Court Opinion

ID: 4348892
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-12-10 16:37:50.584446+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:49:42.651255
License: Public Domain

J-E03001-17

                            2018 Pa. Super. 334

IN RE: K.R., A MINOR                            IN THE SUPERIOR COURT
                                                   OF PENNSYLVANIA

APPEAL OF K.R., BIRTH MOTHER

                                                    No. 692 WDA 2017

                 Appeal from the Order Entered April 10, 2017
              In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County
                  Orphans' Court at No: CP-02-AP-222-2016

IN RE: E.R., A MINOR                            IN THE SUPERIOR COURT
                                                   OF PENNSYLVANIA

APPEAL OF K.R., BIRTH MOTHER

                                                    No. 693 WDA 2017

                 Appeal from the Order Entered April 10, 2017
              In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County
                  Orphans' Court at No: CP-02-AP-223-2016

BEFORE: GANTMAN, P.J., BOWES, PANELLA, SHOGAN, LAZARUS, OLSON,
        OTT, STABILE, and DUBOW, JJ.

OPINION BY STABILE, J.:                        FILED DECEMBER 10, 2018

     In these consolidated appeals we address whether the Court of Common

Pleas of Allegheny County (“orphans’ court”), under orders dated April 10,

2017, properly granted the petitions of Allegheny County Children, Youth and

Families (“CYF”) to involuntarily terminate the parental rights of Appellant,

K.R. (“Mother”) to her children, K.R., born in November 2010, and E.R., born
J-E03001-17

in March 2012 (the “Children”), pursuant to Sections 2511(a)(2), (5) and (8),

and (b) of the Adoption Act (“Act”).1 Upon docket review, this Court ordered

these matters would be considered by this Court en banc. In particular, en

banc review was ordered to determine the proper application of our Supreme

Court’s decision in In re: Adoption of L.B.M., 161 A.3d 172 (Pa. 2017), in

response to Mother’s contention the orphans’ court erred by failing to appoint

legal counsel for the Children. Mother raised these representation issues for

the first time on appeal to this Court.

        Subsequent to our en banc order, our Supreme Court granted petitions

for allowance of appeal in In re: T.S., 192 A.3d 1080 (Pa. 2018), to consider

whether this Court erred in failing to require the orphans’ court to appoint

counsel for a child in a contested termination of parental rights hearing as

required by 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 2313(a) and in L.B.M. On August 22, 2018, the

Supreme Court issued its decision in T.S. resolving the representation issues

raised. For the reasons set forth below, we now affirm the termination orders

of the orphans’ court, and conclude that the orphans’ court did not commit a

reversible error on the representation issues raised by Mother for the first time

in these appeals.

        The facts and procedural history underlying this case are undisputed and

supported by the record. CYF initially became involved with the family in 2009

after Mother’s release from Allegheny County Jail where she spent time on

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1   Act of October 15, 1985, P.L. 934, as amended, 23 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 2101-2938.

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various criminal charges. Mother was twenty-one years old at that time and

addicted to heroin.        The Children’s biological father J.R. (“Father”) was

incarcerated. N.T. Trial, 3/24/17, at 7-8. After Mother’s release, CYF received

a report that the Children’s older stepsibling, who is not a subject of this

appeal, had a black eye and a yeast infection. CYF provided Mother in-home

services,    concrete    goods,     random     urine   screens,   and   referrals   for

Pennsylvania Organization for Women in Early Recovery (“POWER”),

SHORES,2 and mental health services. Id. at 8. CYF’s involvement with the

family lasted until February 2011.

       CYF next became involved with the family on March 22, 2013 after

receiving reports of drug and alcohol abuse and medical neglect of E.R. and

the Children’s older stepsibling. Specifically, E.R. was born with a birth defect

wherein his “intestines [were] outside of his stomach[,]” resulting in the

absence of a belly button. Id. at 9, 14-15. E.R. had not been receiving the

necessary medical care for this condition. Id. at 9. CYF accepted the family

for services, and maintained contact with the parents until June 2013. Id.

From June 2013 until October 2013, and again from November 2013 until

September 2014, CYF was unable to locate the family. Id. When CYF located

the family, Mother informed them of their homelessness and admitted to

actively abusing drugs, including heroin. Father admitted to using Suboxone,

but indicated he was amenable to drug and alcohol treatment.               Id. at 10.
____________________________________________

2SHORES is an outpatient drug and alcohol program offered through the Holy
Family Institute.

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Upon locating the family in September 2014, CYF maintained continuous

contact with them until April 2015. During this time, CYF provided the family

in-home services through Holy Family and Family Resources, transportation

for the parents, concrete goods, referred them for housing assistance, DART,

and Alliance for Infants. Id. at 10-11.

      In April 2015, CYF attempted to obtain an emergency custody

authorization   (“ECA”)   because   of    “continued   substance   abuse,”   and

“continued substance abuse in front of [the Children’s older stepsibling].” Id.

at 11.   Moreover, the home “had needles present and the children were

viewing substance abuse.” Id. The juvenile court denied CYF’s request for

ECA for the Children. Id. Thereafter, CYF “continued to monitor the family,”

“supported [M]other to obtain another POWER assessment,” and conducted

frequent home visits. Id. at 11-12.

