Court Opinion

ID: 4460380
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-12-02 15:07:18.701917+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:53:01.857496
License: Public Domain

RECORD IMPOUNDED

                                NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE
                               APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION
        This opinion shall not "constitute precedent or be binding upon any court." Although it is posted on the
     internet, this opinion is binding only on the parties in the case and its use in other cases is limited. R. 1:36-3.

                                                         SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY
                                                         APPELLATE DIVISION
                                                         DOCKET NOS. A-5272-17T2
                                                                     A-5275-17T2

NEW JERSEY DIVISION
OF CHILD PROTECTION
AND PERMANENCY,

          Plaintiff-Respondent,

v.

M.A.I. and J.H.,

          Defendants-Appellants,

and

K.T.,

     Defendant.
____________________________

IN THE MATTER OF THE
GUARDIANSHIP OF M.A.I.,
M.A.T., J.S.R.B., and M.W.B.,

     Minors.
____________________________

                    Submitted October 16, 2019 – Decided December 2, 2019
            Before Judges Yannotti and Currier.

            On appeal from the Superior Court of New Jersey,
            Chancery Division, Family Part, Essex County, Docket
            No. FG-07-0051-18.

            Joseph E. Krakora, Public Defender, attorney for
            appellant M.A.I. (Jennifer L. Gottschalk, Designated
            Counsel, on the brief).

            Joseph E. Krakora, Public Defender, attorney for
            appellant J.H. (Robyn A. Veasey, Deputy Public
            Defender, of counsel; Gilbert G. Miller, Designated
            Counsel, on the briefs).

            Gurbir S. Grewal, Attorney General, attorney for
            respondent (Donna Sue Arons, Assistant Attorney
            General, of counsel; Lisa J. Rusciano, Deputy Attorney
            General, on the brief).

            Joseph E. Krakora, Public Defender, Law Guardian,
            attorney for minors (Margo E.K. Hirsch, Designated
            Counsel, on the brief).

PER CURIAM

      M.A.I. is the mother of four minor children, M.I., M.T., J.B., and M.B.,

and J.H. is M.I.'s father. 1 M.A.I. and J.H. appeal from an order of the Family

Part dated June 29, 2018, which terminated their parental rights and awarded

guardianship of the children to the Division of Child Protection and Permanency

1
  In this opinion, we refer to the parties and others with initials. To avoid
confusion, the minor children's middle initials have been omitted.
                                                                       A-5272-17T2
                                      2
(Division). We address both appeals in this opinion. For the reasons that follow,

we affirm.

                                        I.

      In October 2012, the Division received a report that M.A.I., who was then

fifteen years old and thirty-six weeks pregnant, had been admitted to a hospital

with high blood pressure. The Division also was informed that M.A.I. had

acknowledged using marijuana. Later that month, M.A.I. gave birth to M.I. The

child's birth certificate did not identify a father, but M.A.I. reported that J.H.

was the father.

      In April 2014, M.A.I. gave birth to M.T., but a father was not listed on the

birth certificate. Thereafter, the Division received other referrals regarding

M.A.I. and the children. On December 9, 2014, the trial court granted the

Division's application for care and supervision of the children. The Division

thereafter provided the family with services.

      In January 2015, the court ordered J.H. to complete a paternity test. He

did not comply. In August 2015, the court again ordered J.H. to comp lete a

paternity test, and he again failed to do so. At a hearing conducted in September

2015, J.H. denied paternity of M.I. but refused to be swabbed in court for the

paternity test. He also refused to fill out a form to obtain legal representation.

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                                         3
      In October 2015, the court found that K.T. was M.T.'s father. In December

2015, the court again ordered J.H. to participate in the paternity test , but he did

not comply with the order. In February 2016, the court terminated the protective

services litigation because M.A.I. and J.H. had not maintained contact with the

Division for six months. That month, M.A.I. gave birth to J.B., and S.B. was

identified as J.B.'s father.

