alleging
        that C.M., A.M., and Z.M. were children in need of services
        [“CHINS”].

        29. A Fact Finding Hearing was held on December 21, 2015 and
        all three (3) children were found to be [CHINS].

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 34A02-1711-JT-2578 | May 30, 2018   Page 4 of 18
        30. A Dispositional Hearing was conducted on January 4, 2016.

        31. Both parents were ordered to participate in services including
        substance abuse assessments and recommended treatment,
        random drug screens, mental health evaluations, parenting
        evaluations, parenting services, supervised visitation, maintain
        gainful employment, maintain appropriate housing for
        themselves and for the Children, refrain from any illegal activity
        that would jeopardize their ability to provide and care for their
        children, and to cooperate with DCS.

        ….

        41. In November 2015, Father pled guilty to the offenses of
        possession of heroin, a level 6 felony, and possession of
        marijuana, a misdemeanor, pursuant to a plea agreement, which
        terms provided Father’s sentence would be served on in-home
        detention and supervised probation.

        42. Father was arrested on January 13, 2016 on an outstanding
        warrant for violation of the terms of his home detention; by his
        own testimony, Father admitted that he continued to use illegal
        substances resulting in the violation.

        43. Father remained incarcerated and, [following a hearing,] he
        was ordered to participate in the Howard County Re-Entry
        Program in Howard Superior Court I.

        44. On January 11, 2017, Howard Superior Court I entered an
        order finding Father violated the terms of his Re-Entry Program
        and had been taken into custody.

        ….

        47. As a result of his termination from the Re-Entry Program,
        Father was ordered to serve the balance of his sentence in the
        Howard County Criminal Justice Center with a projected release

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 34A02-1711-JT-2578 | May 30, 2018   Page 5 of 18
        date of August 22, 2017.

        ….

        50. Father has not had any positive drug screens since December
        of 2015; however, during this time, Father was either
        incarcerated or subject to conditions of probation and/or the Re-
        Entry Program.

        51. As part of the Re-Entry Program, Father initially resided at
        the Kokomo Rescue Mission and subsequently moved to the
        CAM Family Shelter.

        52. The CAM Family Shelter provides low cost housing that
        allows participants an opportunity to save up money to obtain
        independent housing for themselves and their family.

        53. During the time Father resided at the Kokomo Rescue
        Mission and CAM Family Shelter, Father was employed earning
        up to $2,600 per month, and he had received a $5,000 tax refund.

        54. Despite his earnings and the tax refund, and prior to his
        incarceration in January 2017, Father had not been able to save
        any funds towards establishing independent housing, instead
        using funds for his own living expenses, criminal fees and fines,
        obtaining a vehicle, and restoring his driver’s license.

        55. While in the Re-Entry Program, Father participated in
        services through the CHINS case including visitations with [the
        Children]; although from September 2016 through January 2017,
        he cancelled or missed approximately twelve (12) visits, a few
        visits missed due to work or illness, but others due to Father
        spending time with a girlfriend.

        56. Since incarcerated in January 2017, Father had telephone
        contact with the Children for about a month until the

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 34A02-1711-JT-2578 | May 30, 2018   Page 6 of 18
        communications were stopped, as it was upsetting for the
        Children when Father blamed their Mother for their
        circumstances; Father sent no cards or letters to the Children in
        an effort to maintain contact with them.

        ….

        58. The parents’ oldest child C.M. … recalls that throughout his
        life, his parents have regularly used drugs; in fact, Father
        admitted that for at least 11 or 14 years since C.M.’s birth, he
        used drugs.

        59. While his parents were using drugs, C.M. regularly had to
        take responsibility for cleaning their home and caring for his
        younger sibling(s).

        ….

        62. Based upon his past experience, C.M. does not believe his
        parents will stop using drugs or be able to provide [him] and his
        younger siblings with a stable appropriate home for any
        consistent period of time.

        63. C.M. now feels safe and has a sense of stability living with his
        maternal grandparents, and is in favor of being adopted by them.

