Court Opinion

ID: 9839272
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-12 17:09:15.000058+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:12:54.056337
License: Public Domain

J-S22002-23

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT OP 65.37

    IN RE: ADOPTION OF: J.J.J.D., A            :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
    MINOR                                      :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                               :
                                               :
    APPEAL OF: S.D., FATHER                    :
                                               :
                                               :
                                               :
                                               :   No. 157 WDA 2023

                Appeal from the Order Entered January 10, 2023
     In the Court of Common Pleas of Washington County Orphans' Court at
                          No(s): C-63-OC-2022-184

BEFORE: OLSON, J., STABILE, J., and MURRAY, J.

MEMORANDUM BY OLSON, J.:                       FILED: September 12, 2023

       Appellant, S.D. (Father), appeals from the order entered on January 10,

2023, granting a petition filed by the Washington County Children and Youth

Social Service Agency (the Agency) to involuntarily terminate Father’s rights

to his son, J.J.J.D. (J.D. or Child) pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 2511(a)(1),

2511(a)(2), 2511(a)(5), and 2511(a)(8), and 2511(b).1 We affirm.

       We briefly summarize the facts and procedural history of this case as

follows. J.D. was born in October 2020. Mother and Father are married, and

both are listed on J.D.’s birth certificate as his parents. On January 4, 2021,

the Agency took Child into care through an emergency verbal order when Child

____________________________________________

1 Mother executed a voluntary termination of parental rights and consent to
adoption. The trial court conducted an on-the-record colloquy and granted
Mother’s request. Mother is not a party to the current appeal. The Agency
and Child’s legal counsel and guardian ad litem filed briefs in support of the
order terminating Father’s parental rights.
J-S22002-23

was taken to the hospital for emergency medical treatment and there were

additional safety concerns with both parents’ substance and alcohol abuse,

ongoing incidents of domestic violence, and lack of stable housing. Following

a hearing on January 4, 2021, and with the agreement of Mother and Father,

the trial court granted a petition for shelter care filed by the Agency and Child

was placed with his maternal grandparents (Maternal Grandparents), where

he currently resides. The trial court further granted both Mother and Father

visitation with Child to be supervised by Maternal Grandparents.              On January

15, 2021, the trial court adjudicated Child dependent and ordered a

permanency plan wherein Father was directed to submit to drug and alcohol

testing twice a month, complete drug and alcohol and mental health

treatment,     obtain    and    maintain       stable   housing,   complete    batterer’s

intervention counseling, attend parenting classes, and abide by the terms of

his federal parole.2      On March 24, 2021, the trial court granted Father’s

petition for paternity testing and subsequent testing confirmed Father’s

paternity of Child.

       The trial court held four review hearings thereafter. The trial court found

Father minimally compliant with the permanency plan at the first review

hearing held on May 4, 2021. On May 11, 2021, the Agency filed a status

____________________________________________

2  At the time of Child’s adjudication, Father was under federal indictment for
the sale of narcotics. On October 22, 2022, Father pled guilty to conspiracy
to distribute a quantity of a mixture and substance containing detectable
amount of cocaine and was sentenced to time served and four years of
probation.

                                           -2-
J-S22002-23

report with the trial court indicating that Mother and Father were involved in

a physical altercation wherein Mother punched Father in the face. Both Mother

and Father were subsequently granted protection from abuse (PFA) from the

other.   On July 14, 2021, the trial court granted the Agency’s motion to

suspend Father’s visitation with Child due to the cross-PFAs filed by Mother

and Father. On July 22, 2021, Father’s supervised visitation was reinstated,

but later modified on July 30, 2021, directing Father’s visits with Child be

supervised by an Agency approved person, instead of Maternal Grandparents,

with visitation occurring at Blueprints Visitation House or other Agency

approved location.    On August 17, 2021, the trial court held a second

permanency hearing wherein it determined that Father was again minimally

compliant with the permanency plan and found Father made no progress

toward alleviating the circumstances necessitating initial placement. The trial

court held the third review hearing on December 14, 2021. The trial court

again determined that Father was minimally compliant with the permanency

plan in so far as he attended visitation sessions and obtaining housing. The

trial court, however, noted that Father did not participate in alcohol and drug

screenings and/or mental health treatment and there were ongoing domestic

disputes when Mother and Father would encounter each other in passing

coming to and from supervised visitation sessions with Child. The trial court

also ordered the Agency to conduct a bonding assessment between Father

and Child. On April 12, 2022, the trial court held the final review hearing and

determined that Father was moderately compliant with the permanency plan.

                                     -3-
J-S22002-23

Father completed batterer’s intervention counseling, parenting classes, drug

and alcohol treatment, and obtained stable housing. Father, however, did not

receive or complete mental health treatment, was inconsistent with drug and

alcohol testing, tested positive for marijuana and methadone, and failed to

maintain consistent visitation with Child.

       On February 1, 2022, the Agency filed a petition for involuntary

termination of Father’s parental rights. The trial court held three hearings on

August 31, 2022, September 19, 2022, and October 5, 2022. On January 10,

2023, the trial court entered an order and opinion involuntarily terminating

Father’s rights to Child pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 2511(a)(1), 2511(a)(2),

2511(a)(5), and 2511(a)(8), and 2511(b). This timely appeal resulted.3

       Father presents the following issues for our review:

       1. Did the trial court commit an error of law in finding [the
          Agency] submitted clear and convincing evidence to terminate
          Fathers parental rights pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S.A. §[§]
          2511(a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(5), and (a)(8)?

       2. Did the trial court commit an abuse of discretion in considering
          unsubstantiated facts in support of its position, specifically,
          allegations of “potential domestic abuse” and findings that
          Father failed to comply with court ordered services pre-
          petition?

____________________________________________

3  Father filed a notice of appeal on February 7, 2023. He failed, however, to
include a corresponding concise statement of errors complained of on appeal
pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a)(2)(i). Father corrected the error by filing an
amended notice of appeal with the concomitant concise statement the
following day, February 8, 2023. The trial court relied upon its earlier decision
filed on January 10, 2023, as its rationale for the decision to involuntarily
terminate Father’s parental rights.

                                           -4-
J-S22002-23

      3. Did the trial court commit an abuse of discretion in failing to
         credit Father with pre[-]petition participation in [c]ourt
         [o]rdered services?

      4. Did the trial court commit an error of law in requiring Father to
         effectively state on the record his desire for reunification,
         therein placing a legal burden upon the parent that is not
         explicitly or implicitly recognized by statute or caselaw?

Father’s Brief at 4.

      Our standard of review is well-settled:

      The standard of review in termination of parental rights cases
      requires appellate courts to accept the findings of fact and
      credibility determinations of the trial court if they are supported
      by the record. If the factual findings are supported, appellate
      courts review to determine if the trial court made an error of law
      or abused its discretion. A decision may be reversed for an abuse
      of   discretion    only   upon     demonstration      of    manifest
      unreasonableness, partiality, prejudice, bias, or ill-will. The trial
      court's decision, however, should not be reversed merely because
      the record would support a different result. We have previously
      emphasized our deference to trial courts that often have first-hand
      observations of the parties spanning multiple hearings.

Int. of H.H.N., 296 A.3d 1258, 1263 (Pa. Super. 2023) (internal citation

omitted). “[T]he trial court is free to believe all, part, or none of the evidence

presented, and is likewise free to make all credibility determinations and

resolve conflicts in the evidence.”    In re Q.R.D., 214 A.3d 233, 239 (Pa.

Super. 2019) (citation omitted). “If competent evidence supports the trial

court's findings, we will affirm even if the record could also support the

opposite result.” In re B.J.Z., 207 A.3d 914, 921 (Pa. Super. 2019) (citation

omitted).

      In his first issue presented, Father argues that the trial court “failed to

consider all of the court ordered services that Father either completed or

                                      -5-
J-S22002-23

began prior to the initiation of the termination [] petition.” Id. at 34; see

also id. at 39 (“[I]t is undisputed that Father obtained adequate and suitable

housing. He completed several services, including domestic violence classes

as well as parenting.”). However, Father also concedes that “the only services

that remained [uncompleted] were mental health services and drug and

alcohol services.”   Id. at 37; see also id. at 40 (“Father intermittently

engaged in mental health services dating back to 2019.”); see also id. at 42

(“Father initiated mental health services prior to the [Agency’s termination]

filing [although] he did not complete them.”).       Next, Father asserts that

because he completed domestic violence counseling, the trial court erred in

considering domestic violence as a factor in terminating Father’s parental

rights to Child. Id. at 41. Third, Father argues that the trial court erred by

failing to credit his participation in mental health counseling and treatment

before the Agency filed its termination petition. Id. at 42. Father claims that

he initiated mental health services in 2019 but concedes he did not complete

them. Id.     Father re-engaged in services in 2022, had scheduling conflicts

which prevented him from completing counseling before the termination

petition was filed, but he ultimately resumed counseling and treatment after

the petition was filed. Id. Finally, Father argues that the trial court engrafted

an impermissible legal burden on him when it stated, “[the c]ourt looked for

any statement of Father that he wished for reunification with his son or wished

to care for his son and found none.” Id. at 43, citing Trial Court Opinion,

1/10/2023, at 29 n.28.

                                      -6-
J-S22002-23

      Here, initially we note that the trial court carefully considered all of the

court-ordered services Father completed prior to the filing of the termination

petition. In fact, in its opinion, the trial court specifically noted that at the

time the Agency filed its termination petition, Father completed some services,

including batterer’s intervention counseling, parenting education, drug and

alcohol treatment, and maintained stable housing. See Trial Court Opinion,

1/10/2023, at 1 n.2, 2 n.3, and 8-9. However, despite completing drug and

alcohol counseling, the trial court noted that Father later tested positive for

marijuana and methadone, and routinely missed scheduled drug tests;

therefore, the Agency could not confirm his sobriety. Id. at 17-19. While

Father eventually completed batterer’s intervention counseling on January 24,

2022, at the December 14, 2021 review hearing, “due to ongoing domestic

violence concerns, which were amplified with Mother and Father seeing or

running into each other before and/or after [supervised] visits [with Child],

the [trial c]ourt directed that neither party could arrive or stay in the vicinity

… for more than ten (10) minutes.” Id. at 8. Thus, while participating in

batterer’s counseling, Father continued to engage in domestic disputes with

Mother and, accordingly, it was proper for the trial court to consider.

Furthermore, it is uncontested that Father was unsuccessfully discharged from

initially implemented mental health services and had not completed

counseling and treatment at the time of the termination hearing. Id. at 18-19.

The trial court ultimately determined that “Father allowed others to provide

for his Child’s basic needs, while he provided excuses for his non-performance,

                                      -7-
J-S22002-23

and inconsistent and/or absent compliance with services designed to support

his ability to reunify.” Id. at 37; see also id. at 40-41 (“Father’s history

supports periods of compliance, followed by periods of non-compliance and

inconsistency [related] to Father’s mental health, substance use, testing and

treatment, and domestic violence history.”). The trial court opined that Father

“waited until [] Child was over a year old and developing a strong bond with

Maternal Grandparents before addressing the lion’s share of issues bringing

J.D. into [the Agency’s] care.” Id. at 40. The trial court further found that

“[w]hile Father waited to participate in services, succumbed to barriers for

completion and by his own testimony, prioritized his marriage and

employment over his relationship with [C]hild, [] Child was being care for by

others.” Id. Finally, regarding Father’s argument that the trial court imposed

an impermissible legal burden on him, the trial court merely noted that Father,

by his own testimony, seemed more concerned with maintaining visitation,

spending more time with Child, and fostering relationships with Father’s family

than actual reunification. Id. at 28-29. Moreover, the trial court noted that

it looked for affirmation from Father that he wished for reunification, but

clearly stated that “[w]hile not determinative of the outcome, [the trial c]ourt

found the absence of a more direct request for reunification curious.” Id. at

29 n.28. As such, we do not believe the trial court engrafted an impermissible

burden upon Father at the termination hearing.

      Based upon a review of the certified record, the parties' appellate briefs,

the trial court's opinion, and applicable law, we find that the trial court

                                      -8-
J-S22002-23

thoroughly and accurately addressed the merits of Father’s appellate issues in

its opinion. In its 48-page opinion, the trial court thoughtfully summarized

the testimony of the 12 witnesses and the 26 exhibits presented at the

termination hearings and carefully applied the evidence to each alleged

subsection under 23 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 2511(a) and (b). Consequently, we affirm

on the basis of the trial court opinion and adopt it as our own. The parties are

instructed to attach a copy of the trial court's January 10, 2023 opinion to all

future filings regarding this appeal.

      Order affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 9/12/2023

                                        -9-
                                                                                      3:40:54 PMCirculated
                                                                   Received 5/12/2023 3.40.54    Superior
                                                                                                 Superior Court Wester
                                                                                                           09/05/2023 03:09
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                                                                                                            Court Western Distr
                                                                                                                   157 WDA 2023

IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
                     ORPHAN'S COURT
                     ORPHAN'S  COURT DIVISION
                                     DIVISION
IN RE:                                                             )
                                                                   )
                                                                   )
Adoption of:
Adoption of:                                                       )
                                                                   )
Judah
Judah Jacorey   James Dungee
        Jacorey Jares Dungee                                       )         No. 63-22-0184
a/k/a
a/k/ha Judah Dungee
             Dungee                                                )
                                                                   )
DOB: 10/21/2020                                                    )
A Minor Child.
A                                                                  )

                             AMENDED
                             AMENDED OPINION and
                                OPINION      ad ORDER  OF COURT
                                                 ORDER OF COURT

          Before the Court is the Petition of the Washington
                                                  Washington County
                                                             County Children
                                                                    Children and
                                                                             and Youth Social

Service
Service Agency
        Agency (hereinafter      Agency") for the Involuntary Termination of Parental Rights
               (hereinafter "the Agency")                                             Rights of

Sean Dungee II
            H (hereinafter  "Father') to
               (hereinafter "Father")    minor child,
                                      to minor        J.D. (hereinafter
                                               child, J.D. (hereinafter J.D. and/or
                                                                             and/or "Child" and/or

       Child").
"Minor Cil").'       I

         The Petition
         The Petition for Termination of Parental
                          Termination of Parental Rights
                                                  Rights (hereinafter "Petition" and/or
                                                         (hereinafter "Petition" and/or "TPR")
                                                                                        "TPR'I

was filed by
was       by the
             the Agency on February 1,
                 Agency on          I, 2022, alleging multiple
                                                      multiple grounds
                                                               grounds under
                                                                       under the Adoption Act
                                                                             the Adoption Act

of 1980,
of       Sections 2511(a)1),
   1980, Sections 251 l(a)(1), (a)(2),
                               (a)X2), (a)(5), (a)(8) and
                                       (a)65), (a)(8) and (b).
                                                          (b). In support
                                                                  support of
                                                                          of the
                                                                             the Petition,
                                                                                 Petition, the

Agency alleges that Father has
Agency alleges             has not complied with the Dependency
                                                     Dependency Court
                                                                Court permanency
                                                                      permanency plan
                                                                                 plan goals
                                                                                      goals

and further
and         alleges that
    further alleges that he: ((1)
                               1) was not
                                      not consistent
                                          consistent with
                                                     with reoccurring
                                                          reoccurring mental health treatment
                                                                      mental health           and
                                                                                    treatment and

was unsuccessfully discharged;
                   discharged; (2)
                               (2) has not obtained and maintained safe and stable housing;
                                                                                   housing'; (3)
                                                                                             (3)

  Mother, Angela
Mother,             Dungee executed
            Angela Dungee   executed a             termination of parental
                                       a voluntary termination              rights and
                                                                   parental nights and consent toto adoption
                                                                                                    adoption at the oset
                                                                                                             at the outset of
the hearing. Following an
the hearing                  oral colloquy
                          an oral colloquy in open courted
                                                    court and acceptance
                                                               acceptance as
                                                                           as a
                                                                              a voluntary,  knowing and
                                                                                voluntary,knowing         willful action,
                                                                                                       ad willful action,
the
the Court accepted
            accepted the request      granted aavoluntary termination of parental
                         request and granted                              parental rights
                                                                                    rights as
                                                                                           as to
                                                                                              to Mother.
1It is uncontested that as of the hearing
tis                                bearing date
                                           date on the petition for
                                                                for Termination of Parental Rights,
                                                                                              Rights, Father has obtained
safe and stable housing.
                housing

                                                      A-1
                                                      A-L
    :4

•
         has not completed batterer's intervention;;
                                      intervention; and
                                                     and (4)
                                                         (4) based on a
                                                                      a psychological
                                                                        psychological evaluation,
                                                                                      evaluation, faces

         significant challenges with
                                with parenting
                                     parenting with his current mental health diagnosis.

                A
                A hearing on
                          on the Agency's
                                 Agency's petition
                                          petition commenced
                                                   commenced on
                                                             on September
                                                                September 6, 2022, continued on
                                                                          6, 2022,           on

         September 19, 2022, and concluded on October 5, 2022. Prior to the hearing
                                                                            hearing on the TPR Petition,

         Mother, Angela
                 Angela Dungee, requested, and
                                           and the Agency
                                                   Agency consented
                                                          consented to modify
                                                                       modify the Petition to
                                                                                           to aa

         Voluntary Termination as to
                                  to Mother. This action was completed
                                                             completed on September
                                                                          September 6, 2022.

                A
                A history of the
                  history of     dependency matter
                             the dependency matter assists
                                                   assists in
                                                           in the
                                                              the analysis
                                                                  analysis of
                                                                           of the Agency's request.
                                                                              the Agency's request.
         Case
         Case Factual
              Factual and Procedural Historv:
                      and Procedural History:

                Minor Child, J.D. was born on October 21, 2020, to married parents
                                                                           parents Angela and Sean
                                                                                   Angela and

         Dungee, both of whom
                         whom are listed on the       certificate. On January 4, 2021, the Minor Child
                                            the birth certificate.

         was taken into care of the Agency through an Emergency Verbal Order granted
                                                                             granted in response to a
                                                                                                    a

     report
     report of        concerns. The report
            of safety concems.      report set
                                           set forth
                                               forth the
                                                     the following
                                                         following facts
                                                                   facts in
                                                                         in support
                                                                            support of the need for
                                                                                                for

     dependency:

            •• The
               The child is "without proper
                         is "without        parental care or
                                     proper parental      or control, subsistence, education as
                                                                                             as required
                                                                                                required

                by law,
                   law, or other care or control necessary
                                                 necx ary for his/her physical, mental or emotional

                health, or morals; aadetermination that there
                                                        there is aalack of proper
                                                                           proper parental
                                                                                  parental care or control

                may be based upon evidence of conduct by
                                                      by the parent,
                                                             parent, guardian
                                                                     guardian or custodian that
                                                                                           that places
                                                                                                places

                the health, safety or welfare of the Child at
                                                           at risk, including
                                                                    including evidence of the parent's,
                                                                                              parent's,

               guardian or other
                           other custodian's use of alcohol or aacontrolled substance that places
                                                                                           places the
               health, safety or welfare of the
               health, safety               the Child at risk."

     3It
      tisis uncontested that
                        that as of the hearing date
                                               date on the petition for Termination
                                                                        Termination of Parental Rights, Father
                                                                                       Parental lights, Father has
     completedd batterer's intervention counseling.
     omplet                              counseling

                                                         Page l2of 48
•
        In
        In summary, I.D.
                    J.D. was
                         was taken
                             taken into
                                   into custody due to lack of proper
                                                               proper parental
                                                                      parental care or control,

                               Mother and
    supported by concerns with Mother and Father's substance use,
                                                             use, ongoing domestic violence

    concerns and
             and lack of stable housing. The petition contained the following
                                                                    following allegations:
                                                                              allegations:

                o Mother and Father both have aacriminal history and Father was incarcerated at the
                o
                  time of the dependency
                  time                   petition.
                              dependency petition.

                o Minor Child was taken
                o                    taken to the hospital
                                           to the hospital on
                                                           on January
                                                              January 2, 2021,
                                                                         2021, for
                                                                                for respiratory
                                                                                    respiratory
                  concerns. During the Child's assessment, Mother leftleft the
                                                                           the Minor Child
                                                                                      Child at the
                  hospital
                  hospital with a
                                a friend.

               oo It was reported
                  ltwas  reported that
                                  that there
                                       there was suspected
                                                 suspected domestic
                                                           domestic violence
                                                                    violence between Mother and
                  Father and that
                             that their
                                  their housing
                                        housing was unstable, which was confirmed
                                                                         confirmed by
                                                                                   by Mother.

               o Mother reported to the Caseworker that there
               o Mother                                   there was ongoing
                                                                     ongoing domestic violence
                                                                                         violence
                 between herself and
                                  and Father and that there was an incident as recently
                                                                                 recently as six
                                                                                             six (6)
                                                                                                 (6)
                 days before the
                              the minor child was brought to      hospital. When asked, Father
                                                           to the hospital.
                 reported that
                 reported that Mother's mental health                them to
                                                health issues cause them   to fight.
                                                                              fight.

               o Mother failed
               o                 to have
                           filed to have aaplan
                                           plan to  keep herself
                                                 to keep herself and
                                                                 and the minor child
                                                                                child safe     refused
                                                                                      safe and refused
                 to go to
                 to     to aadomestic violence shelter. Mother encouraged
                                                                 encouraged   the
                                                                              the Caseworker   to
                                                                                               to call
                 for a
                 for a verbal order
                               order as at
                                        "at least she would
                                                      would then
                                                            then know that
                                                                        that her son was safe."
                                                                                          safe."

               oo Mother
                  Mother tested positive for marijuana, which she reported
                                                                   reported was prescribed,
                                                                                prescribed, and
                  benzodiazepines. She stated that she illegally
                                                       illegally purchased
                                                                 purchased Xanax.

               oo Father left the hospital
                                  hospital when asked
                                                asked to
                                                      to drug
                                                         drug test.
                                                              test.

               o
               o Mother
                 Mother and Father
                            Father reported unstable housing.
                                   reported unstable housing.

           With
           With agreement of both parents,
                                  parents, aaShelter Care petition
                                                          petition was
                                                                   was granted
                                                                       granted following
                                                                               following hearing
                                                                                         hearing on
                                                                                                 on

    January 4, 2021, wherein Minor Child was
                                         was placed
                                             placed with maternal
                                                         rateral grandparents
                                                                  grandparents James and Jamie

    Chambers. The Court Order notes      "J.D. is diagnosed with
                              notes that "I.D.                   laryngomalacia and
                                                            with laryngomalacia and

    tracheomalacia, having undergone two
    tracheomalacia,                      surgeries since
                                     two surgeries since birth." The
                                                                 The Order
                                                                     Order states
                                                                           states further, "Minor
                                                                                  further, "Minor

    Child is
          is followed by Children's Hospital
             followed by            Hospital ENT and Cardiology."
                                             ENT and Cardiology." At the Shelter
                                                                         Shelter proceeding,
                                                                                 proceeding,

    parents were granted
    parents were granted supervised
                         supervised visitation, subject to
                                    visitation, subject to then
                                                           then enacted COVID
                                                                        COVID restrictions.
                                                                              restrictions.

                                               Page 3
                                                    3of 48
                                                        48
          On January 15,2021,
          On January 15, 2021, Minor Child
                                     Child J.D.    adjudicated dependent
                                           JD. was adjudicated dependent with placement
                                                                         with placement

remaining with maternal grandparents.
remaining with          grandparents. Through
                                      Through the adjudication
                                                  adjudication Order, Father
                                                                      Father was to:
                                                                                 to:

     • Complete  drug and
       Complete drug   and alcohol
                           alcohol testing
                                    testing twice monthly, upon random selection
                                                  monthly, upon        selection or
                                                                                 or reasonable
                                                                                    reasonable
       suspicion of intoxication or impairment;
                                    impairment;4

     • Complete drug && alcohol treatment and
                                          and follow through with all recommendations;
                                                     through with

     • Complete
       Complete mental health treatment
                mental health treatment and
                                        and follow
                                            follow through
                                                   through with all recommendations;
                                                           with all

     •• Obtain and maintain
        Obtain and maintain safe
                            safe and
                                 and stable
                                     stable housing;
                                            housing;

     •• Complete
        Complete batterer's
                  batterer's intervention
                             intervention through an appropriate
                                          through an             provider and
                                                     appropriate provider and follow
                                                                              follow through with
                                                                                     through with
        all
        all recommendations;
            recommendations;

     • Follow the rules and
                        and regulations
                            regulations of State
                                           State Parole;

     •• Attend Parenting Education;
        Attend Parenting Education;

     • Sign all
            all releases requested by the Agency;
                releases requested        Agency;

         Father
         Father was permitted
                    permitted visitation with
                                         with the minor child
                                              the minor child at the
                                                                 the Blueprints Visitation House
                                                                                           House or

other Agency
      Agency approved location,
                      location, supervised by James Chambers
                                                    Chambers (maternal grandfather), three
                                                             (maternal grandfather), three

(3) times aaweek
            week for two
                     two (2)
                         Q2) hours each visit. No other
                                                  other friends
                                                        friends or relatives were permitted
                                                                                  permitted to

supervise visitation. Ordered visits
                              visits contained
                                     contained the express condition that,
                                                                     that, Mr. Chambers
                                                                               Chambers may

terminate a
          a visit if it appears that Father is under the influence and/or behaves in aadisruptive

manners
manner.°

         By
         By order
            order dated, March
                         March 24, 2021, an Order
                                            Order for paternity
                                                      paternity testing
                                                                testing was granted
                                                                            granted as
                                                                                    as to
                                                                                       to Father

for purposes of confirming paternity
                           paternity of JD..
                                        J.D..