      In October 2016, after receiving a report that M.A.I. was pregnant and not

properly feeding or bathing the children, the Division's investigators contacted

M.A.I. and she came to the Division's office with the children. The Division's

workers noted that the children had poor hygiene, J.B. had a bad diaper rash,

M.I.'s teeth were "yellow and rotten," and M.I.'s clothes were soiled.

      M.A.I. reported that she had been living with a cousin, and that she and

S.B. had a physical altercation. M.A.I. said she was three months pregnant, and

admitted that she smoked marijuana three times a week. She also stated that her

cousin had asked her to move out of the apartment. One of the Division's

investigators interviewed M.I. and M.T. They reported that they observed the

physical altercation between M.A.I. and S.B.

      The Division conducted an emergency removal of the children and placed

them in resource homes. Thereafter, the court entered an order granting the

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                                         4
Division's application for care, custody, and supervision of the children. In its

order, the court noted that M.A.I. did not have stable housing, and that M.A.I.

had previously been involved with the Division, but had not completed services.

The order also stated that J.H. "has an open case with the Division in which the

children have been removed from the home[,]" had two prior felony convictions,

and was "currently incarcerated" on charges related to a controlled dangerous

substance (CDS).

      Thereafter, the Division scheduled supervised visits with the children.

She did not, however, attend all of the scheduled visits.       Furthermore, the

Division referred M.A.I. for substance abuse treatment, domestic violence

counseling services, and parenting skills training. The Division also provided

family team meetings and bus cards for transportation to services. M.A.I. did

not complete these services.

      In February 2017, the court held a fact-finding hearing and determined by

a preponderance of the evidence that M.A.I. abused or neglected her children.

The Division placed M.I. and M.T. with R.T., M.T.'s paternal grandmother.

That month, M.A.I. attended a family team meeting and reported that she was

living with her sister, but she failed to provide the Division with an address.

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                                        5
      In April 2017, M.A.I. gave birth to M.B., and S.B. was listed as the child's

father on the birth certificate. The court granted the Division care, custody and

supervision of M.B. The Division placed M.B. with R.T. Thereafter, the

Division endeavored to assist M.A.I. to find suitable housing, but she did not

permit the Division to make the required assessment of her home. She also

missed visits with the children and failed to complete services.

      In October 2017, the court approved the Division's permanency plan,

which had changed from reunification to termination of parental rights and

adoption. The court noted that M.A.I. had not complied with services, J.H. was

missing and had not planned for M.I., and K.T. was in jail. In addition, paternity

tests revealed that S.B. was not J.B. or M.B.'s father, and the court dismissed

him from the case.

      In November 2017, the Division filed its complaint for guardianship. That

month, the Division located J.H. in the county jail, where he was incarcerated

as a result of federal charges, and he was served with the complaint. In the

months that followed, the Division provided M.A.I. with supervised visits and

referred her for services. At the time, M.A.I. was residing with her sister and

did not have her own residence. M.A.I. claimed she was employed and provided

the Division with a pay stub to substantiate her claim.

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                                        6
      In January 2018, Dr. Alison Strasser Winston performed a psychological

evaluation of M.A.I.     Dr. Winston determined that M.A.I. was "currently

incapable of providing her children with a safe and stable environment and

w[ould] not be able to safely parent her children at any time within the

foreseeable future." Dr. Winston recommended that the Division continue to

pursue the termination of M.A.I.'s parental rights.

      Dr. Winston also recommended that M.A.I. engage in "therapeutically-

supervised visitation with her children[,]" "anger management/batterers'

intervention   counseling[,]"   individual   psychotherapy,       substance    abuse

treatment, parenting classes, and a GED program. She also recommended that

M.A.I. secure appropriate housing. The Division referred M.A.I. for additional

services. She attended most of the scheduled visits with the children.

