Court Opinion

ID: 6344849
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-05-27 15:17:40.848004+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:03:27.891742
License: Public Domain

May 27, 2022

                                                          Supreme Court

                                                          No. 2021-35-Appeal.
                                                          (W 17-3811)

               In re Rachelle L-B.          :

                 NOTICE: This opinion is subject to formal revision
                 before publication in the Rhode Island Reporter. Readers
                 are requested to notify the Opinion Analyst, Supreme
                 Court of Rhode Island, 250 Benefit Street, Providence,
                 Rhode Island 02903, at Telephone 222-3258 or Email
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                 before the opinion is published.
                                                       Supreme Court

                                                       No. 2021-35-Appeal.
                                                       (W 17-3811)

          In re Rachelle L-B.            :

      Present: Suttell, C.J., Goldberg, Robinson, Lynch Prata, and Long, JJ.

                                   OPINION

      Justice Lynch Prata, for the Court. This case came before the Supreme

Court on May 3, 2022, pursuant to an order directing the parties to appear and show

cause why the issues raised in this appeal should not be summarily decided. The

respondent father, Michael L., appeals from a decree entered in the Family Court

terminating his parental rights to his daughter, Rachelle L-B.1 After hearing the

parties’ arguments and thoroughly reviewing the record, we are satisfied that cause

has not been shown. For the reasons set forth in this opinion, we affirm the decree

of the Family Court.

1
 The petition to terminate parental rights was filed against the respondent and
Rachelle’s mother, Marisa B. Marisa’s parental rights were terminated pursuant to
G.L. 1956 § 15-7-7(a)(2)(iii) and (a)(3). Marisa did not file a notice of appeal, and
she is mentioned in this opinion only as is necessary.

                                        -1-
                                Facts and Travel

      Rachelle was born on July 12, 2013. Two days later, Rachelle was brought to

the attention of the Department of Children, Youth, and Families when the hospital

placed Rachelle on a hold because she was born with withdrawal symptoms and was

being treated with medication to stabilize her condition. The hospital reported that

Rachelle’s mother, Marisa B., had tested positive for cocaine and opiates. A DCYF

caseworker was assigned to Rachelle’s case, and DCYF filed a neglect petition on

July 15, 2013, alleging that (1) her parents failed to provide Rachelle a minimum

degree of care and (2) Rachelle was “without proper parental care and supervision.”2

DCYF was granted temporary custody of Rachelle; she was discharged from the

hospital, released to DCYF custody, and was immediately placed in nonrelative

foster care.

      During the following fourteen months, DCYF developed joint service plans

that, for respondent, addressed substance abuse, anger management, and a stable

living environment. The DCYF caseworker testified that respondent was referred to

the Phoenix House for a substance-abuse evaluation, but that DCYF never obtained

a report from the service provider because respondent withdrew his release. The

caseworker further testified that respondent was referred to the Batterers

2
 We take judicial notice of the parallel proceeding in the Family Court involving
DCYF’s neglect petition and draw pertinent facts from that case.

                                       -2-
Intervention Program for anger management, which he participated in and

successfully completed.

        By September 2014, respondent was engaging in weekly two-hour supervised

visitations with Rachelle.3 Rachelle was ultimately reunified with her parents on

February 23, 2015, on the condition that the parents continue substance-abuse

treatment and screening. The service plan developed by DCYF during that time

required Rachelle’s parents to provide for her basic needs, including financial,

housing, medical, and participation in Early Intervention; obtain and maintain a

substance-free lifestyle; and provide a stable living environment.

        On June 15, 2015, Rachelle was evaluated by Easter Seals Early Intervention

“due to history of prenatal drug exposure and concern with her expressive language

development.” The evaluation showed that Rachelle had “a significant delay in her

expressive language and a mild delay with her receptive language[,]” and an

individualized family service plan was developed with respondent and Marisa.