        64. Despite expressing continuing love for both of his parents,
        C.M. feels strongly that he and his siblings need long lasting
        stability and permanency.

        65. [Court Appointed Special Advocate (“CASA”)] Lisa
        Wag[o]ner believes granting termination of Mother’s and
        Father’s parental rights would be in the best interest of the
        Children.”

        ….

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 34A02-1711-JT-2578 | May 30, 2018   Page 7 of 18
              67. Despite Father not testing positive for illegal substances since
              December of 2015, Ms. [Wagoner] opined the unlikelihood
              Father would remain drug and crime free based on his long
              history of substance abuse and placing his own needs ahead of
              the Children’s needs.

              ….

              82. DCS’ permanency plan for C.M. is adoption by his maternal
              grandparents and that the permanency plans for A.M. and Z.M.
              are adoption by the foster family with all Children continuing to
              maintain regular contact.

      Appellant’s App. Vol. 1 at 15-22.

[3]   Based upon these findings of fact, the trial court concluded that: (1) there is a

      reasonable probability that the conditions that resulted in the Children’s

      removal and continued placement outside the home will not be remedied by

      Father; (2) there is a reasonable probability that the continuation of the parent-

      child relationship between Father and the Children poses a threat to their well-

      being; (3) termination of the parent-child relationship between Father and the

      Children is in the Children’s best interests; and (4) DCS has a satisfactory plan

      for the care and treatment of the Children, which is adoption. Accordingly, the

      trial court determined that DCS had proven the allegations of the petitions to

      terminate parental rights by clear and convincing evidence and therefore

      terminated Father’s parental rights. This appeal ensued.

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 34A02-1711-JT-2578 | May 30, 2018   Page 8 of 18
                                     Discussion and Decision
[4]   “The purpose of terminating parental rights is not to punish the parents but,

      instead, to protect their children. Thus, although parental rights are of a

      constitutional dimension, the law provides for the termination of these rights

      when the parents are unable or unwilling to meet their parental

      responsibilities.” In re A.P., 882 N.E.2d 799, 805 (Ind. Ct. App. 2008) (citation

      omitted). “[T]ermination is intended as a last resort, available only when all

      other reasonable efforts have failed.” Id. A petition for the involuntary

      termination of parental rights must allege in pertinent part:

          (B) that one (1) of the following is true:

              (i) There is a reasonable probability that the conditions that
              resulted in the child’s removal or the reasons for placement
              outside the home of the parents will not be remedied.

              (ii) There is a reasonable probability that the continuation of the
              parent-child relationship poses a threat to the well-being of the
              child.

              (iii) The child has, on two (2) separate occasions, been
              adjudicated a child in need of services;

          (C) that termination is in the best interests of the child; and

          (D) that there is a satisfactory plan for the care and treatment of the child.

      Ind. Code § 31-35-2-4(b)(2). DCS must prove that termination is appropriate by

      a showing of clear and convincing evidence. In re V.A., 51 N.E.3d 1140, 1144

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 34A02-1711-JT-2578 | May 30, 2018   Page 9 of 18
      (Ind. 2016). If the trial court finds that the allegations in a petition are true, the

      court shall terminate the parent-child relationship. Ind. Code § 31-35-2-8(a).

[5]   “We have long had a highly deferential standard of review in cases involving

      the termination of parental rights.” C.A. v. Ind. Dep’t of Child Servs., 15 N.E.3d

      85, 92 (Ind. Ct. App. 2014).

              We neither reweigh evidence nor assess witness credibility. We
              consider only the evidence and reasonable inferences favorable to
              the trial court’s judgment. Where the trial court enters findings
              of fact and conclusions thereon, we apply a two-tiered standard
              of review: we first determine whether the evidence supports the
              findings and then determine whether the findings support the
              judgment. In deference to the trial court’s unique position to
              assess the evidence, we will set aside a judgment terminating a
              parent-child relationship only if it is clearly erroneous.

      Id. at 92-93 (citations omitted). “A judgment is clearly erroneous if the findings

      do not support the trial court’s conclusions or the conclusions do not support

      the judgment.” In re R.J., 829 N.E.2d 1032, 1035 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005).