Noted
4Noted that Father was also testing through                     services. If he was
                                     through federal pre-trial services.        was called to be tested by  two (2)
                                                                                                         by two (2) or
more agencies
      agencies for random testing within a
               for random                 atwenty-four
                                            twenty-four (24)
                                                          (24) hour period, Father
                                                                             Father was permitted   to present
                                                                                         permitted to  present written
proof
proof of negative results
      of negative results to
                          to the Agency in
                             the Agency in lieu
                                           lieu of re-testing.
                                                of re-testing.

sAs aresult of acceptance
Asa            acceptance of
                          of Mother's voluntary, this Opinion
                             Mother's voluntary,      Opinion will not
                                                                   not review Court ordered services for Mother.

                                                     Page 4
                                                          4 of 48
•
               A permanency review
               A            review hearing
                                   hearing was held via
                                           was held via TEAMS
                                                        TEAMS on Tuesday,
                                                                 Tuesday, May 4, 2021,
                                                                          May 4, 2021, and both
                                                                                           both

        Father and his attorney attended. Father was found to be minimally
                       attorney attended.                        minimally compliant with the

    permanency plan and to have made minimal progress toward
                                                      toward alleviating
                                                             alleviating the circumstances which

    necessitated the original placement.
                              placement. Specifically, Father
                                                       Father had completed aadrug
                                                                              drug and alcohol

               and no further
    evaluation and                          recommended .6 He was also actively engaged in
                      further treatment was recommended.

    Batterer's Intervention Counseling and Blueprints
                            Counseling and Blueprints parenting education. It
                                                      parenting education. It was reported
                                                                                  reported that

    Father had strong
               strong initial participation
                              participation which became spotty
                                                         spotty as the review period
                                                                              period went
                                                                                     went on.

    Additionally, Father reported
                         reported that
                                  that his participation
                                           participation decline was resultant of aacar accident and
                                                                                                 and

    destruction of his cellphone
                       ceIlphone used
                                 used for telehealth.
                                          telehealth. Interestingly
                                                      Interestingly enough,
                                                                    enough, Maternal
                                                                            Matera Grandfather

    reported that
             that the
                  the accident occurred when
                      accident occurred when Father     driving without
                                             Father was driving without aalicense.
                                                                          license. There was also an
                                                                                         was also

    incident during this review period where a
                    this review              a potential domestic
                                                         domestic incident
                                                                  incident between Mother and

    Father resulted in police being called.
                                    called. The Minor Child was reported
                                                                reported to be doing
                                                                               doing well in the

    kinship caregivers' home. Father's court
                                       court ordered services remained the same as the
                                                                                   the initial

    permanency order.

              On May
              On May 11,       the Agency
                     11, 2021, the        reported through
                                   Agency reported through filed status report
                                                           filed status report that they were notified
                                                                               that they

    that         Sean Dungee
    that Father, Sean Dungee and Mother, Angela
                                         Angela (Chambers)
                                                (Chambers) Dungee,
                                                           Dungee, were involved in a
                                                                                    a physical
                                                                                      physical

    domestic incident. The Agency spoke with State Trooper Samuael
                                                           Samuael Apke     reported to aa
                                                                   Apke who reported

    verbal domestic occurring in aaparking lot down the street
                                   parking lot          street from the
                                                                    the home
                                                                        home of Father and Mother.

    Said status
         status report indicated that during the incident Mother, Angela
                                                                  Angela Chambers Dungee
                                                                                  Dungee punched
                                                                                         punched

                 Dungee, in the face.
    Father, Sean Dungee,

     Despite such recommendation,
    Despite
    6             reco mendation, the Dependency Court continued to order drug             treatment.
                                                                          drug and alcohol treatment
                                                    Page 55of 48
     Ii-

'
It

                  On May 12, 2021
                  On         202l a
                                  a protection from
                                               from abuse temporary order
                                                                    order was granted
                                                                              granted on behalf of

           Angela Dungee against
           Angela Dungee against Sean
                                 Sean Dungee
                                      Dungee.'     7

                  On July 14, 2021, aamotion to suspend visitation was filed by the Agency and
                  On                                                                       and signed
                                                                                               signed by

           this Court. The Motion was filed as a
                                               a result of the caregivers and maternal grandparents
                                                                                       grandparents

           requesting to no longer supervise visitation between Father and the Minor
           requesting to                                                       Minor Child
                                                                                     Child due
                                                                                           due to
                                                                                               to

           Protection from Abuse Orders
                                 Orders cross-filed by
                                                    by Mother and
                                                              and Father and
                                                                         and naming one another as

       defendants. Visits were then scheduled between Father and child at a
                                                                          a visit
                                                                            visit facility. Father failed
                                                                                                   failed

       to confirm four
                  four (4)
                       (4) visits at the       facility. Upon
                                     the visit facility. Upon motion of the
                                                                        the Agency,
                                                                            Agency, visits
                                                                                    visits were suspended

       pending
       pending confirmation of
                            of paternity.
                               paternity. By order of July
                                             order of July 22, 2021, this
                                                                     this request was withdrawn
                                                                                      withdrawn and
                                                                                                and

       visitation for
                  for Father
                      Father was
                             was reinstated.
                                 reinstated

                  On
                  On July 26, 202I,
                              2021, the
                                    the Agency filed
                                               filed another Motion to
                                                                    to decrease Father's visitation based
                                                                                                    based

       on Father's failure to                                                     violence. The Motion
                           to confirm visits and continued concerns with domestic violence,

       of the Agency to
          the Agency    decrease visitation
                     to decrease visitation included
                                            included the
                                                     the following allegations:

                              • Mr.
                                Mr. James and           Jaime Chambers do
                                             and Ms. Jaime                  do not feel
                                                                                    feel comfortable supervising
                                                                                                        supervising
                                visits,
                                visits, as there  are current  Protection   from   Abuse   Orders   between   Mr. and
                                Mrs. Dungee
                                Mrs.            that have
                                      Dungee that                  granted until September, 2022. A
                                                      have been granted                                 A visitation
                                                                                                           visitation
                                referral was completed
                                              completed and and Agency
                                                                 Agency caseworkers were supervising visits     visits
                                until Blueprints had staff available to  to accommodate Mr. Dungee's
                                schedule.
                                schedule.
                             •• On July 7, 2021,
                                             2021, Mr.
                                                     Mr. Dungee did did not
                                                                        not confirm his fourth consecutive
                                scheduled visit. The
                                scheduled           The Agency
                                                          Agency caseworker,
                                                                    caseworker, Ms. Eisengart,
                                                                                        Eisengart, was unable
                                                                                                         unable to
                                contact W.
                                contact  Mr. Dungee.
                             • In addition, there
                                              there continues
                                                     continues to be domestic violence concerns. The       The most
                                recent
                                recent allegation arises    at MJ-27201-CR
                                                     arises at                   0000185-2021 Commonwealth
                                                               M-27201-CR-0000185-2021             Commonwealth
                                of Pennsylvania
                                of Pennsylvania vs. vs. Sean
                                                        Sean L.L. Dungee IIH (Filed    7/15/2021). The
                                                                               (Filed 7/15/2021).    The Affidavit of  of
                                Probable
                                Probable Cause     states, inter. AHa.
                                           Cause states,           Alia. "Angela
                                                                         "Angela Dungee stated        that she was in
                                                                                              stated that             in
                                the
                                the passenger seat
                                                 seat of
                                                       of Toi Burgess's
                                                               Burgess's vehicle
                                                                          vehicle when
                                                                                    when Sean
                                                                                           Sean L. Dungee
                                                                                                     Dungee
                                approached
                                approached    her  on  foot and   struck her  in the face  with a
                                                                                           with a  closed  fist, spit
                                upon
                                upon her person, and and sprayed her with pepper spray." The     The Affidavit goes

        Order was later modified to
       order
       7                         to include Minor Child but record is absent
                                                                      absent reference to
                                                                                        to when such modification was
       completed. Later orders also indicate that protection
                                                  protection from abuse orders were fled
                                                                                    filed on Father, Sean
                                                                                                     Sen Dungee's behalf
       and against Mother, Angela
                           Angela Dungee. In other words, both parties were granted protection orders against the other.

                                                        Page 6    49
                                                             6 of 48
•
                           on to allege
                           on to        "Angela Dungee
                                 allege "Angela           was being treated
                                                 Dungee was           treated for
                                                                              for the
                                                                                  the effects of the
                                                                                      effects of
                           pepper spray
                                   spray and
                                         and Officer  O'Rourke and
                                              Officer O'Rourke   and IIdid
                                                                        did observe
                                                                            observe Angela
                                                                                     Angela Dungee's
                                                                                              Dungee's
                           face and hands
                           face and  hands to
                                           to be
                                              be red and
                                                     and irritated
                                                         irritated. Two   witnesses did
                                                                    Two witnesses    did observe   this
                                                                                          observe this
                           incident and corroborated Angela
                                                       Angela Dungee's recollection of the events."
                           The
                           The docket indicates that Sean L. Dungee
                                                               Dungee II was charged with simple
                           assault and harassment.

    See status report with attachedpolice criminal complaint accepted
                                                             accepted with dependency
                                                                           dependency record at

    CYS Exhibit 5.
                S.

                order dated
             By order dated July 30, 2021, Father's visitation was modified to
                                                                            to supervised visitation

    at the Blueprints Visitation House, or other Agency
    at                                           Agency approved location,
                                                                 location, supervised
                                                                           supervised by
                                                                                      by an Agency
                                                                                            Agency

    approved person, one time a
                              a week for two hours in
                                                   in duration, with permission to expand
                                                                                   expand after

    Father participated in three consecutive visits.

           The next
           The next permanency review
                               review hearing     held before
                                      hearing was held before this Court on
                                                              this Court on August
                                                                            August 17,
                                                                                   I7, 2021.
                                                                                       2021.

    Father was determined
               determined to
                          to have
                             have minimal compliance and
                                                     and to
                                                         to have made no
                                                                      no progress
                                                                         progress toward
                                                                                  toward

    alleviating the circumstances
    alleviating the circumstances which necessitated
                                        necessitated the initial placement. Father
                                                                            Father was granted
                                                                                   was granted

    visitation at an Agency-approved
                     Agency-approved location, supervised
                                               supervised by an Agency
                                                                Agency approved person, one
                                                                                        one (1)
                                                                                            (1)

    time
    time per week
             week for two (2)
                  for two (2) hours with
                                    with permission
                                         permission to expand if Father participated
                                                    to expand                        in three
                                                                        participated in three (3)
                                                                                              (3)

    consecutive
    consecutive visits. Father's Court Ordered services remained
                        Father's Court                  remained the
                                                                 the same except for the additional
                                                                     same except         additional

    requirement driecting
                directing Father
                          Father to follow
                                    follow the recommendation of Dr. Crabtree's
                                               recommendation of     Crabtree's evaluation.
                                                                                evaluation. At
                                                                                            At the
                                                                                               the

    time of the
    time of the August
                August 2021
                       202I hearing,
                            hearing, the
                                     the Minor Child was in placement
                                         Minor Child                  for seven
                                                            placement for seven (7) months and
                                                                                (7) months and

    continued to be
    continued    be placed
                    placed with Maternal Grandparents.
                           with Maternal Grandparents.

       The Minor Child was in placement for eleven   11) months at the time of the next permanency
                                            eleven ((II)

    review hearing, on December
                       December 14, 2021. Father was found
                                                     found to have minimal compliance with the

    permanency plan,
               plan, as aaresult of attending visitation and
                                                         and obtaining housing. However, it
                                                             obtaining housing.          it was
                                                                                            was

                                                Page 7
                                                Page  of 48
                                                     7of 48
'
    specifically noted that Father had
                       that Father had not          for drug
                                       not appeared for drug and
                                                             and alcohol screenings or mental health
                                                                 alcohol screenings

    treatment. Father was found to
    treatment.                  to have no progress. Father's
                                   have no           Father's visitation
                                                              visitation remained the same,
                                                                         remained the

    however, due to ongoing
                    ongoing domestic violence concerns, which were amplified with Mother and

    Father seeing or running into one another before and/or after visits, the Court directed that

    neither party
            party could
                  could arrive or stay in the
                                          the vicinity
                                              vicinity of the building,
                                                              building, including
                                                                        including the
                                                                                  the building itself,
                                                                                               itself,

    outside
    outside perimeter and parking
            perimeter and         lot, for
                          parking lot, for more
                                           more than
                                                than ten
                                                     ten ((10)
                                                           10) minutes. Father's
                                                                        Father's ordered
                                                                                 ordered services
                                                                                         services

    stayed the
           the same, but
                     but he was also
                                also ordered to participate
                                     ordered to participate in a
                                                               a Bonding Assessment, as arranged
                                                                                        arranged by
                                                                                                 by

    the Agency,
    the Agency. CYS was ordered
                        ordered to assist
                                   assist both parents
                                               parents with transportation, upon request and
                                                                                 request and

    advance notice from parents. Both parents      also ordered
                                      parents were also ordered to
                                                                to engage in TPR and
                                                                                 And PACA

    Counseling."
    Counseling!

         On the 12
                12 1'
                    of April
                       April 2022, the final permanency
                                   the final permanency review hearing
                                                               hearing before the TPR
                                                                                  TPR hearing
                                                                                      hearing was

    held.
    held. Father was       to be
                 was found to be in
                                 in moderate compliance with
                                    moderate compliance      the permanency
                                                        with the permanency plan
                                                                            plan and
                                                                                 and to
                                                                                     to have
                                                                                        have

    made minimal progress toward alleviating the circumstances which necessitated the initial

    placement. At the
                  the time of the hearing,
                      time of     hearing, the
                                           the Agency
                                               Agency had
                                                      had filed     petition to
                                                          filed the petition to terminate parental
                                                                                          parental

    rights with an original hearing
                            bearing date
                                    date of June 2, 2022.

                  at the
        Testimony at the hearing
                         hearing included information that
                                                      that Father completed batterer's intervention

    counseling on January 24, 2022,
                              2022,"9had earlier completed parenting
                                                           parenting education on June 22, 2021,

    Te
    8 The specific
          specific order
                   order for Termination
                             Termination of   Parental Rights
                                           of Parental         and Post Adoption
                                                       Rights and       Adoption Contact counseling is insightful
                                                                                 Contact counseling                because it
                                                                                                        insightful because it
    appears in the
               the record,
                   record, parents
                           parents were
                                    were on notice  that the Agency
                                             notice that     Agency and Court had begun
                                                                                   begun focus on the concurrent
                                                                                                       concurrent

    =
    permanencyplof
      As admitted
    9 As
                 goal of�
         admitted as
                   A CYS
                         adoption.

                      Please
                      He has
                                  L
                                    11, Ms. Vozar
                     CY'S Exhibit 11,Ms.
                      Please be advised
                                 advised that
                                                    writes:
                                             Voar writes
                                          that Mr. Dungee
                                                   Dungee completed
                                                             completed the PA
                           ha positive attendance and participation and derorstred
                      recommended
                       recommended Mr. Dungee continue follow up with CYSas
                                                                                           Health Services
                                                                           PA Professional Heath   Services BIP

                                                                             CYS as well as refer to a
                      substance abuse counselor should it become necessary. Letter of  ofJanuary
                                                                                                                 program.
                                                                                                             BIP program.
                                                                          demonstrated no issues or concerns. It is
                                                                                                     amental heath
                                                                                         Janumy 24, 2022
                                                                                                       2022.
                                                                                                              health or

                                                        Page 8
                                                        Page 8of
                                                               of 48
                                                                  48
•
It

      and completed
      and completed drug and alcohol
                    drug and alcohol treatment."
                                     treatment. °Father was compliant
                                                 Father was compliant with
                                                                t     with parole
                                                                           parole and
                                                                                  and maintained
                                                                                      maintained

      safe and
      safe and stable housing.
                      housing. No information was presented
                                                  presented regarding Father's mental health
                                                                                      health

     treatment.
     treatment. The Court
                    Court Order from the April 12
                                               121'hearing kept
                                                           kept Father's court ordered services the

     same and
          and requested updated evaluations and TPR and Post Adoption Counseling
                                                                      Counseling for
                                                                                 for Father.

                Dr. Michael Crabtree
                            Crabtree testified at
                                               at the hearing regarding
                                                              regarding interactions he
                                                                                     be witnessed between

     Father and
            and the Minor
                    Minor Child and
                                and stated
                                    stated that while
                                                while the Minor
                                                          Minor Child seems bonded to Father, his
                                                                            bonded to         his

     primary
     primary attachment
             attachment is
                        is with
                           with maternal grandparents. Dr.
                                maternal grandparents. Dr. Crabtree
                                                           Crabtree stated
                                                                    stated that increased visitation
                                                                           that increased visitation

     with Father would
     with        would not negatively impact
                                      impact the child, so long
                                                           long as this visitation did not impact
                                                                                           impaet

     his bond
     his bond with maternal
                   maternal grandparents.            permitted visitation with the Minor Child
                            grandparents. Father was permitted                           Child

     one ((I)
     one   1) time
              time per week
                       week for
                            for two
                                two (2)       at an Agency approved
                                    (2) hours at           approved location supervised by
                                                                    location supervised by an
                                                                                           an

     Agency approved person.
     Agency approved person. He was
                                was also
                                    also permitted
                                         permitted to
                                                   to have
                                                      have three
                                                           three (3)
                                                                 (3) additional
                                                                     additional visits
                                                                                visits per
                                                                                       per month for
                                                                                                 for

     three (3) hours each, as could
     three                    could be arranged and supervised
                                                    supervised by
                                                               by the
                                                                  the Agency.
                                                                      Agency.

     Testimony
     provided
     Testimoay provided at       at
                           TerMination of
                        Termination    ofParental
                                          Parental Rights
                                                   Rights hearings:
                                                        hearings:

                         This Court
                         This Court conducted
                                    conducted aahearing on
                                                        on the
                                                           the TPR Petition that involved
                                                                                 involved three
                                                                                          three (3)
                                                                                                (3) full
                                                                                                    full

     days of testimony from
                       from eleven
                            eleven (11)
                                   (1l) witnesses as summarized herein. Additionally,
                                                                        Additionally, at
                                                                                      at the

     see
     1° See letter of March 23, 2022 from Allied Addiction Recovery
                                                                  Recovery (AAR)
                                                                              (AA.R) indicating that Sean Dungee
                                                                                                               Dungee is currently
                                                                                                                           currently
     enrolled in treatment with an intake appointment on February 3,2022  3, 2022 with
                                                                                    with arecommendation
                                                                                            recom        dation of weekly
                                                                                                                    weekly outpatient
                                                                                                                             outpatient
     group  therapy. The letter continues:
     group therapy,
                        He attends
                            attends weekly evening
                                              evening appointments without atte   attendance
                                                                                        dance issues. Sean attended group group therapy
                                                                                                                                 therapy
                        of 219,2/16,2t23,3/2,3/9,
                           29,2/16, 2/23,302, 39,and   and 3/16022.
                                                            3/1682. He He bas
                                                                           has remained
                                                                                rerained engaged
                                                                                            engaged with
                                                                                                      with treatment
                                                                                                            treatment and    in
                                                                                                                        and in
                                                                             appropriate urinalysis
                        compliance with the program. Sean provided appropriate             urinalysis profiles
                                                                                                        profiles weekly,
                                                                                                                 weekly, with no
                        evidence of relapse or illicit substance use. He expresses understanding of the harmful effects of
                        substance use
                        substance  use for
                                         for families and communities. At
                                             families and                   At this  time, Sean
                                                                                this time,        has made
                                                                                            Sean has          positive progress
                                                                                                       made positive    progress inin
                        treatment. Letter of
                        treatment.           ofMarch 3,3. 2022
                                                          2022.
     A second AAR letter was also submitted dated June
     A                                                   Jure 22, 2022, indicating:
                                                                          indicating
                        This letter is being
                                       being written to verify hat
                                                                 that Sean Dungee
                                                                            Dungee is currently
                                                                                         currently enrolled in treatment
                                                                                                                  treatment atat Allied
                        Addiction
                         Addiction Recovery,
                                    Recovery, LLC. He  He attended
                                                            attended an
                                                                      an intake
                                                                         intake appointment
                                                                                   ppoi         t on
                                                                                                  on 2/782
                                                                                                     27/22 andand was recommended
                                                                                                                        recorr vended
                        to participate in          outpatient group
                                        in weekly owtpatient    group therapy sessions.
                                                                                      .      Sean has attended a  a total of 13 grop
                                                                                                                                  group
                                                           tree individual therapy sessions and his intake assessment. His
                        therapy sessions in addition to three                                                                  t.

                        attendance adand participation in treatment have been good  good. Sean
                                                                                            Sen bashas made positive
                                                                                                               positive progress
                                                                                                                         progress in
                        treatment.
                        treatment. HeHe provided
                                          provided weekly
                                                    weekly urine
                                                             urine samples,
                                                                   samples, and allell results of  his urinalysis
                                                                                               of bis  urinalysis testing
                                                                                                                   testing were
                        appropriate. Sea
                                       Sean is scheduled to to successfully               treatment on 6/27/22 following
                                                               successfully complete treatment                     following his final
                                                                                                                                    final
                        individual therapy appointment as long
                        individual                              long as he maintains his current
                                                                                             current status and compliance with
                        treatment. Letter of ofJrme      2022.
                                               hue 22, 2022

                                                              Page 99of 48
•
    conclusion of the hearing,
                      bearing, counsel for Father, the Agency
                                                       Agency Solicitor, and child counsel provided
                                                                                           provided

    findings of fact
                fact and conclusions of law.

         The first
             first hearing date
                           date was August 31, 2022. At the commencement of the hearing, Mother,

    Angela Dungee, requested with consent of all parties, to amend the
    Angela                                                         the termination petition filed

    against
    against her to aavoluntary agreement. Following oral colloquy and submission of an Agreement

    to
    to Terminate and Submission of
       Terminate and                       Colloquy, Mother's
                                of an Oral Colloquy,          request was granted.
                                                     Mother's request     granted.

         1)
         D Kathryn
            Davis,
            KathrynDavis, Pre-licensed Marriage &.
                          Rre-licensed Marriage & Family therapist:
                                                Family   therapist:

              Testimony was received vis
                                     via telephone
                                         telephone from Kathryn
                                                        Kathryn Davis of Christian Counseling
                                                                                   Counseling

                                                                          family therapist
    Associates. Davis testified that she is a "Pre-licensed" marriage and family therapist who is

    currently under the
    currently       the supervision of another person. Davis testified that Father, Sean
                                                                                    Sean Dungee, has
                                                                                         Dungee, has

    been
    been her client as of January 31, 2022. Notably, this is over one
                                                                  one ((D)
                                                                        1) year after Dungee
                                                                                      Dungee was

    originally ordered to complete such service.''
                                        service." This statement
                                                       statement is also
                                                                    also inconsistent
                                                                         inconsistent with Davis's

    later testimony that her
    later testimony          "initial assessment"
                         her initial  assessment" of
                                                  of Dungee
                                                     Dungee was on
                                                                on February
                                                                   February 7,2022.
                                                                            7,2022.12 According
                                                                                      According

    to
    to Davis, she engaged
                  engaged in
                          in weekly on-line therapy sessions
                             weekly on-line         sessions with Father
                                                                  Father for, "adjustment
                                                                              "adjustment disorder,
                                                                                          disorder,

    anxiety and depression." Ms. Davis
                                 Davis indicated her treatment plan was based on information self-
                                                                                             self-

    reported by Father and further indicated that she was unaware of the evaluation conducted with

    Dr. Crabtree and
    Dr. Crabtree and his
                     his and/or
                         and/or specific court recommendations
                                specific court recommendations for
                                                               for Father.

