Court Opinion

ID: 9380222
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-03-17 17:08:35.665029+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:17:23.486138
License: Public Domain

J-S43046-22

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

 IN THE INTEREST OF: S.T.S., A         :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
 MINOR                                 :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                       :
                                       :
 APPEAL OF: D.S., MOTHER               :
                                       :
                                       :
                                       :
                                       :   No. 2134 EDA 2022

             Appeal from the Order Entered August 11, 2022
 In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Juvenile Division at
                    No(s): CP-51-DP-0001217-2019

 IN THE INTEREST OF: S.T.S., A         :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
 MINOR                                 :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                       :
                                       :
 APPEAL OF: D.S., MOTHER               :
                                       :
                                       :
                                       :
                                       :   No. 2135 EDA 2022

             Appeal from the Decree Entered August 11, 2022
 In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Juvenile Division at
                     No(s): CP-51-AP-0000580-2021

 IN THE INTEREST OF: I.D., A MINOR     :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                       :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                       :
 APPEAL OF: D.S., MOTHER               :
                                       :
                                       :
                                       :
                                       :
                                       :   No. 2136 EDA 2022

             Appeal from the Order Entered August 11, 2022
 In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Juvenile Division at
                    No(s): CP-51-DP-0001218-2019

 IN THE INTEREST OF: I.D., A MINOR     :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                       :        PENNSYLVANIA
J-S43046-22

                                       :
 APPEAL OF: D.S., MOTHER               :
                                       :
                                       :
                                       :
                                       :
                                       :   No. 2137 EDA 2022

             Appeal from the Decree Entered August 11, 2022
 In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Juvenile Division at
                     No(s): CP-51-AP-0000581-2021

 IN THE INTEREST OF: A.D., A           :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
 MINOR                                 :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                       :
                                       :
 APPEAL OF: D.S., MOTHER               :
                                       :
                                       :
                                       :
                                       :   No. 2138 EDA 2022

             Appeal from the Order Entered August 11, 2022
 In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Juvenile Division at
                    No(s): CP-51-DP-0001219-2019

 IN THE INTEREST OF: A.B.A.-M.D.,      :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
 A MINOR                               :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                       :
                                       :
 APPEAL OF: D.S., MOTHER               :
                                       :
                                       :
                                       :
                                       :   No. 2139 EDA 2022

             Appeal from the Decree Entered August 11, 2022
 In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Juvenile Division at
                     No(s): CP-51-AP-0000585-2021

 IN THE INTEREST OF: A.D., A           :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
 MINOR                                 :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                       :
                                       :
 APPEAL OF: D.S., MOTHER               :
                                       :

                                  -2-
J-S43046-22

                                       :
                                       :
                                       :   No. 2140 EDA 2022

             Appeal from the Order Entered August 11, 2022
 In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Juvenile Division at
                    No(s): CP-51-DP-0001221-2019

 IN THE INTEREST OF: A.I.D., A         :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
 MINOR                                 :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                       :
                                       :
 APPEAL OF: D.S., MOTHER               :
                                       :
                                       :
                                       :
                                       :   No. 2141 EDA 2022

             Appeal from the Decree Entered August 11, 2022
 In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Juvenile Division at
                     No(s): CP-51-AP-0000582-2021

 IN THE INTEREST OF: A.-R.D., A        :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
 MINOR                                 :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                       :
                                       :
 APPEAL OF: D.S., MOTHER               :
                                       :
                                       :
                                       :
                                       :   No. 2142 EDA 2022

             Appeal from the Order Entered August 11, 2022
 In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Juvenile Division at
                    No(s): CP-51-DP-0001222-2019

 IN THE INTEREST OF: A.-R.I.D., A      :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
 MINOR                                 :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                       :
                                       :
 APPEAL OF: D.S., MOTHER               :
                                       :
                                       :
                                       :
                                       :   No. 2143 EDA 2022

                                    -3-
J-S43046-22

             Appeal from the Decree Entered August 11, 2022
 In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Juvenile Division at
                     No(s): CP-51-AP-0000583-2021