      CYF’s implementation of drug and alcohol treatment services was

unsuccessful.    In particular, CYF received reports that the Children’s

stepsibling was supervising them, and that the parents were abusing

Suboxone without a prescription. Id. at 12-13. As a result, CYF prepared a

safety plan pursuant to which the Children’s maternal aunt, with whom the

family was residing at the time, would support them and supervise their

interaction with Mother and Father. Id. at 13. The maternal aunt, however,

did not comply with the safety plan.      Id.   CYF “had indications that [the]

parents were continuing to use substances.” Id. Mother was asked to take a

random urine screen, the results of which revealed that she was positive for

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THC and cocaine. Id. Father refused to take the drug screen. Id. Based on

the foregoing, CYF requested another ECA on June 19, 2015, which the

juvenile court granted. Id. On the same date, the juvenile court issued orders

appointing KidsVoice as the Children’s guardian ad litem (“GAL”) “to represent

the legal interests and best interests of [the Children] in connection with any

proceedings related to dependency, including any proceeding before a hearing

officer, administrative hearings and reviews.” Juvenile Court Orders, 6/19/15.

At the time the Children were removed from the house and taken into custody,

they were dirty, underweight and behind on their immunizations. N.T. Trial,

3/24/17, at 14.   Additionally, E.R. “appeared to have a burn mark on his

head.” Id. The Children were placed temporarily with D.S., who was not a

relative. Id.

      Following a shelter hearing, the juvenile court transferred the Children’s

legal and physical custody to CYF and the Children remained in the care of

D.S. Id. at 15-16. On June 25, 2015, CYF filed dependency petitions, which

the juvenile court granted on September 23, 2015. In so doing, the juvenile

court adjudicated the Children dependent because of parental drug use,

medical neglect, improper supervision and housing instability. The juvenile

court directed Mother to seek drug and alcohol treatment, obtain appropriate

housing, and take random urine screens. The permanent placement goal for

the Children was to “return to parent or guardian.” Orders of Adjudication,

9/23/15.

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      Since April 2015, Mother has been enrolled in various maintenance

programs to treat her drug addiction. From April 2015 until June 2015, Mother

received treatment at Hutton Health. Id. at 26. In July 2015, Mother enrolled

in a program at Turning Point to seek treatment for drug and alcohol abuse.

N.T. Trial, 3/24/17, at 16-17, 26. She, however, left the program without

completing it. Id. at 18. From April 2015 until March 24, 2017, Mother was

scheduled for forty-one weekly random urine screens, but attended only nine.

Id. at 28.

      Since December 2015, Mother has attended the Alliance Medical

Services Methadone maintenance program. Id. at 27, 29. In October 2016,

Mother informed a CYF caseworker that “she would test positive for opiates,

but that she did have a prescription.” Id. at 30. In February 2017, Mother

was convicted of possession of a controlled substance for an incident that

occurred in September 2016. Id.

      Although CYF provided Mother information for Allegheny Link, a referral

to Urban League, and other assistance, she failed to obtain stable housing.

Id. at 34. As of March 2017, Mother was residing with her mother. Id. CYF

maintained regular contact with Mother, except for October and December

2015, when she “relapsed on heroin.” Id. at 35.

      Mother also had a history of mental health problems, specifically,

depression and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (“ADHD”).    Id.   To

address the mental health concerns, Mother was referred to Mercy Behavioral

Health (“Mercy”). Id. at 35-36. Mother cancelled two intake appointments

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at Mercy, on August 22, 2016 and September 13, 2016. Id. at 36. She,

however, enrolled at Mercy on January 2017, when she attended four sessions

there. Id. Prior to treatment at Mercy, Mother received services for mental

health at Staunton Clinic and Crossroads. Id. at 35-36. Additionally, in the

summer of 2016, Mother was instructed to participate in a parenting program

at the Three Rivers Adoption Council. Id. at 38-39. She, however, failed to

complete it because she was discharged from the program, in part, because

of her irregular attendance. Id. at 39, 68, 70.

      Starting in April 2015, Mother was permitted to have supervised visits

with the Children weekly. Id. at 41. In June 2016, Mother’s visitation rights

were increased to twice weekly.     Id.    Even though CYF provided Mother

increased visitation with the Children per week, she failed to avail herself of

that opportunity. Id. at 67. In fact, of the seventy scheduled visits with the

Children since June 2015, Mother attended only thirty-five. Id. at 42. CYF

was unaware of Mother’s whereabouts from October to December 2015. Id.

at 67-68.   On December 6, 2016, CYF petitioned the orphans’ court to

terminate Mother’s and Father’s parental rights to the Children under Section

2511(a)(2), (5) and (8), and (b) of the Act. KidsVoice continued to represent

the Children as their GAL in the termination proceedings. On March 24, 2017,

the orphans’ court held a hearing on CYF’s involuntary termination petitions,

at which CYF presented the testimony of two witnesses.         CYF first called

Athena Wight to the stand, who testified that CYF employed her as a

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caseworker and had assigned her to the instant case. N.T. Trial, 3/24/17, at

5-6. In pertinent part, Ms. Wight testified that Mother

      has issues staying on track, following directives, maintaining
      appointments.     She can be argumentative.        She can be
      uncooperative. She becomes highly emotional when discussing
      her family plan goals, as to alleviate the circumstances of the
      [C]hildren’s placement. She has difficulty remembering to be on
      time for appointments and to follow up with caseworker.

Id. at 37.    Describing the Children’s interaction with Mother, Ms. Wight

testified that, in the summer of 2016, they would “speak to [M]other,” but

“often” referred to her using her first name. Id. at 43. Ms. Wight further

testified that the Children “called their foster mother at that point mommy in

front of [Mother]. They don’t become upset when it is time to leave. Mother

will prompt them to engage with her and they will, but they don’t get upset

when it is time to leave.” Id. at 43-44.

