Court Opinion

ID: 4218004
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-11-06 19:16:08.69436+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:42:25.406578
License: Public Domain

J-S67002-17

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

 IN THE INTEREST OF: I.L.H.L., A        :    IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
 MINOR                                  :         PENNSYLVANIA
                                        :
                                        :
 APPEAL OF: S.F., FATHER                :
                                        :
                                        :
                                        :
                                        :    No. 2203 EDA 2017

                    Appeal from the Decree June 5, 2017
      In the Court of Common Pleas of Monroe County Orphans' Court
                           at No(s): 8 OCA 2017

 IN THE INTEREST OF: V.C., A            :    IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
 MINOR                                  :         PENNSYLVANIA
                                        :
                                        :
 APPEAL OF: S.F., FATHER                :
                                        :
                                        :
                                        :
                                        :    No. 2205 EDA 2017

                    Appeal from the Decree June 5, 2017
      in the Court of Common Pleas of Monroe County Orphans' Court
                           at No(s): 9 OCA 2017

BEFORE:    GANTMAN, P.J., MUSMANNO, J., and STEVENS, P.J.E.*

MEMORANDUM BY STEVENS, P.J.E.:                 FILED NOVEMBER 06, 2017

      Appellant, S.F. (“Father”), files this appeal from the decrees dated and

entered June 5, 2017, in the Monroe County Court of Common Pleas, granting

the petition of Monroe County Children and Youth Services (“CYS”) and

involuntarily terminating his parental rights to his minor, dependent daughter,

V.C., born in July 2015, and minor, dependent son, I.L.H.L., born in

September 2016 (collectively, the “Children”), pursuant to the Adoption Act,

____________________________________
* Former Justice specially assigned to the Superior Court.
J-S67002-17

23 Pa.C.S.A. § 2511(a)(1), (2), (5), (8), and (b).1 After review, we affirm the

trial court’s decrees.

       The trial court summarized the relevant procedural and factual history

as follows:

                            I.      FINDINGS OF FACT

                                          ...

       4. [CYS] first received a referral on August 5, 2015 that Mother
       had given birth to [V.C.], who had remained in the hospital due to
       a premature birth.

       5. Two more referrals were received on August 6 and August 11,
       2015 with concerns regarding housing, [Mother] not following
       through with services, and her ability to properly parent because
       of mental and physical limitations.[2]

       6. CYS began working with Mother and provided her with services,
       such as Justice Works Youth Care and Nurse Family Partnership.
       Mother was doing well with the help of the supports in place and
       [V.C.] was discharged from the hospital in the care of Mother.[3]

____________________________________________

1 By the same decrees, the trial court also involuntarily terminated the
parental rights of M.C. (“Mother”) with respect to the Children. Mother filed a
separate appeal addressed by a separate memorandum at Superior Court
Docket No. 2086 EDA 2017.

2 Beyond V.C.’s prematurity in weighing three pounds, six ounces at birth, the
initial referral expressed concerns related to Mother’s mental health,
intellectual limitations, domestic violence, and lack of appropriate housing.
Notes of Testimony (“N.T.”), 5/23/17, at 7-8. The next referrals related
concerns regarding Mother’s ability to properly parent, suspicions that Mother
had a contagious skin condition, and Father’s outstanding criminal warrants.
Id. at 9-10.

3 Mother reported that she and V.C. would be residing with her mother at a
hotel upon release from the hospital. N.T. at 10. Subsequent to another
referral related to housing and/or homelessness, Mother again reported that
she would be residing with her mother. Id. at 12.

                                           -2-
J-S67002-17

       7. On August 24, 2015, CYS learned that Mother had re-located
       back to live with her father and his five other children, that some
       of those children had lice, and that Mother and [V.C.] were
       sleeping in one of the other children’s room[s].

       8. On August 31, 2015, the agency was made aware that Mother
       had left the residence to move to a third residence.

       9. There were also allegations that Mother left [V.C.] alone with
       [Mother’s] (10) year old sibling who had aggressive behavioral
       issues and that she had missed [V.C.]’s pediatrician appointment.

