Court Opinion

ID: 4025541
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-08-16 19:17:23.963597+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:31:18.126354
License: Public Domain

J-S61042-16

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

IN RE: A.O., a Minor                     :      IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                         :            PENNSYLVANIA
                                         :
                                         :
                                         :
                                         :
APPEAL OF: J.R.O., Natural Mother        :       Nos. 424, 425 WDA 2016

                  Appeal from the Order February 19, 2016
             in the Court of Common Pleas of Bedford County,
          Orphans' Court Division, No(s): CP-05-DP-0000021-2014
                                 5 for 2015

BEFORE: PANELLA, LAZARUS and MUSMANNO, JJ.

MEMORANDUM BY MUSMANNO, J.:                      FILED AUGUST 16, 2016

     J.R.O. (“Mother”), the natural mother of A.O., a son born in March

2014, appeals from the Order granting the Petition filed by Bedford County

Children and Youth Services (“CYS”) to involuntarily terminate her parental

rights to A.O. pursuant to Sections 2511(a)(5), (8), and (b) of the Adoption

Act. See 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 2511(a)(5), (8), and (b). We affirm.

     On March 9, 2014, CYS received a report that Mother did not possess

the knowledge or skills necessary to adequately care for A.O. On April 11,

2014, Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh admitted A.O., after he was referred

by his primary care provider for being underweight.            CYS received

Emergency Protective Custody on April 16, 2014. A.O. entered foster care

following his release from the hospital.     On April 29, 2014, A.O. was

adjudicated a dependent child and placed in the legal and physical custody

of CYS.
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     CYS established plans to begin the reunification process between

Mother and A.O., including services with the Alternative Community

Resource Program (“ACRP”), which assists in family preservation, mental

health    services   through   Mental   Health   Mental   Retardation   Services

(“MHMR”), and alcohol and drug services. Mother was also afforded visiting

opportunities with A.O. Between April 2014 and June 2014, Mother visited

A.O. 22 times.       However, Mother discontinued her visits until December

2014, during which she visited A.O. twice. Mother then visited A.O. twice in

January 2015, and once each month in March and April 2015.1 On April 17,

2015, CYS filed the Petition for Involuntary Termination of Parental Rights,

seeking termination of Mother’s rights and a change in the goal of

dependency proceedings to adoption.

     During the two termination hearings, the trial court heard testimony

from a bonding expert, two agency workers, Mother’s current paramour, and

Mother.     Dennis Kashurba (“Kashurba”), a psychologist and expert on

bonding, testified to the lack of a meaningful bond between Mother and A.O.

See N.T., 11/10/15, at 11-12, 20-23.       Further, Kashurba testified that he

did see a meaningful bond between A.O. and foster mother. Id. at 12-13,

22-23.

     Amanda Kendall (“Kendall”), an ACRP family preservation worker,

testified that Mother initially did not have any parental instinct, but that

1
  After maternal grandmother passed away on April 13, 2015, Mother did not
visit A.O.

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Mother was responsive to the program.       Id. at 31-32, 38-40.     However,

Kendall also testified to Mother’s lack of contact with the agency at times,

and the gaps in visitation with A.O.    Id. at 26-29.    Kendall testified that

Mother did not appear to be interested in reunification, and that she seemed

more concerned with other things in life, despite the potential consequence

of losing her parental rights. Id. at 33-36. Moreover, Kendall testified to

Mother’s lack of progress toward her Permanency Plan goals, a regression in

skills, and that Mother could not gain those skills in a reasonable period of

time. Id. at 37-38. Additionally, Kendall testified about her concerns with

Mother’s living situation, such as an overwhelming smell of cigarettes in one

of her temporary residences. Id. at 41. Finally, Kendall stated that from

her observations, there was a lack of a meaningful bond between Mother

and A.O.   See id. at 42-43 (noting that Mother would not initiate contact

with A.O., A.O. did not recognize Mother, and A.O. was not distressed when

separated from Mother).

     Tessa Miller (“Miller”), a CYS worker, testified about Mother’s lack of

visitation with A.O.    See N.T., 2/19/16, at 6-10, 12-13.        Miller noted

Mother’s housing instability, citing eighteen different residences in the time

span of this case.     Id. at 11, 19-20.   Miller testified to the content of

Mother’s Permanency Plan goals, her initial cooperation, and to the overall

lack of progress toward meeting those goals.            Id. at 15-17, 20-22.