              Davis indicated that her
                                   her initial assessment with Father was on February 7, 2022 with the
                                       initial assessment

    presenting problem
    presenting problem provided
                       provided by Father as Anxiety,
                                by Father    Anxiety, PTSD, and Bi-Polar disorder.
                                                                         disorder. Father

    ""pavis
    11 Davis indicated that
                       that she graduated with a
                            she graduated      a master's degree
                                                          degree and     under supervision
                                                                  and is under supervision of a licensed therapist,
                                                                                              a licensed therapist, which
                for aspecific umber
    is required for           number of hours prior to being licensed
                                                             licensed.

    12 The dates provided by Davis are important in this
    "The                                               this Court's consideration of whether Dungee's initial participation
    occurred pre and/or post
    occurred             poet TPR petition filing. It
                                                    l appears that Davis carefully utilized the date of January 31, 2022 in
    stating
    stating that is when Dungee became her client,
                 is when                      client, however,  by her own testimony,
                                                      however, by           testimony, her initial assessment was not until
    two
    two (2) weeks later and following the filing of the TPR petition.
        ( weels                                             petition. .,

                                                       Page 10 of 48
•
    indicated to
    indicated to Davis
                 Davis that
                       that his anxiety and
                            his anxiety and depression
                                            depression were
                                                       were related
                                                            related to legal and
                                                                    to legal and parenting
                                                                                 parenting issues.
                                                                                           issues.

    Father's last
             last session with Davis occurred on May 18, 2022. When asked why
                          with Davis                                      why Father was no

    longer aaclient, Davis indicated that continuing therapy is her
                                                                her "client's prerogative" and Father

    chose to
          to be discharged. Davis continued that
             be discharged.                 that when
                                                 when Father                  with her,
                                                      Father attended therapy with her, he did
                                                                                           did so

    regularly and consistently.

             Davis provided additional details
             Davis provided            details when
                                               when questioned by
                                                               by Father's counsel.
                                                                           counsel. Davis
                                                                                    Davis continued
                                                                                          continued

    that Father
    that Father was cooperative in
                                in sessions and
                                            and noted that
                                                      that she
                                                           she found him "open
                                                               found him       and honest."
                                                                         "open and          Davis
                                                                                   honest," Davis

    said that Father
    said             made progress in
              Father made          in increasing his "self
                                                     "self worth and      managing anxiety."
                                                                 and with managing           She
                                                                                   anxiety." She

    testified hrther
              further that Father
                           Father "progressed in aapositive way and was receptive to the on-line

    therapy,"
    therapy," successfully moving
                           moving through
                                  through long and
                                               and short term goals.
                                                   short term goals. When asked     further detail,
                                                                          asked for further detail,

    Davis testified
          testified that
                    that Father progressed with her assessment tool in his anxiety, starting at
                                                                                             at an 1
                                                                                                   lHI

    and ending with aa1.
    and                  A similar tool used by
                      I. A                   by Davis regarding Father's depression showed an

    improvement from a
    improvement from a10
                       I0 at the
                             the beginning
                                 beginning to a
                                              a 1.1.''
                                                    13                        discharged as aaresult of his
                                                                   Father was discharged
    completion of
    completion of long and
                       and short
                           short term
                                 term goals, however,
                                             however, Davis indicated that
                                                      Davis indicated      his goals
                                                                      that his goals and
                                                                                     and her
                                                                                         her

    conclusions were based
                     based entirely on the information that
                                                       that Father provided. Davis acknowledged

    that her
    that her treatment plan would
             treatment plan       be different
                            would be different if
                                               if she had been provided
                                                      had been provided the report of
                                                                        the report of Dr. Crabtree
                                                                                          Crabtree or
                                                                                                   or

    was presented at
                  at the
                     the assessment with
                                    with concerns of agoraphobia
                                                     agoraphobia and/or cannabis
                                                                        cannabis disorder. Davis

    acknowledged she
                 she does
                     does not treat P'TSD,
                          not treat PTSD, cannabis
                                           cannabis use
                                                    use disorder,
                                                        disorder, alcohol
                                                                  alcohol problems, bi-polar and/or
                                                                          problems, bi-polar and/or

    agoraphobia. 14 Additionally,
    agoraphobia."   Additionally, Davis acknowledged awareness of Father's
                                                                  Father's treatment
                                                                           treatment with

    Southwestern Pennsylvania
                 Pennsylvania Human Services
                                    Services (SPHS),             request, receive,
                                             (SPHS), but did not request, receive, and/or review
                                                                                          review

    information and/or records from the provider.

     Davis referred
    pavis
    13     referred to
                    toaareport,
                        report, however
                                however a   report was
                                          a report was not introduced
                                                            introduced at  the bearing
                                                                        at the hearing and    not of
                                                                                       and is not    record.
                                                                                                  of record
    AAll of which are included in
    14                          in Father's mental health  history as discussed herein,
                                                    bealth bistory               herein.

                                                       Page 11 of
                                                               of 48
           Davis had no contact with the
                                     the Agency
                                         Agency during
                                                during her
                                                       her treatment of
                                                                     of Father.
                                                                        Father. She
                                                                                She testified
                                                                                    testified that
                                                                                              that

 in July of this year, after her closure of Dungee's case, she had contact with Caseworker Paige

 Eisengart               one ((I)
 Eisengart approximately one   1) or two
                                     two (2)
                                         (2) times. Davis also
                                                          also indicated
                                                               indicated that
                                                                         that she received a
                                                                                           a signed
                                                                                             signed

 release of
 release    information in June
         of information         of 2022
                           June of 2022 and
                                        and aareport
                                              report was sent to
                                                              to the
                                                                 the Agency at
                                                                            at the
                                                                               the beginning
                                                                                   beginning of
 August.
 August.

     2) Pr.
     2) Dr. Michael Crabtree- Expert
            Michael Crabtree- in
                              Expert in Forensic Psychology
                                                 Psychology

          After being qualified by consent as an expert
                                                 expert in forensic psychology,
                                                                    psychology, Dr. Crabtree
                                                                                    Crabtree

provided testimony regarding
provided           regarding his various evaluations
                             his various evaluations with Dungee.
                                                          Dungee.                          Dr. Crabtree's
                                                                                               Crabtree's initial
                                                                                                          initial

evaluation and
evaluation and assessment
               assessment of
                          of Dungee occurred on
                             Dungee occurred    May 18,
                                             on May     2021. Following
                                                    18,2021.  Following aabattery of tests
                                                                          battery of tests

and
and assessments, Crabtree identified
    assessments, Crabtree identified anxiety,
                                     anxiety, paranoia,  panic, cannabis
                                              paranoias, panic, cannabis and alcohol disorder
                                                                         and alcohol disorder with
                                                                                              with

Dungee. His report
Dungee.            of May 18, 2021 entered as Exhibit 6
            report of                                 6 collective, notes aadiagnosis
                                                                            diagnosis of
                                                                                      of

Cannabis Use Disorder Mild,
                      Mild, Alcohol Use Disorder Moderate, Generalized Anxiety Disorder
                                                                       Anxiety Disorder

and Agoraphobia with Panic Disorder. See
                with Panic           See Report    Pg. 9.
                                         Report at Pg.    Crabtree indicated
                                                       9. Crabtree indicated that the anxiety
                                                                             that the anxiety

and panic
and panic would be responsive
          would be responsive to
                              to treatment,
                                 treatment, but
                                            but thought
                                                thought the cannabis and
                                                        the cannabis     alcohol findings
                                                                     and alcohol findings would
                                                                                          would

have
have a
     a significant
       significant impact
                   impact on
                          on Father's ability to
                             Father's ability to parent. Crabtree
                                                         Crabtree recommended that Father
                                                                  recommended that

continue ongoing
         ongoing therapy and treatment through SPHS with
                                                    with mental health and
                                                                       and drug
                                                                           drag and

alcohol services. s   t

1s Crabtree noted frustration
Cmbtree                                     access to
                  frustration in not having aooess to the
                                                      the records of Christian Counseling.
                                                                               Counseling. Crabtree
                                                                                           Crabtree was present
                                                                                                        present for
                                                                                                                for
the testimony of pre-
the                  licensed therapist Davis.
                 pre-licensed           Davis.

Crabtree's report
           report indicates the following:
                                following

... of great
.of    great interest regarding
                      regarding the
                                 the test results
                                          results is the
                                                     the fact
                                                         fet that
                                                              that Mr. Dungee
                                                                       Dungee has some   difficulty thinking
                                                                                   sotne difficulty thinking through
                                                                                                              through
situations      arriving at
situations and arriving  at rational  conclusions (a
                            ratiooal conclusions    (a so-called Thought Disorder).
                                                                          Disorder). He
                                                                                      He also experiences
                                                                                               experiences significant
                                                                                                            significant social
detachment
detac hment from others and has has sahigh level of paranoia
                                                      paranoia being
                                                                being hypervigilant
                                                                      hypervigilant and feeling
                                                                                        feeling he is always   being
                                                                                                      ahways being

                                                      Page 12 of 48
'
           Crabtree testified that he made multiple attempts
                                                    attempts to
                                                             to obtain the records of Christian

    Counseling Services and failed. Crabtree opined that the therapy that Father received from

    Christian Counseling was insufficient and failed to comply with his recommendations. Crabtree

    noted fiuther
          further concerns that the counseling did not
                                                   not address the areas of concern that his

    assessment       most significant.
    assessment found most

           Dr. Crabtree next completed an interactional evaluation between the Minor Child and

    Father on January 21, 2022, this evaluation was provided by
                                                             by report dated February
                                                                report dated February 23, 2022.

    This report, also part of collective Exhibit 6
                                                 6 indicates in conclusion, "Father showed good
                                                                                           good

parenting skills as he worked with his son. The conclusion is that there is a
                                                                            a bonded relationship

between the father and son." Page S
                                  Sofreport. No testimony
                                                testimony was
                                                          was presented regarding
                                                                        regarding the

January evaluation.

           Dr. Crabtree completed an updated
                                     updated evaluation with Father on June 14, 2022. Through
                                                                                      Through

the report
    report dated June 23, 2022, Dr. Crabtree states the following
                                                        following in conclusions and

recommendations:
recommendations:

                    Since the evaluator last met with Mr. Dungee, he has continued to lead aa
                    responsible life. He has changed employers,
                                                      employers, and he
                                                                     he reports
                                                                        reports himself to
                                                                                        to be
                                                                                           be getting
                                                                                              getting

persecuted and
persecuted     having asahigh
           and having    high degree of resentment.
                              degree of n           The test
                                             oment. The      results combined
                                                        test results.           with his
                                                                         bled w.lth   his. existing
                                                                                              stbg mental
                                                                                                    metal health
                                                                                                            hea.ht
diagnosis
dlagosl atat SPHS,  The Care
             SPAS, fie   Care Center
                               Center suggest
                                      suggest aslgfloat
                                                signleant challenge
                                                     a     challengefor his   ability io
                                                                          his ablllry to effectively
                                                                                          effectively parent.
                                                                                                      parent.

It is recommended
      re oimmended that he be required to attend at the rate
                                                        rate suggested by SPHS, The Care Center for mental health
                                                             suggested by
services
ervices and that he have substance abuse
                                    abuse treatment
                                           treatment services in addition.

W.
Mr. Dungee
     Dungee does   not appear
              does not  appear to have been
                               to have      actively involved
                                       been actively              the parenting
                                                      involved in the parenting of  his older
                                                                                 of bis older children. The three
                                                                                              children. The       mothers
                                                                                                            three mother
of these four
of these four children have taken primary responsibility
                                            responsibility for raising
                                                               raising the            Therefore, he may
                                                                       the children. Therefore,          need instruction
                                                                                                     may need instn ztion
in
in parenting        to provide
   parenting skills to         effective care
                       provide effective care for
                                              for his son.

Of great
    great concern
          concern for thethe Agency
                             Agency in    putting together
                                       in putting  together a  long-term plan
                                                             a long-ten  plan for Mr.
                                                                                   Mr. Dungee's    involvement with
                                                                                        Dungee's involvement       with his  son is
                                                                                                                         his son  is
not only his
not       bis criminal history
                         history but
                                  but also
                                      also potential
                                            potential future
                                                       fare incarceration. His criminal history
                                                                                             history is listed above on
                                                                                                        listed above  on page
                                                                                                                          page 9 9of
                                                                                                                                   of
this report.
this report It   is the
              'tie  the evaluator's
                        evaluator's understanding
                                     understanding thatthat when  the most
                                                            when the  most recent  charges are
                                                                           recent charges        adjudicated, he
                                                                                             are adjudicated    he may
                                                                                                                   nay be    serving
                                                                                                                         beservj
a very long
a       long sentence in insastate
                              state or federal prison
                                                prison (Note
                                                        (Note of Opinion-It   is noted that Mr. Dungee
                                                                  Opinion-It is                  Dungee was sentenced
                                                                                                                sett      d to time
                                                                                                                            to tine
served with probation) It would be important for the      the needs of the child that there be some understanding
                                                                                                       understanding of whether
                                                                                                                            whether
Mr.
Mr. Dungee
     Dungee would
               would bebe physically
                           physically present
                                        present over the
                                                      the next
                                                          next few
                                                                few years of the
                                                                    years of' the child's
                                                                                  child's life
                                                                                          life before
                                                                                               beforeagreat
                                                                                                         great deal  of effort
                                                                                                               deal of         is
                                                                                                                        effort is
extended toto be certain that the bond between
                                           berween himself and the child is is established or maintained
                                                                                                maintained

                                                         Page 13 of 48
'
               along well
                      well with fellow
                                fellow workers and
                                               and supervisors.
                                                   supervisors. He
                                                                He has not gotten into
                                                                       not gotten      any legal
                                                                                  into any legal
               trouble. He reports he has followed through with the counseling
               recommendations made
                                  made by  CYS.
                                        by CYS.

               Mr. Dungee presented as
               Mr. Dungee           as very
                                       very pleasant,
                                            pleasant, engaged
                                                      engaged and
                                                              and sincere.
                                                                  sincere.

               He
               He has
                   has a
                       a desire to be involved in
                                   be involved   in his son's life.
                                                    his son's life. It
                                                                    It should be noted Mr. Dungee
                                                                              be noted      Dungee
               has four other
                        other children,
                              children, all
                                        all of whom
                                               whom are in
                                                         in custody   with their
                                                            custody with   their mothers, and
                                                                                          and of
               whom Mr. Dungee
               whom                                custody.
                          Dungee does not have custody.

               Mr. Dungee has a  a strong
                                   strong desire
                                          desire to
                                                 to see his son involved in
                                                                          in his
                                                                             his own extended
               family.
               family. It was  implied during conversation
                          was irplied                         with Mr. Dungee
                                                conversation with       Dungee that
                                                                                 that even if he
                                                                                      even if    is
                                                                                              be ls
               not
               not the
                   the primary    physical custodian,
                       primary physical     custodian, hehe would
                                                            would like
                                                                   like to have
                                                                           have some
                                                                                 some time   with his
                                                                                       time with
               son so that his
                           his son could
                                     cold continue to    develop a
                                                      to develop  a relationship  with him,
                                                                    relationship with   him, and   get
                                                                                              and get
               to
               to know  his extended
                  know bis  extended family.
                                        family.

              There are no mental health, drug
              There                        drug and
                                                and alcohol,
                                                     alcohol, or lifestyle
                                                                   lifestyle issues
                                                                              issues that were
              discovered by
              discovered by this re-evaluation.
                                 re-evaluation. An   area for which there
                                                 An area                 there was
                                                                               was not  good
                                                                                    not good
              confirming
              confirming information is
                                      is the
                                         the legal
                                             legal issues
                                                   issues still
                                                           still facing
                                                                 facing Mr.
                                                                          Mr. Dungee.
                                                                               Dungee. He    reports he
                                                                                         He reports  he
              has
              bas not
                  not had clear
                          clear information
                                information on
                                             on whether
                                                whether hehe will
                                                              will have
                                                                    have toto spend
                                                                              spend time
                                                                                     time in
                                                                                          in a
                                                                                             a state
                                                                                               state
              prison because
              prison         of pending legal
                     because of                issues; he
                                         legal issues;     reports it
                                                       he reports    it is possible he might
                                                                           possible he  might get
                                                                                               get
              probation
              probation instead.

              Mr.
              Mr. Dungee's   parenting test
                  Dungee's parenting   test scores support the
                                            scores support the fact
                                                               fact he
                                                                    he has
                                                                       has values
                                                                           values and
                                                                                  and attitudes
                                                                                      attitudes
              consistent with agood
                         with a good parent.
                                     parent.

See Report dated June 28,       pgs. 7.8
                      28, 2022, pgs. 7-8.

       Through aareport
       Through   report dated
                        dated on same date,
                                      date, Dr.
                                            Dr. Crabtree did
                                                         did aabonding
                                                               bonding assessment with
                                                                                  with his

Maternal Grandparents and
Maternal              and placement
                          placement providers wherein he found
                                    providers wherein    found that
                                                               that the       Child had a
                                                                    the Minor Child     a

bonded
bonded relationship with grandfather
                         grandfather and
                                     and grandfather's wife.
                                                       wife. A
                                                             A bonding
                                                               bonding assessment was also
                                                                                      also

done with
done      Father, to
     with Father, to which testimony was received and
                                                  and a report was provided,
                                                      a report     provided, dated
                                                                             dated June 23,
                                                                                        23,

      The conclusions and recommendations of the written report
2022. The                                                report indicate the following:

              This is the
                       the second
                           second opportunity the evaluator has to   to observe Sean L. Dungee II Il
              along with his son, J.D..           most recent observation indicates aamore natural
                                     I.D.. This most
              quality as the
              quality     the father and child interacted with
                                                             with one another.
                                                                       another. There is aa bond
              between them.
              between    the.    The   father  was able to demonstrate anumber of strong
                                               was   able to  demonstrate   a number   of strong
              parenting    skulls, at
              parenting skills,    at least
                                      least as
                                            as they   relate to emotional
                                                they relate     emotional bonding    with his
                                                                            bonding with   bis child
                                                                                               child (it
                                                                                                      (it
              is difficult
                 difficult to determine if
                           to determine   if he
                                             he has aagood
                                                       good foundation   in understanding
                                                             foundation in  understanding the needs thethe
              child
              child might have for meeting
                                       meeting developmental
                                                 developmental milestones). The child was very
              natural
              natural and comfortable with the father. The child  child never showed
                                                                              showed any anxiety
                                                                                           anxiety inin

                                            Page
                                            Page 14 of 48
f,
'
               the
               the presence
                   presence of
                             of his
                                his father. The father
                                    father. The father could
                                                       could initiate  emotional connection
                                                              initiate emotional  connection with
                                                                                             with the
                                                                                                  the
               child,
               child, and
                      and reciprocate
                          reciprocate when
                                       when it appeared
                                               appeared as  though the
                                                         as though   the child was in need of some
               emotional reassurance. The father was ableable to
                                                              to interact appropriately and
               comfortably with grandfather of the child, who presently bas  has custody.

               Therefore,
               Therefore, to answer the referral questions from the
                                                                  the agency, there is a
                                                                                       abond
                        J.D.
               between JD.    and his maternal   grandparents,
                                                 grandparents,    and  there is a
                                                                             ls a bond  between
               J.D. and
               JD.  and his father. That being   said, this
                                          being said,  this evaluator concludes that the
                                                                                       the child
                                                                                           child
               would not suffer if the bond between the      child and the
                                                         the cbild      the father
                                                                            father were to be
                                                                                           be
               severed and the child continued to live withwith his maternal   grandparents.
                                                                    maternal grandparents.

               This conclusion is based on the fact
                                               fact that the bond that exists between the child
               and the grandparents is strong
                                       strong and would, from all indications, continue to be
               strong.
               strong.

               Father presents with
                                 with a   sincere interest
                                       a sincere           in maintaining
                                                  interest in maintaining a arelationship  with his
                                                                             relationship with   his
                                                                        enough knowledge
               son. On the other hand, it is not clear that he has enough       knowledge   about
               issues related
               lssues related to child development,
                              to child  development, andand to
                                                             to specific       his child
                                                                specific needs his child has,
                                                                                         has, to be
                                                                                              to be
               the primary
               the          caregiver for
                   primary caregiver         the child.
                                         for the child, Mr.   Dungee has had
                                                         Mr. Dungee        had five
                                                                               five children and
                                                                                              and he
                                                                                                   he
                   not been involved in
               has not                  in raising the
                                                    the older children.
                                                               children.

               All the above is given with
                                      with aareasonable degree of psychological
                                                                  psychological certainty.
                                                                                certainty.

    Report dated June 23, 2022, pg. S.
See Report                          S.

       In support of his opinions, Dr. Crabtree testified that Father had an identifiable
                                                                      had an "identifiable

bond"
bond" with the Minor Child and
                           and was
                               was appropriate
                                   appropriate in
                                               in approaching
                                                  approaching bis
                                                              his son,
                                                                  son, who
                                                                       who was

"comfortable
comfortable with
             with Father."
                  Father." Crabtree felt that
                           Crabtree felt            was aa "good
                                         that there was    "good degree
                                                                 degree of
                                                                        of cooperation"
                                                                           cooperation"

between Maternal Grandfather and Father. Crabtree continued to opine that the bonded
                                                               opine that     bonded

relationship between Father
relationship between Father and
                            and the
                                the Minor Child was
                                    Minor Child was largely
                                                    largely attributable to the
                                                            attributable to the action
                                                                                action of
                                                                                       of

Maternal Grandfather. He testified that during his first meeting with Father, he observed no

bond between the Father and Minor child. Nevertheless, a
                                                       ayear later, the Grandfather
                                                                        Grandfather "allowed

for
for aarelationship"
      relationship" which supported
                          supported aadevelopment of a
                                      development of a bond
                                                       bond between
                                                            between the Child and Father.
                                                                    the Child     Father.

       Crabtree testified that the Minor Childs primary caregivers are his Grandparents who

have
have served in
            in that capacity for
               that capacity     approximately eighteen
                             for approximately eighteen ((18)
                                                          18) months. Crabtree testified that he
                                                                               testified that

    "no concerns
has "no          with Grandparent's parenting
        concerns with               parenting of J.D. and testified
                                              of I.D.               further that,
                                                          testified further that, "Thanks to the
                                                                                             the

                                          Page       49
                                          Page 15 of 48
Grandparents, the
Grandparents, the Minor Child has
                  Minor Child has a
                                  a secure bond that should not be
                                                that should     be disturbed. Crabtree

testified that the Minor Child's best interests are best served if he is in the continuous care

of the
   the Grandparents.
       Grandparents. Stating Anther, Father as
                     Stating further,       as the
                                               the primary
                                                   primary caregiver
                                                           caregiver is not in the
                                                                               the best

interest of the child.
interest of                  Crabtree noted his forefront
                child. Next, Crabtree           forefront considerations in developing his

opinion, including: l)
                    1) asking whether Father still suffers from substance abuse issues; 2)

            the fact that Father bas
questioning the                  has four
                                     four (4) other children for which he hasn't been an active

parent; 3) noting the
                  the Minor Child's relationship with Father was tenuous
                                                                 tenuous prior to
                                                                               to Maternal
                                                                                  Matera
Grandfather being
Grandfather being involved; and
                            and 4) questioning the impact
                                                   impact of Father's pending         criminal
                                                                      pending federal criminal

sentencing.    conclusion on
sentencing. In conclusion    direct, Dr. Crabtree testified that
                          on direct,                        that it could be "deleterious to the
                                                                          be deleterious     the

Child" to separate him from Grandparents, whereas he "does not believe the Child would
                                                  he does

suffer
suffer psychological harm if aatermination
                               termination of parental rights was
                                              parental rights was granted
                                                                  granted as to Father

because the Child's primary
                    "primary bond is with Grandparents.
                                          Grandparents.