       10. On September 1, 2015, CYS learned that Mother had moved
       to a fourth residence.

       11. Attempts to contact Mother were unsuccessful and she was
       not in contact with any of her service providers.

       12. On September 7, 2015, Mother brought [V.C.] to the hospital
       due to having possible burn marks on her palms and scalp which
       ended up being a skin rash. Concerns were that Mother dropped
       [V.C.] off at the hospital and then left, instead of waiting with the
       child.

       13. Emergency Protective Custody of [V.C.] was requested by
       CYS and granted by the Honorable Stephen M. Higgins on
       September 8, 2015 and continued at the Shelter Care hearing held
       on September 11, 2015.

       14. [V.C.] was found to be a dependent child by the Honorable
       David J. Williamson by Order dated September 21, 2015.

       15. Said placement of [V.C.] was reviewed and continued by
       further Orders of Court dated December 11, 2015, March 16,
       2016, June 8, 2016 and November 14, 2016. By Order dated
       November 14, 2016, [V.C.]’s goal was changed to Adoption.[4]

       16. Paternity of [V.C.] was questioned, but a paternity test
       determined that [Father] is [V.C.]’s father.

       17. Neither Mother nor Father have had stable income.

____________________________________________

4Upon review of the certified record, while dated November 14, 2016, the
goal change order was filed and entered on November 16, 2016. Neither
Mother nor Father appealed the goal change to adoption.

                                           -3-
J-S67002-17

        18. [Mother] had filed a Protection from Abuse petition against
        Father in September[] 2015, which was dismissed after she failed
        to appear at the hearing.

        19. Mother did not have stable housing and spent time living in a
        tent, then at a motel with [her paramour I.L.] in early October
        2015, and then moved to Louisiana in late October 2015 with
        Father.

        20.   Mother has mental health issues for which she takes
        prescribed medication and she has physical limitations with her
        arm.[5]

        21. Father was then arrested in Louisiana in January 2016 for an
        incident that had occurred previously in Pennsylvania. He was
        charged with Criminal Attempt – Murder of the First Degree,
        Aggravated Assault, Recklessly Endangering Another Person and
        Terroristic Threats with Intent to Terrorize Another and eventually
        returned to Pennsylvania.[6]

        22. On that same day, Mother informed CYS that she was on her
        way back to Pennsylvania due to Father’s incarceration. Mother
        and Father had no visits or contact with [V.C.] from October 2015
        through January 2016 while they resided in Louisiana.[7]

        23. Upon Mother’s return to Pennsylvania in June 2016, she
        visited with [V.C.] and began residing again with her [] paramour
        [I.L.].

        24. Mother advised she was expecting her second child and that
        [I.L.] was the father, even though the timing of the pregnancy
        indicated Mother became pregnant when she was in Louisiana with
        Father.

____________________________________________

5 Mother suffers from depression and anxiety, and has some paralysis in one
of her hands. N.T. at 8, 11.

6   Father was extradited from Louisiana to Pennsylvania. N.T. at 57-58.

7 Testimony was presented that Mother and Father sent a package to CYS
from Louisiana for V.C.’s foster parents which included a onesie and a pacifier.
N.T. at 52. Testimony was additionally presented as to Father’s inability to
have appropriate contact without harassing Children’s foster parents. Id. at
52-53.

                                           -4-
J-S67002-17

       25. A paternity test determined that [Father] was the father of
       [I.L.H.L.], [born in September of 2016], and not [Mother]’s
       paramour, [I.L.], as she had claimed.

       26. Emergency Protective Custody of [I.L.H.L.] was requested by
       CYS and granted by the Honorable David J. Williamson on
       September 8, 2016 and continued at the Shelter Care hearing held
       on September 12, 2016.

       27. [I.L.H.L.] was found to be a dependent child by the Honorable
       David J. Williamson by Order dated September 21, 2016.

       28. Said placement of [I.L.H.L.] was reviewed and continued by
       further Order of Court dated December 8, 2016.

       29. A goal change hearing on [V.C.] was held November 14,
       2016. A goal change hearing on [I.L.H.L.] was held on May 23,
       2017 together with the Petition for Termination of Parental
       Rights.[8]

       30. Mother has not completed parenting classes and her visitation
       has been inconsistent. Mother’s last visit . . . occurred on
       February 15, 2017.

