Court Opinion

ID: 6353340
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-06-24 05:05:22.872824+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:14:04.491914
License: Public Domain

If this opinion indicates that it is “FOR PUBLICATION,” it is subject to
                  revision until final publication in the Michigan Appeals Reports.

                           STATE OF MICHIGAN

                            COURT OF APPEALS

                                                                      UNPUBLISHED
In re NORTON/BARKER, Minors.                                          June 23, 2022

                                                                      No. 359044
                                                                      Genesee Circuit Court
                                                                      Family Division
                                                                      LC No. 18-135468-NA

Before: RONAYNE KRAUSE, P.J., and M. J. KELLY and YATES, JJ.

PER CURIAM.

        Respondent-mother appeals as of right the trial court’s order terminating her parental rights
to the minor children JN and LB, pursuant to MCL 712A.19b(3)(c)(i) (conditions that led to
adjudication continue to exist), (g) (failure to provide proper care and custody), and (j) (reasonable
likelihood of harm if returned to parent).1 We affirm.

                           I. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

        In October 2018, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) filed a petition
requesting that the trial court remove JN and LB from respondent’s home and authorize the
petition. The petition included allegations that respondent physically abused JN, including beating
him with a belt and kicking him, resulting in extensive bruising, and withholding food as a
punishment. The petition further alleged that respondent did not have adequate housing.
Respondent pleaded no contest to the allegations in the petition regarding her lack of adequate
housing. The trial court adopted DHHS’s recommended case service plan, which required
respondent to maintain regular contact with DHHS, establish and maintain suitable housing,
establish and maintain a legal source of income, sign all documentation, complete a psychological

1
  JN’s legal father could not be located after a diligent search, and as a result, the trial court
terminated the parental rights of all known and unknown fathers of JN in this action. LB’s legal
father was also a respondent in this action for a period of time; however, a separate petition was
filed to terminate his parental rights, and he is not a party to this appeal.

                                                 -1-
evaluation and follow all recommendations from this evaluation, complete counseling services,
and complete parenting education classes.

        Pursuant to an emergency safety plan agreed upon by respondent and Child Protective
Services (CPS), the children were initially placed with respondent’s godmother, CB, with whom
the children were very close. When CB was recovering from surgery, JN was temporarily placed
elsewhere and was placed back with CB after she recovered; however, LB was placed with a
paternal relative for the duration of the trial court proceedings.

        Respondent participated in some services, but petitioner ultimately concluded that she had
not made progress. DHHS filed a supplemental petition in January 2021, requesting termination
of respondent’s parental rights. JN’s foster care caseworker testified that respondent was referred
to counseling, and that she attended counseling with a therapist, but her therapy was later
terminated because of lack of attendance and lack of engagement. Respondent did complete a
psychological evaluation, but she did not complete the recommendation from that evaluation that
she continue to attend therapy. Respondent’s therapist also referred respondent to therapy at
Genesee Health Services (GHS), but respondent did not inform her caseworkers that she completed
intake or attended therapy there. Respondent also was in the psychological ward of a hospital for
a week because of mental health concerns, and she received therapy while she was there. At the
time of the termination hearing, respondent was receiving case management services at the HOPE
Network and she had a psychiatrist, but she was on a long waitlist for therapy.2 Respondent was
receiving medication to treat her bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. However, respondent never
provided her caseworker with her medication to verify this. Respondent inconsistently took her
prescribed medications, believing she did not need them, and she admitted that she had only started
taking them consistently “maybe two months ago.”

       JN’s caseworker also testified that although respondent completed two parenting classes,
respondent was terminated from several other programs, including the supportive visitation
program and the parent supportive partner program, for lack of engagement and an altercation
between respondent’s family3 and the program facilitator. Regarding respondent’s parenting time,
respondent missed 43 out of 81 parenting visits throughout the lower court proceedings.

2
  It appears there was some confusion about whether respondent’s treatment with the psychiatrist
constituted therapy. One foster care caseworker opined that the psychiatrist was not a therapist,
whereas another foster care caseworker believed that the psychiatrist was a therapist and testified
that she had only recently been informed otherwise. Conversely, a mental health case manager at
HOPE Network testified that the psychiatrist was, in fact, one of the two therapists on staff and so
respondent’s sessions with the psychiatrist constituted counseling sessions. Respondent’s
testimony was unclear but suggested that she believed the mental health case manager was her
therapist. The foster care case manager opined that respondent should have known otherwise,
because case notes reflected that respondent had asked the case manager about needing a therapist.
3
 The nature of the altercation was not clearly described, but it entailed CB having initially allowed
respondent to visit the children in her own home, subject to the condition that respondent not bring
other people. However, respondent “constantly” did bring other members of her family, who were
angry and aggressive and made CB feel unsafe when they tried to get into her home.