 IN THE INTEREST OF: M.D., A           :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
 MINOR                                 :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                       :
                                       :
 APPEAL OF: D.S., MOTHER               :
                                       :
                                       :
                                       :
                                       :   No. 2144 EDA 2022

             Appeal from the Order Entered August 11, 2022
 In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Juvenile Division at
                    No(s): CP-51-DP-0001220-2019

 IN THE INTEREST OF: M.B.A.I.D., A     :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
 MINOR                                 :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                       :
                                       :
 APPEAL OF: D.S., MOTHER               :
                                       :
                                       :
                                       :
                                       :   No. 2145 EDA 2022

             Appeal from the Decree Entered August 11, 2022
 In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Juvenile Division at
                     No(s): CP-51-AP-0000586-2021

 IN THE INTEREST OF: A.-R.D., A        :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
 MINOR                                 :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                       :
                                       :
 APPEAL OF: D.S., MOTHER               :
                                       :
                                       :
                                       :
                                       :   No. 2146 EDA 2022

              Appeal from the Order Entered August 11, 2022

                                  -4-
J-S43046-22

 In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Juvenile Division at
                    No(s): CP-51-DP-0001223-2019

 IN THE INTEREST OF: A.-R.I.D., A      :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
 MINOR                                 :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                       :
                                       :
 APPEAL OF: D.S., MOTHER               :
                                       :
                                       :
                                       :
                                       :   No. 2147 EDA 2022

             Appeal from the Decree Entered August 11, 2022
 In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Juvenile Division at
                     No(s): CP-51-AP-0000584-2021

 IN THE INTEREST OF: S.D., A           :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
 MINOR                                 :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                       :
                                       :
 APPEAL OF: D.S., MOTHER               :
                                       :
                                       :
                                       :
                                       :   No. 2148 EDA 2022

             Appeal from the Order Entered August 11, 2022
 In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Juvenile Division at
                    No(s): CP-51-DP-0001432-2019

 IN THE INTEREST OF: S.B.A.I.D., A     :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
 MINOR                                 :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                       :
                                       :
 APPEAL OF: D.S., MOTHER               :
                                       :
                                       :
                                       :
                                       :   No. 2149 EDA 2022

             Appeal from the Decree Entered August 11, 2022
 In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Juvenile Division at
                     No(s): CP-51-AP-0000587-2021

                                    -5-
J-S43046-22

BEFORE: DUBOW, J., KUNSELMAN, J., and NICHOLS, J.

MEMORANDUM BY KUNSELMAN, J.:                           FILED MARCH 17, 2023

         In this consolidated matter, D.S. (Mother) appeals the decrees

terminating her parental rights to her eight Children, pursuant to the Adoption

Act. See 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 2511(a)(2), (5), (8) and (b).1 Mother also challenges

the orders changing the goals of the dependency proceedings from

reunification to adoption.          Additionally, Mother’s counsel has filed an

application to withdraw and a brief, pursuant to Anders v. California, 386

U.S. 738 (1967). After review, we affirm the termination decrees, dismiss the

goal change appeals as moot, and grant counsel leave to withdraw.2

         The record discloses the following factual and procedural history. The

relevant procedural and factual history is as follows. The family came to the

attention of DHS in Summer 2019, when Mother’s 14-year-old daughter, T.R.

alleged abuse by both Mother and Father. Father is the stepfather of T.R.;

____________________________________________

1   The subject Children are:

     •   S.T.S, daughter, age 14
     •   I.D, son, age 10
     •   Ab. D., son, age 8
     •   A.-R.D. 1 son, age 7
     •   A.-R.D. 2., son, age 6
     •   Aa.D., daughter, age 5
     •   M.D., son, age 3
     •   S.D., daughter, age 2

2The trial court also terminated the rights of K.D. (Father). His consolidated
appeals are separately listed before this panel.

                                           -6-
J-S43046-22

T.R. is not the subject of these appeals.3 T.R. alleged that Mother beat her

and forced her to sleep outside. She also alleged that Father inappropriately

touched her on her buttocks and breasts, made her stay in the bathroom while

he showered, exposed himself to her, and on one occasion, licked the back of

her ear.4

        These disclosures caused DHS to investigate the wellbeing of Father’s

seven other Children, who are the subject of this case.5               The Agency

interviewed the Children in the home.            At that time, none of the Children

disclosed abuse, but the caseworker believed that the Children were afraid to

speak up and had tried to convey to the caseworker that Father could overhear

to their conversation.       Father had chosen the room for the caseworker’s

interview, and he could be seen visible pacing outside on the porch.