      Describing K.R., Ms. Wight remarked:

      [K.R.] is shy and quiet sometimes. At the beginning of the case
      she had difficulty even speaking. She couldn’t spell her own
      name. She displayed a lot of sexual acting out behaviors, like
      humping things that were inappropriate objects. She also would
      eat objects that weren’t food. When she was fed, she would eat
      so much that she would get sick. Now, there hasn’t been any
      sexual acting out behavior since her most recent placement. She
      grooms herself very well. She talks more. She feels comfortable
      to share her thoughts and feelings with her current foster parents
      and she doesn’t fight with her brother, which was a really big issue
      as well.

Id. at 49. Ms. Wight testified that K.R. was enrolled at a therapeutic program

for children at Matilda Theiss. Id. at 49-50. Next, describing E.R., Ms. Wight

stated:

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      [E.R.] became really anxious. He would have a lot of stomach
      issues. He got a lot of motion sickness. Some of that was related
      to his medical issues, but it was also related to anxiety. He would
      refuse to get in the car for visits sometimes or just in general. He
      fought with his sister a lot. He would sometimes bang his head.
      He became angry and aggressive. Now, he does have some anger
      still, but he is in a place where he feels comfortable and safe. They
      have a plan for him in school, so that he can take breaks and
      relax. He also is participating in therapy with Matilda Theiss. He
      knows that he will be fed and clothed in the home that he is in
      now and that is the one thing he punctuated that he wanted to
      have. He is happier. He talks a whole lot more.

Id. at 50. Ms. Wight testified that the Children were with a new foster family

since December 2016, even though they initially were placed with D.S. Id. at

51. The new foster family was described as “an adoptive resource.” Id. Since

being placed in the care of the new foster family, according to Ms. Wight,

      the [C]hildren aren’t fighting, which they were fighting still in the
      previous placement. [E.R.] was acting out. He cut the cord on
      the previous caregiver’s alarm system. They would attempt to hit
      each other, knock things over, especially [E.R.]. They were
      having night terrors ongoing. They are not having any nighttime
      terrors at all. They sleep in their beds and they don’t wake up.
      They also report to me that they enjoy the fact that the house is
      clean. [K.R.] most recently stated that she wants to be adopted.
      She said to me that she knows that she came out of [Mother’s]
      belly, but she wishes that she came out of [foster mom’s]. [E.R.]
      calls his foster father dad. He doesn’t refer to [Father]. He hasn’t
      spoken to me about [Father] in some time. I have spoken with
      the [C]hildren about what kind of home life they would like and
      they tell me – most notably, [K.R.] told me that she wants to be
      in a place where she is fed and clothed and bathed regularly. That
      is all occurring in that home.

Id. at 52-53. Ms. Wight opined that Mother continues to be unable to meet

the essential needs of the Children.    Id. at 55. Moreover, Ms. Wight also

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opined that Mother is unable to remedy the conditions that “caused [her]

incapacity, any abuse, neglect or refusal to parent the [C]hildren.” Id.

      [Mother’s] continued inability to sustain mental health treatment,
      the ongoing criminal activity, the inability to find appropriate
      housing, to schedule appointments to ensure that her needs are
      met, and to maintain contact to even come to her visitation and
      to confirm it continues to be an issue, and her continued non-
      compliance with the random urine screens.

Id. at 57.

      CYF next presented the testimony of Dr. Neil Rosenblum, a licensed

clinical psychiatrist at Allegheny Forensic Associates, who evaluated Mother

and the Children several times since 2016.    Dr. Rosenblum testified that he

conducted two individual evaluations of Mother, one in June 2016 and the

other in March 2017. Id. at 81. Discussing the difference between the two

evaluations, Dr. Rosenblum opined:

              Well, I have to say that not a great deal has changed. When
      I first met with [M]other, she was living with her mother in McKees
      Rocks to the best of my knowledge. That was in June of 2016.
      And when I conducted my more recent evaluation with her this
      month, March 7, 2017, she was still living with her mother. She
      was still involved with a new boyfriend by the name of Zach, who
      she’s been involved with now for approximately two years on and
      off, give or take rather.

              She was in methadone treatment at the time of the initial
      evaluation and was still in methadone treatment at the time of the
      second evaluation.       Mother does have a long-standing and
      acknowledged history of substance abuse problems that started
      initially as a late teenager using marijuana and she indicates that
      she was introduced to opioids when she started a relationship with
      [Father] in her early twenties, I believe.

            She acknowledges that use of initially pain pills and then
      later heroin became a long-standing problem that she has

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     struggled with throughout her adult life. She would typically go
     off of the heroin when she got pregnant. I don’t believe either
     [K.R.] or [E.R.] were born drug-exposed, but sometimes she
     would take Subutex, buy it on the street, which is typically the
     opioid blocker that is used for pregnant women or would
     sometimes use Suboxone, which is a variation of the same. But
     she acknowledges that it has been very challenging for her to
     remain drug free. She has been attending methadone [sic] at the
     Alliance program, I believe for over a year or possibly a little bit
     longer than that.

           [Mother] also does have a very acknowledged history of
     mental health problems. She was diagnosed with ADHD as a child
     and actually continues to display signs of inattention and
     restlessness and difficulty concentrating. She has also been
     diagnosed with a mood disorder, a form of bipolar disorder, with
     mood swings and some symptoms of hypomania such as racing
     thoughts and rapid speech. She has a lot of sleep difficulties,
     which is also characteristic of that disorder.

            And she has been prescribed psychotropic medication in
     different programs, but has had difficulty staying in programs. I
     believe she was kicked out of Staunton Clinic for missing
     appointments. She was asked to leave the Crossroads counseling
     program because she was non-compliant with the Adderall and
     tried to get a larger prescription or forge a prescription, something
     of that nature. Then, she did more recently discontinue her last
     mental health treatment within the past year at Mercy . . .,
     because she felt that she didn’t like the medications that they were
     prescribing for her and they wouldn’t prescribe the stimulant
     medication, Adderall, because of her problems in regulating that
     in the past.