According to the DCYF caseworker, DCYF had also received reports that Rachelle

“was going to school dirty, and she appeared neglected[.]” In furtherance of

maintaining a substance-free lifestyle, respondent received outpatient treatment at

Meadows Edge Recovery Center from December 2014 until August 2015. The

3
    The respondent ultimately admitted to neglect on October 28, 2014.

                                         -3-
respondent successfully completed his treatment, and his counselor reported that he

“attended sessions, was compliant, and all of his toxicology screens were negative.”

      On May 17, 2016, fifteen months after Rachelle was reunified with her

parents, the Family Court ordered that, in accordance with DCYF’s

recommendation, Rachelle “be removed from the home forthwith.” DCYF had

reported to the Family Court that Rachelle had missed six Early Intervention

appointments. After Early Intervention issued a notice that Rachelle would be

discharged from the program if they did not hear from respondent or Marisa within

ten days, Marisa brought Rachelle to the next appointment twenty minutes late.

During that time, and at all times relevant hereto, respondent lived with and was in

a relationship with Marisa, and he testified that he never separated from her.4

      Per DCYF’s recommendation, Rachelle was placed in nonrelative care, and

her parents were afforded supervised weekly one-hour visits. A service plan

developed five days after Rachelle’s removal identified the following behavioral

changes required of respondent: (1) achieve maximum potential of readiness for

school for Rachelle by participating in Early Intervention, meeting with a speech

4
  During that time, DCYF was also concerned with Marisa’s noncompliance with
maintaining a substance-free lifestyle. Specifically, Marisa’s records from
Meadows Edge reveal that, on March 15, 2016, DCYF was informed that Marisa
was being discharged from the treatment center due to her lack of participation in
the program. Meadows Edge further reported that Marisa was not doing random
screens because she insisted that she no longer needed to do them.

                                        -4-
pathologist, keeping all scheduled appointments, and providing age-appropriate

toys; (2) provide for Rachelle’s basic needs, including financial, housing, and

medical; and (3) maintain a substance-free lifestyle by participating and cooperating

with treatment and undergoing random screening. The DCYF caseworker testified

that the case plan “was pretty basic [in] what [the parents] needed to do, and they

just needed to be consistent[.]”

      On August 4, 2016, respondent and Marisa began services with the Boys

Town In Home Family Services Program. Between that date and October 31, 2016,

a Boys Town family consultant observed eleven visits between Rachelle and her

parents. The consultant informed the Family Court that during those visits the

parents “provided a safe environment for Rachelle”; “interact[ed] appropriately with

Rachelle”; and showed “her affection in the form of hugs, kisses, and verbal

expression.” The consultant stated that she met with the parents to review parenting

skills and that she observed both respondent and Marisa implementing those

strategies to assist them in effectively parenting Rachelle.

      Rachelle was reunified with her parents again on October 31, 2016. The

service plan dated December 9, 2016, continued to require the same behavioral

changes from respondent, including achieving maximum school readiness potential

for Rachelle, providing for her needs, improving safety and understanding the stages

of development, and maintaining a substance-free lifestyle. The DCYF caseworker

                                         -5-
testified that she made numerous unannounced visits between October 2016 and

February 2017 and that “the home consistently was dark,” and Rachelle, who was

almost four years old at the time, was still sleeping in a crib.

      In or around February 2017, the parents were directed to complete the Key

Program Positive Parenting Program for home-based services that would assist them

with parenting and organizational skills. Around that same time, the Family Court

requested that DCYF assist in locating a toddler bed for Rachelle. The DCYF

caseworker testified that a toddler bed was promptly provided, but that Marisa told

her the toddler bed was put in the basement because Rachelle was getting out of it.

       The DCYF caseworker testified that by March 2017 she was concerned about

Rachelle because the caseworker was “receiving calls continuously from Meadows

Edge that [the] parents weren’t complying with services or urine screens.” A

permanency hearing was held in the Family Court on April 25, 2017. During the

hearing, DCYF’s attorney represented to the court that “Rachelle is going to school

smelling like feces. She is disheveled.” DCYF requested that Rachelle immediately

be removed from her parents’ care. Likewise, an attorney from the Court Appointed

Special Advocates (CASA) requested that DCYF be allowed to exercise its

discretion and remove Rachelle.