Additionally, Miller stated that the elements of Section 2511(a)(5) and (8)

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had been met in this case. Id. at 17-18. Miller then testified that she was

aware Mother had a new baby during this process, but that the baby was not

living with her and had also been the subject of a different county’s child

services investigation. Id. at 23-24.

      Jeremy Dodson (“Dodson”), Mother’s current paramour, testified that

Mother lived with him and his family for a period of time. See id. at 27-28,

30-31. Dodson also testified that Mother cares well for the new baby and

would be able to take care of A.O. Id. at 28-29. Dodson then testified that

the new baby has always lived in his parents’ home, and that they have tried

to take custody of the new baby. Id. at 31.

      Finally, Mother testified about the stability level of her living situation.

See id. at 32-34, 36-40, 63-65.       Mother acknowledged that while she is

formally unemployed, she makes money babysitting. Id. at 35, 65. Mother

noted the gaps in her visitation, but stated that one gap was the result of

her “trying to better [herself].” Id. at 41; see also id. at 52-53, 59, 61-63

(wherein Mother testified that some of the lack in visitation was attributable

to difficulties dealing with the agencies). However, Mother also testified that

at one time, she filed a Petition for Increased Visitation, but she failed to

appear in court, and has not refiled since that occasion.         Id. at 60-61.

Mother testified that a major problem was her mother’s death in April 2015,

causing her to feel depressed and unable to handle working with the

agencies. Id. at 37-38.

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     In regards to the visits that did take place, Mother testified that the

visits were normal, she gave A.O. attention, and that there was a connection

between her and A.O. Id. at 42-44. Thereafter, Mother testified that she

had been taking part in different services at various times that would help

her progress toward her Permanency Plan goals, such as parenting classes

during the new pregnancy, attending MHMR, attending psychological

rehabilitation, and participating in ACRP and Independent Living for portions

of the case. Id. at 44-51. Mother testified about her concerns with A.O.’s

foster care. Id. at 53. Subsequently, Mother testified that she and A.O. had

a bond at one time, and that she desires custody. Id. at 56.

     Following the hearings, the trial court terminated Mother’s parental

rights pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 2511(a)(5), (8), and (b), and granted

CYS’s request for goal change to adoption for A.O.     Mother then filed the

instant timely appeal and a Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) Concise Statement.

     On appeal, Mother raises three questions for our review:

     A. Whether the trial court erred/abused its discretion in
        determining [that CYS] had established a legal basis through
        clear and convincing evidence for changing the goal to
        adoption/terminating [Mother’s] parental rights pursuant to
        23 Pa.C.S.A. § 2511(a)(5)(8), as such a finding is not
        supported by the record?

     B. Whether the trial court erred/abused its discretion by
        determining that termination of [Mother’s] parental rights
        would best serve the developmental, physical, and emotional
        needs and welfare of [A.O.] under 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 2511(b), as
        such a finding is not supported by the record?

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      C. Whether the trial court erred/abused its discretion by failing
         to consider the impact of the death of [maternal
         grandmother] on [Mother’s] efforts to remedy the conditions
         leading to the placement of [A.O.]?

Brief for Appellant at 3 (issues renumbered).

      Our standard of review regarding orders terminating parental rights is

as follows:

      When reviewing an appeal from a decree terminating parental
      rights, we are limited to determining whether the decision of the
      trial court is supported by competent evidence. Absent an abuse
      of discretion, an error of law, or insufficient evidentiary support
      for the trial court’s decision, the decree must stand. Where a
      trial court has granted a petition to involuntarily terminate
      parental rights, this Court must accord the hearing judge’s
      decision the same deference that we would give to a jury
      verdict. We must employ a broad, comprehensive review of the
      record in order to determine whether the trial court’s decision is
      supported by competent evidence.

In re R.N.J., 985 A.2d 273, 276 (Pa. Super. 2009) (citations omitted).

      Termination of parental rights is controlled by Section 2511 of the

Adoption Act. See 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 2511. In termination cases, the burden is

upon the petitioner to prove by clear and convincing evidence that its

asserted grounds for seeking the termination of parental rights are valid.

See In re R.N.J., 985 A.2d at 276.       “[C]lear 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.” Id. (citation and internal quotation

marks omitted). “The trial court is free to believe all, part, or none of the

evidence presented and is likewise free to make all credibility determinations

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and resolve conflicts in the evidence.” In re M.G., 855 A.2d 68, 73-74 (Pa.