      In March 2018, the Division's caseworker met with J.H. in the county jail.

She told him the Division's goal was termination of parental rights and adoption.

The worker asked J.H. to fill out a form so an attorney could be appointed to

represent him in the proceedings.      J.H. refused to complete the form and

requested a paternity test. He did not request visits with M.I.

      In April 2018, J.H. completed his portion of the paternity test, which

revealed he is M.I.'s father. M.A.I. completed some services, and continued to

                                                                              A-5272-17T2
                                        7
attend visits with the children. She was unable to secure housing and, although

she reported that she had a job, she did not know when she would start working.

      Dr. Winston conducted an updated psychological evaluation and a

bonding evaluation with M.A.I. Dr. Winston found that the children would

suffer serious and enduring emotional harm if removed from their resource

homes "in order to reunify them with a biological parent who continues to have

anger and other mental health issues and lacks stable housing and

employment[.]"

      Dr. Winston noted that M.A.I. had completed many services, but they

were "not sufficient to adequately address her issues[.]"        Dr. Winston

recommended that M.A.I. participate in more intensive anger management

counseling, individual psychotherapy, an updated psychiatric evaluation, and

additional parenting classes.

      Dr. Winston also opined that M.A.I. "remain[ed] incapable of providing

her children with a safe and stable environment." She stated that the children

would experience minimal emotional harm if M.A.I.'s parental rights were

terminated, and the resource parents could mitigate any such harm.         She

recommended termination of M.A.I.'s parental rights.

                                                                       A-5272-17T2
                                      8
      In May 2018, the Division's caseworker met J.H. in the county jail and

informed him the paternity test confirmed he was M.I.'s father. She asked J.H.

about his plans for M.I. He said that he was focused on his criminal case and

did not have a plan for her care. The trial court ordered J.H. to participate in a

psychological evaluation, which Dr. Winston could conduct at the jail.

      J.H. appeared in court for a pre-trial conference. He did not contest the

results of the paternity test, but he refused to participate in a psychological

evaluation. The trial court accepted K.T.'s identified surrender of his parental

rights to M.T. to his mother, R.T. That month, a federal court sentenced J.H. to

thirty-five months in federal prison for the sale or distribution of a CDS and

unlawful transportation of a firearm.

      In June 2018, the court conducted a trial on the Division's guardianship

complaint. The Division presented Dr. Winston and the Division's caseworker

as its witnesses. M.A.I. testified on her own behalf. Neither the Law Guardian

nor J.H. called any witnesses or presented any evidence.              During the

guardianship trial, M.I. visited J.H. in jail. Apparently, M.I. thought K.T. was

her father and she seemed confused when told J.H. was her father.

      The court entered an order dated June 29, 2018, which terminated M.A.I.'s

parental rights to her four children and terminated J.H.'s parental rights to M.I.

                                                                          A-5272-17T2
                                        9
The order also terminated the parental rights of the unidentified fathers of J.B.

and M.B. In an accompanying written opinion, the court found that the Division

had established each of the four prongs of the "best interests of the child" test

by clear and convincing evidence. These appeals followed.

                                       II.

      The scope of our review in an appeal from an order terminating parental

rights is limited. N.J. Div. of Youth & Family Servs. v. G.L., 191 N.J. 596, 605

(2007) (citing In re Guardianship of J.N.H., 172 N.J. 440, 472 (2002)).

"Appellate courts must defer to a trial judge's findings of fact if supported by

adequate, substantial, and credible evidence in the record." Ibid. (citing In re

Guardianship of J.T., 269 N.J. Super. 172, 188 (App. Div. 1993)).

