Court Opinion

ID: 4282185
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-06-07 15:57:09.110669+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:35:00.847681
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                                          JUNE 7, 2018
                                                                 In the Office of the Clerk of Court
                                                                WA State Court of Appeals, Division III

         IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
                            DIVISION THREE

IN THE MATTER OF THE PARENTAL                  )
RIGHTS TO D.W.T.                               )         No. 35117-3-III
                                               )
                                               )
                                               )
                                               )         UNPUBLISHED OPINION
                                               )
                                               )
                                               )

       FEARING, J. — We affirm the trial court’s termination of parental rights of a father

to his young son.

                                           FACTS

       Michael Tresh appeals an order terminating his parental rights to his son Doug.

Both names are pseudonyms. All of our facts come from the testimony of Department of

Children and Family Services (DCFS) Social Worker Heather Schrader during the

parental rights termination trial and from exhibits entered during the trial.

       DCFS removed infant Doug Tresh from his mother, due to the mother’s

incarceration and controlled substance use during October 2013 and within a month of

Doug’s birth. DCFS then exerted multiple unsuccessful attempts to locate Doug’s father,

Michael Tresh, by calling his only known phone number. At some unknown date before

January 7, 2014, DCFS found Tresh. On January 7, 2014, the trial court signed an order
No. 35117-3-III
In re Parental Rights to D.W.T.

of dependency and disposition, which order Tresh approved.

       The January 2014 order of dependency listed Michael Tresh’s parental

deficiencies as drug abuse, domestic violence, criminal behavior, and homelessness. The

order required Tresh to engage in a chemical dependency assessment and treatment, a

parenting assessment and parental education, a psychological evaluation, and a domestic

violence and anger management assessment and treatment. The 2014 order directed that

a social worker submit referrals to various providers for the services Tresh required.

Finally, the order demanded that Tresh maintain contact with DCFS.

       On September 8, 2014, DCFS social worker Kendra Cox visited Michael Tresh at

the Grant County Work Release Center and handed him contact information for services.

We do not know the steps that Tresh exerted to procure services between September 8,

2014 and April 2016. DCFS made no additional referrals for services until September

2016. On December 4, 2014, Tresh appeared at a DCFS office to procure a bus pass, but

he lacked any contact information to leave with DCFS. Except for the appearances on

September 8 and December 4, DCFS lost contact with Michael Tresh after the January

2014 dependency order in part as a result of Tresh’s periodic incarceration. After

December 4, 2014, Tresh never contacted DCFS or notified it of his location.

       Heather Schrader assumed the role of DCFS social worker in the dependency of

Doug Tresh on October 11, 2015. Schrader has never met Michael Tresh in person or

visited his home.

                                             2
No. 35117-3-III
In re Parental Rights to D.W.T.

       In December 2015, a third party informed Heather Schrader that Michael Tresh

resided at the Yakima Work Release facility. In January 2016, Schrader twice

telephoned Tresh’s correctional officer at the release facility in order to speak with Tresh,

but Schrader received no return call from the facility. Schrader called again

unsuccessfully in March 2016. Schrader did not send any correspondence to the facility

in an effort to contact Tresh. Tresh left the facility on April 18, 2016.

       After Michael Tresh’s release from incarceration in April 2016, Heather Schrader,

discussed a service plan with Tresh. This testimony may conflict with Schrader’s other

testimony that she never met with Tresh. According to Schrader, Tresh knew of the

ordered services. Nevertheless, Schrader made no referrals for court ordered services

then because of a pending parental rights termination trial scheduled for June 2016. In

June, the court postponed the trial until October 2016. Schrader still made no referrals

based on her belief in the futility of services.

       Michael Tresh underwent chemical dependency treatment while under State

Department of Corrections’ supervision. Otherwise, Tresh engaged in no other services

listed in the January 2014 dependency order. In September 2016, Heather Schrader

respectively referred Tresh for a parenting assessment, a domestic violence evaluation,

and a psychological evaluation in his hometown of Yakima. Schrader acknowledged that

the provision of services beginning in September 2016 would not enable Tresh to

successfully parent by October.

                                               3
No. 35117-3-III
In re Parental Rights to D.W.T.

       Michael Tresh’s counsel astutely questioned Heather Schrader why she scheduled

services in September 2016 despite a trial date in October but failed to schedule services

in April 2016 because of an impending trial date in June. Schrader responded:

              So he—I mean, he did indicated [sic] that he wanted to do services,
       like he wanted to visit his child. And it’s our—it is part of my job to offer
       those, even if he’s not willing to do them or if he cannot rectify those
       parental deficiencies.