       ...

       32. Mother has changed her residence at least fourteen (14)
       times since August 2015.

       33. Mother is pregnant again and expecting twins.

       34. Mother stopped all contact with CYS since March 2017.[9]

       35. Father has remained incarcerated following his return from
       Louisiana. He entered a guilty plea to Aggravated Assault and
____________________________________________

8 By order dated and entered May 23, 2017, I.L.H.L.’s goal was changed to
adoption. Permanency Review Order, 5/23/17. Father does not appeal the
goal change to adoption. As Father does not appeal this order, any such
claims related thereto are not preserved. Pa.R.A.P. 903(a) (a notice of appeal
shall be filed within thirty days after the entry of the order from which the
appeal is taken).

9While I.L. or family members cancelled Mother’s scheduled visitation on her
behalf into March 2017, Ms. Payne testified that she last spoke to Mother on
February 15, 2017. N.T. at 76, 79.

                                           -5-
J-S67002-17

       was sentenced on November 14, 2016 to not less than twenty five
       (25) months nor more than one hundred twenty (120) months.
       He is currently incarcerated at SCI [State Correctional Institution]
       Mahanoy.

       36. Father had not completed any of the goals outlined in the
       Child Permanency Plan, including mental health treatment.

       37. Visits are not occurring with Father due to his incarceration
       and health concerns for [V.C.].

       38. [I.L.H.L.] is placed with [V.C.] in a foster home that is able
       to provide permanency.

       39. [I.L.H.L.] and [V.C.] are bonded with each other and their
       foster family.

       40. Foster parents want to adopt [I.L.H.L.] and [V.C.].

Opinion (I.L.H.L.), 6/5/17, at 1-6.10

       CYS filed petitions to terminate the parental rights of Father and Mother

to V.C. and I.L.H.L. on February 3, 2017. The trial court held a hearing on

May 23, 2017. In support thereof, CYS presented the testimony of Kate Croll,

supervisor of the CYS Intensive Unit, and Jennifer Payne, CYS case worker.11

The Guardian ad litem, Lara Kash, Esquire, further presented the testimony

of Angela Laubach-Huerta, nurse, Nurse-Family Partnership.12        Mother was
____________________________________________

10 While addressing Mother and Father together, the court issued separate
opinions for both V.C. and I.L.H.L. These opinions, however, are substantially
similar. See Opinion (I.L.H.L.), 6/5/17; Opinion (V.C.), 6/5/17.

11CYS further presented Exhibits 1 through 22, which were admitted without
objection. N.T. at 45, 80.

12  Court-appointed counsel for the Children, Barbara Fitzgerald, Esquire, was
also present and participated in the termination hearing. Subsequent to the
filing of the within appeals, Ms. Kash resigned and Ms. Fitzgerald was
substituted as guardian ad litem. Order, 7/12/17. Notably, when questioned

                                           -6-
J-S67002-17

present in the courtroom and Father was present via video conference from

SCI Mahanoy. While both parents were represented by counsel, neither party

testified or offered any evidence on their behalf.

       By decrees dated and entered June 5, 2017, the trial court involuntarily

terminated the parental rights of Father and Mother pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S.A.

§ 2511(a)(1), (2), (5), (8), and (b).            Accompanying these decrees were

opinions addressing the trial court’s rationale for the termination of parental

rights.    See Opinion (I.L.H.L.), 6/5/17, at 6-12; Opinion (V.C.), 6/5/17, at

6-11. On July 5, 2017, Father, through appointed counsel, filed notices of

appeal, along with concise statements of errors complained of on appeal

pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a)(2)(i) and (b), which this Court consolidated sua

sponte on August 4, 2017. Pursuant to a Statement Pursuant to Pa.R.A.P.

1925(a) dated and entered July 10, 2017, the court indicated that it had

adequately addressed the issues raised on appeal in its opinion submitted with

its decrees terminating parental rights. See Statement Pursuant to Pa.R.A.P.

1925(a), 7/10/17.