       On cross examination, Dr. Crabtree was presented with reports             recent drug
                                                             reports of Father's recent

testing
testing and
        and treatment. Crabtree responded
            treatment. Crabtree responded that
                                          that he saw the reports as showing that
                                                      the reports            that Father, "is

addressing his abuse
               abuse with fewer
                          fewer failed
                                failed tests which shows
                                                   shows an upward
                                                            upward trajectory,
                                                                   trajectory, however the

results do not establish that
                         that Father is ready to live clean and sober. In addition,
                                                                          addition, Crabtree noted

concern with having no results
                       results for Father's alcohol testing.
                                                    testing.

       Crabtree reported
       Crabtree          that his conclusions
                reported that     conclusions regarding Father's interaction
                                              regarding Father's interaction with
                                                                             with his other
                                                                                      other

children (Father
children         not primary
         (Father not primary custodian and not involved in the
                                                           the rearing
                                                               rearing of) were based on

information provided by
                     by Father. He also declined to agree that a parental bond
                                                               a parental bond is aa "preferred

Mond"
bond" when
      when questioned. Crabtree testified that
                       Crabtree testified      achild
                                          that a           and does
                                                 child can and does develop
                                                                    develop a
                                                                            abond  with a
                                                                              bond with a

                     and restated that
consistent caregiver and          that Minor Child has aaprimary
                                                         primary bond
                                                                 bond that is consistent and
                                                                              consistent and

predictable with Grandparents. In response to additional questions regarding the issues leading

                                           Page
                                           Page 16
                                                16 of 48
                                                      48
}
'
    to dependency
    to dependency adjudication,
                  adjudication, Crabtree noted
                                         noted that,
                                               that, Father's substance abuse issues
                                                     Father's substance       issues were not
                                                                                          not

    resolved despite adequate
                     adequate time
                              time to address the
                                              the issues.
                                                  issues. Crabtree
                                                          Crabtree testified that with "aparent
                                                                                  with "a

    facing the loss of a
               loss of aChild the
                              the concerns of
                                           of the Agency should be
                                                                be paramount." Based on his

    diagnosis at
    diagnosis at the
                 the first assessment,
                           assessment, wherein
                                       wherein two
                                               two (2)
                                                   (2) concerns
                                                       concerns were substance abuse
                                                                were substance       related,
                                                                               abuse related,

             opined that
    Crabtree opined that based on information from Father's service
                                                            service providers,
                                                                    providers, Father is inconsistent

                    these concems.
    with addressing these concerns.

           Upon further examination from the GAL, Crabtree testified
                                                           testified to concerns with anxiety
                                                                                 with anxiety

    being the focus of treatment sought by Father. Crabtree noted that there was no treatment
                                                                                    treatment for

    PTSD
    PTsp and
         and no treatment
                treatment reports specific to
                          reports specific to Father.
                                              Father. Crabtree further pointed
                                                      Crabtree further         to Father's missed
                                                                       pointed to

testing in both 2021 and
testing              and 2022.

       3)
       3) Paige Eisengart- Washington
          Paige Eiscagart-      County
                           Washington County Children and
                                                      and Youth Caseworker
                                                                Caseworker
           Paige Eisengart, ongoing Caseworker for J.D. next provided
                                                             provided testimony. Eisengart gave
                                                                                           gave

an overview of the
               the Agency involvement with J.D.'s family and the concerns resulting
                                                                          resulting in Child's

adjudication
adjudication of dependency.
                dependency. Per Ms. Eisengart, the Minor Child was adjudicated
                                               the Minor                       dependent on
                                                                   adjudicated dependent

January 15,
January 15, 2021. Accordingly, at
            2021. Accordingly,    the time of Ms.
                               at the         Ms. Eisengart's
                                                  Eisengart's testimony,
                                                              testimony, the Minor Child
                                                                         the Minor Child was

            and out
adjudicated and out of care of Father for
                                      for over nineteen
                                               nineteen ((I9)
                                                          19) months.
                                                              months. The
                                                                      The Agency filed the

Petition for
         for Termination of Parental Rights
                                     Rights in February
                                               February of 2022, thirteen ((13)
                                                           2022, thirteen   13) months
                                                                                months following
                                                                                       following

    initial adjudication.
the initial adjudication.

              Eisengart testified that Father participated
          Ms. Eiseogart                       participated with court ordered drug
                                                                              drug testing
                                                                                   testing

sporadically throughout the
sporadically            the dependency matter. Father completed forty-one
                                               Father completed forty-one (41) of seventy-nine
                                                                          (41)    seventy-nine

(79) random
(79) random tests.
            tests. In six
                      six (6) tests, he
                          (6) tests, he was positive for cannabinoids and
                                            positive for              and two
                                                                          two (2),
                                                                              (2), testing positive
                                                                                   testing positive

    methadone. t6 Father
for methadone."   Father was aano-show for thirty-eight
                                           thirty-eight (38)        seventy-nine (79)
                                                        (38) of the seventy-nine (79) tests
                                                                                      tests and
                                                                                            and

1°One such
Ore    such test        positive screening for
            test with aapositive           for methadone was challenged by
                                                                        by Father and later determined
                                                                                            determined to be
                                                                                                          be aafalse
positive. Father only challenged the methadone finding and not the companion
                                                                    companion positive
                                                                               positive screen for cannabinoide.
                                                                                                   cannabinoids.

                                                  Page 17 of 48
•
    twenty-seven
    twenty-seven (2'n of the tests
                 (27) of     tests occurred after the TPR
                                                      TPR Petition
                                                          Petition was filed. 11 According
                                                                   was filed."   According to the
                                                                                           to the

    testimony of Ms. Eisengart,
                     Eisengar4 Father was compliant with drug and alcohol treatment,
                                                                          treatment, successfully

    completing AAR treatment.
                   treatment."tsFather was unsuccessfully discharged
                                                          discharged from mental health

    counseling with
               with provider SPHS, but later
                                       later completed treatment with Christian Counseling
                                                                                Counseling

    Services. Father completed Batterer's Counseling
                                          Counseling in January of 2022 and parenting
                                                                            parenting education in

    June of 2021. Eisengart
         of 202L. Eisengart testified that Father was compliant with providing the Agency
                                                                                   Agency releases

    "Father
    "fuer has tested positive for cannabinoids after the completion of the drug
                                                                              drug && alcohol treatment ad
                                                                                      alcohol treatment and the Agency
                                                                                                                Agency
    cannot confirm his sobriety due
    cannot confirm              due to the positive
                                    to the          drug screens and those tests
                                           positive drug                   tests missed
                                                                                 missed by
                                                                                         by Father.

    18 Treatment completed Jure
    'fetrent                  June 27, 2022. Letters submitted as evidence of   of Father's completion
                                                                                            completion of treatment
                                                                                                            treatment atat Allied
                                                                                                                           Allied
    Addiction Recovery, AAR,
                          AAR, read as follows:
                     This letter is being written to verify that Sean Dungee is currently
                                                                                     currently enrolled in treatment
                                                                                                           treatment at Allied
                     Addiction Recovery, LLC. He attended a        an intake appointment
                                                                             appointment on 2722
                                                                                               2/7/22 nd
                                                                                                      and ws
                                                                                                           was recommended
                                                                                                                recommended
                     to participate in weekly
                                        weekly outpatient group
                                                            group therapy sessions    from 67.30
                                                                            sessions fror   6-7:30 pm.                weekly
                                                                                                   pin. He attends weekly
                     evening appointments without attendance
                                                       after dance issues. Sean attended group
                                                                                             group therapy
                                                                                                   therapy on        2/16, 2/23,
                                                                                                             a 2/9,2/16,2/23,
                     3/2, 39,and
                     32,   3/9, and 3/1622.
                                     3/16/22. He has
                                                  bas remained engaged
                                                                  engaged with treatment and in compliance with the
                     program.
                     program. Sean provided      appropriate urinalysis
                                        provided appropriate   urinalysis profiles  weekly, with no evidence of
                                                                          profiles weekly,                      of relapse
                                                                                                                   relapse or
                     illicit substace
                             substance use.
                                        use He expresses
                                                expire      understanding of the baneful
                                                                                    harmful effects
                                                                                             effeet of substance
                                                                                                       substace ue  use for
                                                                                                                        toe
                     families
                     failies and communities. At this time,                         positive progress
                                                            time, Sean has made positive                               Signed
                                                                                             progress in treatment. Signed
                     Halee V. Stroup, BA, Counselor. See Letter ofMarch 23, 2022, CYS Exhibit 14.
                     Halee

                      This letter is
                      TH          ls being written to verify that Sean
                                                                   Sea Dungee
                                                                         Dungee is currently
                                                                                    currently enrolled in treatment at Allied
                      Addiction Recovery, LLC.LLC. HeHe attended   an intake appointment
                                                          attended an        appointment on on 2/7/22
                                                                                               2/7/22  and was recommended
                                                                                                                 recorte died
                      to participate in weekly outpatient group therapy sessions. Sean has aattended
                                                                                                  ttended a « total of 13group
                                                                                                                       13 group
                      therapy                           tdee individual therapy sessions and
                      therapy sessions in addition to three                                  tad his intake as
                                                                                                             assessment.
                                                                                                                     ment, His
                      attendance and
                                   and participation
                                       participation in treatment
                                                         treatment have been
                                                                          been good
                                                                               good. Sean hasha made positive
                                                                                                        positive progress
                                                                                                                  progress in
                                                                                                                            in
                      treatment.
                      treatment. He provided
                                      provided weekly
                                                weekly urine samples, and and all results of
                                                                                          of his urinalysis testing were
                                                                                                 urinalysis testing
                      appropriate.
                      appropriate. Sean is scheduled
                                             scheduled to to successfully complete
                                                                          complete treatment
                                                                                    treatment on   6/27/22 following
                                                                                                on 6/27/22  following his   final
                                                                                                                        his flaal
                                                                                       current status
                      individual therapy appointment as long as he maintains his current        stats  and compliance
                                                                                                           compliance    with
                                           Haelee V. Stroup, BA, Counselor. See Letter of
                      treatment. Signed Haelee                                                ofJune
                                                                                                hue 22, 2022, CYS Eehlbit
                                                                                                                       Exhibit 14,
                                                                                                                                14.

                      This letter is being
                                     being written
                                            written to  verify that
                                                     to verify  that Sean Dungee
                                                                           Dungee successfully     completed treatment
                                                                                    successfully completed     treatment atat Allied
                                                                                                                              Allied
                      Addiction Recovery,
                      Addiction   Recovery, LLC. He       attended an intake
                                                      He attended        intake appointment on 2/7/22
                                                                                                  27/22ad and was recommended
                                                                                                                    recommended
                      to participate
                      to participate in weekly
                                         weekly outpatient
                                                 outpatient group
                                                              group therapy
                                                                     therapy sessions.
                                                                               sessions. Sean attended
                                                                                                attended aatotal
                                                                                                            total of  13 group
                                                                                                                   of 13 group
                      therapy
                      therapy sessions in addition to five individual therapy sessions and his     bis intake assessment.
                                                                                                              ass¢      ent. His
                      attendance
                      attend.ace and participation in treatment were good.                cede positive progress in treatment.
                                                                            good. Sean made                             t tr ert
                      He provided
                          provided weekly
                                     weekly urine
                                              urine samples, and    all results of his urinalysis
                                                               and ll                  urinalysis testing
                                                                                                  testing were appropriate.
                                                                                                                 appropriate
                      Please feel free to
                                        to let
                                           let me know
                                                  know if    there are any
                                                          if there     any questions or    concerns. See Letter of
                                                                                        or coooems.                ofJune
                                                                                                                      June 27, 2022,
                                                                                                                                21022
                      Father's Exhibit B.

                                                          Page 18 of 48
•
 and equally
 and equally compliant
             compliant with
                       with parole. Finally, Eisengart
                            parole. Finally, Eisengart testified
                                                       testified that Father maintained
                                                                 that Father maintained safe and
                                                                                        safe and

 stable housing.

          Despite Father's compliance with most court
          Despite Father's                      court ordered
                                                      ordered services,
                                                              services, Eisengart
                                                                        Eisengart testified that
                                                                                  testified that

 there
 there were a number of Agency
            a number    Agency concerns remaining.
                                        remaining. First, Eisengart testified that, despite
                                                                                    despite Father

completing counseling with Christian Counseling, the
                                                 the Agency remained concerned with the

effectiveness of such treatment
                      treatment due to
                                    to the lack of collateral information provided to the

counselor. Eisengart testified that she
                                    she was unable to verify Father's present sobriety
                                                                              sobriety due to his

no
o shows at drug screens. Eisengart also testified that there
        at drug                                                                     regarding
                                                       there are continued concerns regarding

         mental health. Finally, Eisengart
Father's mental                  Eisengart testified
                                           testified that despite
                                                          despite Father completing Batterer's

Intervention, his               occurred at
              his participation occurred at the same time as the TPR filing.
                                                                     filing." Upon
                                                                              Upon direct
                                                                                   direct    19

               what circumstances are not
questioning of what                                from the
                                      not remedied from     original adjudication,
                                                        the original adjudication, Eisengart
                                                                                   Eisengart

testified, Father's mental health,
                           health, sobriety
                                   sobriety and
                                            and his
                                                his outstanding criminal case.

         Eisengart acknowledged that Father's visits
                                              visits with J.D. "go
                                                               "go well," while
                                                                          while also testifying
                                                                                     testifying that

       has never reached the level of unsupervised visits. Currently,
Father has                                                 Currently, Father has Court ordered
                                                                                       ordered

supervised visitation, once aaweek for three
                                       three (3) hours, along
                                                        along with three
                                                                   three (3)
                                                                         (3) additional
                                                                             additional visits
                                                                                        visits every

month. Father has not spent time with I.D.
              has not                 J.D. unsupervised
                                           unsupervised since
                                                        since the
                                                              the inception
                                                                  inception of the case. The
                                                                                         The

Caseworker
Caseworker reported
           reported that
                    that the        go well.
                         the visits go well. However, since additional
                                                            additional visits were ordered in
                                                                       visits were         in

June of
June of 2022,
        2022, Father has failed
              Father has failed to utilize the additional
                                to utilize     additional visits.
                                                          visits.

   TPR was
 l'pg
19           filed approximately
        wees fled                  one ((I)
                   approximately one     1) year after
                                                 afer the child was adjudicated   dependent. The Agency
                                                                      adjudicated dependent.     Agency filed the
                                                                                                               the TPR
before
before the
       the standard
           standard timeline  of fifteen
                     tireline of fifteen (15)  months, utilized
                                          (I5) months,           by the Washington
                                                        utilized by     Washington County    Agency. When
                                                                                     County Agency.  Whe asked    why
                                                                                                            asked why
the Agency
    Agency filed the Petition early,
                               early, tbe
                                      the Caseworker
                                           Caseworker indicated that
                                                                  that the         were not compliant
                                                                       the parents were     compliant with services and
were not
were not drug
         drug testing.
               testing

                                                   Page 19 of 48
•
         As supported
         As           by the
            supported by the Dependency
                             Dependency Court
                                        Court docket,
                                              docket, Eisengart
                                                      Eisengart testified that Father's
                                                                testified that Father's highest
                                                                                        highest

                                                           in April
 level of compliance with his permanency plan was moderate in April of 2022 with his highest

 level of progress being minimal at the same time.
                                             time.

         J.D.                              Grandparents since January
         JD. has been placed with Maternal Grandparents               2021. Caseworker has
                                                              January 202L.

 visited
 visited the kinship home including as recently as August
                                                   August of 2022. Caseworker stated
                                                                              stated that
                                                                                     that J.D.

 appears to
         to be happy and doing well in
                                    in the home. He also receives early intervention services in

     home of the Chambers. J.D.
 the home                  JD. previously received occupational therapy,
                                                                therapy, but has
                                                                             has since
                                                                                 since

 discharged Materal
 discharged. Maternal Grandparents ensure that
                                          that J.D.
                                               J.D. attends
                                                    attends all
                                                            all services,             daily needs,
                                                                services, meet J.D.'s daily needs,

and act
and act as aapre-adoptive
             pre-adoptive placement.
                          placement. J.D. refers to Maternal Grandparents, with whom
                                                    Maternal Grandparents,      wbom he has
                                                                                        has

been
been in care
        care for the majority of his life, as "Mom and Dad.
             for the                                   Dad " Eisengart
                                                             Eisengart stated that the Agency
                                                                     20                Agency

has
bas provided
    provided services
             services for Father
                          Father to assist him in alleviating the circumstances
                                               in alleviating                        brought J.D.
                                                                  circumstances that brought I.D.

into care. Eisengart testified that J.D. has been in care for the majority
                                                                  majority of his life and deserves

permanency.

         On        Eisengart was
         Oa cross, Eisengart was questioned
                                 questioned regarding
                                            regarding the
                                                      the false positive drug
                                                          false positive drug screen
                                                                              screen of
                                                                                     of Father and
                                                                                        Father and

whether the
        the Agency
            Agency had concems with the reliability
                   had concerns         reliability of the other
                                                    of the other tests,
                                                                 tests, to
                                                                        to which Eisengart
                                                                                 Eisengart

responded
responded in
          in the negative. Eisengart
             the negative.               also asked
                           Eisengart was also asked about the child permanency plan
                                                                               plan (CPP),

which indicated that
                that mental health treatment
                                   treatment was completed.
                                                 completed.

        Testimony of
        Testimony    Eisengart on
                  of Eisengart    cross-examination included
                               on cross-examination included testimony that she
                                                             testimony that she was    contact
                                                                                was in contact

with another child
with         child of Father,        who was unable
                      Father, Kylea, who     unable to
                                                    to be
                                                       be aaplacement
                                                            placement resource due to
                                                                                   to her age.
                                                                                          age.

Eisengart was unable
Eisengart was unable to speak to any
                     to speak    any other members of
                                     other members of Father's
                                                      Father's family, but noted that Father
                                                               family, but            Father

failed to offer any family members for placement prior to
                                                       to the filing    the TPR. Finally,
                                                              filing of the      Finally,

Eisengart
Eisengart testified that she
          testified that she was unaware of Father's
                                            Father's potential
                                                     potential sentence for his
                                                               sentence for     outstanding
                                                                            his outstanding

re
 The Minor
20   Minot Child turned two
                        two (2) in October and came into care at
                            (2) in                            at two
                                                                 two and one-half
                                                                         one-half (2 %) months old.
                                                                                  (2 %)

                                                Page 20 of
                                                Page    of 48
i

 criminal charges but would have
                            have concerns
                                 concerns for even house-arrest
                                                   house-arrest due to Father's inability
                                                                                inability to

 handle emergencies or
 handle emergencies or attend
                       attend appointments
                              appointments for
                                           for the
                                               the Minor Child.
                                                         Child.

          Eisengart testified that Father was cooperative with
                                                          with signing releases and
                                                                                and completed Triple

 PParenting in June of 2021 and
 P                          and Batterers Intervention Counseling
                                                       Counseling in January
                                                                     January of 2022
                                                                                2022.

          When questioned in more
          When questioned    more detail about
                                         about Father's
                                               Father's visits with
                                                               with the Minor Child, Eisengart
                                                                    the Minor        Eisengart

 stated that Father has had
                        bad some valid excuses for missing
                                                   missing visits including, contact with COVID,
                                                                                          COVID,

 aafuneral, car problems and work. Eisengart noted that she has observed a
                                                                         a few minutes of a
                                                                                          a few

 visits
 visits between Father     J.D., and also supervised
                Father and JD.,           supervised visits a
                                                            acouple
                                                              couple of times at Blueprints.

 Eisengart indicated that the
                          the interaction between        and Child is positive
                                          between Father and                   and she has no
                                                                      positive and

 concerns during the
 concerns during the visits.
                     visits. Eisengart
                             Eisengart also
                                       also testified
                                            testified that there
                                                           there has been
                                                                     been no
                                                                          no historical threat or
                                                                                               or

 threat of harm to
 threat         to J.D.
                   J.D with
                        with Father.

          Upon questioning from the GAL, Eisengart
                                         Eisengart acknowledged that
                                                                that Father may
                                                                            may not be getting
                                                                                       getting

everything
everything he needs from the
                         the services he has engaged with, specifically
                                             engaged with, specifically considering     progress
                                                                        considering his progress

reflected in Court orders. The Caseworker agreed
                                          agreed it     concerning, when questioned
                                                 it was concerning,      questioned about the

timing of Father's highest
                   highest level of progress being followed, a short ten
                                                             a short ten ((I0)
                                                                           10) days
                                                                               days later,
                                                                                    later, by
                                                                                           by the

entry of aaprotection from abuse order. Eisengart also acknowledged
                                                       acknowledged that Father was involved

with
with the Agency
         Agency for       children, but noted that the
                for other children,                the other
                                                       other case was closed.
                                                                      closed.

         With specific reference to the needs of JD.,
                                                 J.D., Eisengart
                                                       Eisengart testified that the child has health

conditions, including asthma and
                             and Father
                                 Father has
                                        bas not          any appointments
                                            not attended any appointments for child."
                                                                              child"

     4) Annie
     4) Anne Schlegel
              Schlegel Director Washington County
                       Director Washington County Children
                                                  Children and
                                                           and Youth
                                                               Youth Social
                                                                     Social Services
                                                                     Services
     Director Schegel testified that an Agency team
                      testified that                meeting was
                                               team meeting was conducted to discuss the Dungee
                                                                          to discuss     Dungee

   Testimony indicates that Father sent a
 Testimony
21                                      a message via text
                                                       text to
                                                            to Foster           asking how the Minor
                                                               Foster Parents asking           Minor Child
                                                                                                      Child was doing
                                                                                                                 doing.
            noted that
It was also noted that Father was offered additional visits but failed to
                                                            but failed to utilize the
                                                                                  the same.
                                                                                      same. In addition, Maternal
                                                                                            In addition,          Step-
                                                                                                         Matera! Step-
grandmother
grandmother took a a year off from working to
                                            to care for the Minor Child's specialized
                                                                            specialized medical needs.
                                                   Page 21 of 48
'
    case
    case during
         during Caseworker
                Caseworker Eisengart's maternity leave. The
                           Eisengart's maternity            meeting, called
                                                        The meeting, called by Casework
                                                                               Casework

    Supervisor, Kristin Young, was
                               was facilitated    Schlegel. The meeting
                                   facilitated by Schlegel.     meeting first involved aareview
                                                                                         review of

                      to Father. The team
    services provided to                  contemplated that, at the time of the meeting,
                                     team contemplated                                          had
                                                                                meeting, Father bad

    not done batterers'
    not done batterers' intervention,
                        intervention, had a pending PFA
                                          a pending PFA violation,
                                                        violation, had engaged in mental
                                                                       engaged in mental health

    treatment
    treatment but not
                  not completed the same,
                                    same, had    ongoing history
                                          had an ongoing history of domestic violence and
                                                                                      and found to
                                                                                                to

    have no progress in alleviating
                        alleviating concems
                                    concerns leading to the Child's dependency.
                                             leading to             dependency. In
                                                                                In short,
                                                                                   short, Schlegel
                                                                                          Schlegel

    indicated that the meeting was held when the Minor Child was twelve
                                                                 twelve (12)
                                                                        (12) months in care and

the Agency opinioned that they offered Father all available court
                          they offered                      court services,
                                                                  services, with
                                                                            with no other

reasonable services
           services available and no significant
                                     significant progress from Father.

       5) Kylea
       59) Klea Dungee-
                twenty (20)
       Dungee's twenty (20) year old adult child provided testimony
                                                          testimony at
                                                                    at the hearing.
                                                                           hearing. Appearing
                                                                                    Appearing

quite
quite nervous,
      nervous, Kylea
               Kylea Dungee
                     Dungee testified that     currently lives
                                      that she currently lives alone in Donors
                                                                        Donora and
                                                                               and J.D.
                                                                                   JD. is  her
                                                                                        is her

brother that she met as a
                        a newborn and last saw in Christmas
                                                  Christmas of 2020. Kylea testified that when

        J.D. at her great
she saw I.D.        great grandmother, Ms. Donna's house, she watched Dungee feed J.D.,
                                                   house, sbe                     ID.,

provide aadiaper change, and engage in other
provide                                               stuff' with the Minor Child. Kylea
                                       other "newborn stuff                        Kylea

indicated that I.D.
               J.D. was two
                        two (2)
                            (2) months old at the time. The witness indicated that she
                                                                                   she "had
                                                                                       "had J.D. a
                                                                                                 a

lot during
lot during the
           the Christmas
               Christmas visit," further indicating,
                                         indicating, "T
                                                     "Iheld him
                                                            him a
                                                                a lot... the
                                                                         the whole
                                                                             whole time." Kylea
                                                                                   time." Kylea

testified
testified that she also saw JD.
          that she          J.D. on another
                                    another visit
                                            visit when he was aacouple days or a
                                                                couple days    a week old. She

indicated that
          that she hasn't seen the baby since, "because
                                               "because the baby
                                                            baby is with Jamie and
                                                                 is with       and Jim.
                                                                                   Jim." Kylea
                                                                                         Klea

indicated that she contacted the Caseworker Paige
                                            Paige Eisengart
                                                  Eisengant to offer herself as aacaregiver
                                                                                  caregiver for
                                                                                            for

J.D..
JD.. In July
        July 2021, Kylea
                   Kylea contacted the
                                   the Agency
                                       Agency to
                                              to hold herself
                                                      herself out
                                                              out as
                                                                  as aaplacement option for
                                                                       placement option for J.D.
                                                                                            I.D.

u The witness
The   witness indicated that she attempted to contact
                                 attempted to contact Jamie and
                                                            and Jim with
                                                                    with a
                                                                         aFacebook
                                                                           Facebook request,      it didn't
                                                                                    request, "but it did'tgogo
through."
through."