      The respondent was not present at the March hearing, but DCYF requested

that he submit to a substance-abuse evaluation. The DCYF caseworker also reported

                                          -6-
to the court “that there was a domestic violence incident” wherein respondent came

home intoxicated and pushed Marisa. DCYF represented that it had concerns about

planning for respondent to be the primary caretaker if Marisa were ordered out of

the home, because respondent had previously stated that he could not be the primary

caretaker given that he works full time and the department was concerned that he

would not “have the protective capacity to not allow mother to be in the home.”5

The Family Court ordered removal of Rachelle from her parents’ home and further

ordered respondent to submit to a substance-abuse evaluation. Rachelle was placed

in nonrelative foster care.

      After Rachelle’s third removal from her parents’ care, the objectives in the

service plan continued to remain the same, including participating in programs to

assist with parenting and maintaining a substance-free lifestyle by engaging with a

treatment center and submitting to random urine screens. On June 16, 2017,

respondent’s counselor at Meadows Edge reported that he was maintaining good

attendance, but that several screens were positive for amphetamines and it was

5
  The respondent testified that during the times relevant to this matter he was a
commercial fisherman and performed drywall and “odd jobs.” He testified that
being a commercial fisherman required him to work “[a] lot.” Specifically,
respondent testified that year-round he would be on “back-to-back-to-back trips,
maybe with two days off, sometimes. Sometimes it’s three days out fishing.
Sometimes it’s five days or six[.]” The respondent admitted that, when Rachelle
was first reunified with her parents, he worked “[a]s much as possible[,]” thereby
being away often and leaving Marisa as the primary caretaker.

                                       -7-
unconfirmed whether respondent had a valid prescription for that drug.           The

respondent was clinically discharged from Meadows Edge on August 29, 2017, due

to lack of contact. Meadows Edge reported that he had failed to complete any

random screens since June 2017. The parents also failed to successfully complete

the court-ordered Key Program Positive Parenting Program. Between April 25,

2017, and October 10, 2017, respondent visited with Rachelle seven times, and

during the visits DCYF characterized his behavior as “argumentative, and [he]

makes negative comments about the Department and staff in front of his child that

are inappropriate.”

        On October 10, 2017, DCYF filed a petition in the Family Court seeking to

terminate respondent’s parental rights with respect to Rachelle, based on G.L. 1956

§     15-7-7(a)(2)(iii)   (unfitness   because    of   chronic   substance   abuse);

§ 15-7-7(a)(2)(vii) (conduct seriously detrimental to the child); and § 15-7-7(a)(3)

(twelve months in DCYF custody without substantial probability of child’s safe

return within a reasonable period).6 A trial on DCYF’s petition was conducted in

6
    The relevant provisions of § 15-7-7 are provided below for reference purposes:

               “Termination of parental rights.

               “(a) The court shall, upon a petition duly filed by a
               governmental child placement agency or licensed child
               placement agency after notice to the parent and a hearing
               on the petition, terminate any and all legal rights of the
               parent to the child, including the right to notice of any

                                          -8-
subsequent adoption proceedings involving the child, if
the court finds as a fact by clear and convincing evidence
that:

      “***

      “(2) The parent is unfit by reason of conduct or
      conditions seriously detrimental to the child; such
      as, but not limited to, the following:

      “***

      “(iii) The child has been placed in the legal custody
      or care of the department for children, youth, and
      families and the parent has a chronic substance
      abuse problem and the parent’s prognosis indicates
      that the child will not be able to return to the custody
      of the parent within a reasonable period of time,
      considering the child’s age and the need for a
      permanent home. The fact that a parent has been
      unable to provide care for a child for a period of
      twelve (12) months due to substance abuse shall
      constitute prima facie evidence of a chronic
      substance abuse problem;