       On appeal, Father raises the following issue for our review:

       Whether the [t]rial [c]ourt erred by terminating the parental rights
       of Father, where there was no clear and convincing evidence that
       established statutory grounds for termination of parental rights
       under 23 Pa.C.S.A. [§ 2511](a)(1), (2), (5), (8) and (b), and

____________________________________________

by the court at the close of the hearing, Ms. Fitzgerald did not express an
opinion as to termination given the Children’s age and their inability to express
their views. N.T. at 111. Ms. Kash, however, offered an opinion in favor of
termination. Id. at 112.

                                           -7-
J-S67002-17

      where termination does not serve the developmental, physical and
      emotional needs of the children[?]

Father’s Brief at 4.

      In matters involving involuntary termination of parental rights, our

standard of review is as follows:

      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.” In re Adoption of S.P., [616 Pa. 309, 325, 47
      A.3d 817, 826 (2012)]. “If the factual findings are supported,
      appellate courts review to determine if the trial court made an
      error of law or abused its discretion.” Id. “[A] decision may be
      reversed for an abuse of discretion only upon demonstration of
      manifest unreasonableness, partiality, prejudice, bias, or ill-will.”
      Id. The trial court’s decision, however, should not be reversed
      merely because the record would support a different result. Id.
      at [325-26, 47 A.3d at] 827. We have previously emphasized our
      deference to trial courts that often have first-hand observations of
      the parties spanning multiple hearings. See In re R.J.T., [608
      Pa. 9, 26-27, 9 A.3d 1179, 1190 (2010)].

In re T.S.M., 620 Pa. 602, 628, 71 A.3d 251, 267 (2013). “The trial court is

free to believe all, part, or none of the evidence presented and is likewise free

to make all credibility determinations and resolve conflicts in the evidence.”

In re M.G. & J.G., 855 A.2d 68, 73-74 (Pa.Super. 2004) (citation omitted).

“[I]f 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).

      The termination of parental rights is governed by Section 2511 of the

Adoption Act, 23 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 2101-2938, and requires a bifurcated analysis

of the grounds for termination followed by the needs and welfare of the child.

                                      -8-
J-S67002-17

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

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

defined clear and convincing evidence as that which is so “clear, direct,

weighty and convincing as to enable the trier of fact to come to a clear

conviction, without hesitance, of the truth of the precise facts in issue.” In re

C.S., 761 A.2d 1197, 1201 (Pa.Super. 2000) (en banc) (quoting Matter of

Adoption of Charles E.D.M., II, 550 Pa. 595, 601, 708 A.2d 88, 91 (1998)).

      In the case sub judice, the trial court terminated Father’s parental rights

pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 2511(a)(1), (2), (5), (8), and (b). We have long

held that, in order to affirm a termination of parental rights, we need only

agree with the trial court as to any one subsection of Section 2511(a), as well

as Section 2511(b). In re B.L.W., 843 A.2d 380, 384 (Pa.Super. 2004) (en

banc).   We, therefore, analyze the court’s decision to terminate Father’s

parental rights under Sections 2511(a)(2) and (b), which provide as follows:

         (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:

                                      -9-
J-S67002-17

                                      ...

           (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.

                                      ...

        (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(a)(2), and (b).

     This Court has explained our analysis with respect to Section 2511(a)(2)

in the following manner:

     In order to terminate parental rights pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S.A. §
     2511(a)(2), the following three elements must be met: (1)
     repeated and continued incapacity, abuse, neglect or refusal; (2)
     such incapacity, abuse, neglect or refusal has caused the child to
     be without essential parental care, control or subsistence
     necessary for his physical or mental well-being; and (3) the
     causes of the incapacity, abuse, neglect or refusal cannot or will
     not be remedied.

In re Adoption of M.E.P., 825 A.2d 1266, 1272 (Pa.Super. 2003) (citation

omitted). Further, we have clarified that “[t]he grounds for termination due

to parental incapacity that cannot be remedied are not limited to affirmative

                                    - 10 -
J-S67002-17

misconduct.   To the contrary, those grounds may include acts of refusal as

well as incapacity to perform parental duties.” In re Adoption of C.D.R.,

111 A.3d 1212, 1216 (Pa.Super. 2015) (quoting In re A.L.D., 797 A.2d 326,

337 (Pa.Super. 2002)).