                                                 Page 22 of 48
•
    The Minor Child, who was approximately
                             approximately four
                                           four (4)
                                                (4) or five (5)
                                                    or five (5) months
                                                                months at the
                                                                          the time, was
                                                                                    was unable
                                                                                        unable to

    be placed with K
                   Kylea
                     ylea due to Kylea's age. Kylea indicated that she made an additional call to
                              to kKylea's                                                      to the

    Agency, but did not receive a
                                areturn       A second call was made to the Agency
                                  retum call. A                             Agency with the

    assistance
    assistance of
               of aadaycare
                    daycare owner with
                                  with whom Kylea was familiar in
                                                               in August of 202123 The
                                                                  August of2021    Te

                        Kylea
    Caseworker informed Kylea that she
                                   she would discuss her          with her
                                                     her requests with her supervisor,
                                                                           supervisor, however,

    Kylea
    Kylea never heard
                heard back from the
                      back from the Agency.
                                    Agency. While
                                            While Kylea
                                                  Kylea requested
                                                        requested placement
                                                                  placement of      in ber
                                                                            of J.D. in her care,

    she
    she didn't
        didn't request
               request visitation with the Minor Child.
                       visitation with           Child.

           In addition to her in person observations, Kylea was able to observe Dungee
                                                                                Dungee with J.D.
                                                                                            JD. on

    face-time calls during his visits in late 2021.
                                              202L. Dungee would call her when he was with
                                                                      her when        with the Minor

    Child and
          and sbe
              she would
                  would observe Father feed J.D. snacks. Kylea indicated that KyKy"
                                                                              "KyKy" was the
                                                                                         the

         J.D. used for her. Kylea also testified that she gave gifts to I.D.
nickname I.D.                                                           J.D. for his birthday
                                                                                     birthday and

Christmas, which were delivered through
                                through Dungee.
                                        Dungee. Z4

       6) gonna Ebore- Grandmother
          Donna Ebore-
                Grandmother     of of Dungee.                   of
                                      Dungee. Great-Grandmother of J.D.
                                                                 I.D
       Testimony was received from Donna Ebore, Paternal Great-Grandmother. Ms. Ebore

testified
testified that
          that Dungee         in her home
               Dungee resided in     home three
                                          three (3)
                                                (3) months before J.D.
                                                                  I.D was bor
                                                                          born and
                                                                               and three
                                                                                   three (3)
                                                                                         (3)

                   J.D. and
months thereafter. I.D. and Dungee resided in her
                                              her home
                                                  home "from
                                                       "from the "first day
                                                             the first  day home
                                                                            home from
                                                                                 from the
                                                                                      the

hospital, until CYS took
                    took him and placed
                         him and placed him with Mr. Chambers."
                                        him with     Chambers." Ebore, who is
                                                                Ebore, who is retired,
                                                                              retired,

testified
testified that
          that J.D., "wasn't aabad baby"
               I.D., "wasn't       baby" or ababy
                                         or a baby that would
                                                        would "cry
                                                              "cry aalot" and she
                                                                              she watched Dungee
                                                                                          Dungee

feed, clothe and bathe the Minor Child. Ebore indicated that both she and Dungee provided gifts

   Later testimony
Luter
23        testimony indicated that it was  was Ms.
                                                '%49. Sonya's
                                                      Sonya's daycare"     called Sonya's
                                                                daycare" called   "Sonya's Enchanted Garden," and
                                                                                                                and located in
                                                                                                                            in
Donora,
Donom, PA. PA
-It is unclear if two
                  two (2)2) or three
                                 three (3) calls were made
                                       (J) calls       made to   the Agency.
                                                              to the  Agency. On cross-examination from
                                                                                                     from the
                                                                                                           the GAL,
                                                                                                               GAL, Kylea
                                                                                                                      Kylee
indicated
idi         that the
        ted ta        first call
                 the first  call was  when she was living
                                  was when                    her first
                                                       living her  first month     her own and wanted
                                                                         month on her          wanted to "help with the
                                                                                                      to el
situation." The
              Th¢ second
                   $eord call was with M.    Ms. Sony's
                                                  Sonya's daycare owner, when she worked there.
u  Kylea testified
Kylea      testified that
                     that she
                           she provided
                                provided CROCs and   and clothing
                                                          clothing for
                                                                    for J.D..
                                                                         JD..

                                                       Page 23 of
                                                               0f 48
'

    for J.D..
        .D.. According  to Ebore,
              According to Ebore, Dungee has "been
                                  Dungee has "been through this before,"
                                                   through this before," (referring to his
                                                                         (referring to his four
                                                                                           four (4)
                                                                                                (4)

          children) and she has no safety concerns with JD.
    other children)                                     J.D. in Dungee's care. Ebore stated that,

    three (3)
    three     weeks ago,
          () weeks  ago, she observed Dungee with I.D.
                                                  J.D. on Facebook, something she would do about
                                                                    something she

    one
    one ((l)
          1) time per week.
                      week. During
                            During this Facebook observation, Ebore would observe Dungee
                                                                                  Dungee hold
                                                                                         hold

    J.D.. The
    JD..  The Facebook video was recorded and
                                          and not
                                              not a      feed. Ebore's last live interaction with
                                                  a live feed.

    J.D. was when he was three
                         three (3) months
                                   months old. Ebore testified that
                                                               that she never reached out to
                                                                                          to the

    Agency to care for
    Agency to      for J.D.,
                       I.D., but driectly made
                             but directly      requests to
                                          made requests to the placement
                                                               placement providers to care
                                                                         providers to      for J.D...
                                                                                      care for J.D..

No visits ever occurred
No             occurred and Ebore
                            Ebore only made one
                                            one ((l)
                                                  1) attempt
                                                     attempt to contact
                                                                contact the Chambers family.
                                                                                     family.

Ebore indicated that she is "disabled" and
                                       and "cannot do
                                                   do a
                                                      a lot" only able to hold J.D.
                                                                               JD. for a "limited

time." In response to questions from the Court, Ebore indicated that her husband is not
                                                                                    not "able

bodied" and
bodied" and she has a
                    a caregiver, Toi Burgess, her
                                              her daughter.
                                                  daughter. In response
                                                               response to additional

questions, Ebore indicated that
                           that Dungee was not subject
                                               subject to a
                                                          a PFA when he
                                                                     be was living
                                                                            living in her home

and also was not
             not subject to
                         to federal drug charges at the time. On cross-examination by
                                                                                   by the GAL,

Ebore clarified that the federal
                         federal drug charges were filed against
                                                         against Dungee
                                                                 Dungee "way before" he lived in

her home.
her home.

       7) Carly
       7) Carly Sonafelt-Cuseard-
          Sonafelt-Cseard-
                       Case       Case Aid for Washington
                                               Washinatan
                                               Conaty     County CY'S
                                                                 CYS

       Carly
       Carly Sonafelt-Cuseard, Case Aid
             Sonafelt-Cuseard, Case Aid for
                                        for the
                                            the Agency,
                                                Agency, provided
                                                        provided testimony
                                                                 testimony beginning
                                                                           beginning with
                                                                                     with her
                                                                                          her

history of providing services to
                              to Dungee in June or July
                                                   July of 2021. Sonalfelt-Cuseard indicated that

she supervised visits for Dungee and J.D. and found the visits appropriate.
                                                               appropriate. She indicated that

Dungee always checks J.D.'s diaper and feeds and plays
                                                 plays with the
                                                            the Minor Child. Sonafelt-Cuseard

indicated that
indicated that Dungee is      to calm
                      is able to calm J.D.
                                      I.D. down and
                                                and pays appropriate
                                                         appropriate attention to the Child. She
                                                                               to the

xs Cross reference with page 25 herein in description of domestic
'Cross                                                   domestic violence incident in the presence
                                                                                           presence of
                                                                                                    of Toi Burgess.
                                                                                                           Burgess.

                                                  Page 24 of 48
•
    also testified that
                   that Dungee provides
                               provides birthday and
                                                 and Christmas
                                                     Christmas gifts
                                                               gifts and
                                                                     and clothes, toys
                                                                                  toys and
                                                                                       and trucks
                                                                                           trucks for

    the
    the Minor Child
              Child for special
                        "special events." Sonafelt-Cuseard observed that Father
                                                                         Father is up-to-date
                                                                                   up-to-date on the

    Minor Child's medicals and
    Minor                  and has watched
                                   watched him
                                           bim maintain regular
                                                        regular contact with
                                                                        with the Chambers.

        Overall, Sonafelt-Cuseard
        Overall, Sonafelt-Cuseard testified that she has observed
                                  testified that         observed no problems
                                                                     problems during the visits
                                                                              during the visits

    between Dungee and
                   and J.D.
                       J.D. and has observed video
                                bas observed video calls between Dungee and Kylea
                                                                 Dungee and Kylea during
                                                                                  during visits.

    On cross-examination from the
    On                        the GAL, Sonafelt Cuseard testified
                                       Sonafelt-Cuseard testified that
                                                                  that Dungee started bringing
                                                                       Dungee started bringing

    supplies to the visit with
                          with JD.
                               J.D. one
                                    one (1)
                                        (I) or two
                                               two (2)        ago and
                                                   (2) months ago     previously Jaime Chambers,
                                                                  and previously       Chambers,

    foster
    foster mother,
           mother, provided all supplies. Sonafelt-Cuseard also testified that the video calls
                                                                                         calls with
                                                                                               with

Kylea have only happened
                happened more recently.
                              recently.

       8) Se
       8) Sears DuWe
              Dungee

       Sean Dungee, Father, provided testimony on his own behalf. After providing
                                                                        providing some basic

information, Dungee began to
                          to address his present living conditions and
                                                                   and his
                                                                       his response
                                                                           response and
           with the Dependency
compliance with     Dependency Case Court                   Dungee testified that
                                    Court ordered services. Dungee           that he
                                                                                  he lives

alone in
alone in aatwo
           two (2) bedroom home
               Q2) bedroom home with
                                with room
                                     room for J.D. The
                                          for ID.  The Agency
                                                       Agency has deemed Dungee's
                                                              has deemed          home
                                                                         Dungee's home

appropriate with no concerns as of August
                                   August 2022. Dungee indicated that he is aware of his Court

ordered services, including the
ordered                     the requirement for random
                                                random drug
                                                       drug and
                                                            and alcohol testing.
                                                                        testing. Dungee
                                                                                 Dungee
indicated that
indicated      he works
          that he works Monday through Friday
                        Monday through Friday from
                                              from seven (7) am
                                                   seven (7)    until three
                                                             am until three ()
                                                                            (3) pm daily sb
                                                                                pm daily.

Dungee indicated that
                 that his
                      his work schedule has created difficulty
                                                    difficulty in his engagement
                                                                      engagement with the

random tests. Previously, Dungee attempted to leave work early
                                                         early and his supervisor
                                                                       supervisor said,
                                                                                  said, "that

wouldn't be advised"              indicated that he
            advised." Dungee also indicated      he had
                                                    had difficulty with testing
                                                                        testing when he lived

with     grandmother because
with his grandmother         he had
                     because he had limited
                                    limited transportation
                                            transportation after wrecking his
                                                           after wrecking his car.
                                                                              car. Once Dungee
                                                                                        Dungee

zs Dungee testified that he works with Universal Electric, a
Dungee                                                     a job he
                                                                 he has
                                                                    bas held since
                                                                             sinoe November 2021.

                                                 Page 25 of 48
•
    obtained a     car, he began
             a new car,                                                           providing
                           began testing again. Nevertheless, Dungee acknowledged providing

    Caseworker Eisengart
               Eisengart with aamultitude of reasons for failing
                                                         failing to consistently test.
                                                                 to consistently test.

           Dungee also addressedd aapositive test
                  also addres                test for cannabinoids
                                                      cannabinoids and methadone indicating that, he
                                                                                 indicating that,

    only became aware of the
                         the results
                             results during
                                     during the Court hearing.
                                                      bearing. Dungee challenged these findings
                                                               Dungee challenged       findings

    indicating
    indicating that, he doesn't do drugs.
                                   drugs. Dungee
                                          Dungee requested
                                                 requested aare-test
                                                             re-test in August and
                                                                     in August and learned in Court

    that the results were deemed aafalse
                                   false positive for methadone.
                                                      methadone. Since
                                                                 Since that time,
                                                                            time, Dungee has
                                                                                         has

requested aachange from
                   from oral to urine tests.
                                      tests.

                                 he began
           Dungee testified that he began drug
                                          drug and
                                               and alcohol treatment
                                                           treatment in
                                                                     in January
                                                                        January and/or February
                                                                                       February of

2022. Initially, he
                 he was
                    was unable
                        unable to find aaprovider
                                         provider due
                                                  due to evaluations
                                                         evaluations suggesting no need
                                                                     suggesting no need for

           treatment. The
additional treatment. The recommendations for no further treatment
                                                         treatment were provided despite
                                                                                 despite the

fact that he was on bond facing federal drug charges. Dungee also encountered problems
                                                                              problems with

his insurance. Dungee indicated that Caseworker Eisengart
                                                Eisengart referred him to     and he
                                                                       to AAR and

eventually                     early 2022
eventually treated with AAR in early 2022.

          Testimony next
          Testimony next turned
                         turned to
                                to Dungee's
                                   Dungee's mental
                                            mental health treatment
                                                          treatment history.
                                                                    history. Dungee
                                                                             Dungee testified that
                                                                                              that

he currently has no medication prescribed for his mental health. In 2019, he was evaluated at
                                                                                           at

Southwestern Pennsylvania
Southwester  Pennsylvania Human Services (SPHS)
                          Human Services        CARE Center and
                                         (SPHS) CARE        and received aaprescription
                                                                           prescription

for
for buprenorphine     anxiety. Dungee treated
    buprenorphine for anxiety.        treated with the CARE
                                              with the CARE Center
                                                            Center for
                                                                   for aaperiod
                                                                         period and
                                                                                and then
                                                                                    then left.
                                                                                         left.

Per Dungee's testimony, in 2021, he returned to the CARE Center,
                                                         Center, however
                                                                 however "they
                                                                         "they could not

accommodate his hours." Caseworker Eisengart eventually helped Dungee find aanew provider
                                                                                 provider

                          Associates (CCA)
with Christian Counseling Associates (CCA) and Dungee began working with Katherine
                                                      began working      Katherine Davis

for mental health therapy.
                  therapy. According to Dungee, the main focus of his treatment
                                                                      treatment with Davis
                                                                                     Davis

    anxiety with
was anxiety with panic
                 panic attacks.

                                             Page 26 of 48
          Dungee indicated that in April    2021 he
                                   April of 2021 he obtained housing     he bas
                                                             housing and he has had
                                                                                had no further

 issues with
 issues with housing. Dungee also
                             also testified that he completed
                                                    completed batterer's intervention counseling
                                                                                      counseling

 with
 with Kate
      Kate Vozar in December of 2021
                                2021.2' He continued by
                                                     by summarizing
                                                        summarizing that he has maintained

 housing and
 bousing and aajob, has not
                        not been in
                                 in trouble, doesn't
                                             doesn't do drugs and attends
                                                        drugs and attends mental
                                                                          mental health

 counseling. Dungee testified
                    testified that he failed one
                                             one (1) test from
                                                 (D) test      the federal
                                                          from the federal government
                                                                           government in
                                                                                      in

 September of 2021 with cannabinoids. Re-stating
                                      Re-stating that he doesn't do drugs, Dungee
                                                                           Dungee testified that
he uses no marijuana presently
                     presently and only uses aavape
                                               vape pen.
                                                    pen.

         In further illustration of his efforts to comply with Court ordered services,
                                                                             services, Dungee
                                                                                       Dungee
testified that he did parenting education with two
                                               two (2)
                                                   (2) people and finished this service

successfully and first of all requirements.    also indicated that he signed
                              requirements. He also                   signed all requested
                                                                                 requested releases,
                                                                                           releases,

with
with the
     the exception of CCA and
                          and Katherine Davis, who
                                               who was requesting $50 for each release.
                                                       requesting $50

Dungee indicated that he missed his older son's prom
                                                prom in order
                                                        order to visit with
                                                                       with J.D. and rarely
                                                                            JD. and  rarely
missed aavisit.

         Dungee testified that he is                and would sing,
                                  is an entertainer and             dance and
                                                              sing, dance and listen
                                                                              listen to
                                                                                     to music with
                                                                                              with

J.D. He would provide J.D.
JD.                   .D. with
                           with gifts for holidays and
                                                   and his birthday and he rotates
                                                           birthday and    rotates purchasing
                                                                                   purchasing

shoes for
      for all five
              five (5) of his children.
                              children. Dungee continued that he also purchases
                                                                      purchases snacks, including
                                                                                        including

hoagies, bananas and PBJ for J.D.,
                             I.D., noting that J.D. "likes to eat." Indicating
                                                                    Indicating that he saw Jaime

Chambers give                 and raisins, Dungee testified that J.D.
         give J.D. applesauce and                                I.D. doesn't
                                                                      doesn't like juice,
                                                                                   juice, only
                                                                                          only

water.
water. Dungee acknowledged that he didn't always bring
                                                 bring snacks noting that,
                                                                     that, "Jamie used to do

                      that."
it, we were cool like that."                           he had pretty
                                 Dungee testified that be     pretty bad communication with the

Agency and
Agency and so he would
                 would talk to Jaime and
                                     and Carly the case aid,
                                                        aid, more than Paige
                                                                       Paige Eisengart.
                                                                             Eisengart.

However, more recently, Dungee indicates improved                        Eisengart.
                                         improved communication with Ms. Eisengart.

 Record establishes that batterer's
Record                   barterer's intervention counseling was completed on January
                                                            was completed    January 2A, 2022.
                                                                                     24, 2022

                                                Page 27 of 48
    '
'
               Dungee
               Dungee indicates
                      indicates that he
                                     he has had no contact with
                                                no contact with Angela
                                                                Angela Dungee
                                                                       Dungee (Minor Child's mother)
                                                                              (Minor Child's mother)

        since December of 2021. Stating, "the judge said action speaks
                                                                speaks louder than words, so IIwent to
                                                                       louder than

        work." Dungee
               Dungee testified that
                                that problems
                                     problems with Angela
                                                   Angela Dungee
                                                          Dungee were that "she was
                                                                      that "she               never
                                                                                was immature, never

        wanted
        wanted to be in the house and
                                  and was not
                                          not family oriented." He
                                              family oriented."    stated that
                                                                He stated that he
                                                                               he "did everything he
                                                                                                  he

        could to help her with
              to help          J.D."
                          with I.D."

               When asked
               When asked about
                          about his pending
                                    pending federal
                                            federal sentencing, Dungee indicated that he is scheduled
                                                                       indicated that

    for sentencing
        sentencing on
                   on October 4, 2022 on
                                      on the
                                         the charge of
                                                    of Conspiracy to Distribute aaLarge Amount of
                                                                                               of

             While he could
    Cocaine. While    could be sentenced thirty
                                         thirty (30)
                                                (30) to thirty-seven (37)
                                                     to thirty-seven (37) months, he may also

                         and he believes that he will receive the
    receive house arrest and                                  the minimum sentence. Dungee
                                                                                    Dungee noted
                                                                                           noted

    that he
    that    is confident
         he is confident that he has
                         that he has followed all the rules
                                     followed all               regulations of
                                                      rules and regulations of his pre-sentence release.
                                                                                   pre-sentence release.

               Dungee testified that he
               Dungee testified      he "had
                                        "had no problem" with Jim and Jaime, the
                                                                             the fosterparents     J.D.,
                                                                                 fosterparents for I.D.,

    until CYS was involved. Dungee
                            Dungee testified
                                   testified that all        other children
                                                  all of his other children see one another, but
                                                                                             but J.D.

    has
    has no contact with any of them and
                                    and is not
                                           not seeing his side of the
                                                                  the family. Dungee stated, "Jim and

    Jaime
    Jaime aren't on their own, he has family
          aren't on                   family on
                                             on this side." "Idon't
                                                     side." "I don't need
                                                                     need them  to regulate
                                                                          therm to regulate me
                                                                                            me with
                                                                                               with

    my child, the federal offense happened before J.D.
                                                  I.D. was born."
                                                           bom." Dungee indicated that he bas
                                                                                          has aa

    great relationship with J.D., calling the child bossy
    great                                           "bossy and laughing."                  spend
                                                               laughing." He would like to spend

    more
    more time with J.D., saying
                         saying that
                                that the Minor Child's
                                               Child's relationship with his          family is "non-
                                                                         his paternal family    "non-

    existent at this
    existent at this time." Dungee continued
                     time." Dungee continued by stating that
                                             by stating that he didn't have
                                                                       have a
                                                                            a father and
                                                                                     and he
                                                                                         he wanted
                                                                                            wanted to

    know         dad wasn't
    know why his dad wasn't around,
                            around, "it affects
                                        affects me to
                                                   to this day because things were different for me

    than other
    than other children."
               children." Dungee stated,
                                 stated, because
                                         "because my dad
                                                     dad wasn't there makes
                                                                      makes me be different
                                                                                  different wit
                                                                                            with

    my son. IIknow how
                   how to make the music and
                       to make           and [J.D.] keeps going and
                                             [ID.]keeps         and dances." Dungee indicated
                                                                                    indicated

    that he has even created a
    that                     a song for his
                                        his son called,
                                                called, "Tribe of JD.,"
                                                                  J.D.," where he expresses that
                                                                               he expresses that he will

                                                Page 28 of 48
 "never go back on his son and will
                               will be fighting for his
                                    be fighting     his son." Dungee indicates that the song is

 because he can't change his past
                             past but can do his best from this point
                                                                point on.
                                                                      on. 26

          On cross-examination from the Agency solicitor, Dungee
                                                          Dungee acknowledged
                                                                 acknowledged that he is

 diagnosed with mood disorder and
                              and bi-polar and has a
                                                   a problem
                                                     problem with drinking alcohol."
                                                                           alcohol. 29 Dungee
                                                                                       Dungee

 also indicated that his pre-trial services
 also                              services require him to engage with mental health for panic
                                                                                         panic

 attacks. 30 Dungee also acknowledged
 attacks."                                 J.D. is in good
                         acknowledged that JD.        good care.

          On cross-examination from the GAL, Dungee admitted that he previously focused on his

 marriage more than
               than on his son, but now recognizes that
                                but now            that his
                                                        his son comes before everything.
                                                                             everything.