      “***

      “(vii) The parent has exhibited behavior or conduct
      that is seriously detrimental to the child, for a
      duration as to render it improbable for the parent to
      care for the child for an extended period of time;

      “(3) The child has been placed in the legal custody
      or care of the department for children, youth, and
      families for at least twelve (12) months, and the
      parents were offered or received services to correct
      the situation which led to the child being placed;
      provided, that there is not a substantial probability
      that the child will be able to return safely to the

                            -9-
the Family Court on various dates between November 13, 2018, and July 30, 2019.

In addition to receiving documentary evidence, the trial justice heard testimony

relevant to the present appeal from two DCYF caseworkers assigned to Rachelle’s

case, Rachelle’s therapist, Rachelle’s classroom teacher, an Early Intervention

family service coordinator, respondent’s          substance-abuse counselor, and

respondent.

      On November 25, 2020, the trial justice issued a 117-page written decision

terminating respondent’s parental rights to Rachelle.        In so doing, and after

thoroughly reviewing the testimony and relevant trial exhibits, the trial justice found

that respondent was unfit because Rachelle had been in the legal custody or care of

DCYF for twelve months and respondent failed to pursue the services offered him

to correct the issues that led to Rachelle’s removal.7 Specifically, the trial justice

found that over the course of four years DCYF had developed eight case plans, all

with the goal of reunifying or maintaining Rachelle with her parents. She reviewed

the myriad services that were offered to respondent and found that “more than

reasonable efforts” were made to provide the parents with services and that the case

                    parents’ care within a reasonable period of time
                    considering the child’s age and the need for a
                    permanent home[.]”
7
  The trial justice found that DCYF failed to prove by clear and convincing evidence
that respondent “has a chronic substance abuse problem that would prevent Rachelle
from returning to his custody.”

                                        - 10 -
plan goals were not successfully completed. The trial justice concluded that DCYF

proved “by clear and convincing evidence that there is not a substantial probability

that Rachelle will be able to safely return to Respondent parents’ care within a

reasonable time considering her age and her need for a permanent home.”

      The trial justice then found that Rachelle had been in a preadoptive foster

home since fall 2017 and had bonded to that family. The trial justice noted that

Rachelle expressed to her therapist that she wanted to remain with her foster parents.

Accordingly, the trial justice found by clear and convincing evidence that it was in

the child’s best interest that respondent’s parental rights be terminated.

      The decree terminating respondent’s parental rights was entered on December

1, 2020.8 The respondent timely appealed.

                                Standard of Review

      It is well settled that this Court “reviews termination of parental rights rulings

by examining the record to establish whether the Family Court justice’s findings are

supported by legal and competent evidence.” In re Domenic B., 260 A.3d 1108, 1111

8
  Although we applaud the meticulous decision authored by the trial justice, we
pause to note that we are troubled by the fact that more than three years elapsed
between the date on which DCYF filed the petition to terminate parental rights and
the date on which a decision was rendered. At oral argument before this Court,
counsel for DCYF represented that the trial was segmented over the course of
nineteen dates because of scheduling issues with all counsel involved. We take this
opportunity to remind both the bench and the bar that parties are entitled to
expeditious resolution of litigation, especially when constitutionally protected rights
and the interest of a child are involved.

                                        - 11 -
(R.I. 2021) (quoting In re Elana W., 249 A.3d 287, 292 (R.I. 2021)). The Family

Court justice’s findings “are entitled to great weight, and this Court will not disturb

them unless they are clearly wrong or the trial justice overlooked or misconceived

material evidence.” Id. (quoting In re Manuel P., 252 A.3d 1211, 1218-19 (R.I.

2021)).