                                                -2-
Respondent never physically hit her children during parenting time visits; however, several issues
arose during respondent’s parenting time. Respondent frequently had inappropriate conversations
with JN, making promises she could not or did not keep. For example, respondent promised JN a
bike, that she would bring him home soon, and that she would bring him cupcakes for his birthday.
Respondent did not follow through on these promises; and following the latter promise, JN waited
outside for respondent for the entire day. As a consequence of the breached promises, in addition
to JN’s ADHD and other special needs, JN engaged in behavioral issues and self-harm.
Meanwhile, respondent regarded her failure to provide the cupcakes as promised as no big deal.
JN’s caseworker ultimately believed that JN would suffer psychological harm if placed in
respondent’s care, and that it was in the children’s best interests to terminate respondent’s parental
rights.

        JN’s caseworker also testified that respondent never had adequate housing. During the
proceedings, respondent moved frequently between hotels, family members’ homes, and
apartments. A home visit was performed at one of respondent’s apartments, but this apartment
was not suitable for children because of safety hazards. Respondent also provided her caseworker
with a lease for an apartment, but the caseworker discovered respondent had forged the lessor’s
signature on the lease. At the time of the termination hearing, respondent was living with her
sister. This housing was also inadequate because respondent’s sister had five children and was on
the CPS registry due to a prior CPS case that was closed at the time of the termination hearings.

        LB’s caseworker testified that she believed respondent and the children had a bond, but it
was more of a “playmate bond.” Respondent testified that she did not consistently take her
medication for her bipolar disorder and her schizophrenia. Respondent also was taking anger
management classes, but she did not inform her caseworker or provide proof that she was taking
these classes. Further, respondent admitted to hitting JN with a belt “[t]en times across the butt.”

        After the close of proofs, the trial court concluded that (1) although DHHS’s referrals may
have been “lacking” toward the end of the case, overall, DHHS made reasonable efforts to provide
services to respondent, but she failed to engage in services, (2) petitioner had established statutory
grounds for termination pursuant to “each of the statutorily plead basis [sic]” in the supplemental
petition,4 and (3) termination was in the children’s best interests.

4
  In the supplemental petition, petitioner alleged that termination was warranted under MCL
712A.19b(3)(a)(i), (a)(ii), (b)(i), (c)(i), (g), (j) and (k)(i). The trial court, in its findings regarding
respondent-mother, did not cite any of the above subparagraphs, but only mentioned statutory
language from subparagraph (c), and stated that “there’s been a showing by clear and convincing
evidence that each of the statutorily pleaded bases have been shown by the prosecuting attorney.”
This was erroneous, because subparagraphs (a)(i), (a)(ii), and (k)(i) were, in fact, pleaded and were
not applicable to respondent-mother because there was no evidence she abandoned her children.
These subparagraphs were applicable only to all known and unknown fathers of JN. On appeal,
the parties agree that termination of respondent-mother’s parental rights was ordered under
subparagraphs (c)(i), (g), and (j); neither party mentions subparagraph (b)(i), even though it
appears the evidence would support a finding of statutory grounds under (b)(i). Nevertheless,

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                                 II. STANDARDS OF REVIEW

        “In order to terminate parental rights, the trial court must find by clear and convincing
evidence that at least one of the statutory grounds for termination in MCL 712A.19b(3) has been
met.” In re VanDalen, 293 Mich App 120, 139; 809 NW2d 412 (2011). The trial court’s factual
findings and its determination that statutory grounds for termination of parental rights exist are
reviewed for clear error. In re Mason, 486 Mich 142, 152; 782 NW2d 757 (2010). “Once a
statutory ground for termination has been proven, the trial court must find that termination is in
the child’s best interests before it can terminate parental rights.” In re Olive/Metts Minors, 297
Mich App 35, 40; 823 NW2d 144 (2012). The best interests of the child need only be established
by a preponderance of the evidence on the whole record. In re White, 303 Mich App 701, 713;
846 NW2d 61 (2014). We review a trial court’s determination of best interests for clear error. In
re Sandborn, ___ Mich App ___, ___; ___ NW2d ___ (2021) (Docket No. 354915); slip op at 10.
“A finding of fact is clearly erroneous if the reviewing court has a definite and firm conviction that
a mistake has been committed, giving due regard to the trial court’s special opportunity to observe
the witnesses.” In re BZ, 264 Mich App 286, 296-297; 690 NW2d 505 (2004).