        On July 25, 2019, DHS obtained orders for protective custody for the

Children.     After the shelter care hearing, the Children were temporarily

committed to DHS custody. A subsequent disclosure revealed that one of the

Children was beaten by Mother at Father’s direction, and that the Child was

made to sleep outside as punishment. The Child also alleged that she was

____________________________________________

3 The trial court previously changed the goal of T.R.’s dependency proceedings
from reunification to another planned permanent living arrangement (APPLA),
i.e., permanent long-term foster care until the age of majority. See Interest
of T.R., 283 A.3d 377 (Table), 2022 WL 2813796 (Pa. Super. 2022) (non-
precedential decision).

4   Father is the stepfather of T.R. Her biological father was unknown.

5   The youngest subject Child, S.D., was not yet born.

                                           -7-
J-S43046-22

forced to do chores in her underwear to ensure that she did not have any food

on her person.

      In September 2019, the Children were adjudicated dependent.               The

court learned that Mother had given birth to S.D., and that the birth was

hidden from the agency. The facts that gave rise to the adjudications of the

older Children were a predicate for the removal and eventual adjudication of

S.D. The juvenile court instituted a single case plan, comprising of certain

goals to aid Mother with reunification.         The goals included: to attend

supervised visitation with the Children; to complete a program for parents of

children who have been sexually abused; and to complete a parenting

program.

      The visits between the parents and the Children were tense. Mother

and Father would reprimand the Children if they did not say they were poorly

treated in the foster home. The parents tried to coerce the Children into taking

pictures of their foster home.    The parents would also try to influence the

Children as to what they should say to the caseworkers and the court. During

one visit, Mother shoved a staff member. The parents would be late to the

visits, and they showed the Children pictures of guns.       As a result, the court

order that the Children receive therapeutic visits, but such visits did not occur

because Mother did not sign up for them. Although Mother attended some of

the court-ordered programing, she did not put any of the lessons into practice.

      Meanwhile, investigations into the parents’ alleged abuse continued.

The   Children   subsequently    participated   in   a   forensic   interview   with

                                      -8-
J-S43046-22

Philadelphia Children’s Alliance, where they were then referred for evaluations

by Dr. Michelle Dominguez, M.D., a child abuse pediatrician at St.

Christopher’s Hospital for Children.    During their evaluations, the Children

made additional disclosures.     They claimed, among other allegations, that

Father would punch them and whip them with extension cords; that their

refrigerator was chained shut so they could not get food; that Father forced

them to eat the ants that were in their cereal; and that they were sometimes

forced to stay in the basement, which was often dark and flooded.          Dr.

Dominguez physically examined the Children and noted the presence of

bruising consistent with inflicted trauma. Father defended some of his actions,

maintaining that he merely disciplined the Children in accordance with his

Islamic faith. He denied other allegations, which he said were fabricated by

the Children because they were rebelling against his religion.

         In August 2021, the parents were arrested. Their arrests resulted in a

no-contact order, which suspended visits with the Children. DHS eventually

petitioned to change the goal of the dependency proceedings from

reunification to adoption and to terminate Father’s rights. The court held the

termination hearing over the course of several days on March 14, March 28,

and June 2, 2022. On August 11, 2022, the court articulated its findings on

the record and entered decrees terminating Mother’s rights to each respective

Child.

         Before we address her appeal, we note that Mother’s counsel has filed

a petition to withdraw and a brief pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S.

                                       -9-
J-S43046-22

738 (1967) and Commonwealth v. Santiago, 978 A.2d 349 (Pa. 2009).6 To

withdraw pursuant to Anders, counsel must:

          1) petition the court for leave to withdraw stating that, after
          making a conscientious examination of the record, counsel
          has determined that the appeal would be frivolous; 2)
          furnish a copy of the [Anders] brief to the [appellant]; and
          3) advise the [appellant] that he or she has the right to
          retain private counsel or raise additional arguments that the
          [appellant] deems worthy of the court's attention.