                                      Discussion

      On appeal, respondent maintains that the trial justice erred in finding (1) that

respondent was unfit to parent Rachelle and that there was no substantial probability

that Rachelle could be placed in respondent’s care within a reasonable period of

time; (2) that DCYF made reasonable efforts to achieve reunification; and (3) that it

was in Rachelle’s best interests to terminate respondent’s parental rights.

      The Family Court must find that a parent is unfit before terminating his or her

parental rights. E.g., In re Elana W., 249 A.3d at 293. In addition, DCYF must prove

by clear and convincing evidence that it made “reasonable efforts to encourage and

strengthen the parental relationship so that the child may safely return to the family.”

In re Jose Luis R.H., 968 A.2d 875, 882 (R.I. 2009); see § 15-7-7(b)(1).

      Here, the trial justice found, by clear and convincing evidence, that respondent

was unfit as a parent and that DCYF had made reasonable efforts to reunify

respondent with his daughter. This finding is supported by the record, which reveals

that eight case plans were developed for respondent over the course of nearly four

                                         - 12 -
years, all of which had the goal of either reunification or to maintain Rachelle in her

parents’ home. Those case plans required respondent to, among other things,

maintain a substance-free lifestyle, provide for Rachelle’s basic needs, and assist in

achieving maximum school readiness potential for Rachelle. In an effort to help

respondent with successfully achieving the case plan goals, DCYF made numerous

referrals to assist respondent with substance abuse, parenting, and Rachelle’s

educational goals. Despite DCYF’s statutorily required efforts, respondent did not

comply with the case plans. See In re James H., 181 A.3d 19, 27 (R.I. 2018)

(“[R]efusal to cooperate with the objectives of the case plans constitutes clear and

convincing evidence of [a] lack of interest in [the child] and, as such, could properly

serve as a basis for a finding of parental unfitness.”).

      Specifically, the record reveals that, in furtherance of the goal of maintaining

a substance-free lifestyle, DCYF referred respondent to Phoenix House and

Meadows Edge. DCYF was never able to obtain reports from Phoenix House

because respondent withdrew his release. The respondent did successfully complete

outpatient treatment at Meadows Edge in August 2015, but by April 2017 DCYF

was requesting that respondent undergo another substance-abuse evaluation because

the DCYF caseworker reported to the Family Court that it was disclosed to DCYF

that respondent recently “came home after being intoxicated” and “got into a fight”

with Marisa and “he pushed [her].” The respondent made initial contact with

                                         - 13 -
Meadows Edge but had positive screens and was eventually clinically discharged

due to lack of contact. The respondent’s contention that the second substance-abuse

evaluation was unnecessary does not excuse his failure to comply with the case plan

objectives. The Family Court ordered respondent to undergo another substance-

abuse evaluation, but he willfully ignored that order. See In re Julian D., 18 A.3d

477, 485 (R.I. 2011) (holding that a respondent-father’s refusal to complete a sexual-

offender counseling program as required in DCYF’s case-plan goals constituted a

precondition to reunification and prevented child from being able to return to father

“any time soon”).

      As to providing for Rachelle’s basic needs, effectively parenting her, and

maximizing her school preparedness, respondent seemed to have little involvement

or interest in the services DCYF attempted to put in place. Rachelle was referred to

the Early Intervention Program at a young age to assist with her development.

According to the Early Intervention family service coordinator, “Early Intervention

is a coaching model” that “encourage[s] parents to be involved in visits[.]” The

family service coordinator testified that she met respondent only once and the Early

Intervention records reveal that six appointments were missed. The respondent

testified that he did not help with the homework provided by Early Intervention

because he “was probably fishing.” Although respondent testified that his wife was

mainly responsible for taking Rachelle to medical appointments, it is clear to us that

                                        - 14 -
he was content to leave parenting to Marisa, to the detriment of Rachelle’s

development.