Dungee acknowledged that he hasn't gone to
                                        to the hospital
                                               hospital for J.D. and hasn't gone
                                                            J.D. and        gone to J.D.'s
                                                                                    JD.'s

doctor's appointments.
doctor's appointments. However, Dungee indicated
                       However, Dungee indicated that
                                                 that he
                                                      he would
                                                         would talk to Jaime
                                                               talk to Jaime to
                                                                             to get
                                                                                get

                  J.D.'s medical information. In addition, Dungee
information about .D.'s                                    Dungee indicated that he
                                                                                 he "offered to

go" to
    to the emergency hospital visit for J.D.,     felt he
                                        I.D., but felt he "didn't need to leave work when one of

them was already there." When asked about the effect on J.D. of being removed from Jim and

Jaime,
Jaime, his long-term placement,
       his long-term placement, Dungee
                                Dungee stated
                                       stated that, "he will
                                              that, "he will have
                                                             have to adjust... he
                                                                  to adjust.., be is young... he
                                                                                  is young..  he

        able to
will be able to adjust." Dungee completed his testimony
                                              testimony indicating
                                                        indicating that he
                                                                        he just
                                                                           just wants
                                                                                wants J.D.
                                                                                      JD. to
                                                                                           to

     a relationship with all sides of
have a                                   family.
                                   ofhis family,

ze This Court looked for any statement of Father that
pis                                                  that he
                                                          he wished
                                                             wished for reunification with
                                                                                       with his son or wished
                                                                                                        wished to care for
                                                                                                                        tor
his son and
        and found none,
                   none. Dungee's testimony       regarding his wishes
                                      testimony regarding        wishes focuses   on spending
                                                                         focuses on  "spending more time
                                                                                                      tine with
                                                                                                           with his son"
                                                                                                                     on"
and having
     having his
            bis son spend more time
                                  time and get
                                            get to know
                                                   know his
                                                          his side of the family.
                                                                          family. See also,
                                                                                        also, evaluation of Dr. Crabtree
                                                                                                                Crabtree of
June 23,2022,
      23, 2022, wherein it is
                           is stated, It
                                      "It was           during conversation with Mr. Dungee that even if he
                                          wes implied during                                                 be is not the
primary
primary physical
         physical custodian,
                  custodian, he
                              he would like toto have some
                                                       sore time
                                                             time with his son so that his son could continue to develop
                                                                                                                   develop a
relationship with
             with him
                  his and
                       and get
                            get to know his extended family."
                                                        family." While
                                                                   While not
                                                                          not determinative of the
                                                                                                the outcome, this
                                                                                                              this Court
                                                                                                                   Court
found the
       the absence of aamore direct request for reunification curious.
                                                                 curious
"  Dungee testified to these issues as present
"Dungee                                 present issues, not areas alleviated and/or         control.
                                                                              an/or under control
   Consistent with the purpose for which Dungee, by his own testimony, sought
Consistent
30                                                                             sought treatment from Katherine
                                                                                                       Katherine Davis.
                                                                                                                  Devis.

                                                    Page 29 of 48
     9) Ge
        Grace Capone.
              Capone, Clinical
                      Clinical Supervisor,
                               Supervisor. Southwestern
                                           Southwestern Pennsylvania
                                                        Pennsylvania umen
                                                                     Human Services
                                                                           Services (SPHS)
                                                                                    (SP
                                                                                      HS)

    Grace Capone, Mental Health Clinical Supervisor at
                                                    at SPHS provided testimony indicating
                                                                               indicating

 that she performed Dungee's discharge and
                                       and reviewed his file in preparation for the
                                                                                the hearing.

 Capone's testimony was difficult at
                                  at times to
                                           to follow, however she
                                                              she testified
                                                                  testified that Father has
                                                                                        has a
                                                                                            a

history with SPHS dating
        with SP'HS dating back to 2018 and he has treated for
                                              has treated for both drug and
                                                              both drug and alcohol and mental

health. During his
health. During his first
                   first engagement with SPHS,        attended ten
                                         SPHS, Dungee attended ten ((I0)
                                                                     10) mental health sessions
                                                                         mental health sessions

and
and one
    one ((I)
          1) drug and
                  and alcohol session and
                                      and then "disengaged." Dungee
                                          then "disengaged." Dungee was discharged
                                                                        discharged after

attending mental health sessions in April 2019 due to non-attendance and the office's inability
                                                                                      inability to

reach
reach him.
      him. Dungee
           Dungee was
                  was discharged from
                                 from drug and alcohol
                                      drug and alcohol treatment
                                                       treatment after SPHS determined
                                                                 after SPHS determined that
                                                                                       that

he did not
he did not need
           need the
                the service,
                    service, however the 2018
                             however the 2018 engagement was resultant
                                                             resultant of
                                                                       of a
                                                                          a CYS
                                                                            CYS referral with
                                                                                referral with

commend«on or wear aeon ens
the original recommendation of weekly mental health and
                                                    ad ddrug and shot
                                                                 alcohol sessions.
                                                                              sons.
          In September 2019, Dungee was again
                                        again referred to
                                                       to SPHS fror
                                                               from adult probation.
                                                                          probation. During
                                                                                     During

the
the 2019 referral, Dungee was
    2019 referral,        was consistent
                              consistent for over thirty (30)
                                                         (30) mental
                                                              mental health sessions,
                                                                            sessions, where
                                                                                      where he

continued until
continued until November of 2021,
                November of 2021, when
                                  when he was discharged
                                       he was discharged for non-attendance paired with
                                                         for non-attendance        with his
                                                                                        his

failure to contact his therapist. Dungee's prognosis
                                           prognosis was poor at that
                                                         poor at that time.

          In January of 2022, Dungee was again referred to
                                                        to SPHS for mental
                                                                    mental health and drug
                                                                                      drug and
                                                                                           and

alcohol services.
alcohol services. This
                  This referral
                       referral was
                                was from
                                    from CYS and pre-trial
                                         CYS and           probation. Dungee
                                                 pre-trial probation. Dungee failed
                                                                             failed to
                                                                                    to regularly
                                                                                       regularly
and consistently attend services, only attending                     Dunge was later discharged
                                       attending the intake session. Dunge           discharged

for non-attendance.     February of 2022 was when the
                                                  the SPHS center
                                                           center had
                                                                  had its last contact with

Father.

          Capone indicated that Father had
                                       had aageneralized
                                             generalized anxiety
                                                         anxiety disorder diagnosis but
                                                                 disorder diagnosis but SPHS had

no documentation of
no documentation of any
                    any medication.
                        medication. Capone
                                    Capone testified
                                           testified that Father has no
                                                          Father has    history of drug
                                                                     no history    drug use on
                                                                                        use on

record.
record. Father self-reported any drug issues or concerns. In addition to
                                                                      to the anxiety,
                                                                             anxiety, Capone
                                                                                      Capone

                                           Page
                                           Page 30 of 48
•
     indicated             has aahistory of Agoraphobia and
     indicated that Dungee bas                          and Major Depressive Disorder,
                                                                             Disorder, both
                                                                                       both

     diagnosed in 2019 by a
     diagnosed            a SPHS psychiatrist when he returned
                                 psychiatrist when    retumed to care.

     10) Jodi
     10) Jodi Lynn Axe,
         Lynn      Axe, AAR
                        AAR supervisor
                            supervisor

                               provided testimony regarding
         Jodi Lynn Axe of AAR, provided                     Dungee's treatment.
                                                  regarding Dungee's treatment. Although
                                                                                Although Axe

     did not personally
     did not personally treat
                        treat Dungee, she served
                              Dungee, she served as
                                                 as the supervisor for
                                                    the supervisor for his        therapist, Haley
                                                                       his former therapist, Haley

             Axe now
     Stroop. Axe now serves as Custodian
                               Custodian of the
                                            the Records of Father's Case Notes and testified
                                                                                   testified in place
                                                                                                place
    of Stroop
    of        due to Stroop
       Stroop due    Stroop leaving
                            leaving the Group.

         Axe testified
             testified that Dumgee
                            Dungee began treatment with AAR on February
                                                               February 7,
                                                                        7, 2022. He arrived

    based on a
             a self-referral for drug and
                                      and alcohol treatment services. He was in outpatient
                                                                                outpatient therapy
                                                                                           therapy

    that involved both group and individual sessions. Axe testified
    that                                                  testified that Dungee was "very
                                                                         Dungee was "very

    compliant" and attended all sessions, missing only one
                                                       one ((I),
                                                             1), that
                                                                 that was promptly rescheduled
                                                                                   rescheduled.

         AAR requires urinalysis screening for
                      urinalysis screening for an
                                               an extensive
                                                  extensive list of substances,
                                                            list of substances, including:
                                                                                including: alcohol,
                                                                                           alcohol,

    metabolites, opiates, heroin,
    metabolites, opiates,         methadone, fentanyl,
                          heroin, methadone, fentanyl, cocaine,
                                                       cocaine, K2,
                                                                K2, spice,
                                                                    spice, vivitrol, and
                                                                           vivitrol, and

    methamphetamine. This weekly
                          weekly testing is
                                         is unannounced
                                            unannounced and performed every time aaclient
                                                            performed every        client

    presents
    presents for services. Dungee participated
                                  participated in this
                                                  this testing
                                                       testing which was collected by
                                                                                   by AAR and sent
                                                                                              sent

    to Quest Diagnostics for analysis
                             aoalysis and results. All tests taken by
                                                                   by Father were negative except for
                                                                                  negative except

    the initial test.                                      tests."31
                test. There were no concerns with Father's tests

        31 The drug tests are done in
        "re                        in aadouble locked bathroom
                                                         bathroom after removing jackets
                                                                                   jackets and anything in their
                                                                                                           their pockets
                                                                                                                 pockets in
    an empty room. The samples are tested
             room Tbe$apples          tested to see if there re
                                                             are any alteration and Father's samples were never
                                                                                    Father'seaples
    problematic.
    problematic

                                                       Page    of 48
                                                       Page 31 of
•
          11)
          ID) Jamie Chambers. Maternal
              Jamie Chambers,          Step-grandmother and kinship
                              Maternal Step-grandmother     kinship caregiver
                                                                    caregiver

         Jamie
         Jamie Chambers testified that
                                  that Father only asked
                                       Father only asked to
                                                         to attend a
                                                                   a single doctor's visit. Chambers
                                                                     single doctor's

     testified that,
               that, at
                     at that time, she told
                        that time,     told Father not
                                                   not to      to aadoctor's appointment
                                                       to come to            appointment because there
                                                                                                 there

     was a
         a limit on the number of people who
                                         who can attend a
                                                        adoctor's appointment
                                                                  appointment at any
                                                                                 any time.

     Chambers
     Chambers testified to
                        to observing visits
                                     visits between Father and I.D.,
                                                               J.D., in her home when
                                                                                 when J.D. was

                   two (2)
     approximately two (2) or three
                              three (3) months
                                        months old. Father would hold the child for aalittle bit and

     then hand
     then band the child to
                         to Angela,
                            Angela, Minor Child's mother.
                                    Minor Child's

             Chambers testified
             Chambers           that she
                      testified that she intends
                                         intends for
                                                 for J.D.
                                                     I.D. to
                                                          to keep in contact
                                                             keep in contact with Father,32 and
                                                                             with Father,"  and stated
                                                                                                stated

    that generally,
    that generally, she does not have any issues with Father,
                                                      Father, but
                                                              but that she has
                                                                           bas been
                                                                               been fearful of
                                                                                            of him
                                                                                               him

    when he fought with Child's Mother. In a
                                           a final note, Chambers acknowledged
                                                                  acknowledged that,
                                                                               that, although
                                                                                     although

    sometimes the improper size, Dungee did provide gifts for
                                            provide gifts for J.D.

    Review
    Review of Relevant
              Relevant Legal
                       Leal Standards and Aunlication
                                          Applicatioa to Present Case
                                                         Caye
                                                      te Rrssnt
             "In a
             "In   proceeding to
                 a proceeding to involuntarily terminate parental
                                 involuntarily terminate parental rights, the burden of
                                                                  rights, the        of proof
                                                                                        proof is
                                                                                              is upon
                                                                                                 upon

    the party
    the party seeking termination to
                                  to establish by
                                               by clear and
                                                        and convincing evidence the existence of

    grounds
    grounds for
            for doing
                doing so." In
                           Irere N.W.,
                                 N. W., 859 A.2d
                                            A.2d 501, 506 (Pa.
                                                 501, 506      Super. 2004).
                                                          (Pa. Super. 2004). The
                                                                             The standard
                                                                                 standard of
                                                                                          of

    clear and convincing evidence is defined as "testimony
    clear and                                   "testimony that is so clear,
                                                           that is    clear, direct,
                                                                             direct, weighty
                                                                                     weighty and
                                                                                             and

    convincing as to
                  to enable
                     enable the trier
                                trier of fact to come
                                         fact to      to a
                                                 come to a clear conviction without hesitance of
                                                                                              of

    the
    the truth of the
        truth of the precise
                     precise facts in issue." In
                                   in issue." In Re C.MS., 832
                                                 Re CMS,   832 A. 2d 457,
                                                               A.2d  457, 461-642
                                                                          461-642 (Pa. Super.
                                                                                  (Pa. Super.

    2003).
    2003)

             The focus of a
                          a termination
                            termination proceeding
                                        proceeding is the
                                                      the conduct of the parents
                                                                         parents with
                                                                                 with "adequate
                                                                                      adequate

    consideration" being given to the needs
                                      needs and
                                            and welfare of the child. Id.
                                                                      ld. at 508. Further, under
                                                                                  Further, under

    n Chambers also testified
    Chamber                   that Paternal Grear
                    testified that          Great Grandmother was offered an
                                                                           an opportunity
                                                                              opportunity to
                                                                                          to visit with
                                                                                                   with J.D.
                                                                                                        ID. but she
    declined
    declined. No other members of Dungee's filyfamily have contacted the Chambers about visiting
                                                                                        visiting with J.D..
                                                                                                       JD.

                                                     Page 32 0f
                                                             of 48
the Adoption and Safe Families Act,
                               Act, "when aachild is placed
                                                     placed in foster care, after
                                                                            after reasonable

efforts have
efforts      been made
        have been made to establish the
                       to establish the biological
                                        biological relationship, the needs
                                                   relationship, the           welfare of
                                                                     needs and welfare of

the
the child require CYS and
                      and foster care institutions
                          foster care institutions to work
                                                      work toward termination of
                                                           toward termination of parental
                                                                                 parental

rights, placing the child with adoptive
rights,                                 parents. It is contemplated
                               adoptive parents.                         process realistically
                                                       contemplated this process realistically

should be completed within
                    within 18 months." Ire
                                       In re B.L.L., 787A.2d
                                             B.LL, 787       1007,1016 (Pa
                                                        A.2d 1007,1016 (Pa. Super. 200I),
                                                                                   2001),

citing 42 U.S.C.
citing    U.8.C. §671,         (Emphasis added).
                 $671, et seq. (Emphasis added).

        Termination of
        Termination of parental
                       parental rights
                                rights is aabifurcated
                                            bifurcated analysis.
                                                       analysis. First,
                                                                 First, analysis    made under
                                                                        analysis is made under

Section 2511(a) to
Section 2511(a) to determine
                   determine if the parents'
                             if the parents' conduct
                                             conduct merits
                                                     merits termination
                                                            termination of
                                                                        of parental rights.
                                                                           parental rights.

The Court need only agree
                    agree with any one subsection of
                                                  of §$ 2511(a),
                                                        2511(a), in addition to
                                                                             to $§ 2511(),
                                                                                   2511(b), in
                                                                                            in

order to
order to grant the termination
         grant the             of parental
                   termination of parental rights. In re BL.W.,
                                           rights. Ire   B.L. W., 843 A. 2d 380,
                                                                  843 4.2d       384 (Pa
                                                                            380, 384 (Pa Super.
                                                                                         Super.
2004)
2004) (en bane).
      (en banc). If
                 If the
                    the analysis of Section
                                    Section (a) leads to
                                            (a) leads to an affirmative response,
                                                                        response, the court
                                                                                  the court

must then make
          make an analysis under
                           under Section 2511(b), aadetermination of the needs and
                                                                               and

welfare of the
           the child, under the standard
                                standard of      interests, where one major
                                         of best interests,           major inquiry is the
                                                                            inquiry is the

bond
bond between     parent and child
     between the parent     child and
                                  and the effect of
                                                 of severing
                                                    severing any
                                                             any bond.
                                                                 bond. In re Adoption of
                                                                             Adoption of

C.D.R., I1IA3d
C.D.R,  111 A.3d 1212
                 1212 (Pa.       2015). Absent a
                      (Pa Super. 20159).         showing by
                                               a showing              convincing evidence
                                                         by clear and convincing

that
that aaparent's rights should be terminated, no such termination may
                                                                 may occur. In re Adoption
                                                                                  Adoption

of
ofMA. R, 591 A.
  MA.R,         2d 1133
             A.2d  1133 (Pa.
                        (a. Super. 1991).
                                   1991)

        In the instant case,
           the instant case, the
                             the Agency filed
                                        filed aaPetition
                                                Petition for Termination
                                                             Termination of
                                                                         of Parental
                                                                            Parental Rights under
                                                                                     Rights under

23 Pa. C.S.A.
23 P.  C.S.A. §$ 2511(a)(1),
                 2511(a)(1), (a)(2),
                             (a)2), (a)(5),  (a)(8), and
                                     (a)05), (a)(8), and $§ 2511(b).
                                                            251160)

Section 2511(a)
        25116a)
       Under
       Under §{ 2511(a)(1),
                2511(a(1), termination of parental
                                          parental rights
                                                   rights may be granted
                                                          may be granted when a "parent
                                                                                "parent by
                                                                                        by

conduct continuing for aaperiod of at least six months immediately
                                                       immediately preceding the filing
                                                                                 filing of the

                                            Page    of 48
                                            Page 33 of
petition either
         either has
                has evidenced a         purpose of relinquishing
                              a settled purpose    relinquishing parental       to aachild,
                                                                 parental claim to   child, or has
                                                                                               bas

refused or failed to perform parental
                             parental duties.

       In the
          the present
              present matter, the
                              the Petition for Involuntary Termination of
                                                                       of Parental
                                                                          Parental Rights
                                                                                   Rights was

filed by                                 Accordingly, the relevant time period
      by the Agency on February 1, 2022. Accordingly,                   period for evaluation is

August      through January 31, 2022.
August 2021 through             2022. During this time frame there
                                      During this            there were two
                                                                        two (2)
                                                                            (2) permanency
                                                                                permanency

review hearings on August 17, 2021 and December 14, 202I.        August 17
                                                    2021. At the August 17 th
                                                                            hearing, Father
                                                                            hearing,

was found to have minimal compliance with the permanency
                                              permanency plan
                                                         plan and
                                                              and no progress
                                                                     progress in alleviating
                                                                                 alleviating

the circumstances which necessitated the original placement. Visitation remained supervised
                                                                                 supervised at

intervals of
          of once per week for two
                               two (2)
                                   (2) hours
                                       bours in duration. The order specifically
                                                          The order              provides
                                                                    specifically provides

"permission to
"permission    expand after
            to expand after Mr.
                            Mr. Dungee participates in
                                Dungee participates in three
                                                       three consecutive
                                                             consecutive visits."
                                                                         visits." See

Permanency Review Hearing Order of
                                ofAugust
                                  August 17, 2021, attached in CYS collective exhibit S. In
                                                            in CS

addition, Dungee was ordered to the following:
                                    following:

           • Complete drug    and alcohol testing at the
                        drug and                     the Washington County
                                                                      County Drug
                                                                              Drug Testing
                                                                                    Testing
             Center,
             Center, twice monthly through
                                     through random selection or or upon
                                                                    upon aareasonable
                                                                           reasonable suspicion
                                                                                       suspicion
             of intoxication or impairment.
                                impairment.
           • Complete drug
           • Complete   drug and  alcohol treatment
                              and alcohol treatment through
                                                     through an
                                                              an appropriate
                                                                 appropriate provider
                                                                             provider and
                                                                                       and follow
                                                                                           follow
             all recommendations.
                 recommendations
           • Follow the recommendations of Dr. Crabtree,
                                                    Crabtree, Licensed Psychologist, evaluation
             dated May
                    May 26, 2021.
           • Complete intensive mental           treatment through
                                  mental health treatment  through an   appropriate provider
                                                                     an appropriate provider and
                                                                                             and
             follow all recommendations.
           • Obtain and
           • Obtain  and maintain  safe and
                         maintain safe       stable housing.
                                        and stable  housing.
           • Sign all releases requested by the Agency.
           • Attend
             Attend parenting
                     parenting education.
           • Complete                       counseling through
             Complete domestic-violence counseling      through an appropriate  provider and
                                                                    appropriate provider and
             follow all recommendations.

Id.

       At the
       At the December 14, 2021,
              December 14, 2021, permanency
                                 permanency review hearing, Father
                                            review hearing, Father is
                                                                   is again found to
                                                                      again found to have
                                                                                     have

minimal compliance
        compliance with
                   with the
                        the permanency plan
                                       plan and
                                            and no
                                                no progress toward alleviating
                                                   progress toward alleviating the

                                          Page 34 of 49
                                                     48
 circumstances which necessitated the original
                                      original placement.
                                               placement. See Permanency Review Hearing

 Order of December 14, 2021, attached in CYS collective Exhibit S. The Order specifically
                                                                5. The       specifically

 notes
 notes that
       that Father
            Father has attended
                       attended visitation and
                                           and obtained housing,
                                                        housing, but has
                                                                     has not shown for drug
                                                                                       drug and
                                                                                            and

 alcohol screenings or mental health         treatment.
                              health treatment as Id,
                                                  Id. With the
                                                           the Minor
                                                               Minor Child in placement eleven
                                                                           in placement

 (11) months, Father had
 (II)                    failed to engage in services first ordered at the initial adjudication
                     bad failed                                                    adjudication in

 January of2021.
         of 2021. Of specific note, exhibits admitted at the time of the hearing
                                                                         hearing show that SPHS

 had closed Father's case for
 had                      for his failure to
                                          to engage in mental
                                                       mental health
                                                              health treatment, with the
                                                                     treatment, with the last
                                                                                         last date
                                                                                              date of

 service being
 service being August
               August 2021.
                      2021. An additional exhibit
                            An additional exhibit established
                                                  established that
                                                              that Father failed to
                                                                   Father failed to appear for
                                                                                    appear for
 random drug screenings
 random drug screenings between June of 2021
                                        202l and the time of
                                             and the      of the hearing. A
                                                             the bearing. A further exhibit
                                                                                    exhibit

provided
provided that both Mother and Father
                              Father were charged
                                          charged on July
                                                     July 20,
                                                          20, 2021with          Criminal
                                                              2021with Indirect Criminal

Contempt for violation of aaProtection from Abuse Order.
Contempt for                                      Order.    Id. Visitation remained the
                                                         34 Id,                     the same,
                                                                                        same,

but
but concerns were noted
                  noted with Dungee and Chambers encountering             at visits
                                                 encountering one another at        and a
                                                                             visits and a

specific directive was included in the Order, prohibiting
                                              prohibiting both parties from remaining
                                                                            remaining in the
vicinity of the
            the visit
                visit ten
                      ten (10)
                          (10) minutes before and/or
                                              and/or after the
                                                           the visits.
                                                               visits. Id. Notably, domestic
                                                                       Id. Notably,

violence
violence and the impact
                 impact of domestic violence
                        of domestic          on Dungee's
                                    violence on          ability to
                                                Dungee's ability to parent
                                                                    parent being
                                                                           being aapreeminent
                                                                                   preeminent

issue at the time of shelter
                     shelter and adjudication.
                                 adjudication

         The
         The secondary and emerging
                           emerging issues in the infancy of the Dependency
                                              the infancy        Dependency case,
                                                                            case, including
                                                                                  including

shelter and
shelter and adjudication,
            adjudication, involved
                          involved parental
                                   parental substance       and mental
                                            substance abuse and mental health                  to
                                                                       health issues. Pursuant to

the TPR testimony of Grace Capone, in November 2021, Dungee was discharged
the                                                             discharged from SPHS

mental health services for non-attendance and failure to contact his therapist.
                                                                     therapist. The
                                                                                Tbe record also

establishes that in the same time frame, concerns with parental
                                                       parental substance abuse remained

33 Record establishes that Father had
Record                                      not completed
                                  bad also not  completed batterer's intervention counseling
                                                                                  counseling as of the hearing
                                                                                                       hearing date.
                                                                                                               date.
Testimony
Testimony and records establish
                        establish that this was completed on January
                                                              January 24,
                                                                       24, 2022.
                                                                           2022
   Dungee's Indirect Criminal Contempt Charge was
Dungee's
34                                                 was ultimately
                                                       ultimately withdrawn by   the Washington
                                                                              by the             County Office of the
                                                                                     Washington County
District Attorney with notation that Victim
                                     Victim (Angela
                                              (Angela Dungee)
                                                      Dungee) failed
                                                               filed to appear.
                                                                         appear.

                                                  Page 35 of 48
                                                             49
•
    unaddressed and this
                    this was further
                             further illustrated by Father's
                                     illustrated by          inconsistency with random
                                                    Father's inconsistency             testing,
                                                                                random testing,

    failure to
    failure    participate in drug
            to participate         and alcohol
                              drug and alcohol treatment
                                               treatment as ordered
                                                            ordered and failure to
                                                                                to resolve bis
                                                                                           his

    outstanding federal drug
    outstanding federal drug charges.
                             charges.