      The Division may initiate a petition to terminate parental rights in the

"best interests of the child" and the court may grant the petition if the Division

establishes the criteria codified in N.J.S.A. 30:4C-15.1(a) with clear and

convincing evidence. N.J. Div. of Youth & Family Servs. v. I.S., 202 N.J. 145,

166-69 (2010). "The four criteria enumerated in the best interests standard are

not discrete and separate; they relate to and overlap with one another to provide

a comprehensive standard that identifies a child's best interests." Id. at 166

                                                                          A-5272-17T2
                                       10
(quoting N.J. Div. of Youth & Family Servs. v. P.P., 180 N.J. 494, 506-07

(2004)).

      Prong one of the best interests test requires the Division to prove that

"[t]he child's safety, health, or development has been or will continue to be

endangered by the parental relationship[.]" N.J.S.A. 30:4C-15.1(a)(1). This

prong focuses on the negative effect the parent-child relationship has upon the

child's safety, health, and development. In re Guardianship of K.H.O., 161 N.J.

337, 348 (1999). To satisfy prong one, the Division is not required to show that

the child was physically harmed, and evidence that the child suffered emotional

or psychological harm is sufficient. In re Guardianship of K.L.F., 129 N.J. 32,

43-44 (1992).

      The second prong requires the Division to show that "[t]he parent is

unwilling or unable to eliminate the harm facing the child or is unable or

unwilling to provide a safe and stable home for the child and the delay of

permanent placement will add to the harm." N.J.S.A. 30:4C-15.1(a)(2). In

addressing this prong, the court must focus on whether the parent has overcome

the harms that endanger the child and whether the parent is able to prevent

further harm from the parental relationship. K.H.O., 161 N.J. at 348-49.

                                                                        A-5272-17T2
                                      11
      Prong three of the best interests test requires the Division to establish that

it "made reasonable efforts . . . to help the parent correct the circumstances

which led to the child's placement outside the home" and considered alternatives

to termination of parental rights.     N.J.S.A. 30:4C-15.1(a)(3).      Prong three

"contemplates efforts that focus on reunification of the parent with the child."

K.H.O., 161 N.J. at 354. Moreover, the reasonableness of the Division's efforts

is not measured by whether its efforts were successful in bringing about

reunification of the parent and child. In re Guardianship of DMH, 161 N.J. 365,

393 (1999).

      To establish prong four, the Division must present clear and convincing

evidence showing that "[t]ermination of parental rights will not do more harm

than good." N.J.S.A. 30:4C-15.1(a)(4). "[T]he fourth prong of the best interests

standard cannot require a showing that no harm will befall the child as a result

of the severing of biological ties." K.H.O., 161 N.J. at 355.

      Instead, the court must balance the relationships of the biological parent

and the child, "and determine whether the child will suffer greater harm from

terminating the child's ties with" his or her biological parent than from

permanent disruption of the child's relationship with a resource parent. N.J. Div.

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                                       12
of Youth & Family Servs. v. A.G., 344 N.J. Super. 418, 435 (App. Div. 2001)

(citing K.H.O., 161 N.J. at 355).

                                        III.

      We turn to M.A.I.'s appeal. She argues that the Division failed to establish

prongs one, three, and four of the best interests test. 2 She also argues that the

trial court failed to recognize her constitutional right to parent her children.

      A. Prong One.

      M.A.I. argues that the children never suffered any long-term harm while

in her care. She contends any parenting issues were rectified when the children

were in foster care. She also claims that while the Division was concerned about

her altercation with S.B., the children did not witness the altercation.

      M.A.I. further argues that the court erred by focusing on her

"homelessness and lack of employment instead of on the health, physical and

emotional effects of [her] parenting upon [the] children." She contends this

evidence may be considered under prong two, but argues that this evidence has

no place in the court's analysis of prong one.