      Moreover, respondent failed to successfully complete the Key Program

Positive Parenting Program. The respondent also took no action in response to

concerns relayed by Rachelle’s teachers regarding her attendance, appearance,

cleanliness, and health. The respondent utterly failed to demonstrate an effort to

fully engage in the services provided by DCYF. See In re Elana W., 249 A.3d at 294

(“Merely completing some of the referred programs, without the accompanying

behavior change, is not enough to support reunification.”).

      On appeal, respondent seeks to excuse his failure to achieve the case plan

goals by arguing that it was incumbent upon DCYF to “propose a case plan allowing

[him] to individually parent Rachelle while [Marisa] addressed her substance abuse

issues.” The respondent and Marisa were each represented by their own attorney

throughout the proceedings leading up to the termination petition. Nothing in the

record reflects that respondent’s counsel suggested or pursued separate case

planning. Moreover, respondent testified during the termination proceedings that

there was never a time in his mind that he would leave Marisa and take Rachelle to

parent alone, and he stated that, if asked to, he “maybe” would have separated from

Marisa for a little while in order to reunify with Rachelle. There is also nothing in

the record to suggest that respondent undertook any efforts to address his wife’s

                                       - 15 -
substance-abuse and parenting issues. Based on the foregoing, we are satisfied that

there is sufficient evidence in the record to support the trial justice’s finding that

respondent was unfit given his failure to engage in the services provided by DCYF,

and that DCYF made reasonable efforts at reunification.

      Once a determination of parental unfitness has been made by the Family

Court, the trial justice must turn to the best interests of the child, which “outweigh

all other considerations.” In re Domenic B., 260 A.3d at 1111 (quoting In re Elana

W., 249 A.3d at 293). The trial justice found that Rachelle was in what would be a

preadoptive home if she was freed for adoption and had established a familial

connection in her foster home. At the time of the trial in Family Court, Rachelle had

resided in nonrelative foster care continuously for over a year; prior to that, she

underwent numerous transitions from her parents’ care to nonrelative foster care,

including at least two different foster homes.9 Rachelle’s therapist wrote a letter to

DCYF in September 2017, opining that “it is crucial that permanency for Rachelle

in a stable loving home be established as soon as possible.” We are satisfied that the

trial justice appropriately determined that the termination of the respondent’s

parental rights was in the best interest of Rachelle. See In re Alexis L., 972 A.2d 159,

9
  During oral argument before this Court, counsel for DCYF represented that the
respondent had not called to inquire about Rachelle’s well-being for more than three
years. This is confirmed by a letter from DCYF to the Family Court that was filed
after the present appeal was docketed. Rachelle has now been in the same
preadoptive home for more than four years.

                                         - 16 -
170 (R.I. 2009) (explaining that “[a]lthough this Court is ever cognizant of the

significance of severing the bond between parent and child, it is in the best interests

of children to have a safe and nurturing environment in which to live, learn[,] and

grow”).

                                     Conclusion

      For the reasons set forth in this opinion, we affirm the decree of the Family

Court. The record in this case may be returned to the Family Court.

                                        - 17 -
                                               STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
                                        SUPREME COURT – CLERK’S OFFICE
                                              Licht Judicial Complex
                                                250 Benefit Street
                                              Providence, RI 02903

                                 OPINION COVER SHEET

Title of Case                        In re Rachelle L-B.

                                     No. 2021-35-Appeal.
Case Number
                                     (W 17-3811)

Date Opinion Filed                   May 27, 2022

                                     Suttell, C.J., Goldberg, Robinson, Lynch Prata, and
Justices
                                     Long, JJ.

Written By                           Associate Justice Erin Lynch Prata

Source of Appeal                     Washington County Family Court

Judicial Officer from Lower Court    Associate Justice Sandra A. Lanni

                                     For Petitioner:

                                     Dianne L. Leyden
                                     Department of Children, Youth, and Families

Attorney(s) on Appeal                Laurel C. Ferrelli
                                     Court Appointed Special Advocate
                                     For Respondent:

                                     Camille A. McKenna
                                     Office of the Public Defender

SU-CMS-02A (revised June 2020)