           [Mother] is a young woman who has struggled with self-
     esteem problems throughout her life. She has difficulty with her
     personal identity, with feeling good about herself. She certainly
     carries a lot of guilt about what she has put herself and her
     children through over the years. And she recognizes that she has
     made a lot of bad decisions and used poor judgment. She has
     largely been dependent on men, primarily [Father]. She got
     involved with him when he was married. She indicated that when
     his wife found out, she forced her to have an abortion, but later
     did go on to have two children with him. But he would go to jail
     and she’d sometimes feel abandoned. Then, broke off with him

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      about two years ago around the time the [C]hildren were
      removed. Again, now, is in another relationship with someone
      who I believe is in recovery. I have not met her current paramour.
      She’s also had a loving relationship with her mother and actually
      grew up with her mother, according to [Mother], abusing drugs at
      times. I believe her father drank excessively. So she’s admittedly
      had a very challenging life.

             I think [Mother] is someone who can really love her children.
      During my most recent evaluation, she was often tearful and she
      admittedly is very distressed about the prospect of the possibility
      of losing her children, who she truly cares about. But she does
      admit that it was very challenging for her to get off drugs and
      acknowledges that there were some very rough times and some
      very bad situations for her and the [C]hildren prior to their being
      removed from her care.

            Unfortunately, she has found it difficult to achieve
      independence in her life. She continues to reside in her mother’s
      home with her paramour. She works different part-time jobs. But
      she’s not really compliant with her mental health treatment. She
      has not really been able to do much with her methadone
      treatment other than go for the daily dosages that she is required.
      She has trouble participating due to social anxiety.

            So her overall adjustment remains very compromised and I
      would say that [Mother] is just psychologically stuck, if I can use
      that word, in terms of wanting to do better, wanting to feel better
      about herself and achieve independence, but really at this point
      has [not] been able to do so.

Id. at 81-85. Discussing his evaluations of the Children, Dr. Rosenblum stated

that the Children “have bonded very, very strongly to their new foster

parents.”   Id. at 88.    In particular, he opined, “I’ve been doing these

evaluations for over thirty years. I’d have to say that they have become very

strongly attached in an extremely short period of time.” Id. at 88-89. Dr.

Rosenblum attributed the Children’s rapid attachment to the new foster family

to a “combination of the [C]hildren’s desire for love and affection, as well as

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very definite strong skills and unusual demonstration of affection, love and

commitment to the [C]hildren by [the foster parents].” Id. at 89. He further

opined that the Children love their foster parents and speak about “being in

their forever home with their foster parents and they are very committed to

this family and to the life that they’ve started to experience in their new family

environment.” Id. Dr. Rosenblum opined that the Children finally “are getting

the attention and the emotional support that they need and that they desire.”

Id.

      With respect to their connection with Mother, Dr. Rosenblum opined that

the Children’s “relationship with her and their attachment to her has lessened

and waned” in the two years since their removal from her care. Id. at 89-90.

      The Children spoke about [Mother], at least their memories of
      [her], not always taking good care of her. They know that she
      used drugs, or that she did bad things. They have some
      recollection whether real or partially created by faded memories,
      they feel they didn’t always have a lot of food in the home, et
      cetera.

           They don’t seem to really have a strong desire to visit with
      [Mother]. Actually, [K.R.] said she’d prefer not to visit, because
      she gets home late. Again, over time, their relationship has not
      remained as strong as one might expect. Both children are very
      eager to be adopted.

Id. at 90. Dr. Rosenblum testified that the Children’s connection with the new

foster family is “genuine” and that the connection “does have a highly strong

probability of being honest and lasting and a placement that is going to be

exceptionally supportive and conducive to providing appropriate care of the

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[C]hildren on a long-term basis.” Id. at 93. The Children have developed

close relationships with the extended families of both foster parents. Id.

        On cross-examination, Dr. Rosenblum explained that when he evaluated

Mother and the Children, the Children did not interact much with Mother. Id.

at 96. In fact, they

        played and were much independent in their play. They did not
        seek out attention from [M]other. Mother tried to be affectionate
        with the children. She tried to give them kisses and playfully tickle
        [] them and get them to laugh. But I would say that the [C]hildren
        were more distant from [M]other than [their older stepsibling].

Id.    Dr. Rosenblum opined that the Children would benefit “from at least

limited contact with” Mother “as long as [it is] not disruptive to the lives of

the [C]hildren and [does not] interfere with the primary relationships that they

are establishing to the new caregivers.” Id. at 100.

        On April 10, 2017, the orphans’ court granted CYF’s petitions to

involuntarily terminate Mother’s and Father’s3 parental rights to the Children

under Section 2511(a)(2), (5) and (8) and (b) of the Act.            Mother timely

appealed.      Following Mother’s filing of a Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a)(2)(i) and (b)

statement of errors complained of on appeal, the trial court issued a Pa.R.A.P.

1925(a) opinion.

        On appeal, Mother raises three issues for our review, which we repeat

verbatim:

        [I.]   Did the trial court abuse its discretion and/or err as a matter
               of law in granting the petition to involuntarily terminate
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3   Father has not contested termination of his parental rights to the Children.

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              Mother’s parental rights pursuant          to   23   Pa.C.S.A.
              § 2511(a)(1), (2), (5,) and (8)?

       [II.] Did the trial court abuse its discretion and/or err as a matter
             of law in concluding that CYF met its burden of proving by
             clear and convincing evidence that termination of Mother’s
             parental rights would best serve the needs and welfare of
             the children pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 2511(b)?