2
   Because M.A.I. has not challenged the judge's finding that the Division
established prong two, that issue is deemed waived. See Sklodowksy v. Lushis,
417 N.J. Super. 648, 657 (App. Div. 2001) (citing Jefferson Loan Co. v. Session,
397 N.J. Super. 520, 525 n.4 (App. Div. 2008)).
                                                                            A-5272-17T2
                                        13
      We are convinced there is sufficient credible evidence in the record to

support the trial court's finding that the children's safety, health, and

development were endangered by their relationship with M.A.I. The record

shows that the Division removed the children because M.A.I. was pregnant,

admitted she regularly smoked marijuana, was homeless, lacked employment,

and had recently been involved in a domestic violence incident, which two of

the children said they witnessed. During the protective services litigation,

M.A.I. failed to complete services and take the actions required so that the

children could be returned to her care.

      Moreover, while M.A.I. completed some services after the Division filed

its guardianship action, Dr. Winston opined that M.A.I. was not able to place

what she learned into practice.    The doctor explained that M.A.I. required

additional services to address her "issues."      Moreover, she never secured

appropriate housing for herself and the children, and did not maintain

employment on a consistent basis. Although the Division had provided M.A.I.

with an array of services, she remained unable to provide the children with a

safe and secure home, as Dr. Winston testified.

      This evidence thus supported the court's finding that the children were

harmed by M.A.I.'s relationship with them. See DMH, 161 N.J. at 379 (noting

                                                                      A-5272-17T2
                                      14
that "[t]he lack of a permanent, safe, and stable home" can cause harm); Div. of

Youth & Family Servs. v. D.H., 398 N.J. Super. 333, 341-42 (App. Div. 2008)

(finding prong one met where parent had mental health issues, failed to comply

with the Division's recommendations, was unemployed, and did not have her

own housing).

      We reject M.A.I.'s contention that the trial court erred by considering

evidence of her homelessness and lack of employment in determining whether

the Division established prong one. Our Supreme Court has noted that prongs

one and two of the test "are related to one another, and evidence that supports

one informs and may support the other as part of the comprehensive basis for

determining the best interests of the child." DMH, 161 N.J. at 379 (citing

K.H.O., 161 N.J. at 348-49, 351-52).

      B. Prong Three.

      M.A.I. argues that the trial court erred by finding that the Division

satisfied this prong. She claims the Division did not adequately assist her in

finding appropriate housing. She further argues that the court erroneously

"found" that she did not "participate meaningfully in any services other than

visitation." She asserts that she did, in fact, complete certain services.

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                                       15
      As we have explained, the record shows that the Division took steps to

assist M.A.I. to find appropriate housing for herself and the children, but she

refused to participate in the assessment required for such housing. Thus, the

record does not support M.A.I.'s argument that the Division failed to provide her

with adequate assistance in securing housing.

      There also is no merit to M.A.I.'s contention that the court "found" she

"failed to meaningfully participate in any services other than visitation." The

record shows that M.A.I. did not complete services during the protective

services litigation, despite referrals to substance abuse evaluation, domestic

violence counseling, individual therapy, parenting classes, and anger

management.

      The trial court recognized, however, that M.A.I. had completed certain

services during the guardianship proceedings, but as Dr. Winston testified,

M.A.I. was not able to place what she learned into practice. She also required

additional services. Thus, the record supports the judge's finding that M.A.I.

did not "meaningfully participate in any services other than visitation."

      We therefore conclude there is sufficient credible evidence in the record

to support the court's finding that the Division made "reasonable efforts" to help

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                                       16
M.A.I. address the circumstances that led to the removal of the children from

her care.

      C. Prong Four.

      M.A.I. argues that the trial court "placed undue weight on Dr. Winston's

opinions about [her] perceived inability to parent her own children." She further

argues that Dr. Winston's opinions on her ability to parent were net opinions that

the trial court should not have considered. We disagree.

      Here, Dr. Winston found the children had an emotional attachment to

M.A.I., but it was not a strong and secure attachment. The doctor opined that

the children looked to their resource parents as their psychological parents . Dr.

Winston also found there would be minimal harm to J.B. and M.B. if M.A.I.'s

parental rights are terminated because they were young and their resource

parents could mitigate any harm.