Report of Proceedings (RP) at 55.

       Michael Tresh visited Doug Tresh once when Doug was an infant. The January

2014 dependency order offered Tresh visitation rights. In April 2016, Heather Schrader

arranged for visits but, while Tresh called ahead for a few visits, he failed to appear.

       Heather Schrader testified that the arrangement of visitation between a child and

an incarcerated parent generally exhausts three months and requires completion of

paperwork and a background check. Each correctional center demands a different

process for approval of visitation. She did not contact the Yakima release facility to learn

of its process.

       One month before trial, the foster home, in which Doug Tresh resided, opted not

to adopt Doug. Thus, Doug lacks a permanent home. DCFS attempted placement with

Doug’s older siblings.

       Doug Tresh turned the age of three a week before the termination trial. At trial,

Heather Schrader testified that DCFS offered to Michael Tresh all services capable of

                                              4
No. 35117-3-III
In re Parental Rights to D.W.T.

remedying his parental deficiencies in the foreseeable future. During trial, Heather

Schrader averred that Michael Tresh made no progress toward remedying his parental

deficiencies. Schrader testified that, even if Tresh had commenced services in April

2016, he would have lacked significant progress in parenting skills by the time of the

termination trial. Based on Tresh’s history, she predicted that Tresh would not engage in

any services in the future.

       According to Heather Schrader, the near or foreseeable future for Doug was

“now.” RP at 42. Schrader further testified that, by the time of Michael Tresh’s release

from prison, time had expired for Tresh to correct his deficiencies.

       Heather Schrader opined that Tresh is not a fit parent for Doug. Tresh would not

become a fit parent in the near future because of his failure to participate in services, his

failure to visit Doug, and a lack of bonding with his son. Tresh lacks a motivation to

parent. Schrader advised that termination of Tresh’s parental right served Doug’s best

interests.

                                       PROCEDURE

       The State of Washington filed its termination of parental rights petition on

February 10, 2016. The trial court terminated Doug Tresh’s mother’s rights to the child

in April 2016.

       The superior court first scheduled a trial for June 12, 2016, on the State’s petition

to terminate Michael Tresh’s rights to his son. The court periodically postponed the trial

                                              5
No. 35117-3-III
In re Parental Rights to D.W.T.

until the court entered an agreed order, on October 4, 2016, that rescheduled the trial date

as October 14. Michael Tresh’s attorney appeared in superior court on October 14, 2016

and requested the court to continue the trial again because Tresh could not be absent from

work in part due to the need to gain wages to pay child support. The trial court denied

the motion and conducted a trial in Tresh’s absence. The trial court noted that Tresh’s

inability to attend trial would likely continue. Michael Tresh does not challenge the

refusal to grant a trial continuance.

       During the October 14 trial, the State only called social worker Heather Schrader

to testify. The trial court did not perfunctorily listen to the testimony of Schrader but

asked its own questions and challenged the State to supply additional details concerning

the dependency of Doug Tresh. At the conclusion of the testimony, the trial court ruled

to terminate Michael Tresh’s parental rights.

       On January 9, 2017, the court entered written findings of fact and conclusions of

law and an order terminating parental rights to Doug. The findings of fact read, in part:

              2.12 Services Offered or Provided. All services ordered pursuant to
       RCW 13.34.130, and RCW 13.34.136, and all necessary services
       reasonably available, capable of correcting the parental deficiencies within
       the foreseeable future, have been expressly and understandably offered or
       provided. These services included:
              2.12.1 For the father these services include substance abuse
       evaluation, parenting/bonding assessment and education, psychological
       evaluation, domestic violence/anger management assessment. These
       services were tailored to address the father’s parental deficiencies of
       substance abuse; a history of domestic violence, lack of parenting skills and
       lack of bond with the child. The father also has a history of physical abuse