        Generally, a trial court’s findings regarding reasonable efforts are also reviewed for clear
error. See In re Fried, 266 Mich App 535, 541-543; 702 NW2d 192 (2005). However, respondent
did not challenge the sufficiency of the services offered when her service plan was adopted, and
therefore, any challenge to the adequacy of the service plan itself is not preserved. 5 In re Frey,
297 Mich App 242, 247; 824 NW2d 569 (2012) (quotation marks and citation omitted).
Unpreserved issues are reviewed for plain error affecting substantial rights. In re Utrera, 281
Mich App 1, 8; 761 NW2d 253 (2008). To establish plain error, a respondent must “establish that
(1) error occurred; (2) the error was plain, i.e., clear or obvious; and (3) the plain error affected
their substantial rights. And the error must have seriously affected the fairness, integrity or public
reputation of judicial proceedings.” In re Ferranti, 504 Mich 1, 29; 934 NW2d 610 (2019)
(quotation marks, citations, and alterations omitted).

                                  III. REASONABLE EFFORTS

       Respondent argues that DHHS failed to make reasonable efforts to avoid terminating her
parental rights because it did not make additional referrals for a therapist, did nothing to help
respondent obtain a new therapist after respondent stopped receiving therapy, negligently assumed
she was receiving therapy when she was actually on a waitlist to receive therapy, and failed to

given these overall circumstances and the agreement between the parties regarding the statutory
grounds on which the court relied, we will assume for purposes of this appeal that termination of
respondent-mother’s parental rights was ordered under only subparagraphs (c)(i), (g), and (j).
5
  Our Supreme Court implied that a mechanical application of this rule may be inappropriate under
circumstances where deficiencies in a service plan could not reasonably have been detected at the
outset. See In re Hicks, 500 Mich 79, 89 n 9; 893 NW2d 637 (2017). However, respondent appears
to challenge the implementation of her service plan, rather than the design of the plan, so we do
not believe the criticism discussed in Hicks is applicable here. Conversely, we do not believe the
rule precludes respondent from arguing that petitioner did not uphold its end of the deal.

                                                 -4-
provide her with additional mental health services to assist her with time management and coping
mechanisms. We disagree.

        “Reasonable efforts to reunify the child and family must be made in all cases absent
aggravated circumstances.” In re Smith-Taylor, ___ Mich ___, ___; ___ NW2d ___ (2022)
(Docket No. 163725); slip op at 1 (quotation marks and citation omitted, emphasis in original).
“Reasonable efforts must include a service plan outlining the steps that both the Department and
the parent will take to rectify the issues that led to court involvement and to achieve reunification.”
Id. (quotation marks, citation, and alteration omitted). Even though DHHS has a responsibility to
make reasonable efforts to provide services to reunify the respondent and the child, “there exists a
commensurate responsibility on the part of respondents to participate in the services that are
offered.” Frey, 297 Mich App at 248. To demonstrate that petitioner did not make reasonable
efforts to reunify the family, respondent must demonstrate that she would have fared better had
petitioner offered other services. See Fried, 266 Mich App at 543.

        DHHS made reasonable efforts to provide mental health services to respondent. See Smith-
Taylor, ___ Mich at ___; slip op at 1. At the start of her case, DHHS referred respondent for
therapy. The therapist terminated respondent’s therapy because of respondent’s lack of attendance
and failure to engage in the sessions she attended. The therapist determined respondent needed
additional therapy and referred her to GHS for additional therapy. Further, respondent received
some therapy in the psychological ward at the hospital for seven days. After respondent was
discharged, respondent was asked by her caseworker if she was participating in therapy, but she
never provided any information about whether or not she completed intake, at GHS or elsewhere,
or that she was participating in therapy. In addition, respondent was not participating in therapy
at the time of the termination hearings at the HOPE Network because she was on a waitlist.
Clearly, respondent absolutely cannot be faulted for circumstances outside her control, such as
whether any therapists are actually available. However, respondent’s caseworker thought that
respondent was receiving therapy at the HOPE Network through her psychiatrist, which was why
additional referrals were not provided, and, given the HOPE Network case manager’s testimony
that the psychiatrist was in fact a therapist,6 that misapprehension does not appear entirely
unreasonable under the circumstances. Ultimately, respondent’s historical failure to participate
fully in therapy that was available to her, and her apparent failure to follow through with the
numerous referrals provided to her for therapy after her therapy was terminated, show that she did
not follow through with her responsibility to participate in the services offered. See Frey, 297
Mich App at 248.