      Dr. Winston further found that while there may be some harm to M.I. and

M.T. if M.A.I.'s parental rights are terminated, their resource parent could

mitigate any such harm. As noted, Dr. Winston pointed out that M.A.I. had

completed certain services during the guardianship proceedings, but she could

not put the skills she learned into practice. Dr. Winston recommended additional

services.

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                                       17
      We reject M.A.I.'s contention that Dr. Winston's opinions are net

opinions.   The record shows that the doctor based her findings on her

observations of M.A.I. with the children during the bonding evaluations, and on

M.A.I.'s psychological evaluation. Because the doctor's opinions had sufficient

factual support, they are not net opinions.       See Pomerantz Paper v. New

Community Corp., 207 N.J. 344, 372 (2011) (noting that net opinion rule

requires that an expert opinion be based on "factual evidence").

      We are convinced there is sufficient credible evidence in the record to

support the trial court's finding that terminating M.A.I.'s parental rights would

not do more harm than good. Dr. Winston testified that M.A.I. was not capable

of parenting the children and would not be able to do so in the foreseeable future.

      The doctor noted that the children had been in resource homes for years

and they required permanency. The doctor opined that termination of M.A.I.'s

parental rights would not do more harm than good.          The trial court found

Dr. Winston's testimony to be credible.

       Accordingly, the record supports the trial court's finding that the Division

established prong four with clear and convincing evidence.

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                                       18
      D. Constitutional Right to Parent.

      For the first time on appeal, M.A.I. argues that the trial judge ignored her

constitutional right to parent her children. She contends the judge did not give

her any credit for successfully completing services, and the judge failed to

recognize her presumptive right to parent her children. She further argues that

the judge "merely rubber-stamped [the Division]'s determination to pursue

adoption in lieu of reunification."

      "The United States and New Jersey Constitutions protect parents' rights to

maintain relationships with their children." Div. of Youth & Family Servs. v.

R.G., 217 N.J. 527, 553 (2014) (citing K.H.O., 161 N.J. at 346). However, the

State retains parens patriae responsibility and thus "may terminate parental

rights if the child is at risk of serious physical or emotional harm or when

necessary to protect the child's best interests." Id. at 553-54 (citing N.J. Div. of

Youth & Family Servs. v. A.W., 103 N.J. 591, 599 (1986)). As our Supreme

Court has recognized, "[t]he best-interests-of-the-child standard codified at

N.J.S.A. 30:4C-15.1(a) 'aims to achieve the appropriate balance between

parental rights and the State's parens patriae responsibility.'" Id. at 554 (quoting

N.J. Div. of Youth & Family Servs. v. M.M., 189 N.J. 261, 279 (2007)).

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                                        19
       Here, the record shows that the trial court recognized M.A.I.'s

fundamental right to parent her children. The court applied the best interests

test and required the Division to prove each prong of the test by clear and

convincing evidence. As we have determined, the record supports the court's

determination that the Division met its burden and established all four prongs of

the test.

       We therefore conclude that the trial court did not err by terminating

M.A.I.'s parental rights to her children.

                                        IV.

       We turn to J.H.'s appeal. He argues that the Division failed to establish

the four prongs of the best interests test.

       A. Prong One.

       J.H. contends the Division failed to establish prong one because there was

no evidence he physically or sexually abused M.I. or caused her "serious"

emotional injury. He contends he could not harm M.I. because he never had

custody or control of the child, or any contact with her.

       J.H. further argues that the trial court erred by finding his absence from

M.I.'s life harmed her because there was "no convincing evidence" the child

knew he was her father. He claims he did not know he was M.I.'s father until

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                                        20
he was served with the guardianship complaint and his parentage was confirmed

in the paternity test.

      Here, the trial court found that J.H. has harmed and will continue to harm

M.I. in the future. The court noted that J.H. never parented M.I., did not plan

for her care, and refused to participate in the litigation until his paternity was

established. The court found that J.H. harmed M.I. because he did not provide

the child with "the nurture, care or support that the law requires."