Super. 2004) (citation omitted).    If competent evidence supports the trial

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

opposite result.” In re Adoption of T.B.B., 835 A.2d 387, 394 (Pa. Super.

2003) (citation omitted).

      Satisfaction of any one subsection of Section 2511(a), along with

consideration of Section 2511(b), is sufficient for the involuntary termination

of parental rights. In re B.C.W., 843 A.2d 380, 384 (Pa. Super. 2004) (en

banc).   In this case, we will review the trial court’s decision to terminate

Mother’s parental rights based upon Section 2511(a)(8) and (b), which state

the following:

      § 2511. Grounds for involuntary termination

      (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:

                                    ***

            (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 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.

                                    ***

      (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

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     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)…(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.

     “Section 2511(a)(8) sets a 12-month time frame for a parent to

remedy the conditions that led to the children’s removal by the court.” In

re A.R., 837 A.2d 560, 564 (Pa. Super. 2003). Once the 12-month period

has been established, courts must determine whether the conditions that led

to the child’s removal continue to exist. Id. “[T]ermination under Section

2511(a)(8), does not require an evaluation of [a parent’s] willingness or

ability to remedy the conditions that led to placement of her [child].” In re

Adoption of C.J.P., 114 A.3d 1046, 1050 (Pa. Super. 2015) (citation

omitted); see also In re K.M., 53 A.3d 781, 789 (Pa. Super. 2012). The

“relevant inquiry in this regard is whether the conditions that led to removal

have been remedied and thus whether reunification of parent and child is

imminent at the time of the hearing.” In re I.J., 972 A.2d 5, 11 (Pa. Super.

2009).   With respect to the “needs and welfare” analysis, this Court

observed the following:

     [T]he focus in terminating parental rights is on the parent, under
     Section 2511(a), whereas the focus in Section 2511(b) is on the
     child.   However, Section 2511(a)(8) explicitly requires an
     evaluation of the “needs and welfare of the child” prior to
     proceeding to Section 2511(b), which focuses on the

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      developmental, physical and emotional needs and welfare of the
      child. Thus, the analysis under Section 2511(a)(8) accounts for
      the needs of the child in addition to the behavior of the parent.
      Moreover, only if a court determines that the parent’s conduct
      warrants termination of his or her parental rights, pursuant to
      Section 2511(a), does a 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 standard of best
      interests of the child.        Accordingly, while both Section
      2511(a)(8) and Section 2511(b) direct us to evaluate the “needs
      and welfare of the child,” we are required to resolve the analysis
      relative to Section 2511(a)(8), prior to addressing the “needs
      and welfare” of [the child], as proscribed by Section 2511(b); as
      such, they are distinct in that we must address Section 2511(a)
      before reaching Section 2511(b).

In re Adoption of C.L.G., 956 A.2d 999, 1008-09 (Pa. Super. 2008) (en

banc) (citations and some quotation marks omitted).

      In her first issue, Mother asserts that CYS did not present clear and

convincing evidence supporting termination of her parental rights pursuant

to Section 2511(a)(8).    See Brief for Appellant at 6, 9-10.     Mother also

claims that the progress she made toward her Permanency Plan goals and

her improvements in parenting skills weighed against a change in goal from

reunification to termination of parental rights and adoption. Id. at 8-9.

      Our review of the record discloses that CYS was granted Emergency

Protective Custody on April 16, 2014, and filed the Petition for Involuntary

Termination on April 17, 2015. See N.T., 2/19/16, at 17-18; In re A.R.,

837 A.2d at 564.      Further, the conditions which led to A.O.’s removal

continue to exist. See N.T., 11/10/15, at 33-38, 41; N.T., 2/19/16, at 11,

16-17, 19-20, 65.      Indeed, despite initial participation in reunification

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programs, there was no progress toward Mother’s Permanency Plan goals.

See In re D.A.T., 91 A.3d 197, 206 (Pa. Super. 2014) (finding termination

proper where not all goals were completed, despite the mother completing

some of the goals). Additionally, Mother’s parenting skills regressed, Mother

inconsistently participated in the treatment programs, and there was no

improvement in Mother’s residential or economic stability.       See In re

Adoption of R.K.Y., 72 A.3d 669, 680 (Pa. Super. 2013) (using instability

of housing as support for termination).