                              history, this Court is tasked with determining
             Considering this history,                                               Dungee's conduct
                                                                 determining whether Dungee's

    "evidenced aasettled purpose of relinquishing
                                    relinquishing parental claims" or
                                                                   or if he failed and/or
                                                                                   and/or refused to

    perform parental duties in this time frame.
                                         frame. 3s

             Despite
             Despite failing
                     failing to be
                                be fully
                                   fully compliant and/or consistent, Father did
                                                   and/or consistent,        did attend visits,
                                                                                        visits, did
                                                                                                did

    complete some services,
                  services, albeit lacking in regularity, and did
                                              regularity, and did make efforts
                                                                       efforts to attend hearings
                                                                                         hearings for
                                                                                                  for

    the Dependency matter.
                   matter. Accordingly, it is
                                           is this
                                              this Court's
                                                   Court's opinion
                                                           opinion that, while
                                                                         while Dungee
                                                                               Dungee was
                                                                                      was far from

    fully compliant and
                    and even farther
                             farther from
                                     from advancing progress with alleviating the circumstances

    leading
    leading to
            to placement,
               placement, in a
                             a light
                               light most
                                     most favorable
                                          favorable to Father,
                                                       Father, in the
                                                                  the six
                                                                      six (6) months immediately
                                                                          (6) months immediately

    preceding the           the petition
              the filing of the petition he
                                         he did
                                            did not
                                                not evidence
                                                    evidence a
                                                             a settled purpose
                                                                       purpose of
                                                                               of relinquishing
                                                                                  relinquishing parental
                                                                                                parental

    claims. Consequentially, this
                             this Court does not                  demonstrated a
                                             not find that Father demonstrated asettled          of
                                                                                 settled purpose of

    relinquishing
    relinquishing parental rights.
                  parental rights.

             This Court must next consider if Father failed or refined
                        must next                                                 parental duties.
                                                               refused to perform parental

    While            difficult to
    While admittedly difficult to define precisely, Pennsylvania
                                                    Pennsylvania Courts have found that "parental
                                                                             found that

    duty is
    duty    best understood
         is best understood in relation to
                                        to the needs of aachild."
                                                          child." Ire
                                                                  In re KZS. 946 A.2d 753,759
                                                                                      753,759 (Pa

    Super.
    Super. 2008), citing: In
                          Irere B., N.M,
                                    N.M., 856 A.2d
                                              A. 2d 847
                                                    847 (Pa. Super. 2004).

                      There is
                      There is no
                               no simple or easy
                                  simple or easy definition
                                                  definition of
                                                             of parental duties. Parental
                                                                parental duties. Parental duty
                                                                                          duty is best
                                                                                               is best
                      understood in relation to the needs of aachild.
                                                               child. AA child needs love, protection,
                      guidance, and support.
                      guidance, and support. These needs, physical
                                                             physical and
                                                                       and emotional, cannot
                                                                                      cannot be met
                                                                                                  met by
                                                                                                      by aa
                      merely
                      merely passive interest in the development of the child. Thus, this court
                                                 the development                            court has
                                                                                                  has held
                                                                                                       held

    see
     See Ire
    33   In re CM$,
               C.M.S., 832 A.2d
                           A2d 457,462
                                457,462 (Pa. Super. 200.3),
                                        (a Super.                  Marter of
                                                    2003), quoting Matter ofAdoption
                                                                             Adoption of Charles ED.M,
                                                                                                 F-D.M.,11,
                                                                                                         I, 708 A.2d
    88,91 (Pa. 1998), stating
    88,9(Pa            stating "Section 25I
                                          2511 does not
                                                    not require
                                                        require that  the parent
                                                                 that the        demonstrate both A
                                                                          parent demonstrate        asettled
                                                                                                      settled purpose
                                                                                                              purpose of
    relinquishing parental claim to aachild and refusal or failure to perform   parental duties. Accordingly,
                                                                       perfornr parental         Accordingly, parental rights
                                                                                                                         rights
    may     terminated prant
    may be terminated   pursuant to Section
                                     Section 2511(a)(1)
                                              211(a(/) if the parent   either demonstrates
                                                               parent either  demonstrates a  settled purpose of
                                                                                            a settled          of relinquishing
                                                                                                                  relinquishing
    parental claim to
                   to a child or
                      a child or fails to
                                       to perform
                                          perform parental duties."

                                                        Page 36 of
                                                                of 48
•

                  that
                  that the
                       the parental obligation is
                           parental obligation is aapositive duty which
                                                    positive duty which requires
                                                                        requires affirmative
                                                                                 affirmative
                  performance.
                  performance.

                  A         must utilize all available resources to
                  A parent must                                   to preserve the parental relationship,
                  and must   exercise reasonable firmness in resisting
                       must exercise  reasonable  firmness  in           obstacles placed
                                                               resisting obstacles placed in
                                                                                          in the path of
                                                                                             the path of
                  maintaining the
                  maintaining   the parent-child
                                    parent-child relationship.
                                                 relationship. Parental   rights are
                                                                Parental rights  are not by
                                                                                     not preserved
                                                                                         preserved  by
                  waiting
                  waiting for
                           for amore suitable
                                a.more              or to one
                                                   time   's.parental
                                       suitable or convenient
                                                   convenient   time to perform
                                                                        perform  one's parental
                  responsibilities while
                  responsibilities
                  emotional needs.
                              needs.
                                    •
                                    others
                                    while othersprovide
                                                 provide the
                                                          the child with
                                                          child     with his
                                                                          his   or
                                                                             or her
                                                                                her physical
                                                                                    and
                                                                                    pbusical and
                  emotional
         Id.
         ld.
         There is no question
         There       question that
                              that Father loves J.D., what must be
                                                                be evaluated is whether
                                                                                whether he

performed parental
          parental duties
                   duties to support
                             support the needs
                                         needs of
                                               of JD.,
                                                  J.D., most importantly considering
                                                        most importantly considering the mental,
                                                                                         mental,

physical
physical and emotional needs of the Minor Child. The record is void
                                the Minor                      void of support
                                                                       support for this
                                                                                   this finding
                                                                                        finding

and only establishes
         establishes that Father took negligible steps
                                                 steps in the care of his son. Father allowed
                                                                                      allowed

others to
others to provide
          provide for his Child's
                  for his Child's basic
                                  basic needs,
                                        needs, while
                                               while he provided excuses for
                                                        provided excuses for his
                                                                             his non-performance,
                                                                                 non-performance,

and inconsistent and/or absent
and                                                     designed to support
                        absent compliance with services designed    support his ability
                                                                                ability to

reunify.
reunify. Testimony
         Testimony and evidence
                       evidence supports arecord that paints
                                supports a            paints aapicture
                                                               picture of Father
                                                                          Father failing to
                                                                                         to

attend Child's medical appointments
                       appointments and failing to attend Father' Court ordered services with

commitment and
commitment and regularity, all
                           all being
                               being explained through aamultitude
                                                         multitude of excuses by
                                                                   of excuses    Father.
                                                                              by Father.

Dungee      failed in providing the very basic of support, acknowledging through his own
Dungee even failed                                                                   own

testimony that only
testimony that only two
                    two (2) or three
                        (2) or three (3)       before the TPR
                                     () months before     TPR hearing
                                                              hearing did
                                                                      did he begin
                                                                             begin bringing
                                                                                   bringing

provisions for the Minor Child
                         Child to visits. Prior
                               to visits. Prior to that
                                                   that time,
                                                        time, he testified
                                                                 testified that
                                                                           that Jaimie Chambers

provided the supplies for the visits, including snacks and
                                                       and diapers. Considering that Father

testified that parenting education was
               parenting education     one of
                                   was one                     that he
                                           of the first things that    completed in the
                                                                    he completed    the Court

ordered services,
        services, these actions should
                  these actions should have      initiated by
                                       have been initiated by Father
                                                              Father much earlier." And
                                                                     much earlier."     while
                                                                                    And while

see                          report ofJune 23, 2022:
 See citation ofDr. Crabtree report
36

          "Father presents
          Father           with asincere interest in maintaining a
                  presents with                                                     his son. On the other band,
                                                                 arelationship with bis                   hand, it is
not clear that he
               be has enough knowledge about issues related to child development and to specific needs his child has,
to be the primary  caregiver for the child."
          primary caregiver          child,"

                                                  Page 37 of 48
•
    Father eventually
           eventually did provide
                          provide visitation provisions
                                             provisions for J.D.,   was only
                                                            I.D, it was only aamore recent
                                                                               more recent

    development
    development. Father testified
                      37testified to
                                  to his
                                     his attention and management of daily affairs being
                                                                                   being focused

        pretty much everything else, while
     on pretty                       while others cared for
                                           others cared for the daily
                                                                daily needs
                                                                      needs of J.D..
                                                                               I.D.. Dungee resisted

    and
    nd refused consistent and effective participation and utilization of services
                                                                         services designed
                                                                                  designed to promote

    his ability to reunify, while J.D.'s needs and
                                  I.D.'s needs and welfare were attended    by others.
                                                                attended to by others.

              As stated
              As stated by Dr. Crabtree, with
                        by Dr.                "aparent facing
                                         with "a       facing the loss of
                                                                       of aaChild
                                                                            Child the concerns
                                                                                      concerns of the
                                                                                                  the

    Agency should
    Agency        be paramount.
           should be paramount." This
                                 This Court does not believe
                                            does not         that Father
                                                     believe that Father resisted obstacles to
                                                                         resisted obstacles to the
                                                                                               the

    parent(child
    parent/child relationship and
                              and failed to prioritize his
                                  failed to            his parenting of J.D.
                                                                        ID. Accordingly,
                                                                             Accordingly, this Court

    finds that the
    finds that            has established, by
               the Agency has              by clear and convincing
                                                        convincing evidence, grounds
                                                                             grounds for
                                                                                     for termination

    under 23
    ader  23 Pa. C.S.A.
                 C.S.A. 2511(a)(1).
                        2511(a)1).

    Section 2511(a)(2)
            2511(a02)

             The Agency
             The Agency next
                        next asserts grounds for termination
                             asserts grounds     termination under
                                                             under §2511(a)(2).
                                                                   $2511(a)2). Pursuant to

    §2511(a)(2), the
    $2511(a)2),  the rights of a
                               a parent
                                 parent may
                                        may be terminated if the repeated and
                                                                          and continued incapacity,
                                                                                        incapacity,

    abuse, neglect or refusal of a
                                 a parent has caused a
                                                     a child to be without essential parental care,
                                                                                              care,

    control or subsistence
               subsistence necessary for
                                     for his
                                         his or her
                                                her physical
                                                    physical or
                                                             or mental
                                                                mental well-being and the conditions
                                                                                  and the conditions

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

    This subsection
         subsection doesn't emphasize aaparent
                                        parent refusal or failure to perform duties,
                                                                  to perform duties, but places
                                                                                         places the

    focus on a
    focus              present and future
             a child's present     future needs for "essential care,
                                                               care, control or subsistence necessary
                                                                                            necessary

    see
    E1 See recitation
           recitation ofFather's TPR testimony. Dungee continued that
                           Father TPR testimony. Dungee continuedthat he also purchases snacks, including hoagies,
                                                                           he also purchases snacks, including boagies,
    bananas and PBJ
    bananas and          J.D., noting
                PBI for I.D.,  noting that I.D.
                                            "J.D, likes to eat."
                                                           eat." .....acknowledged
                                                                  ~..acknowledged thatthat he
                                                                                           he didn't always bring
                                                                                                            bring snacks...
                                                                                                                  snack.
    "Jamie                   were tool
    Jamie used to do it, we were   cool like that."See
                                                     See also: recitation ofSongfelt-Cuseard           testimony: indicating
                                                                            ofSonafelt-Cusead TPR testimony:      indicating
    that
    that Dungee started bringing
         Dungee started           supplies to
                        bringing spplies    to the
                                               the visit with J.D.  one (()
                                                               I.D. one   1) or two
                                                                                two (2) months ago.
                                                                                    (2) month   ago. (Testimony
                                                                                                      (Testimony provided
                                                                                                                  provided on
    September
    September 19,  2022).
               19, 2022)

    See 23 Pa.
    See 23       CS.A. $2511(b),
            Pa CS4.     §2511(b). Other
                                   Other Considerations-
                                         Consideration-....• "    With respect
                                                                 "Wik   respect to any petitionfiled
                                                                                to any  petitionfledpursuant  to subsection
                                                                                                     pursuant to subsection
    (a)(1),(6)    (8), the Court shall not consider any efforts
    (a)(/),(6) or (8)                                    efirorts by the parent to remedy
                                                                     the parent    remedy the conditions described therein
                                                                                                                     thereh
    which are  first Initiated
           are first initiated subsequent to the
                               subsequent to the giving    notlee oftheftling
                                                 giving ofnotice      thefling ofthe   petition"
                                                                                   the petition."

                                                        Page
                                                        Page 38 of 48
                                                             38 of 48
for his physical or mental
                    mental well-being." ln
                                        In re
                                           re Involuntary
                                              lvoluntary Termination    Parental Rights
                                                          Termination ofParental Rights to
                                                                                        to

E.A. P., a
EA.P.,   aminor, 944 A.2d
                     A. 2d 79,82 (Pa. Super. 2008). Courts are instructed
                                                               instructed by
                                                                          by this section to focus
                                                                                             focus

on the need
       need of aachild
                 child for
                       for aastable home and "strong, continuous parental ties" particularly where
                                         and "strong,

"disruption of the
disruption     the family has already occurred and
                                               and there
                                                   there is no reasonable prospect
                                                                          prospect for reuniting
                                                                                       reuniting

it." Id. Further, grounds
                  grounds for termination under subsection (a)(2)
                                          under subsection (a)Q2) are not
                                                                      not limited to affirmative

misconduct;
misconduct; those
            those grounds may include acts
                                      acts of incapacity
                                              incapacity to
                                                         to perform parental duties. Id.
                                                                    parental duties.

quoting In
        Irere AL.D,,
              A.L.D., 797A.2d
                      797 4.2d 326, 337
                                    337 (Pa  Super. 2002).
                                        (Pa. Super. 2002),

        As noted by the Superior Court in Ire
                                          In re ZP., 994 A.2d
                                                         A. 2d 1108, 1117 (Pa. Super. 2010),
                                                                     117 (Pa.

"while sincere
while sincere efforts to perform parental duties can preserve parental
                                 parental duties              parental rights
                                                                       rights under subsection

(a)(1), those
(a)(I), those same efforts may
              same efforts may be
                               be insufficient
                                  insufficient to remedy
                                                  remedy parental incapacity under
                                                         parental incapacity under subsection
                                                                                   subsection

(a)(2)." Quoting, In re Adoption ofM.J.H., 501 A.2d 648
                                   MJ.H, 50I        648 (1985) (Additional citations omitted).
                                                        (1985) (Additional           omitted).

"Parental
 rights
"Parental     are
              not.
          rights are not preserved
                         preserved by         for a more or
                                   by waiting for amore suitable
                                                        suitable or convenient   time
                                                                    convenient time to perform
                                                                                    .perform

one's parental
one's parental responsibilities while others provide
                                             provide the
                                                     the child with or
                                                               withhis
                                                                    hisor her
                                                                          her physical and
                                                                          physical
emotional needs.
          needs. " In
                   Irere B,
                         B, N.M.,
                            NM, 856
                                  856 A. 2d 847,
                                      A.2d       855 (Pa
                                            847, 855 (Pa. Super.
                                                          Super. 2004).
                                                                 2004). AA."parent
                                                                            "parent desiring
                                                                                    desiring to

retain
retain parental
       parental rights must himself
                 must exert
                rights      evert himself to
                                          to tale
                                             take and
                                                  and maintain
                                                      maintain.aaplace
                                                                 place of
                                                                       of importance
                                                                          in
                                                                          importance in his child's
                                                                                        child's
                                                                                        his
life."
fte." In re EA.P.,
       Inre E.A. P., 944 A.2d            (Pa Super. 2008), quoting: Adoption of
                         A. 2d 79, 83-84 (Pa                                 ofBaby      A, 517
                                                                                Baby Boy 4,

A.
A2d2d 1244,1246
      1244,1246 (Pa. 1896). Section 2511(a)(2) does not outline aatime line for performance
                                                                                performance or

evaluation of
           of performance and accordingly,
              performance and accordnigly, the
                                           the case time
                                                    time lmie
                                                         line can
                                                              can be
                                                                  be evaluated
                                                                     evaluated as
                                                                               as a
                                                                                  a whole.

       In the
          the present matter,
                      matter, the Minor Child
                                        Child is
                                              is twenty-four
                                                 twenty-four (24)
                                                             (24) months old and has been
                                                                  months old              out of
                                                                                     been out

parental care and
              and in the care of maternal grandparents for twenty-two
                                                           twenty-two (22)
                                                                      (22) of
                                                                           of those months.

During
During this
       this time, the minor child's
                            child's various
                                    various needs were met by his
                                                       met by his caregivers,
                                                                  caregivers, not his parents.
                                                                                      parents.

While Father indicates
While Father           that "he
             indicates that "he will
                                will do
                                     do anything
                                        anything to
                                                 to maintain contact with
                                                    maintain contact      his child,"
                                                                     with his child," the
                                                                                      the history
                                                                                          history

of bis
   his compliance and
                  and progress paint
                               paint a
                                     a different story.
                                                 story. While at the
                                                        While at the time of
                                                                          of the TPR hearing,
                                                                             the TPR hearing,

                                          Page 39 of 48
                                                     49
•

 Father had completed aafew Court ordered
 Father                                   services, and
                                  ordered services,     initiated participation
                                                    and initiated               with others,
                                                                  participation with others, by his
                                                                                             by his

 own testimony, he
 own            he waited
                   waited until the Minor Child was over a
                                                         a year
                                                           year old and
                                                                    and developing a
                                                                                   a strong,
                                                                                     strong,

                                                                addressing the lion share of
 consistent and reliable bond with Maternal Grandparents before addressing

 issues bringing
        bringing in J.D. into care. While Father waited to participate
                                                           participate in services, succumbed to

 barriers for completion and
                         and by
                             by his own testimony, prioritized his marriage
                                                                   marriage and
                                                                            and employment
                                                                                employment over

 his relationship with
                  with his child,
                           child, the Minor Child
                                            Child was being
                                                      being cared
                                                            cared for by
                                                                      by others. As discussed

 above, at
        at the time of the
                       the filing of the Petition for Termination of Parental Rights,       unrefuted
                                                                              Rights, it is unrefuted

     Dungee failed
that Dungee failed to engage in the
                                the most
                                    most essential Court ordered services that would have aided

him in progressing through and                                            J.D.'s placement
                           and perhaps alleviating entirely the cause for I.D.'s placement

coming
coming into care. Father
                  Father testified
                         testified that his change
                                            change in motivation was based on the Court's

statement that,
statement       "actions speak
          that, "actions speak louder than
                                      than words,"
                                           words," however
                                                   however his compliance
                                                               compliance snd
                                                                          and participation
                                                                              participation was

also conveniently timed in preparation for
also                                   for his federal sentencing.
                                                       sentencing."38 While this
                                                                            this Court cannot
                                                                                       cannot state

that his efforts
         efforts were solely in an effort to curry favor with the pending
                                          to cuny                 pending sentencing
                                                                          sentencing court,
                                                                                     court, the

record does
       does support
            support aaconclusion that
                                 that Father's compliance
                                               compliance and periods of
                                                          and periods of inconsistency
                                                                         inconsistency have aa

           similar pattern
strikingly similar patter to  periods when Father has heightened
                           to periods                            supervision due to probation
                                                      heightened supervision        probation or

other interventions. Accordingly,
                     Accordingly, in considering whether Father took every        necessary to
                                                                     every action necessary to

maintain aaplace of importance
                    importance in the life of J.D.,
                                  the life    I.D., this Court is of the opinion
                                                                         opinion that he did
                                                                                         did not.

         As may be apparent from the above discussion, this Court is also of the opinion that

Father cannot
       cannot or will not
                      not remedy
                          remedy the conditions and
                                                and causes of incapacity
                                                              incapacity that have caused J.D
                                                                                          J.D. to
                                                                                               to

be without
be without parental
           parental care,
                    care, control or subsistence necessary
                                                 necessary for his physical
                                                                   physical and
                                                                            and mental
                                                                                mental well-being.
                                                                                       well-being.

Father's history supports periods of compliance,
                                     compliance, followed by
                                                          by periods
                                                             periods of non-performance
                                                                        non-perforance and

   While photo
while
38       photo finishes may be             place in marathons and horse races,
                               be common pice                             noes, photo
                                                                                 photo finishes are not compatible
                                                                                                         compatible with
parenting aa child. Achild's
             child. A  child's needs
                               needs and
                                     and welfare of cannot
                                                     cannot be subjected
                                                               subjected to aalate start,
                                                                                   start, standard
                                                                                          standard procrastination
                                                                                                   procrastination and/or
                                                                                                                   and/or
casual attention with
                  with reliance
                       reliance on others to serve in the primary capacity of
                                                          primary capacity of parent.
                                                                              parent.

                                                    Page 40
                                                         40 of 48
                                                            of 48
    •
•
     inconsistency. This can be stated as to Father's mental health, substance use, testing
                                                                                    testing and

     treatment, and domestic violence history. Consequentially, even should the Court deny the

                                                rights, the Court would have no confidence in
     Agency request for termination of parental rights,                                    in the

                                                                         finding short term prospects
     ability to immediately place the Minor Child in the care of Father, finding            prospects

     for re-unification unlikely. Father is still not in a
                                                         aposition stable and/or consistent enough for the

     Minor Child to be placed in his care."
                                     care 39

               Evaluated as a
                            awhole, this Court finds that the Agency has established by
                                                                                     by clear and

     convincing evidence that Dungee's repeated and continued incapacity, neglect and/or refusal to

    provide proper parental control for J.D.,
                                        I.D., (fueled by concerns of domestic violence, substance

    abuse and mental health concerns), has caused JD.
                                                  J.D. to be without essential parental
                                                                               parental care, control

    or subsistence necessary for his physical or mental well-being. This Court also finds clear and

    convincing evidence that the conditions and causes of incapacity, neglect and/or refusal
                                                                                     refimal will not

                                                   finds sufficient grounds for termination under
    be remedied by Dungee. Accordingly, this Court fords

    23 Pa. C.S.A. §2511(a)(2).
                  $2511(a)2)

    34 Father remains on probation for the federal drug charges. Four
    father                                                       Four (4) year probationary
                                                                      (4) year probationary sentence on October 7,2022.
                                                                                                                7, 2022.
    Father has never
    Father has          progressed to
                never progressed      to unsupervised
                                         unsupervised visitation
                                                         visitation and  has failed
                                                                     and bas failed to  take advantage
                                                                                     to take advantage of additional    visits offered
                                                                                                            additional visits  offered
    by the Agency
    by     Agency and approved
                           approved by by the Court. Father has failed to  to participate
                                                                              participate in mental health treatment
                                                                                                             treatment that
    specifically addresses the recommendations of Dr. Crabtree and has failed to consistently
    specifically                                                                              consistently engage in random testing.
                                                                                                                                 testing.
    In            because Father is subjected
    ln addition, because                              restrictions sa
                                        subjected to restrictions   as aresult of
                                                                                of his federal  probation, there is no evidence
                                                                                       federal probation,              evidence to to
    suggest
    suggest his
             his ability  to address
                 ability to  address the Minor Child's daily needs,eeds, medical
                                                                          medical needs and/or education needs,needs. While
                                                                                                                       While Father
    presented the
               the testimony of his hie family
                                         frily members
                                                 members that    stepped forward as placement
                                                            that stepped                placement resources, whieh
                                                                                                               which is
                                                                                                                      is more
    appropriately an issue
                        issue for the
                                  the Dependency
                                       Dependency matter, Father provided no derails  details on his plan
                                                                                                     plan to
                                                                                                          to re-unify
                                                                                                             re-unify and support
                                                                                                                            support
    J.D.. Father indicated
    JD..           indicated that
                               that he
                                    be would like to spend
                                                       spend more time with J.D.       and further
                                                                                 I.D. and  further indicated that
                                                                                                              that he
                                                                                                                   he wanted    J.D. 4e
                                                                                                                      wanted J,D,    to
    know
    low "his    side of
          his side       the firily"
                      of the  family" but
                                        but set forth no
                                            set forth no plan  of execution. By
                                                          plan of               By his   own testimony,
                                                                                    his own   testimony, Father
                                                                                                         Father indicated that
                                                                                                                             that Jaime
                                                                                                                                  Jaime
    Chambers, until
                 until recently,
                       recently, provided
                                  provided for all of the Minor
                                                             Miaor Child's   needs.
                                                                     Cid' eds.