                                              6
No. 35117-3-III
In re Parental Rights to D.W.T.

      and neglect prior to this dependency and was periodically incarcerated
      throughout the dependency. The father was released from prison on April
      18, 2016 and was not incarcerated at the time of termination trial. The
      Department social worker met with Mr. [Tresh] on September 18, 2016 to
      discuss the service plan.
              2.12.2 The father signed an agreed order of dependency and
      disposition on January 7, 2014. The Department was unable to locate the
      father throughout most of the dependency. The Department first received
      information regarding his whereabouts between December of 2015 and
      January of 2016, approximately two years after the child was found
      dependent. The Department used best efforts to offer services to the father.
      The burden is on the Department to offer services however the father was
      unavailable to engage in services for most of the dependency.
              2.12.3 There is evidence that the father engaged in substance abuse
      services during the dependency as part of his Washington Department of
      Corrections supervision requirements.
              2.13 Potential for Remedial Action. There is little likelihood that
      conditions will be remedied so that the child can be returned to the parents
      in the near future.
              2.13.1 Which [With] the exception of substance abuse, the father
      has failed to engage in services ordered throughout the dependency and
      offered after he was located by the Department despite his indication that
      he was willing to do so. The father has not made progress in remedying his
      parental deficiencies.
              2.13.2 The father has visited with the child on one occasion, when
      the child was an infant. The father was offered visitation at the beginning
      of the dependency matter but the testimony indicates he missed two visits.
      The father was offered visits in April of 2016, and he indicated he desired
      to visit with the child. A referral was made for visitation services but the
      father missed the visits.
              2.13.3 The father’s failure to substantially improve parental
      deficiencies within twelve months following entry of the dispositional order
      gives rise to a rebuttable presumption that there is little likelihood that
      conditions will be remedied so that the child can be returned to him in the
      near future. The father has failed to rebut the presumption.
              2.13.4 At the time the Department located the father the child had
      been in care for approximately two years. Social Worker Heather Schrader
      testified that the near future for this child is “now.” Even if the near future
      for the child is not “now” it is one or two months. Even if the father had

                                            7
No. 35117-3-III
In re Parental Rights to D.W.T.

       engaged in services after April of 2016 there is little likelihood that he
       would have made significant progress by the date of the termination trial.
       The court takes particular note of the father’s unwillingness to visit with the
       child in making this finding.
               2.13.5 The court finds that the father is currently unfit to parent the
       child.
               2.14 Child’s Early Integration Prospects. Continuation of the
       parent-child relationship diminishes the child’s prospects for early
       integration into a stable and permanent home. The permanent plan for this
       child is adoption and the child cannot be adopted until parental rights are
       terminated.
               ....
               2. 17 Best Interests of the Child. Termination of the parent-child
       relationship is in the best interests of the child. The testimony supports that
       termination is in this child’s best interest so that he can achieve
       permanency.

Clerk’s Papers at 13-15.

                                  LAW AND ANALYSIS

       On appeal, Michael Tresh contends that the State failed to prove by clear, cogent,

and convincing evidence the statutory elements required for a parental termination. He

also contends the State failed to show termination of parental rights furthered Doug

Tresh’s best interests.

       Both the due process requirements of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United

States Constitution and Washington State Constitution article I, section 3 protect a

parent’s right to the care, custody and companionship of a child. In re Welfare of

Luscier, 84 Wash. 2d 135, 139, 524 P.2d 906 (1974). Before the State may terminate

parental rights, the state must establish the first six factors listed in RCW 13.34.180 by

                                              8
No. 35117-3-III
In re Parental Rights to D.W.T.

clear, cogent and convincing evidence. RCW 13.34.190(1)(a)(i). Clear, cogent and

convincing evidence exists when the ultimate fact at issue is shown by the evidence to be

highly probable. In re Dependency of K.R., 128 Wash. 2d 129, 141, 904 P.2d 1132 (1995).

       On appellate review, the trial court’s findings in a parental rights termination

proceeding must be affirmed if supported by substantial evidence from which a rational

trier of fact could find the necessary facts by clear, cogent and convincing evidence. In

re Dependency of K.S.C., 137 Wash. 2d 918, 925, 976 P.2d 113 (1999). Whether

substantial evidence exists to support the superior court’s findings is measured in light of

the “highly probable” test. In re Welfare of Carpenter, 21 Wash. App. 814, 816, 587 P.2d
588 (1978). Under that test, the evidence must be more substantial than in the ordinary

civil case in which proof need only be by a preponderance of the evidence. In re Welfare

of Hall, 99 Wash. 2d 842, 849, 664 P.2d 1245 (1983). The evidence establishes a “high

probability” when permanent deprivation is necessary for the physical and mental welfare

of the child. In re Welfare of Carpenter, 21 Wash. App. at 816. Appellate courts defer to

the trial court’s credibility determinations when reviewing an order terminating parental

rights. In re Dependency of A.M.M., 182 Wash. App. 776, 786, 332 P.3d 500 (2014).