     Moreover, the trial court considered the needs and welfare of A.O.

See In re Adoption of C.L.G., 956 A.2d at 1008-09. The trial court found

no meaningful bond between Mother and A.O., evidenced by A.O.’s lack of

distress when separated from Mother. See N.T., 11/10/15, at 11-12, 20-23,

42-43.      Alternatively, the evidence showed a strong, beneficial bond

between A.O. and his foster family. Id. at 12-13, 22-23.

     Analyzing Section 2511(a)(8), we conclude that the trial court’s

determinations are supported by competent evidence.        Thus, termination

under Section 2511(a)(8) is appropriate.

     In her second issue, Mother avers that the trial court did not complete

a full examination regarding the best interests of A.O., as required by

Section 2511(b), and that it specifically omitted a discussion as to the

natural bond between a biological parent and child. See Brief for Appellant

at 11-14.

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     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). “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 Adoption of

C.D.R., 111 A.3d 1212, 1219 (Pa. Super. 2015) (citation omitted).

          [I]n assessing the parental bond, the [trial] court is
     permitted to rely upon the observations and evaluations of social
     workers. Moreover, the mere existence of an emotional bond
     does not preclude the termination of parental rights….

           [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, … 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 K.M., 53 A.3d at 791 (citations omitted).

     Here, A.O. has spent all but one month of his life in foster care. See

In re A.S., 11 A.3d 473, 483 (Pa. Super. 2010) (considering placement with

a foster family for nearly the child’s whole life and concluding that there is

no meaningful bond between child and natural parent, but rather a bond

with the foster family that would be detrimental to sever).     Kashurba, an

expert on bonding, determined there was not a meaningful bond between

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Mother and A.O.     See N.T., 11/10/15, at 11-12, 20-23; see also In the

Interest of B.C., 36 A.3d 601, 611 (Pa. Super. 2012) (stating that “in cases

where there is no evidence of any bond between the parent and child, it is

reasonable to infer that no bond exists.”).       Indeed, Kendall testified that

Mother would often times not acknowledge A.O. on her own during

visitation, A.O. did not react to Mother because he did not know her, and

A.O. showed no distress when being separated from Mother.               See N.T.,

11/10/15, at 42-43. Kashurba also noted a bond between the foster family

and A.O. See id. at 13 (stating that “[a]ll in all, there’s little question in this

examiner’s mind that one would be quite hard pressed to find a better family

arrangement for [A.O. than] that which is provided by his current foster

parents.”); see also In re K.M., 53 A.3d at 791 (stating that “whether a

child’s primary emotional attachment is with a foster parent rather than a

birth parent is a significant factor in evaluating the child’s developmental and

emotional needs and welfare.”).       The trial court was free to rely on the

observations of Kashurba and Kendall, see In re K.M., 53 A.3d at 791, and

we discern no abuse of discretion or error of law, as competent evidence

supports the conclusions of the trial court.

      In her final issue, Mother alleges that the trial court did not give

enough weight to the effects of maternal grandmother’s death on Mother’s

efforts at reunification, stating that the emotional trauma rendered her

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incapable of fully participating in the reunification process.               Brief for

Appellant at 10-11.

       “Our law is well established that once a child is removed from the care

of the parent, the burden is on the parent to take action to regain parental

rights.” In the Interest of B.C., 36 A.3d at 609; see also In re Z.P., 994

A.2d 1108, 1118-19 (Pa. Super. 2010) (holding that parental obligation is a

positive duty which requires affirmative performance).              Although Mother

went through a tragedy, “[a] child’s life simply cannot be put on hold in the

hope that the parent will summon the ability to handle the responsibilities of

parenting.”   In re Adoption of M.E.P., 825 A.2d 1266, 1276 (Pa. Super.

2003).

       Here, maternal grandmother passed away a couple of days prior to the

filing of the termination Petition. Miller testified that although Mother was

not    cooperative   with   the   bulk   of   services   provided    after   maternal

grandmother passed away, “[i]t was before that[,] too[.]” N.T., 2/19/16, at

22. Thus, Mother’s final claim does not entitle her to relief.

       Based upon the foregoing, the Order to involuntarily terminate

Mother’s parental rights to A.O. was proper under Section 2511(a)(8) and

(b).

       Order affirmed.

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Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 8/16/2016

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