          With respect to the third requirement of Anders, that
          counsel inform the appellant of his or her rights in light of
          counsel's withdrawal, this Court has held that counsel must
          “attach to their petition to withdraw a copy of the letter sent
          to their client advising him or her of their rights.”

In re J.D.H., 171 A.3d at 903, 907 (Pa. Super. 2017) (citations omitted).

       Additionally, counsel must file a brief that meets the following

requirements established by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in Santiago:

          (1) provide a summary of the procedural history and facts,
          with citations to the record;

          (2) refer to anything in the record that counsel believes
          arguably supports the appeal;

          (3) set forth counsel's conclusion that the appeal is
          frivolous; and

          (4) state counsel's reasons for concluding that the appeal is
          frivolous. Counsel should articulate the relevant facts of
          record, controlling case law, and/or statutes on point that
          have led to the conclusion that the appeal is frivolous.

____________________________________________

6  This Court extended the Anders principles to appeals involving the
termination of parental rights. In re X.J., 105 A.3d 1, 3 (Pa. Super. 2014)
(citation omitted).

                                          - 10 -
J-S43046-22

In re Adoption of M.C.F., 230 A.3d 1217, 1219 (Pa. Super. 2020) (citation

omitted). Preliminarily, we find that Counsel has complied with the technical

requirements to withdraw.

      In addition to verifying that Counsel substantially complied with Anders

and Santiago, this Court also must “conduct an independent review of the

record to discern if there are any additional, non-frivolous issues overlooked

by counsel.” Commonwealth v. Flowers, 113 A.3d 1246, 1250 (Pa. Super.

2015) (footnote omitted). Flowers does not require us “to act as counsel or

otherwise advocate on behalf of a party.” Commonwealth v. Dempster, 187

A.3d 266, 272 (Pa. Super. 2018) (en banc). “Rather, it requires us only to

conduct a simple review of the record to ascertain if there appear on its face

to be arguably meritorious issues that counsel, intentionally or not, missed or

misstated.” Id. Traditionally, we would start our review by giving “a most

generous reading and review of ‘the case’ as presented in the entire record

with consideration first of issues raised by counsel.” See id. (citing Anders,

386 U.S. at 744).

      Before we conduct our independent review, however, we first address

the issues counsel presented in the Anders brief that arguably support

Mother’s appeal. See M.C.F., 230 A.3d at 1219. The three issues presented

are as follows:

      1. Did the trial court err as a matter of law or abuse its discretion
         where it determined that the requirements of 23 Pa.C.S.A. §
         2511(a) were met?

                                     - 11 -
J-S43046-22

     2. Did the trial court err as a matter of law or abuse its discretion
        where it determined the requirements of 23 Pa.C.S.A. §
        2511(b) were met?

     3. Did the trial court err as a matter of law or abuse its discretion
        where it determined that the permanency goal for the Children
        should be changed to adoption?

Anders Brief at 3 (cleaned up).

     We review these issues mindful of our well-settled standard of review.

        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).

     Termination of parental rights is governed by Section 2511 of the

Adoption Act, which requires a bifurcated analysis.

        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[.]

                                    - 12 -
J-S43046-22

In re C.M.K., 203 A.3d 258, 261-262 (Pa. Super. 2019) (citation omitted).

      Here, the trial court terminated Mother’s parental rights pursuant

to Section 2511(a)(2), (5), (8), and (b).     We need only agree with the

orphans’ court as to any one subsection of Section 2511(a), as well as Section

2511(b), in order to affirm. In re B.L.W., 843 A.2d 380, 384 (Pa. Super.

2004) (en banc). Moreover, we may uphold a termination decision if any

proper basis exists for the result reached. In re C.S., 761 A.2d 1197, 1201(Pa.

Super. 2000) (en banc).