[6]   In this appeal, Father contends that the trial court abused its discretion in

      denying his motion to continue the termination hearing. He also challenges the

      sufficiency of the evidence supporting the trial court’s conclusion that there is a

      reasonable probability that the conditions that resulted in the Children’s

      removal from and continued placement outside of his care will not be remedied,

      and that termination of his parental rights is in the Children’s best interests.

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 34A02-1711-JT-2578 | May 30, 2018   Page 10 of 18
           Section 1 – The trial court did not abuse its discretion in
                    denying Father’s motion to continue.
[7]   Father first contends that the trial court should have granted his motion to

      continue the termination hearing. The decision to grant or deny a motion to

      continue is within the sound discretion of the trial court, and we will reverse

      only for an abuse of discretion. In re J.E., 45 N.E.3d 1243, 1246 (Ind. Ct. App.

      2015), trans. denied (2016). An abuse of discretion occurs when the trial court’s

      conclusion is clearly against the logic and effect of the facts and circumstances

      before the court or the reasonable and probable deductions to be drawn

      therefrom. Id. When a motion to continue has been denied, an abuse of

      discretion will be found if the moving party has demonstrated good cause for

      granting the motion, but we will reverse the trial court’s decision only if the

      moving party can show that he was prejudiced by the denial. Id.

[8]   Father argues that his release from incarceration was scheduled for about a

      month from the first termination hearing date, and that the trial court had good

      cause to grant his motion to give him “the opportunity to be released from jail

      and re-engage in services.” Appellant’s Br. at 15. As stated above, we will

      reverse the trial court’s decision only if Father can show he was prejudiced by

      the denial of his motion to continue. In an attempt to show that he was

      prejudiced, Father likens his situation to that of the incarcerated parents in K.E.

      v. Indiana Department of Child Services, 39 N.E.3d 641 (Ind. 2015), and In re GY,

      904 N.E.2d 1257, 1266 (Ind. 2009). In both of those cases, our supreme court

      overturned the termination of an incarcerated parent’s parental rights

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 34A02-1711-JT-2578 | May 30, 2018   Page 11 of 18
      concluding that, in light of each parent’s imminent release from incarceration, it

      was in the children’s best interests to give those parents additional time to

      participate in services. However, in each case, the primary condition for

      removal and continued placement outside the home was the parent’s

      incarceration during the entire pendency of the CHINS case, and the parent

      whose rights were terminated never truly had an opportunity to participate in

      any services outside of incarceration. See K.E., 39 N.E.3d at 644, 648-49; GY,

      904 N.E.2d at 1263-64. Moreover, the parent in each of those cases

      participated in numerous programs while incarcerated to show a clear

      dedication to improving parenting skills and working toward reunification. Id.

[9]   Unlike in those cases, the primary reason for the Children’s removal and

      continued placement outside of Father’s care was not his incarceration, but his

      drug addiction and inability to provide the Children with a stable home.

      Indeed, Father was not incarcerated for the entire pendency of the CHINS case.

      He was released on two occasions and was able to participate in reunification

      services outside of incarceration. While he did participate in some services, he

      continued to put his needs above those of the Children, choosing to squander

      money, skip visitation time, and ultimately revert back to criminal and other

      noncompliant behavior causing him to become reincarcerated. Moreover,

      while we commend Father for the programs he has completed during his most

      recent incarceration, this is not one of those extreme cases where there “was

      seemingly nothing else that [Father] could have been doing to demonstrate his

      dedication to obtaining reunification.” K.E., 39 N.E.3d at 649. Over the last

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 34A02-1711-JT-2578 | May 30, 2018   Page 12 of 18
       two years, Father’s dedication to maintaining a parental relationship with the

       Children has been sporadic, to say the least. Under the circumstances, we

       cannot say that the trial court abused its discretion in denying the motion to

       continue. Moreover, Father has not shown that he was prejudiced by the trial

       court’s denial. Therefore, we affirm that decision.