      We are convinced there is sufficient credible evidence in the record to

support the court's findings. It is well established that "the attention and concern

of a caring family is 'the most precious of all resources.'" DMH, 161 N.J. at 379

(quoting A.W., 103 N.J. at 613). Furthermore, "[a] parent's withdrawal of . . .

solicitude, nurture, and care for an extended period of time is in itself a harm

that endangers the health and development of the child." Ibid. (citing K.H.O.,

161 N.J. at 352-54).

      Here, J.H. was informed during the protective services litigation that he

may be M.I.'s father. As noted, during those proceedings, the court repeatedly

ordered J.H. to participate in the paternity test, but he refused to comply. Thus,

J.H. actively avoided his parental responsibilities to M.I., which constitutes a

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                                        21
harm that is sufficient to satisfy the first prong. See DMH, 161 N.J. at 379

(citing K.H.O., 161 N.J. at 352-54).

      Furthermore, after he was served in the guardianship litigation and the

paternity test confirmed he was M.I.'s father, J.H. offered no plan for the child,

stating that he was focused on his criminal case. He had one visit with M.I.

during the guardianship trial, and during that visit, it appeared that M.I. was

confused when told J.H. was her father. In May 2018, J.H. was sentenced to

thirty-five months in federal prison. While incarcerated, he was not able to

provide M.I. with a safe and stable home.

      Thus, the record supports the court's finding that J.H. failed to provide the

child with "nurture, care or support," thereby harming the child. We conclude

there is sufficient credible evidence in the record to support the Family Part

judge's conclusion that the Division established prong one with clear and

convincing evidence.

      B. Prong Two.

      On appeal, J.H. argues the trial court erred by finding the Division

established prong two because he was not aware that M.I. was his child until he

was served with the guardianship complaint. He contends he did not have an

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                                       22
adequate amount of time to plan for the child's care. He further argues that his

one visit with M.I. demonstrates he has "a substantial capacity to parent."

      J.H. further argues that the trial court erred by relying on his incarceration

as a basis for its findings on prong two. He contends he was not sentenced to a

lengthy term of incarceration, he was convicted for non-violent offenses, and

the federal district judge recommended he serve his sentence locally.             He

therefore argues that he was in a position to foster "a developing relationship"

with M.I. through visits in the time remaining on his criminal sentence. He

contends he could build on that relationship when he is released.

      We reject J.H.'s contention that the trial court erred by relying on his

incarceration as a basis for its finding. "A parent's lengthy incarceration is a

material factor that bears on whether parental rights should be terminated."

R.G., 217 N.J. at 555 (quoting In re Adoption of Children by L.A.S., 134 N.J.

127, 143 (1993)). Incarceration alone is not a sufficient basis for termination of

parental rights. Id. at 556 (citing L.A.S., 134 N.J. at 137-38).

      The court may, however, consider the effects a parent's incarceration will

have on the child. Id. at 555-56 (quoting L.A.S., 134 N.J. at 143-44). These

include: the parent's relationship with the child before the parent was

incarcerated, the efforts of the incarcerated parent to remain in contact with the

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child, the potential for visitation, and the psychological and emotional effect

incarceration has on the child. L.A.S., 134 N.J. at 139.

      Here, the trial court properly considered J.H.'s incarceration in its findings

on prong two. As we have explained, J.H. has had no relationship with the child

since she was born. He met with the child once while he was in jail. In addition,

J.H. was sentenced to a thirty-five-month prison term, during which he could

not provide the child with a safe and stable home. While J.H. asserts that he

could develop a relationship with the child through visits while he is

incarcerated and after he is released, the record provides no support for that

assertion.

      We conclude that the record supports the trial court's finding that the

Division established prong two with clear and convincing evidence.