        Further, there was no evidence that respondent’s case service plan was inadequately
designed or incomplete. Respondent received not only therapy services, but also services to assist
her with time management skills and coping mechanisms. This evidence demonstrates that DHHS
made reasonable efforts to avoid termination and provide respondent with services throughout her
case, see Smith-Taylor, ___ Mich at ___; slip op at 2, but that respondent failed to engage with
services, see Frey, 297 Mich App at 248. Therefore, on the basis of this evidence, the trial court

6
    See footnote 2.

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did not err by concluding that petitioner made reasonable efforts to reunify respondent and her
children.

                     IV. STATUTORY GROUNDS FOR TERMINATION

       Respondent argues that the trial court erred by finding clear and convincing evidence to
terminate her parental rights because none of the statutory grounds were established. We disagree.

       The trial court found, in relevant part, statutory grounds for termination established by clear
and convincing evidence pursuant to MCL 712A.19b(c)(i). MCL 712A.19b(3)(c)(i) provides in
relevant part:

               (3) The court may terminate a parent’s parental rights to a child if the court
       finds, by clear and convincing evidence, 1 or more of the following:

                                               * * *

              (c) The parent was a respondent in a proceeding brought under this chapter,
       182 or more days have elapsed since the issuance of an initial dispositional order,
       and the court, by clear and convincing evidence, finds . . . the following:

              (i) The conditions that led to the adjudication continue to exist and there is
       no reasonable likelihood that the conditions will be rectified within a reasonable
       time considering the child’s age.

Termination of parental rights pursuant to MCL 712A.19b(3)(c)(i) is proper when “the totality of
the evidence amply supports that [the parent] had not accomplished any meaningful change in the
conditions” that led to the trial court taking jurisdiction over the minor, In re Williams, 286 Mich
App 253, 272; 779 NW2d 286 (2009), and “there is no reasonable likelihood that the conditions
will be rectified within a reasonable time considering the child’s age,” MCL 712A.19b(3)(c)(i).

        The conditions that led to adjudication were respondent’s lack of suitable housing and her
physical abuse of JN, which was addressed in her case service plan through services for her mental
health issues and parenting classes. Respondent pleaded no contest to the allegation in the
complaint regarding her lack of suitable housing. Respondent argues she made progress for
months before the termination hearings and had addressed the issues that led to her children being
placed in care because she had not physically disciplined her children in three years, had learned
new parenting methods, visited her psychiatrist and took her medication regularly, had housing,
had a steady income, and had received mental health services. We find the totality of the evidence
supports the conclusion that even if respondent did make some efforts, ultimately respondent did
not make any meaningful change or progress in obtaining suitable housing or in addressing her
mental health issues, see Williams, 286 Mich App at 272-273, and there was no evidence she could
do so within a reasonable amount of time considering the children’s ages, MCL 712A.19b(3)(c)(i).

        Respondent failed to obtain and maintain suitable housing, and she did not have suitable
housing at any point during the trial court proceedings. During the trial court proceedings,
respondent lived in a hotel with her then-boyfriend; lived with her then-girlfriend at her apartment;
lived in an apartment that her caseworker determined was not suitable because of safety issues,

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such as nails sticking out of the floor and the lack of a refrigerator; and lived in an apartment at
which the landlord allowed respondent to reside under the condition that she would have to move
if the property was sold. Further, at one point, respondent informed her caseworker she had an
apartment, but her caseworker discovered the lease was forged. At the time of the termination
hearings, respondent was living with her sister, which respondent’s caseworkers had already
explored as a housing option but determined it was not suitable for respondent and her children
because of respondent’s sister’s prior CPS involvement and a lack of space. The trial court also
made a similar conclusion.

        The petition also alleged that respondent physically hit her son, JN, with a belt. According
to respondent’s service plan, respondent was required to attend parenting classes and complete a
psychological evaluation and follow its recommendation to attend therapy. Although respondent
attended parenting classes and never physically hit her children during visitation, she missed 43
out of 81 parenting visits throughout her case and had inappropriate conversations with her
children that caused behavioral issues and emotional harm to JN. Further, respondent did not
follow the recommendation from that evaluation that she attend therapy and failed to follow
through with several referrals for therapy throughout her case. Respondent attended 18 therapy
sessions; however, the therapist ultimately terminated respondent’s therapy because respondent
missed her last six sessions. The therapist concluded that respondent needed more therapy.
Respondent was referred to GHS for therapy, but respondent never informed her caseworker
whether she had completed intake or any services at GHS or elsewhere. Further, respondent
attended anger management classes voluntarily toward the end of her case, but respondent had not
completed these courses at the time of her termination hearings, and respondent did not provide
proof to her caseworkers that she was taking these classes. Respondent was also taking
medications at the time of her termination hearings for her bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, but
admitted that she failed to take these medications consistently and had stopped taking these
medications previously because she did not feel like she needed them.