              Section 2 – Sufficient evidence supports the trial court’s
           conclusion that there is a reasonable probability of unchanged
                                     conditions.
[10]   Father next asserts that DCS failed to present clear and convincing evidence

       that there is a reasonable probability that the conditions that led to the

       Children’s removal and continued placement outside of his care will not be

       remedied.3 In determining whether there is a reasonable probability that the

       conditions that led to the Children’s removal and continued placement outside

       the home will not be remedied, we engage in a two-step analysis. K.T.K. v. Ind.

       Dep’t of Child Servs., 989 N.E.2d 1225, 1231 (Ind. 2013). First, “we must

       ascertain what conditions led to their placement and retention in foster care.”

       Id. Second, “we ‘determine whether there is a reasonable probability that those

       3
         Father also argues that DCS failed to prove that there is a reasonable probability that the continuation of
       the parent-child relationship poses a threat to the well-being of the Children. However, Indiana Code Section
       31-35-2-4(b)(2)(B) is written in the disjunctive, such that, to properly effectuate the termination of parental
       rights, the trial court need only find that one of the three requirements of that subsection has been established
       by clear and convincing evidence. A.D.S. v. Ind. Dep’t of Child Servs., 987 N.E.2d 1150, 1156 (Ind. Ct. App.
       2013), trans. denied. Accordingly, we will address the sufficiency of the evidence regarding only one of the
       three requirements. We do note, however, that our review of the record indicates that there is substantial
       evidence to support a conclusion that continuation of the parent-child relationship between Father and the
       Children poses a threat to their well-being.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 34A02-1711-JT-2578 | May 30, 2018                Page 13 of 18
       conditions will not be remedied.’” Id. (quoting In re I.A., 934 N.E.2d 1132,

       1134 (Ind. 2010) (citing In re A.A.C., 682 N.E.2d 542, 544 (Ind. Ct. App.

       1997))). In the second step, the trial court must judge a parent’s fitness at the

       time of the termination proceeding, taking into consideration evidence of

       changed conditions, and balancing a parent’s recent improvements against

       “‘habitual pattern[s] of conduct to determine whether there is a substantial

       probability of future neglect or deprivation.’” In re E.M., 4 N.E.3d 636, 643

       (Ind. 2014) (quoting K.T.K., 989 N.E.2d at 1231). “A pattern of unwillingness

       to deal with parenting problems and to cooperate with those providing social

       services, in conjunction with unchanged conditions, support a finding that there

       exists no reasonable probability that the conditions will change.” Lang v. Starke

       Cty. Office of Family & Children, 861 N.E.2d 366, 372 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007), trans.

       denied. The evidence presented by DCS “need not rule out all possibilities of

       change; rather, DCS need establish only that there is a reasonable probability

       that the parent’s behavior will not change.” In re Kay L., 867 N.E.2d 236, 242

       (Ind. Ct. App. 2007).

[11]   Father argues that the Children were initially removed from his care due to his

       drug addiction, and he emphasizes that he has not tested positive for illegal

       substances since December of 2015. Thus, he asserts, there is insufficient

       evidence to show that there is a reasonable probability that his drug addiction

       will not be remedied. However, as specifically noted by the trial court, since his

       last positive drug screen, Father has consistently been incarcerated and/or

       involved with strict programs in the criminal justice system that would subject

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 34A02-1711-JT-2578 | May 30, 2018   Page 14 of 18
       him to sanctions if he tested positive. Indeed, while he may not have submitted

       a positive test, by Father’s own admission, he continued to use illegal drugs

       while on home detention, which resulted in his 2016 arrest. The evidence

       further indicates that when Father was subsequently permitted to participate in

       the Howard County Re-Entry Program, he was terminated from that program

       for improper behavior, including concerns that he was purchasing drugs. Based

       upon ample evidence of “the nature and extent of [Father’s] drug use, his

       history of prior relapses, and the fact that he continued to repeatedly use illegal

       substances despite DCS’[s] involvement and his involvement in the criminal

       system,” the trial court was “unconvinced that Father will not return to his

       habitual behavior of using illegal substances.” Appellant’s App. Vol. 1 at 26.