      C. Prong Three.

      On appeal, J.H. argues the trial court ignored the Division's "egregious

negligence" in failing to locate him, serve him with the complaint in the

guardianship case, and meet with him and provide him services. He contends

the Division's failure to locate him deprived him of the opportunity to participate

in the case and from having a parental relationship with M.I. He also contends

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that after the Division located him, it failed to provide him with adequate

services.

      We are convinced, however, that the Division made reasonable efforts to

locate J.H. The Division conducted a search for J.H. before it filed its

guardianship complaint. It located him in the county jail, and served him with

the complaint. As noted, he refused a psychological evaluation, and told the

caseworker he was focused on his criminal case and had no plan for the child.

      J.H.'s failure to foster a relationship with the child during the protect ive

services litigation was due to his own refusal to participate in the paternity test

and confirm his parentage. Moreover, the record supports the trial court's

finding that the Division provided J.H. reasonable services. The court noted that

the Division had properly focused its efforts on M.A.I., who was the custodial

parent when the children were removed.

      The court found that J.H. refused to engage in services offered by the

Division and refused at times to appear in court. The court concluded that J.H.

could not "now claim to have been ignored by the Division."            The record

supports the court's findings.

      J.H. also argues that the trial court violated his Fifth Amendment right

against self-incrimination "by drawing a negative inference from his refusal to

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submit to the psychological examination demanded by [the Division] while he

was facing criminal charges." We disagree.

      There is nothing in the record to show that J.H. invoked his Fifth

Amendment right when he refused to participate in a psychological evaluation.

Furthermore, J.H.'s criminal proceedings were wholly unrelated to the

guardianship complaint.

      In addition, J.H. pled guilty to the federal charges in January 2018, which

was months before he was asked to participate in the psychological exam. He

has not explained how he would incriminate himself if he participated in the

psychological evaluation. Thus, the trial court did not err by considering J.H.'s

refusal to participate in the examination in reaching its decision on prong three.

      D. Prong Four.

      The trial court found that terminating J.H.'s parental rights to M.I. would

not do more harm than good to M.I. The court noted that J.H. had no relationship

with M.I., and he never parented her. The court stated that, "Termination of his

parental rights cannot do more harm than good in the absence of a parent -child

relationship."

      On appeal, J.H. argues that his visit with M.I. showed he could potentially

form a close parent-child relationship with her. He asserts termination of his

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parental rights poses a great harm to the child, which he claims outweighs any

benefits that could result from the termination of parental rights. Again, we

disagree.

      There is sufficient credible evidence to support the trial court's findings

on prong four. J.H.'s assertion that he could potentially form a close relationship

with M.I. is meritless. It is undisputed that J.H. did not have a relationship with

M.I. He did not request visitation with the child before his paternity was

established, and the record does not support the conclusion that J.H. could

develop such a relationship while he is incarcerated. See L.A.S., 134 N.J. at 139

(noting that "once a parent is imprisoned, a relationship with one's children that

was nonexistent prior to incarceration will not likely be fostered").

      Therefore, the record supports the trial court's determination that

termination of J.H.'s parental rights will not do more harm than good. Although

Dr. Winston did not evaluate J.H., Dr. Winston opined that M.I.'s resource

parent was M.I.'s psychological parent and the child had "a strong and secure

emotional attachment to" her. Dr. Winston also stated that the resource parent

would be able to provide M.I. with the permanency, stability, security, and trust

that she needed. In addition, in her report, Dr. Winston opined that M.I. would

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suffer "serious and enduring emotional harm" if removed from her resource

home.

        Thus, the record provides no support for J.H.'s assertion that termination

of his parental rights will cause great harm to the child. Rather, the record

clearly and convincingly established that termination of J.H.'s parental righ ts to

M.I. would not do more harm than good.

        We therefore conclude that the trial court did not err by terminating J.H.'s

parental rights to M.I.

        Affirmed.

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