       To prevail in a termination proceeding, the State must first prove the following six

factors:

           (a) That the child has been found to be a dependent child;
           (b) That the court has entered a dispositional order pursuant to
       RCW 13.34.130;

                                             9
No. 35117-3-III
In re Parental Rights to D.W.T.

               (c) That the child has been removed or will, at the time of the
       hearing, have been removed from the custody of the parent for a period of
       at least six months pursuant to a finding of dependency;
               (d) That the services ordered under RCW 13.34.136 have been
       expressly and understandably offered or provided and all necessary
       services, reasonably available, capable of correcting the parental
       deficiencies within the foreseeable future have been expressly and
       understandably offered or provided;
               (e) That there is little likelihood that the conditions will be remedied
       so that the child can be returned to the parent in the near future. A parent’s
       failure to substantially improve parental deficiencies within twelve months
       following entry of the dispositional order shall give rise to a rebuttable
       presumption that there is little likelihood that conditions will be remedied
       so that the child can be returned to the parent in the near future. The
       presumption shall not arise unless the petitioner makes a showing that all
       necessary services reasonably capable of correcting the parental
       deficiencies within the foreseeable future have been clearly offered or
       provided. . . .
               ....
               (f) That the continuation of the parent and child relationship clearly
       diminishes the child’s prospects for early integration into a stable and
       permanent home. If the parent is incarcerated, the court shall consider
       whether a parent maintains a meaningful role in his or her child’s life based
       on factors identified in RCW 13.34.145(5)(b); whether the [DCFS] or
       supervising agency made reasonable efforts as defined in this chapter; and
       whether particular barriers existed as described in RCW 13.34.145(5)(b)
       including, but not limited to, delays or barriers experienced in keeping the
       agency apprised of his or her location and in accessing visitation or other
       meaningful contact with the child.

RCW 13.34.180(1). If the State establishes the six factors by clear and cogent evidence,

the court must also determine whether termination is in the best interest of the child.

RCW 13.34.190.

                                             10
No. 35117-3-III
In re Parental Rights to D.W.T.

       Michael Tresh does not challenge the State’s having established the first three

factors listed in RCW 13.34.180(1). Tresh argues that the State failed in its proof of the

last three factors found in (d) (e) and (f).

       One of the six statutory requirements is the State’s provision of services needed to

correct deficient parenting skills. When the State seeks to terminate a parent’s rights, it

must show, in part, that it offered or provided all services ordered under RCW 13.34.136

and all necessary services, reasonably available, capable of correcting the parental

deficiencies within the foreseeable future. RCW 13.34.180(1). To meet this statutory

burden, the State must tailor the services it offers to meet each individual parent’s needs.

In re Dependency of T.R., 108 Wash. App. 149, 161, 29 P.3d 1275 (2001).

       Even when DCFS “inexcusably fails” to offer services to a willing parent, the

court may still terminate parental rights if the services would not remedy the parent’s

deficiencies in the foreseeable future, which depends on the age of the child. In re

Dependency of T.R., 108 Wash. App. at 164. When the record establishes that the offer of

services would be futile, the trial court can also find that the State offered all reasonable

services. In re Welfare of M.R.H., 145 Wash. App. 10, 25, 188 P.3d 510 (2008); In re

Welfare of Ferguson, 32 Wash. App. 865, 869-70, 650 P.2d 1118 (1982), rev’d on other

grounds, 98 Wash. 2d 589, 656 P.2d 503 (1983).

       The trial court found that the State offered or provided all ordered services and all

necessary services. We observe evidence that supports this finding. The superior court

                                               11
No. 35117-3-III
In re Parental Rights to D.W.T.

ordered Michael Tresh to engage in a chemical dependency assessment and treatment, a

parenting assessment and parental education, a psychological evaluation, and a domestic

violence and anger management assessment and treatment. The dependency order

directed that a social worker submit referrals to various providers for the services Tresh

required.

       Michael Tresh contends that DCFS never referred him for services until thirty-five

months after the dependency order. Nevertheless, DCFS encountered impediments in

arranging for services because of Tresh’s intermittent incarcerations and failure to inform

DCFS of his whereabouts. Despite these impediments, on September 8, 2014, within one

year of the dependency, DCFS social worker Kendra Cox visited Michael Tresh at the

Grant County Work Release Center and handed him contact information for services.

Tresh suggests the testimony failed to establish that Cox referred Tresh for services at

that time. We question whether handing a list of services providers to the parent

constitutes a referral for services that satisfies DCFS’s duty to provide services.

Nevertheless, the trial court, after hearing all the testimony concluded that DCFS satisfied

its duty, and we conclude that inferences from the testimony and other evidence support

this conclusion.

       We may criticize Kendra Cox for taking no action other than handing Michael

Tresh a list of providers. We may also criticize later social worker Heather Schrader for

failing to aggressively contact Tresh while imprisoned and failing to arrange for services

                                             12
No. 35117-3-III
In re Parental Rights to D.W.T.

immediately on Tresh’s release from prison in April 2016. We find this failure, however,

excusable since Tresh failed to participate in any services once DCFS arranged for

services. Clear, cogent and convincing evidence established the futility of scheduling

services.