       [III.] Did the trial court abuse its discretion and/or err as a matter
              of law by failing to appoint legal counsel for the children?

Mother’s Brief at 7.4

       Our standard of review for an order involuntarily terminating parental

rights is well established.

       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.

In re T.S.M., 71 A.3d 251, 267 (Pa. 2013) (citations and quotation marks

omitted). Involuntary termination of parental rights (“TPR”) is governed by

Section 2511 of the Act, 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 2511, which requires a bifurcated

analysis.

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4 Contrary to Mother’s first issue, the orphans’ court did not terminate Mother’s
parental rights under Section 2511(a)(1). As noted earlier, CYF sought
termination only on the basis of Section 2511(a)(2), (5) and (8) and (b).

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      Initially, the focus is on the conduct of the parent. The party
      seeking termination must prove by clear and convincing evidence
      that the parent’s conduct satisfies the statutory grounds for
      termination delineated in Section 2511(a). Only if the court
      determines that the parent’s conduct warrants termination of his
      or her parental rights does the court engage in the second part of
      the analysis pursuant to Section 2511(b): determination of the
      needs and welfare of the child under the standards of the best
      interests of the child. One major aspect of the needs and welfare
      analysis concerns the nature and status of the emotional bond
      between parent and child, with close attention paid to the effect
      on the child of permanently severing any such bond.

In re L.M., 923 A.2d 505, 511 (Pa. Super. 2007) (citations omitted). “The

standard of clear and convincing evidence is defined as testimony that is so

‘clear, direct, weighty, and convincing as to enable the trier of fact to come to

a clear conviction, without hesitance, of the truth of the precise facts in issue.’”

In re Adoption of G.L.L., 124 A.3d 344 (Pa. Super. 2015) (quoting In re

Adoption of S.M., 816 A.2d 1117, 1122 (Pa. Super. 2003) (additional

citations omitted)).

      In the matter sub judice, the orphans’ court found that clear and

convincing evidence was presented for terminating Mother’s parental rights

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

for termination of parental rights if:

      (2) The repeated and continued incapacity, abuse, neglect or
      refusal of the parent has caused the child to be without essential
      parental care, control or subsistence necessary for his physical or
      mental well-being and the conditions and causes of the incapacity,
      abuse, neglect or refusal cannot or will not be remedied by the
      parent.

       ...

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

       ...

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

23 Pa.C.S.A. § 2511(a)(2), (5), and (8). To affirm the trial court’s termination

of Mother’s parental rights, we need only agree with the trial court as to any

one subsection of Section 2511(a), as well as Section 2511(b).   In re B.L.W.,

843 A.2d 380, 384 (Pa. Super. 2004) (en banc), appeal denied, 863 A.2d
1141 (Pa. 2004).     Without considering the orphans’ court determinations

under Section 2511(a)(2) and (5), we shall proceed to review whether the

orphans’ court erred in terminating Mother’s parental rights to the Children

under Section 2511(a)(8). “[T]he analysis under Section 2511(a)(8) accounts

for the needs of the child in addition to the behavior of the parent.” In re

C.L.G., 956 A.2d 999, 1008-09 (Pa. Super. 2008).

      To terminate parental rights under Section 2511(a)(8), the trial court

must find by clear and convincing evidence that:

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      (1) [t]he child has been removed from parental care for 12 months
      or more from the date of removal; (2) the conditions which led to
      the removal or placement of the child continue to exist; and (3)
      termination of parental rights would best serve the needs and
      welfare of the child.

In re C.W.U., Jr., 33 A.3d 1 (Pa. Super. 2011) (quoting In re Adoption of

M.E.P., 825 A.2d 1266, 1275-75 (Pa. Super. 2003) (additional citations

omitted)).

      As of December 6, 2016, the date the termination petitions were filed,

the Children had been outside of Mother’s care for more than 12 months.

      As of the time of Mother’s termination hearings, the conditions that led

to the Children being removed from Mother’s care continued to exist.

      The Children’s family initially came to the attention of CYF in July 2009,

following Mother’s release from jail. Trial Court Findings of Fact, 4/10/17 at

#13. CYF again became involved with the family after receiving reports an

older step-sibling suffered a black eye and experienced other physical

ailments.    Id.   CYF also received reports that Mother and Father suffered

homelessness, and the Children were experiencing neglect. Id. On March 22,

2013, CYF became involved with the family again after receiving reports of

drug and alcohol abuse at the home and medical neglect of the Children. Id.

When the family was again able to be found in approximately September

2014, Mother admitted at that time to homelessness and heroin abuse. Id.

at #14.

      In April 2015, CYF sought an ECA because of ongoing substance abuse

which was denied. Id. at #15. Subsequently, CYF received reports that the

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older children were caring for the younger children and that Mother was using

suboxone without a prescription. Id. at #16. The Children were placed with

relatives with visits by the parents. Id. Nonetheless, the parents’ substance

abuse continued with Mother testing positive for THC and cocaine. Id. On

June 9, 2015, CYS applied for and was granted an ECA. Id. at #17. The

Children were placed in foster care with a nonrelative.     At that time, the

Children were dirty, underweight, behind on their immunizations and E.R.

appeared to have a burn mark on his head.        Id. Following removal, the

juvenile court ordered Mother and Father to receive drug and alcohol

evaluations and treatment, random urine screens, to complete parenting

classes, and to visit with the Children upon confirmation 24 hours in advance.

Id. at #18.