       This was the trial court’s prerogative, and we will not second-guess that

       determination. We conclude that clear and convincing evidence supports the

       trial court’s conclusion that there is a reasonable probability the conditions that

       led to the Children’s removal and continued placement outside of Father’s care

       will not be remedied.

           Section 3 – Sufficient evidence supports the trial court’s
         conclusion that termination of Father’s parental rights is in
                         the Children’s best interests.
[12]   Father also contends that the evidence does not support the trial court’s

       conclusion that termination of his parental rights is in the Children’s best

       interests. In considering whether termination of parental rights is in the best

       interests of a child, the trial court is required to look beyond the factors

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 34A02-1711-JT-2578 | May 30, 2018   Page 15 of 18
       identified by DCS and look to the totality of the evidence. McBride v. Monroe

       Cty. Office of Family & Children, 798 N.E.2d 185, 203 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003). In

       doing so, the trial court must subordinate the interests of the parent to those of

       the child involved. Id. The trial court need not wait until the child is

       irreversibly harmed before terminating parental rights. Id. “The historic

       inability to provide adequate housing, stability, and supervision, coupled with

       the current inability to provide the same, will support a finding that

       continuation of the parent-child relationship is contrary to the child’s best

       interests.” In re A.H., 832 N.E.2d 563, 570 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005). The testimony

       of service providers may support a finding that termination is in the child’s best

       interests. McBride, 798 N.E.2d at 203.

[13]   Here, DCS Family Case Manager Christina Knosp testified that throughout her

       involvement with the family, Father has been in and out of incarceration. She

       noted that during his periods of release, Father failed to comply with the terms

       of his home detention and further failed to successfully complete his re-entry

       program. She expressed significant concern regarding his habitual patterns of

       criminal behavior and his admitted long history of drug addiction, emphasizing

       that Father has only been able to remain clean when incarcerated or living

       “under a very strict program which required him not to use drugs.” Tr. Vol. 2

       at 35. Knosp stated that, despite ample opportunity, Father has never

       established a “track record” for staying drug free on his own. Id. at 36. Knosp

       testified that the Children had witnessed Father’s multiple arrests, and that

       fourteen-year-old C.M. “has been forced to raise his younger siblings for years.”

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 34A02-1711-JT-2578 | May 30, 2018   Page 16 of 18
       Id. at 35. Acknowledging that Father was set to be released from incarceration

       in about a month, Knosp stated, “[W]e’re back to square one at that point.

       [Father] has no job, he has, you know, no plans for working, for housing and all

       those things have to start over.” Id. at 36. Knosp opined that termination of

       Father’s parental rights is in the Children’s best interests because, “[t]hese

       children deserve permanency. This case has been open for over two years at

       this point.” Id.

[14]   Similarly, CASA Lisa Wagoner was unequivocal in her opinion that

       termination of Father’s parental rights was in the Children’s best interests. She

       stated that she believes that Father’s habitual patterns of conduct are most

       indicative of his future behavior and she does not believe that Father has put

       forth a good faith effort toward any sort of reunification. She opined that the

       Children need stability and not to be let down again by Father as “has

       happened various times in their past.” Id. at 169. As noted above, the trial

       court need not wait until a child is irreversibly harmed before terminating the

       parent-child relationship. See McBride, 798 N.E.2d at 203. DCS presented

       sufficient evidence to support the trial court’s conclusion that termination of

       Father’s parental rights is in the Children’s best interests.

[15]   In sum, we will reverse a termination of parental rights only upon a showing of

       clear error—that which leaves us with a definite and firm conviction that a

       mistake has been made. C.A., 15 N.E.3d at 92-93. Based on the record before

       us, we cannot say that the trial court’s termination of Father’s rights to the

       Children was clearly erroneous. We therefore affirm the trial court’s judgment.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 34A02-1711-JT-2578 | May 30, 2018   Page 17 of 18
[16]   Affirmed.

       Bailey, J., and Brown, J., concur.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 34A02-1711-JT-2578 | May 30, 2018   Page 18 of 18