    Additionally, during
                  during this
                          this Court's
                               Count's deliberation
                                       deliberation on the IPR
                                                            TPR request,
                                                                  request, another
                                                                           another permanency
                                                                                    permanency review hearing
                                                                                                         hearing was
                                                                                                                  ws
    conducted in this matter
    conducted         matter finding  that Dungee had minimal
                              finding that              minimal compliance
                                                                   compliance and      progress. The
                                                                                and no progress.                   specifically
                                                                                                   The Order also specifically
    notes that Father
    notes that Father has not maintained
                      has not  maintained sobriety  and has
                                           sobriety and  bas not engaged in
                                                             not engaged   in mental
                                                                              mental health
                                                                                      bealth treatment
                                                                                             treatment as
                                                                                                       as recommended
                                                                                                          recommended by  by
    Dr. Crabtree. Permanency Review Hearing ofDecember 12,        L2 2022.                        contained in tbe
                                                                      1022. While information contained        the hearing
                                                                                                                   bearing
    cannot
    cannot be relied upon as definitive of this Court's finding in the TPR, it is persuasive
                                                                                    persuasive evidence that  supports this
                                                                                                         that supports  this
    Court's theory of Father's present                        J.D. as saresult of inconsistency
                                present inability to care for I.D.                                                   services,
                                                                                  inconsistency with Court ordered services,
    provided to aid Fether
                    Father in steps to independent
                                       independent reunification with I.D,
                                                                         J.D.

                                                             Page 41 of 48
•

 Section 25116
         2511(a)(5)
              a0.2)
        Pursuant to
                 to Section 2511(a)(5), termination of parental
                                                       parental rights
                                                                rights may be granted when,
                                                                           be granted when, "The

 child has been removed from the care of the parent by the court
                                                           count or under aavoluntary
                                                                            voluntary agreement
                                                                                      agreement

with
with an agency for aaperiod of at
                               at least
                                  least six
                                        six months, the
                                                    the conditions which led
                                                                         led to
                                                                             to the removal
                                                                                    removal or

placement of the
placement of           continue to
             the child continue to exist,
                                   exist, the parent cannot or
                                              parent cannot or will not remedy those
                                                                    not remedy those conditions
                                                                                     conditions

within aareasonable period
                    period of time,
                              time, the services or assistance reasonably
                                    the services               reasonably available to
                                                                                    to the
                                                                                       the parent
                                                                                           parent

are not likely to remedy the conditions
                             conditions which led
                                              led to
                                                  to the removal or placement of the       within
                                                                                 the child within

a
a reasonable period         and termination of the
             period of time and                the parental rights
                                                            rights would best serve the needs and
                                                                                              and

welfare of
        of the child."

        As discussed
           discussed more thoroughly above, I.D.
                                            J.D. has been out
                                                          out of
                                                              of parental
                                                                 parental care in excess of six

                                   to the removal or placement
(6) months. The conditions leading to                placement of the
                                                                  tbe Child,
                                                                      Child, domestic violence,
                                                                                      violence,

unstable housing, concerns with substance abuse, mental
                                                 mental health and the inability    provide safe
                                                                       inability to provide

and stable parenting for J.D.
                         I.D. have not
                                   not all been remedied and
                                                         and resolved. As previously
                                                                          previously discussed

in this Court's evaluation under Section 2511(a)Q2),
in                                       2511(a)(2), the Court also finds that Father cannot
                                                                                      cannot or

will
will not remedy
         remedy those conditions within aareasonable period of time. To Mr. Dungee's credit, his
                                                                            Dungee's credit, his

was not completely uninvolved
                   uninvolved and
                              and following
                                  following filing
                                            filing of the     petition, he began
                                                      the TPR petition,    began to
                                                                                 to participate
                                                                                    participate

and complete Court ordered services. (albeit    his own time as opposed
                                     (albeit on bis             opposed to a
                                                                           a time frame that

may have accelerated his
                     his ability to
                                 to care for J.D.). Dr. Crabtree
                                         for JD.).      Crabtree testified it
                                                                           it would
                                                                              would have been

possible for Father to have taken steps
                                  steps to reunify
                                           reunify with the child in three
                                                                     three (3)
                                                                           (3) months,
                                                                               months, which is

supported
supported by the fact
                 facet that
                       that Father
                            Father did engage in many
                                                 many services
                                                      services immediately prior to
                                                               immediately prior to and/or after

the filing of the TPR petition. Father waited to              engagement and/or was inconsistent
                                              to initiate his engagement

when
when he began to         resulting in an
              to engage, resulting    an inability of the Court to gauge
                                                                   gauge his progress
                                                                             progress in

alleviating circumstances. This was amplified by
                                              by his inconsistency and
                                                                   and lack of compliance
                                                                               compliance with
                                                                                          with

                                          Page 42 of 48
•

services and
         and his
             his failure
                 failure to demonstrate that
                         to demonstrate that the
                                             the services were assisting
                                                 services were           with Agency
                                                               assisting with Agency concerns.
                                                                                     concerns.

Nevertheless,
Nevertheless, having
              having found sufficient grounds
                                      grounds for terminating parental rights pursuant to
                                                                                       to

§2511(a)(1) and
$2511(a)(1) and (a)(2),           elects to make no further
                (a)2), this Court elects            further analysis of the Agency request
                                                                                   request under

§2511(a)(5).
$2511()(5).

Section 25116a/2)
        251 l(a)(8)

          Subsection 2511(a)(8)
                     2511(a(8) states that the
                                           the termination of parental rights
                                                                       rights may be granted when,
                                                                                             when,

"The      has been
The child has been removed from the
                                the care of the
                                            the parent by
                                                       by the court
                                                              court or under a
                                                                             s voluntary

agreement with
agreement with an agency, 12
                          I2 months or more have elapsed
                                                 elapsed from the date
                                                                  date of removal or

placement,
placement, the conditions which
           the conditions       led to the
                          which led        removal or
                                       the removal or placement of the
                                                      placement of     child continue
                                                                   the child continue to exist
                                                                                         exist

and termination of parental rights
and                         rights would
                                   would best serve the
                                                    the needs and welfare
                                                        needs and welfare of the child."
                                                                                 child."

          In the
             the present matter,
                         matter, although
                                 although the Agency filed aapetition
                                                             petition for the
                                                                          the termination of

    parental
    parental rights a
                    a mere twelve
                           twelve ((L2)
                                    12) months following the Child's placement, at the time of the

    TPR hearing, the
                 the Minor Child was in
                                     in placement in           eighteen ((I8)
                                                  in excess of eighteen   18) months.

    Furthermore, as discussed in detail above, this Court finds that the conditions which led to
                                                                                              to the

    removal or placement of the child
                                child continue to exist to the present date. Therefore, this Court
                                                                                             Court

    is left    consider whether termination
       left to consider         termination of
                                            of Dungee's
                                               Dungee's parental rights
                                                                 rights best serves the
                                                                        best serves the needs
                                                                                        needs and

    welfare
    welfare of
            of J.D.,
               I.D., to
                     to which
                        which this Court also
                              this Court also answers
                                              answers in
                                                      in the
                                                         the affirmative.
                                                             affirmative.

          It is this
          It    this Court's finding that
                     Court's finding that terminating Father's parental
                                          terminating Father's                 best serves
                                                               parental rights best            needs
                                                                                    serves the needs

    and welfare of J.D.
                   I.D. Father acknowledges that
                                            that the Minor Child is well cared for by Foster

    Parents and acknowledges that
                             that Foster Parents take
                                                 take care of J.D.'s
                                                              ID.'s daily needs.
                                                                          needs. Father has

    never been tasked with
          been tasked with providing for J.D.'s daily needs and has
                           providing for                        has not had independent custody

                                             Page
                                             Page 43 of 48
    •
•
         of the
         of the Minor Child since
                Minor Child since he
                                  he was
                                     was approximately
                                         approximately two and one
                                                       two and one half
                                                                   half (2 %a) months
                                                                        (2 %)         old.40 At
                                                                               months old.   At the
                                                                                                the

         time of the filing of the
                     filing of the TPR hearing,
                                       hearing, Father had
                                                       bad failed for
                                                                  for nearly two
                                                                             two (2)
                                                                                 (2) years to
                                                                                           to resolve the
                                                                                                      the

         problems leading to the Minor Child's placement
         problems                              placement in care and evidence suggests that
                                                                                       that he would

         be unlikely
            unlikely to
                     to correct such
                                such issues in
                                            in aareasonable time period to           J.D.'s return
                                                                        to allow for JD.'s  return to his

         care. This Court finds
         care.            finds that
                                that it
                                     it would not
                                              not serve the Child's
                                                  serve the Child's needs and welfare to
                                                                                      to place his
                                                                                               his life

         on hold for additional
                     additional time for Father to establish that
                                                             that he is in
                                                                        in aastable place
                                                                                    place and possessing
                                                                                              possessing

             ability to care for
         the ability         for the Minor Child's daily
                                     Minor Child's daily physical, mental, emotional
                                                         physical, mental,           and educational
                                                                           emotional and educational

         needs.

                  While it is recognized that Father has had more substantial compliance, there
                                         that Father                                      there has not

    been a
         a dramatic shift in
                          in the finding
                                 finding of progress in alleviating the
                                                     in alleviating the circumstances resulting
                                                                                      resulting in

    removal.
    removal. Additionally, most of the
                           most of the significant areas of
                                                         of Father's
                                                            Father's compliance
                                                                     compliance occurred after
                                                                                         after the
                                                                                               the

    filing of the Petition for TPR. As previously cited,
                                                  cited, in subsection of 2511(),
                                                                          251 l(b), the
                                                                                    the statute
                                                                                        statute

    specifically provides, in part,
    specifically                    "with respect
                              part, "with respect to any
                                                     any petition
                                                         petition filed pursuant to subsection (a)(1),(6)
                                                                                 to subsection (a)(1),(6)

    or (8),
    or (8), the
            the court
                court shall
                      shall not consider
                                consider any
                                         any efforts by the
                                             efforts by the parent to remedy
                                                            parent to remedy the conditions described
                                                                             the conditions

    therein which
            which are first initiated subsequent
                                      subsequent to the
                                                    the giving of notice of
                                                               of notice of the filing
                                                                                filing of the petition.
                                                                                              petition. 23

    Pa. C.S.A. 2511(b).
    Pa CS.A.   2511(6). Termination under Section 251
                                                  2511(a)(8)
                                                      1(a)(8) does not
                                                                   not require an evaluation of

    [a parent's] willingness or
       parent's] willingness    ability to remedy
                             or ability               conditions that
                                           remedy the conditions that led
                                                                      led to
                                                                          to placement
                                                                             placement of her
                                                                                       of her

    children." In
    children." In re
                  re Adoption of C.JP.,
                     Adoption of C.J.P., 114
                                         114 A.3d
                                             A. 3d 104,
                                                   104, 1050 (Pa. Super,
                                                        1050 (Pa. Super. 2015),
                                                                         2015), citing
                                                                                citing In
                                                                                       In re
                                                                                          re

    Adoption ofJUS., 901 A.2d 502,
             ofRI.S,          502, 511 (Pa. Super.
                                   5I(Pa.   Super. 2006).
                                                   2006). Our Courts
                                                              Courts have said,
                                                                          said, "we recognize

    that the
    that the application
             application of
                         of Section
                            Section (a)(8) may seem
                                    (a(8) may  seem harsh when
                                                          when the
                                                               the parent has begun to
                                                                          has begun to make
                                                                                       make

    progress toward
             toward resolving the problems that
                    resolving the          that had     to removal of
                                                had led to         of her
                                                                      her children. By allowing
                                                                          children. By          for
                                                                                       allowing for

      Father's primary
    pher's
    40                  custodianship was
               primary custodianship    was done
                                            done with
                                                  with assistance of the
                                                       assistance of the biological  Mother, Angela
                                                                         biological Mother,           Chambers. There
                                                                                              Angela Chambers.          was
                                                                                                                  There was
    no
    no testimony
       testir ony suggesting  Father bas
                  suggesting Father  has ever  exercised parental
                                          ever exercised parental duties
                                                                  duties alone  and without
                                                                         alone and   without the
                                                                                             the assistance
                                                                                                 assistance of another
                                                                                                            of another
    person,
    person, whether  that be
             whether that be biological
                             biological Mother,a
                                        Mother, acase   aid, another
                                                   case aid, another relative
                                                                     relative or
                                                                              or aaparenting
                                                                                   parenting coach.
                                                                                             coach.

                                                       Page 44
                                                            44 of
                                                               of 49
                                                                  48
    a
    •
e
•
    termination when the conditions that led to
                                    that led to removal of the                to exist after a
                                                           the child continue to             a year,
                                                                                               year, the
                                                                                                     the

    statute implicitly recognizes that aachild's life
                                                 life cannot
                                                      cannot be held in abeyance
                                                             be held    abeyance while the parent
                                                                                           parent is

    unable to perform the actions necessary to assume parenting responsibilities. This Court cannot

    and will not
    and      not subordinate
                 subordinate indefinitely aachild's need for
                                                         for permanency and stability
                                                             permanency and stability to
                                                                                      to a
                                                                                         a parent's
                                                                                           parent's

                       and hope for the
    claims of progress and          the future. Indeed,
                                                Indeed, we
                                                        we work under statutory and
                                                                                and case law
                                                                                         law that

                 only aashort
    contemplates only   short period    time, to
                              period of time, to wit,
                                                 wit, eighteen
                                                      eighteen (18)
                                                               (18) months, in which
                                                                               which to
                                                                                     to complete
                                                                                        complete the

    process of either reunification or adoption for aachild who
                                                            who has
                                                                has been placed
                                                                         placed in foster care. In re

    Adoption of
    Adoption    CL.G., 95 A2
             of C.LG.,    A. 2d 999, 1005
                                     1005 (Pa. Super 2008),          trial court
                                                     2008,), quoting trial court opinion.
                                                                                 opinion

           This Court finds that the Agency
           This                      Agency has
                                            has established by       and convincing evidence the
                                                            by clear and

    three (3)
    three (3) elements required by         2511(a)(8).
                                by Section 2511(a(8).

           Having
           Having found the Agency has                   and convincing
                                   has established clear and            grounds for termination
                                                             convincing grounds

    of parental rights under Section 2511(a)(),
                                     251 l(a)(1), (a)(2) and (a)(8),
                                                  (a)2) and  (a)(8), this Court must now turn
                                                                                         turn to the

    second requirement of the Adoption Act.
                                       Act.

            2511(b)
    Section 2511£b)
           In the second
           In     second vein
                         vein of inquiry in a
                              of inquiry    atermination  petition, the
                                              termination petition, the Court must
                                                                              must evaluate if the
                                                                                            if the

    Agency has
           has sustained its burden under 2511(b). This subsection requires that "the court
                         its burden                                                   court in

    terminating the rights of a parent [to] give primary consideration to the developmental, physical
                              a parent

    and emotional
    and emotional needs and welfare    the child."
                            welfare of tbe child." Section 2511(a) requires
                                                                   requires a
                                                                            a focus
                                                                              focus on
                                                                                    on the parent
                                                                                       the parent

    when
    when terminating parental rights, but §$ 2511(b)
                                             2511(b) requires
                                                     requires a
                                                              a focus on the child.
                                                                             child. In
                                                                                    I re Adoption of
    CL. G., 956 A.2d
    CL.G,956    A.2d 999, 1008
                          1008 (Pa.
                               (PA. Super. 2008) (en banc). Section
                                                 (en        Section 2511(b)
                                                                    2511(b) has
                                                                            has been interpreted
                                                                                     interpreted as
                                                                                                 as

    aa best
       "best interests" and
                        and "bond" analysis.
                                   analysis. The
                                             The Court should consider the "importance
                                                                           "importance of continuity
                                                                                          continuity

                                              Page
                                              Page 45 of 48
•
0

of relationships
of relationships to            because severing
                 to the child, because          close parental
                                       severing close          ties is usually
                                                      parental ties    usually extremely
                                                                               extremely

painful ... the court
painful...the              consider whether
                court must consider whether aanatural parental bond exists between
                                                      parental bond                child and
                                                                           between child and parent
                                                                                             parent

and whether
    whether termination would destroy
                              destroy an existing, necessary and beneficial relationship." In
                                                                 beneficial relationship."

the Interest ofKZS.
the Interest   K.ZS. 946 A.2d
                         A. 2d 753 (a.
                                   (Pa. Sper.
                                        Super. 2008).

          "Section 251
          Section  251 l(b)      not explicitly
                       I(b) does not explicitly require
                                                require a
                                                        abonding analysis
                                                                 analysis and the term
                                                                                  term 'bond'
                                                                                        'bond'

is not defined in
               in the Adoption Act. Case law, however, provides
                                                       provides that analysis ofthe
                                                                     analysis of the emotional

bond, if any,
bond,    any, between
              between parent and child
                                 child is afactor
                                       is a factor to be considered" as
                                                      be considered" as part
                                                                        part of our analysis.
                                                                             of our analysis. In

re K K R. -S, 958 A2d
reK.K.R-S,        A. 2d 529, 533 (PaSuper.2008).  'While parent's
                                 (Pa Super.2008). "While           emotional bond with his or
                                                         aparent's emotional

her child is aamajor aspect
                     aspect of the
                               the subsection 2511(b) best-interest analysis, it
                                                                              it is nonetheless

only one of many factors
                 factors to
                         to be            by the
                            be considered by the court
                                                 court when determining
                                                            determining what
                                                                        what is in the best
                                                                             is in     best

                child.""In
interest of the child.     re MAR,,
                        In re N.A.M, 33 AM   95, 103
                                        A.3d 95, 103 (Pa.Super.2011)
                                                     (Pa.Super.2011) (citing KKR -
                                                                                 S, 958
                                                                     (citing KKR-S, 958

AM at
A2d at 533-36)
       533-36).

          "Mn
          [Ila addition to
                        to aabond examination, the trial court can equally emphasize the
                                                   trial court                       the safety
                                                                                         safety

needs
needs of     child, and
      of the child, and should also consider
                        should also consider the
                                             the intangibles, such as
                                                 intangibles, such as the
                                                                      the love, comfort,
                                                                          love, comfort,

security, and stability
security,     stability the child
                            child might
                                  might have with the foster parent.
                                                  the foster parent. Additionally,
                                                                     Additionally, this Court

stated that
stated that the
            the trial
                trial court
                      court should
                            should consider
                                   consider the importance of
                                            the importance of continuity
                                                              continuity of
                                                                         of relationships and
                                                                                          and

whether any existing parent- child bond     be severed
                                   bond can be severed without detrimental effects on the

child."
child."

Id
ld (quoting In
   (quoting I re AS.,
                 AS, 11 AM 473, 483
                      1A.3d         (Pa.Super.2010)); see also In re T.D., 949A.2d
                                483 (PaSuper.2010));                       949 A.2d 910,

       (
920-23 (Pa.Super.2008), appeal denied,
        PaSuper.2008), appeal  denied 601 Pa.
                                          Pa, 684, 970 A.2d 1148
                                                            1148 (2009) (affirming
                                                                        (affirming the

termination of parental rights where
                               where "obvious
                                     "obvious emotional ties exist
                                                             exist between T.D. and
                                                                                and Parents,

but Parents are either unwilling or unable to satisfy the irreducible minimum requirements of
but

                                           Page 46 of 48
                                                      49
•
    parenthood," and where preserving
                 and where preserving Parents' rights would
                                      Parents' rights would prevent T.D.
                                                                    T.D. from being adopted
                                                                         from being adopted and
                                                                                            and

    attaining permanency). In re Adoption of
    attaining                                C.J.P., 114A.3d
                                          of C.JP.,  114 A.3d 104,
                                                              104, 1050
                                                                   1050 (Pa.
                                                                        (Pa. Super. 2015).
                                                                             Super. 2015)

           While
           Wile recognizing       J.D. has
                 recognizing that I.D. has aabond with
                                                  with Dungee,
                                                       Dungee, Dr.
                                                               Dr. Crabtree's
                                                                   Crabtree's testified that
                                                                                        that the
                                                                                             the

    primary bond of the minor child is with his caregivers, Maternal
                                                            Matera! Grandfather and
                                                                                and Step-
                                                                                    Step-

    Grandmother. Crabtree accredited
                          accredited Maternal Grandfather with helping Father foster his bond

with J.D..
     I.D.. In fact, Crabtree premised aarecommendation
                                        recommendation for increased visitation
                                                                     visitation between

Dungee and
Dungee     J.D. on
       and I.D, on the increase
                       increase not            impacting the Minor Child's bond
                                not negatively impacting                   bond with his

caregivers. Crabtree testified,            with his
                     testified, consistent with his bonding          report, there
                                                    bonding analysis report, "there is
                                                                                    is a
                                                                                       a bond

        J.D. and his maternal
between I.D.         maternal grandparents
                              grandparents and there
                                               there is a
                                                        a bond between
                                                               between J.D.
                                                                       J.D. and his father.....

this evaluator concludes that the child would not suffer if the bond between the child and father

                                                            maternal grandparents.
were to be severed and the child continued to live with his maternal grandparents. Additionally,
                                                                                   Additionally,

and most importantly, Crabtree opined that the Minor Child would suffer no psychological
                                                                           psychological harm

if termination of parental rights
                           rights was granted as to Father, but
                                                            bur that it would be deleterious
                                                                              be "deleterious to the

Child"
ChR47' to          him from
       to separate him      bis Grandparents.
                       from his Grandparents. In fiirther
                                                 further support
                                                          support of his position,
                                                                         position, Crabtree

testified that:
          that: "the
                "the Minor
                     Minor Child has
                                 has a secure bond
                                     a secure bond [with
                                                   [with Grandparents] that should
                                                         Grandparents] that should not
                                                                                   not be
                                                                                       be

disturbed; "Father as primary caregiver is not in the best
disturbed;                                            best interest of the child;" and Minor Child's

"best interests are best served if he is in the continuous care of the Grandparents."
                                                                       Grandparents." Father did

not
not refute the conclusions of Crabtree and
                                       and Father's testimony supports the
                                                                       the conclusions voiced by
                                                                                              by

the expert.
the expert.

                on the above, the
          Based on            the Court finds
                                        finds that the Agency
                                                       Agency has established through
                                                                              through clear and
                                                                                            and

convincing evidence the
                    the elements of 23 Pa.
                                 of23  PA. C.S.A.
                                           C.S.A. $§ 2511(b).
                                                     2511(b).

          This Court
          This Court having found that
                                  that the
                                       the Agency
                                           Agency has established the
                                                  has established     requirements of23
                                                                  the requirements of 23 Pa.
                                                                                         Pa.

C.S.A. §2511(a)(1),
CS.A.               §2511(a)(2), $§ 2511(a)(8)
       52511(a1), $2511(a)02),                 and §2511(b)
                                    2511(a)8) and  $2511(b) of the Adoption
                                                                   Adoption Act, by clear and
                                                                            Aet, by

                                            Page 47 of 48
                                            Page
    •
    Ir

•
    convincing evidence, it is
    convincing              is hereby
                               hereby ORDERED, ADJUDGED, and DECREED, that the parental
                                                         and DECREED,          parental

    rights
    tights of Sean Dungee,
                   Dungee, II to minor child Judah Jacorey Dungee are hereby
                                                   Jacorey Dungee     hereby TERMINATED

    forever.
    forever

           The
           The parental
               parental rights
                        rights of Sean Dungee, II being hereby             legal and
                                                        hereby terminated, legal     physical
                                                                                 and physical

    custody of the Minor Child, Judah Dungee
                                      Dungee shall remain with Washington County Children and
                                                               Washington County

    Youth Social Services and the Agency may proceed with adoption
                                                          adoption.

                                                                                                1

                                                               B T. COUR
                                                                     /

                                                                                     FILED

                                                                                   JAN 10 203
                                                                                   JAN10  2023
                                                                                   JAMES ROM".
                                                                                  UGIMR OF WILY.S

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