      The Children were adjudicated dependent on September 23, 2015. Id.

at #19.   At that time, Mother lacked appropriate housing, the Children

appeared to be suffering from medical neglect, and both Mother and Father

continued to abuse controlled substances. Id. The Children continued to lack

appropriate supervision. Id. Following removal of the Children, Mother began

to participate in a methadone maintenance program and remained in

compliance with that program, but was not successful in stepping down or

decreasing her methadone use. Id. at #20. Since April 2015, Mother was

scheduled for 41 urine screens, of which she only attended 9. Id.

      In February 2017, after having incurred new criminal charges for

possession of controlled substance, Mother received a sentence of probation.

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Id. at #21. This conviction is evidence of her failing to resolve her drug abuse.

See In re C.L.G., 956 A.2d at 1006-07 (finding that appellant’s incarceration

for a drug offense is a direct consequence of her drug abuse, and such drug-

related issues continued to impede her ability to care for her children).

       To address Mother’s homelessness, CYF referred her for services. Id. at

#22. However, Mother continued to reside in her mother’s home. Id.

       Mother admitted to suffering depression and ADHD symptoms. Id. CYF

offered her mental health treatment services, but Mother was not compliant

or otherwise chose to discontinue treatment and has not reported successful

completion of a mental health program. Id. Although Mother succeeded with

the requirements she attend a parenting program, Mother acknowledged her

problems with substance abuse, and the challenge of maintaining a drug-free

lifestyle.   Id.   Mother also recognizes her shortcomings in providing the

Children with adequate parental supervision and care. Id. at #23. Since June

2016, Mother was scheduled for 70 visits with the Children of which she

attended only 35. Id. at #24. The Children have been removed from their

initial placement as of December 23, 2016, and continue to reside with a foster

family.

       The orphans’ court found Mother failed to provide the Children with

stability and security, parental supervision and care.    She failed to comply

with the goals to obtain stable housing, to successfully complete drug and

alcohol treatment, and regularly attend urine screens.      Mother additionally

attended only half of her scheduled visits with the Children since June 2016.

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She has been unable to sustain mental health treatment and suffers ongoing

difficulty maintaining housing. The orphans’ court found that Mother’s failure

to give priority to parenting and to provide a stable, secure environment for

the Children has caused the Children to remain in care.      Id. at #33.   In

summary, the reasons that caused the Children to be removed from Mother

continued to exist as of the time of the TPR proceedings.

      The orphans’ court also found that terminating Mother’s rights would

best serve the needs and welfare of the Children. As more fully discussed,

supra, K.R. and E.R. have been thriving with their foster family, their

behavioral problems have become less pronounced, and their needs are being

met. The record supports these findings.

      Upon consideration of the foregoing, we conclude CYF met it burden to

prove by clear and convincing evidence that Mother’s parental rights should

be terminated under Section 2511(a)(8). The orphans’ court did not abuse

its discretion or err as a matter of law by so finding.

      We now address whether the orphans’ court committed an abuse of

discretion or error of law by concluding CYS met its burden of proof by clear

and convincing evidence that termination of Mother’s parental rights would

best serve the needs and welfare of the Children under Section 2511(b).

Section 2511(b) provides:

      The court in terminating the rights of a parent shall give primary
      consideration to the developmental, physical and emotional needs
      and welfare of the child. The rights of a parent shall not be
      terminated solely on the basis of environmental factors such as
      inadequate housing, furnishings, income, clothing and medical

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     care if found to be beyond the control of the parent. With respect
     to any petition filed pursuant to subsection (a)(1), (6), or (8), the
     court shall not consider any efforts by the parent to remedy the
     conditions described therein which are first initiated subsequent
     to the giving of notice of the filing of the petition.

23 Pa.C.S.A. § 2511(b). Moreover, we have held that:

     Section 2511(b) “focuses on whether termination of parental
     rights would best serve the developmental, physical, and
     emotional needs and welfare of the child.” In re Adoption of
     J.M., 991 A.2d 321, 324 (Pa. Super. 2010). As this Court has
     explained, “Section 2511(b) does not explicitly require a bonding
     analysis and the term ‘bond’ is not defined in the Adoption Act.
     Case law, however, provides that analysis of the emotional bond,
     if any, between parent and child is a factor to be considered as
     part of our analysis.” In re K.K.R.-S., 958 A.2d 529, 533 (Pa.
     Super. 2008). “While a parent’s emotional bond with his or her
     child is a major aspect of the subsection 2511(b) best-interest
     analysis, it is nonetheless only one of many factors to be
     considered by the court when determining what is in the best
     interest of the child.” In re N.A.M., 33 A.3d 95, 103 (Pa. Super.
     2011) (citing K.K.R.-S., 958 A.2d at 533-36).

           [I]n addition to a bond examination, the trial court can
           equally emphasize the safety needs of the child, and
           should also consider the intangibles, such as the love,
           comfort, security, and stability the child might have
           with the foster parent. Additionally, this Court stated
           that the trial court should consider the importance of
           continuity of relationships and whether any existing
           parent-child bond can be severed without detrimental
           effects on the child.
In re Adoption of C.D.R., 111 A.3d 1212, 1219 (Pa. Super. 2015) (quoting

N.A.M., 33 A.3d at 103). As discussed above, the Children are thriving while

being cared for by their foster family.      The foster family is providing the

Children a support system and meeting their emotional, physical, and

psychological needs. The Children’s behavioral problems have improved since

they have been in the care of the foster family. Testimony at the hearing

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further established that the Children have bonded with the foster family, and

do not look to Mother to provide for their needs. While Dr. Rosenblum testified

that the Children would benefit from some contact with Mother, and the

Children have some lingering affection for Mother, there was overwhelming

testimony that it is in the Children’s best interests to terminate Mother’s

parental rights.   Thus, we find that the orphans’ court did not abuse its

discretion when it terminated Mother’s parental rights pursuant to Section

2511(b).