        In sum, since the original petition was filed in October 2018 through the final termination
hearing in October 2021, respondent failed to accomplish any meaningful change in the conditions
that led to the trial court’s taking jurisdiction over the children. See Williams, 286 Mich App at
272-273. Therefore, the trial court did not err by concluding that there was no reasonable
likelihood that the conditions would be rectified within a reasonable time considering the
children’s ages and that termination was appropriate pursuant to MCL 712A.19b(3)(c)(i). In light
of our conclusion that termination was appropriate under MCL 712A.19b(3)(c)(i), we need not
address the additional statutory grounds because only one statutory ground must be proven to
terminate parental rights. In re HRC, 286 Mich App 444, 461; 781 NW2d 105 (2009).

                                     V. BEST INTERESTS

        Respondent argues that the trial court erred by finding that termination of respondent’s
parental rights was in the children’s best interests because the trial court failed to give the most
weight to respondent’s bond with the children, the trial court failed to acknowledge that respondent
could provide stability to the children with the support from her family, and there was no evidence
the children would be better off living with their placements. We disagree.

                                                -7-
        When determining whether it is in the best interests of the child to terminate respondent’s
parental rights, the focus is on the child, not the parent. In re Schadler, 315 Mich App 406, 411;
890 NW2d 676 (2016). In making a best-interests determination, the trial court may consider
several factors, including “[t]he child’s bond to the parent, the parent’s parenting ability, the child’s
need for permanency, stability, and finality, and the advantages of a foster home over the parent’s
home.” Sandborn, ___ Mich App at ___; slip op at 11 (quotation marks and citation omitted). In
addition, the trial court may consider “the child’s age, inappropriate parenting techniques,” the
parent’s visitation history, the parent’s compliance with treatment plans, the child’s well-being
while in care, and the child’s possibility of adoption. Id.

        The trial court found that it was in the children’s best interests for respondent’s parental
rights to be terminated because the children needed “stability and permanence.” The trial court
relied on the fact that the children were bonded with their placement, and that this home provided
them with stability and safety.7 The trial court also considered respondent’s lack of progress, lack
of stability, and lack of benefit from the services offered over the “lengthy” period of time given
by the trial court. Finally, the trial court considered the fact that respondent’s caseworker and CB
believed it was in the children’s best interests to terminate respondent’s parental rights.

        Furthermore, the trial court properly considered the bond between respondent and her
children. See Sandborn, ___ Mich App at ___; slip op at 11. That the trial court did not give the
most weight to respondent’s bond with her children is not sufficient grounds for reversal because
this was only one factor that the trial court could weigh. See Olive/Metts, 297 Mich App at 41-42.
The trial court also properly considered respondent’s inappropriate behavior during parenting time,
respondent’s poor attendance at parenting time, respondent’s inability to provide permanent and
stable housing, respondent’s inability to resolve her mental health issues, respondent’s failure to
take her medication, and respondent’s overall noncompliance with her case service plan. See
Sandborn, ___ Mich App at ___; slip op at 9-10. The trial court also permissibly considered the
advantages of the children’s placements, see id., including the children’s bond with their foster
placement, and the foster placement’s familiarity with the children’s special needs, such as JN’s
behavioral issues and LB’s hearing loss. Although the trial court only considered the children’s
bond and well-being with CB, LB also had a bond with her paternal relative placement. Contrary
to respondent’s argument, there was no evidence that the financial status of the foster parents was
better than respondent’s, or that the trial court considered this in its decision.

        Examining the record as a whole, respondent’s failure to comply with her case service plan,
the children’s need for permanency and stability, and the children’s bond with their placement

7
  The trial court indicated that the children were in the same placement at the time of the
termination hearing, which was incorrect. As stated previously, JN and LB were in separate
placements at the time of the termination hearings; JN was placed with CB, and LB was placed
with a paternal relative. Nevertheless, there was evidence that each child was bonded with their
respective placements and that each placement was indeed safe and stable, so on the basis of the
whole record, White, 303 Mich App at 713, we cannot conclude that the trial court’s mistake was
significant.

                                                  -8-
outweighed the bond shared by respondent and the children. Therefore, the trial court did not err
by finding that the termination of respondent’s parental rights was in the children’s best interests.

       Affirmed.

                                                              /s/ Amy Ronayne Krause
                                                              /s/ Michael J. Kelly
                                                              /s/ Christopher P. Yates

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