       The fifth of the six initial elements for the State to prove is “there is little

likelihood that conditions will be remedied so that the child can be returned to the parent

in the near future.” RCW 13.34.180(1)(e). The focus of RCW 13.34.180(1)(e) is

“whether the identified deficiencies have been corrected.” In re Welfare of M.R.H., 145
Wash. App. at 27 (2008). Even when evidence suggests that the parent may eventually

correct parental deficiencies, termination is still appropriate when deficiencies will not be

corrected within the foreseeable future. In re A.W., 53 Wash. App. 22, 32, 765 P.2d 307

(1988). The State need not give a parent an unlimited time to become a fit parent. In re

Dependency of T.R., 108 Wash. App. at 167 (2001). When it is eventually possible, but not

imminent, for a parent to be reunited with a child, the child’s present need for stability

and permanence is more important and can justify termination. In re Dependency of T.R.,
108 Wash. App. at 166.

       “Near future” is a key phrase in RCW 13.34.180(1)(e) and is determined from the

child’s point of view. In re Dependency of A.C., 123 Wash. App. 244, 249, 98 P.3d 89

(2004). What constitutes “near future” depends on the age of the child and the

circumstances of the child’s placement. In re Dependency of T.L.G., 126 Wash. App. 181,

                                               13
No. 35117-3-III
In re Parental Rights to D.W.T.

205, 108 P.3d 156 (2005). The cases support the proposition that the younger the child,

the shorter is the “near future.” “A matter of months for young children is not within the

foreseeable future to determine if there is sufficient time for a parent to remedy his or her

parental deficiency.” In re Welfare of M.R.H., 145 Wash. App. at 28 (2008). Eight months

was not in the foreseeable future of a four-year-old. In re Welfare of Hall, 99 Wash. 2d at

844, 850-51 (1983). One year was not in the foreseeable future of a three-year-old. In re

A.W., 53 Wash. App. at 25-26, 31-32 (1988). Six months was not foreseeable in the near

future of a fifteen-month-old. In re Dependency of P.D., 58 Wash. App. 18, 27, 792 P.2d
159 (1990).

       The trial court found little likelihood that Michael Tresh would remedy his

parental deficiencies so that his son can be returned to him in the near future. We

conclude that substantial evidence also supports this finding.

       DCFS Social Worker Heather Schrader defined the foreseeable future for Doug

Tresh as “now.” We disagree with this characterization, particularly because of the loss

of an immediate chance for adoption. Still, Michael Tresh showed no initiative over

three years to improve his parenting skills. He visited his son only once shortly after the

son’s birth. He failed to appear for other visitation appointments. He disobeyed the

order of dependency by never sharing his location with DCFS. Tresh failed to engage in

any scheduled services.

       Michael Tresh impliedly challenges the termination order under subsection (f) of

                                             14
No. 35117-3-III
In re Parental Rights to D.W.T.

RCW 13.34.180(1) because the record does not show that the trial court considered the

incarceration factors listed in the statutory section. Nevertheless, Tresh remained free at

the time of trial. The trial court need consider the incarceration factors only if the parent

remains imprisoned at the time of trial. In re Dependency of D.L.B., 186 Wash. 2d 103,

118, 376 P.3d 1099 (2016).

       In addition to finding the six elements of RCW 13.34.180 by clear, cogent and

convincing evidence, the trial court, before terminating parental rights, must also find by

a preponderance of the evidence that termination of parental rights serves the child’s best

interests. RCW 13.34.190(1). The factors that establish what is in a child’s best interest

depend on the facts and circumstances of each case. In re Dependency of A.V.D., 62 Wn.

App. 562, 572, 815 P.2d 277 (1991).

       We conclude that substantial evidence supports the trial court’s finding regarding

Doug Tresh’s best interest. Michael Tresh has demonstrated an unwillingness to father

his son. Despite opportunities, Tresh has failed to engage in services or visit his son. He

made no progress toward correcting the deficiencies found in the dependency order.

                                      CONCLUSION

       We affirm the trial court’s order terminating Michael Tresh’s parental rights to his

son, Doug.

                                             15
No. 35117-3-111
In re Parental Rights to D. W. T.

       A majority of the panel has determined this opinion will not be printed in the

Washington Appellate Reports, but it will be filed for public record pursuant to RCW

2.06.040.

                                             Fearing, J.

WE CONCUR:

Korsmo,J,?

Siddoway, J.          ·

                                             16