      Mother’s first issue of arguable merit involves the initial prong of the

termination analysis under Section 2511(a). As we need only agree with the

orphans’ court as to one subsection of Section 2511(a), we analyze whether

the Agency properly established grounds for termination under Section

2511(a)(2). That section provides in relevant part:

         (a) General rule.--The rights of a parent in regard to a
         child may be terminated after a petition filed on any of the
         following grounds:

                                     ***

         (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.

23 Pa.C.S.A. § 2511(a)(2).

      To satisfy the requirements of Section 2511(a)(2), the moving party

must prove “(1) repeated and continued incapacity, abuse, neglect or refusal;

                                    - 13 -
J-S43046-22

(2) that such incapacity, abuse, neglect or refusal caused the child to be

without essential parental care, control or subsistence; and (3) that the causes

of the incapacity, abuse, neglect or refusal cannot or will not be remedied.”

In re C.M.K., 203 A.3d 258, 262 (Pa. Super. 2019) (citation omitted). Parents

are required to make diligent efforts toward the reasonably prompt

assumption of full parental duties. In re Z.P., 994 A.2d 1108, 1117 (Pa.

Super. 2010).

      We note that the grounds for termination are not limited to affirmative

misconduct like abuse but concern parental incapacity that cannot be

remedied. See id. This case, however, explicitly concerns abuse. The trial

court set forth its Section 2511(a)(2) findings on the record:

         [T]he testimony of Dr. Dominguez, which I found credible,
         was that these children, not only were they subject to
         continued and repeated abuse, whether by denying food or
         being hit in the head with 2-by-4s, being hit with extension
         cords, being made to get into showers that were hot, and
         then with cords that were run under cold water, being hit
         with those cords, Dr. Dominguez went a step further from
         saying that that’s abuse. In fact, she indicated that that
         meets the definition of child torture. And while she testified,
         and, again, credibly, that neither [Ab.D, A-R.D. 1 or A.-R.D.
         2.] disclosed any abuse, the physical findings on those
         children’s bodies were consistent with the physical findings
         on the bodies of [T.R., S.T.S., and I.D.], all of whom disclose
         physical abuse in the manner in which they were abused.
         And so the fact she also determine that based on photos
         review from [Ab.D.] and well as her physical examination of
         [I.D., T.S., and A.-R. D. 1, and A.-R.D. 2,] that the markings
         on [A.-R.D.1, A.-R.D. 2, and Ab.-D.’s] body were consistent
         with he physical abuse that was disclosed as to [T.R., S.T.S.,
         and I.D.] in their PCA interviews. […]

                                     - 14 -
J-S43046-22

         In addition to what the children disclosed in their PCA
         interview and to their CUA case manager, because Ms.
         McNeill also testified that [I.D., T.R., and S.T.S.] disclosed
         abuse, found in the transcripts that were entered into
         evidence that were part of this court’s prior hearings,
         [S.T.S., I.D., and T.R.] testified in camera as to the abuse
         that they suffered. And this court found them credible when
         they testified in camera. All counsel was present for those
         hearings, except for TPR counsel, as she was appointed after
         those hearings.

         And so the testimony has been consistent each time these
         Children have disclosed as to what they were subjected to
         in [Father’s] and [Mother’s] home. And I have to say, I
         started out as a social worker working with families in the
         system. I worked for nine years as a solicitor for DHS. And
         I’ve been on the bench. This is my fifth year. I have never
         ever heard a doctor testify that what children suffered was
         torture. I’m speechless.

         And so this court is going to find that while there was no
         testimony as to the younger children, the testimony of Dr.
         Dominguez as an expert that the fact that sexual abuse was
         found as to [T.R], and physical abuse as to the other
         Children, all of the Children in Mother and Father’s care
         would be at risk. And so I am terminating for all the Children
         under [Section] 2511(a)(2). Specifically, [T.R., I.D., S.T.S.,
         A.-R.D. 1, A.-R.D. 2, and Ab.D.] suffered actual abuse at
         the hands of their parents consistent with the markings on
         their bodies.

N.T. 91-94.

      Upon our review, the trial court properly determined that the Agency

established grounds under Section 2511(a)(2) by clear and convincing

evidence. The abuse caused the Children to go without parental care. The

Agency provided services to no avail. Mother cannot or will not remedy the

conditions which caused the Children to be removed from her care. Mother’s

first issue is without merit.