      We now address Mother’s final issue that was the basis for this Court to

consider these matters for en banc consideration; whether in these TPR

proceedings, the orphans’ court abused its discretion when it failed to appoint

legal counsel for the Children under Section 2313(a) of the Act.        Section

2313(a) provides as follows:

      (a) Child.--The court shall appoint counsel to represent the
      child in an involuntary termination proceeding when the
      proceeding is being contested by one or both of the parents. The
      court may appoint counsel or a guardian ad litem to represent any
      child who has not reached the age of 18 years and is subject to
      any other proceeding under this part whenever it is in the best
      interests of the child. No attorney or law firm shall represent both
      the child and the adopting parent or parents.

23 Pa.C.S.A. § 2313(a) (emphasis added). With respect to appointment of

counsel, our review of the record reveals the following.

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       On June 19, 2015, the juvenile court entered separate orders appointing

KidsVoice as guardian ad litem (“GAL”) in dependency proceedings for K.R.

and E.R. 5    Its orders provided that:

       KidsVoice is hereby appointed Guardian ad litem (GAL) for the
       above-named minor child (Child), to represent the legal interests
       and best interests of Child in connection with any proceedings
       related to dependency, including any proceeding before a hearing
       officer, administrative hearings and reviews.

              If the grounds for dependency DO NOT fall within paragraph
       (1), (2), (3), (4) or (10) of the definition of Dependent Child in 42
       Pa.C.S.A. § 6302, KidsVoice is appointed as attorney for child.

Juvenile Court Orders, 6/19/15, at 1.

       On September 23, 2015, the juvenile court entered orders of

adjudication and disposition finding, by clear and convincing evidence, the

Children dependent pursuant to the Pennsylvania Juvenile Act at 42 Pa.C.S.A.

§ 6302.      Almost one year later, on September 15, 2016, the juvenile court

entered orders granting motions to schedule hearings on requests by CYF for

goal changes and TPR hearings. Goal change and termination proceedings

began on March 24, 2017.            At that time, KidsVoice, through its counsel,

indicated that it was appearing as guardian ad litem for the Children. N.T.

Trial, 3/24/17, at 2-3. During the course of cross-examination, counsel for

____________________________________________

5 A guardian ad litem also was appointed for the Children’s stepsibling. At the
termination proceedings, Mother withdrew her contest with respect to the
stepsibling, indicating that she was happy with the stepsibling’s current
placement. N.T., 3/24/17, at 105. Accordingly, we concern ourselves only
with the matter of representation for K.R. and E.R.

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KidsVoice indicated that she was the “attorney” for the Children. Id. at 101.

At the conclusion of the termination proceedings, counsel for KidsVoice

indicated that the Children expressed their wish to be adopted by their foster

care family, or as the younger child indicated, “their forever home,” id. at

112-13, and agreed that CYS met its burden to terminate parental rights by

clear and convincing evidence. The orphans’ court docket does not indicate

that the court ever entered a separate order appointing counsel for Children

for the goal change and termination proceedings. In fact, the record is silent

in this regard.

        Since we conclude that our Supreme Court’s decision in T.S. controls

the representation issues raised by Mother’s appeals, we proceed first to

discuss that decision.

        In T.S., CYF sought in July 2015 an emergency custody authorization to

remove children, T.S. and E.S., from their mother’s care, as it believed it no

longer could ensure the safety of the children in mother’s care. At that time,

T.S. and E.S. were approximately 2 and 1 years old, respectively.6        The

children were adjudicated dependent and placed with foster parents. For the

placement and permanency review period that followed, the court appointed

KidsVoice to represent the Children’s best and legal interests in compliance

with Section 6311 of the Juvenile Code.7 In late 2016, CYS filed a petition to

____________________________________________

6   T.S. was born in June 2013 and E.S. was born in August 2014.
7   See 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 6311; Pa.R.J.C.P. 1154.

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terminate mother’s parental rights.    CYF and mother were represented by

counsel, and as reflected on the hearing transcript and TPR docket sheet, the

children were represented by counsel from KidsVoice. The orders appointing

KidsVoice to represent the children in the dependency proceedings stated it

was to represent their legal and best interests, and it was undisputed that the

dual function carried over into the termination proceedings.      The children

therefore, had continuity of representation between dependency and

termination proceedings.    However, no independent counsel represented

solely the children’s legal interests in the termination proceedings.    Upon

conclusion of the termination proceedings on February 3, 2017, the court

terminated mother’s parental rights to both children. Mother appealed to this

Court.

      While mother’s appeal in T.S. was pending in this Court, our Supreme

Court decided L.B.M. on March 28, 2017.        In her appellate brief, mother

claimed for the first time that children should have been represented by

appointed counsel separate from the GAL at the termination proceeding. She

argued the failure to do so was structural error and her failure to raise the

issue previously should be excused because our Supreme Court had not yet

ruled in L.B.M. at the time of the February 3, 2017 hearing. Both CYS and

the GAL maintained mother waived this issue.

      Before reaching the merits of mother’s representation claim, the T.S.

Court addressed whether the issue of the children’s right to counsel under

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Section 2313(a) was waivable. The Court first noted that while the failure to

appoint counsel implicates structural error, that does not in itself resolve the

waiver question. Structural error means only that no harmless-error analysis

is relevant. T.S., 192 A.2d at 1087. Structural error does not always imply

non-waivability.   Id. Nonetheless, the Court concluded that the particular

type of alleged error was non-waivable. The statutory right to counsel under

Section 2313(a) belongs to the child, not the parent.      The issue was non-

waivable as there was no attorney representing solely the children’s legal

interests who could have raised their rights in the trial court, and the children

plainly could not have done so themselves. Id. As important, the Court also

concluded that the failure of any party, including mother, to affirmatively

request separate counsel for the children cannot constitute waiver. Id.