                                     - 15 -
J-S43046-22

     In her second issue of arguable merit, Mother argues the trial court

abused its discretion when it found that termination best served the Child's

needs and welfare. Section 2511(b) provides:

        (b) Other considerations.--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 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).

     This Court has explained that:

        [S]ection 2511(b) focuses on whether termination of
        parental rights would best serve the developmental,
        physical, and emotional needs and welfare of the child.
        In In re C.M.S., 884 A.2d 1284, 1287 (Pa. Super. 2005),
        this Court stated, “Intangibles such as love, comfort,
        security, and stability are involved in the inquiry into the
        needs and welfare of the child.” In addition, we instructed
        that the trial court must also discern the nature and status
        of the parent-child bond, with utmost attention to the effect
        on the child of permanently severing that bond. Id.
        However, in cases where there is no evidence of a bond
        between a parent and child, it is reasonable to infer that no
        bond exists. In re K.Z.S., 946 A.2d 753, 762-63 (Pa. Super.
        2008). Accordingly, the extent of the bond-effect analysis
        necessarily depends on the circumstances of the particular
        case. Id. at 763.

In re Adoption of J.M., 991 A.2d 321, 324 (Pa. Super. 2010).

                                    - 16 -
J-S43046-22

      Concerning the bond, the question is not merely whether a bond exists,

but whether termination would destroy this existing, necessary and beneficial

relationship. See C.M.K., 203 A.2d at 264 (citation omitted); see also K.Z.S.,

946 A.2d at 764 (holding there was no bond worth preserving where the child

had been in foster care for most of the child’s life, which caused the resulting

bond to be too attenuated). Moreover, the court is not required to use expert

testimony to resolve the bond analysis. In re Z.P., 994 A.2d 1108, 1121

(citing In re K.K.R.-S., 958 A.2d 529, 533 (Pa. Super. 2008)).

      “Common sense dictates that courts considering termination must also

consider whether the children are in a pre-adoptive home and whether they

have a bond with their foster parents.” T.S.M., 71 A.3d at 268.     Finally, we

emphasize that “[w]hile a parent’s emotional bond with her and/or her child

is a major aspect of the Section 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) (citation omitted).

      Instantly, the trial court heard testimony about the needs and welfare

of the Children.   The trial court thoroughly addressed its findings on the

record. See N.T., 8/11/22, at 100-115. We note that only two of the Children,

A.-R.D. 1 and A.-R.D.-2, had articulated a desire to see Mother, but they did

not articulate a request to be returned to her care. The court concluded that

none of Children had a beneficial bond worth preserving. For instance, once

the visits between the Children and Mother were suspended, the Children

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began doing much better in foster care. We conclude that Mother’s second

issue also lacks merit.

      Having concluded that the trial court properly terminated Mother’s rights

as to each Child, we turn our focus to Mother’s third issue of arguable merit.

Mother claims the trial court erred when it changed the goals of the

dependency cases from reunification to adoption. Because we have already

concluded that termination was warranted, we dismiss these challenges as

moot. See Interest of D.R.W., 227 A.3d 905, 917 (Pa. Super. 2020) (“An

issue before a court is moot if in ruling upon the issue the court cannot enter

an order that has any legal force or effect.”).

      Finally, we must conduct our independent review to discern whether

there are any additional, non-frivolous issues overlooked by counsel, pursuant

to Flowers, 113 A.2d at 1250. Upon a “generous” review of the record, we

discover no other issues of arguable merit. See Dempster, 187 A.3d at 272.

      In sum, after review, we agree with counsel’s assessment that Mother’s

issues on appeal are frivolous and that the Agency presented clear and

convincing evidence to support the termination of Mother’s parental rights

pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 2511(a)(2) and (b). We therefore grant counsel’s

petition to withdraw and affirm the orphans’ court order terminating Mother’s

parental rights.

      Petition to withdraw granted.     Termination decrees affirmed.     Goal

change orders affirmed.

      Judge Nichols joins the memorandum.

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J-S43046-22

        Judge Dubow did not participate in the consideration or decision of this

case.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 3/17/2023

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