      The Court next addressed whether an attorney-GAL may represent a

child’s best and legal interests simultaneously in a termination proceeding, or

whether the failure to appoint separate counsel to represent a child’s legal

interests constitutes error. At the outset of its decision, the Court summarized

those points upon which a majority of the L.B.M. Court agreed: (a) in a TPR

proceeding, the first sentence of Section 2313(a) requires a common pleas

court to appoint an attorney to represent the child’s legal interests, i.e., the

child’s preferred outcome; (b) where there is a conflict between a child’s legal

and best interests, an attorney-GAL, who advocates for the child’s best

interests, cannot simultaneously represent the child’s legal interests; and (c)

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in such a circumstance, the failure to appoint a separate attorney to represent

the child’s legal interests constitutes structural error not subject to a

harmless-error analysis. T.S., 192 A.3d at 1082. The Court then expressly

reaffirmed what four Justices in L.B.M. agreed upon; where a child’s legal and

best interests do not diverge in a termination proceeding, an attorney-GAL

representing a child’s best interests can also fulfill the role of the attorney

appointed under Section 2313(a) to represent the child’s legal interests. T.S.
192 A.3d at 1088. Building further upon its analysis, the Court then concluded

that where a child’s legal interests are not ascertainable during termination

proceedings, such as when a child is of a very young age and unable to express

a preference, no conflict can exist for an attorney-GAL appointed under

Section 2313(a) to represent simultaneously the child’s legal and best

interests. Id. at 1090, 1092. As a matter of logic, there can be no conflict

between an attorney’s duty to advance a subjective preference on a child’s

part that is incapable of ascertainment, and an attorney’s concurrent

obligation to advocate for a child’s best interests, as counsel understands

them to be. Id. at 1090. The Court therefore, affirmed this Court’s order that

concluded the common pleas court did not err in failing to appoint separate

counsel to represent the legal interests of the children, T.S. and E.S., who

both, due to age, were not able to express their preference in connection to

the TPR proceedings.

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      Returning now to the present consolidated appeals, we initially note

similarity in several facts to those in T.S. Both cases present instances where

the common pleas court appointed an attorney-GAL to represent the children’s

best and legal interests in dependency proceedings. That dual representation

carried over into TPR proceedings without the issuance of a separate

appointment order under Section 2313(a).            Both cases also present

circumstances where mothers raised the issue of representation for the first

time on appeal. Factually, the cases are distinguishable in that the children

in T.S. were not capable of expressing their preference due to their young

age, whereas here, at the time of TPR proceedings, K.R. and E.R. were

approximately 10 and 5 years old, respectively, and were able to express their

preferences.

      Based upon our Supreme Court’s decision in T.S., and its clarification

and reaffirmation of principles agreed upon by a majority of Justices in L.B.M.,

we are able to come to the following conclusions with respect to these

consolidated appeals. First, Mother did not waive the issue of whether the

orphans’ court erred in appointment of counsel for Children in these TPR

proceeding by raising the issue for the first time on appeal. This issue is non-

waivable. T.S. 192 A.3d at 1087. Second, Mother, as well as any other party,

can raise the non-waivable issue of the Children’s legal representation. Id.

Third, under the circumstances of these appeals, the orphans’ court did not

commit reversible error by not entering a separate order appointing counsel

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under Section 2313(a) for the Children’s legal interests.    We come to this

latter conclusion because the Children were able to express their preferences

to counsel, counsel expressed those preferences, as well as the Children’s best

interests to the orphans’ court, and there was no conflict in these positions.

Although the orphans’ court did not enter a separate order of counsel

appointment for the TPR proceedings, we conclude this was not reversible

error, as the Children’s legal interests were adequately represented.

      In closing, we too would like to echo our Supreme Court’s view that it

would be a better practice for a court to place an order on the record

formalizing a GAL’s role in termination proceedings. T.S. 192 A.3d at n.19.

As appointment of counsel to represent a child’s legal interests is mandatory

under Section 2313(a), clarifying a GAL’s role in TPR proceedings ensures that

simultaneous representation of a child’s legal and best interests is properly

considered. When counsel possesses information that gives rise to a conflict

that may be detrimental to a child’s legal interests, counsel should move the

court for appointment of a separate counsel.      Doing so is consistent with

counsel’s ethical obligations under our rules governing the attorney/client

relationship.   See Rule of Professional Conduct 1.7, Conflict of Interest:

Current Clients. When a child has a preferred outcome that is ascertainable,

counsel representing a child’s legal interests, after appropriate consultation

with the child, should place on the record the child’s preferred outcome. See

T.M.L.M., 184 A.3d 585, 591 (Pa. Super. 2018). Where a court appoints an

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attorney, but the attorney never attempts to ascertain the child’s position and

advocates solely for the child’s best interests, the child has been deprived

impermissibly of his or her statutory right to counsel serving his legal

interests. Id. citing L.B.M., 161 A.3d at 174, 180. Effective representation

of a child requires, at a bare minimum, attempting to ascertain the client's

position and advocating in a manner designed to effectuate that position.

T.M.L.M. at 590.

      For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the orphans’ court orders

terminating Mother’s parental rights to the Children, K.R. and E.R.

      Orders affirmed.

      Judges Bowes, Shogan, and Olson join this opinion.

      Judge Dubow files a concurring statement in which Judges Panella,

Lazarus, and Ott join.

      President Judge Gantman, Judges Panella, Lazarus, and Ott concur in

the result.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 12/10/2018

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