      In In re Adoption of S.P., 616 Pa. 309, 47 A.3d 817 (2012), our

Supreme Court, in addressing Section 2511(a)(2), concluded that

      incarceration is a factor, and indeed can be a determinative factor,
      in a court’s conclusion that grounds for termination exist under §
      2511(a)(2) where the repeated and continued incapacity of a
      parent due to incarceration has caused the child to be without
      essential parental care, control or subsistence and that the causes
      of the incapacity cannot or will not be remedied.

Id. at 328-29, 47 A.3d at 828; see also In re D.C.D., 629 Pa. 325, 346-47,

105 A.3d 662, 675 (2014) (holding that incarceration prior to the child’s birth

and until the child is at least age seven renders family reunification an

unrealistic goal and court within its discretion to terminate parental rights

“notwithstanding the agency’s failure” to follow court’s initial directive that

reunification efforts be made). The Court in S.P. further stated,

      [W]e now definitively hold that incarceration, while not a litmus
      test for termination, can be determinative of the question of
      whether a parent is incapable of providing “essential parental
      care, control or subsistence” and the length of the remaining
      confinement can be considered as highly relevant to whether “the
      conditions and causes of the incapacity, abuse, neglect or refusal
      cannot or will not be remedied by the parent,” sufficient to provide
      grounds for termination pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S.[A.] § 2511(a)(2).
      See e.g. Adoption of J.J., [511 Pa. 590, 605,] 515 A.2d [883,
      891 (1986)] (“[A] parent who is incapable of performing parental
      duties is just as parentally unfit as one who refuses to perform the
      duties.”); [In re] E.A.P., 944 A.2d [79, 85 (Pa.Super.
      2008)](holding termination under § 2511(a)(2) was supported by

                                     - 11 -
J-S67002-17

       mother’s repeated incarcerations and failure to be present for
       child, which caused child to be without essential care and
       subsistence for most of her life and which cannot be remedied
       despite mother’s compliance with various prison programs).

In re Adoption of S.P., 616 Pa. at 331-32, 47 A.3d at 830 (footnote

omitted).

       In the instant matter, in finding grounds for termination pursuant to

Section 2511(a)(2), the trial court concluded as follows:

              Section 2511(a)(2) of the Adoption Act provides that
       parental rights can be terminated if 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 her physical and mental well-being and the
       conditions and causes of the inability, abuse, neglect or refusal
       have not been remedied by the parent. Mother and Father’s
       inability to care for the child has not been remedied, and it
       appears that they cannot or will not be able to do so in the near
       future.

Opinion (I.L.H.L.), 6/5/17, at 8-9. We agree.

       A review of the record supports the trial court’s determination of a basis

for termination under Section 2511(a)(2).          Significantly, Father has been

incarcerated since January 2016, prior to I.L.H.L. even being born. N.T. at

41. Father has not seen or had any contact with the Children since that date.13

____________________________________________

13  Ms. Croll indicated that Father and Mother did send a package from
Louisiana, prior to Father’s arrest and incarceration, for CYS to forward to
foster parents. N.T. at 52. Father additionally had communication with foster
parents for an unknown period of time that had to be restricted to email
contact from foster parents as his telephone calls were described by Ms. Croll
as “bordering on harassing.” Id. at 52-53. However, despite additionally
asking for photographs of V.C., Ms. Payne confirmed that Father has sent no
letters or cards to V.C. while incarcerated. Id. at 86.

                                          - 12 -
J-S67002-17

In fact, Father has never even met I.L.H.L., and has only seen and held V.C.

on one occasion, at her September 2015 dependency hearing. Id. at 54-55.

       Although Father had his prison counselor contact CYS regarding

visitation with V.C. in June 2016, Ms. Croll confirmed that, prior to

incarceration, Father made no effort and/or expressed no desire to come back

to Pennsylvania from Louisiana to visit with V.C. or care for V.C. 14 Id. at 53,

62, 85. In addition, although Ms. Payne referenced a discussion with Father

regarding visitation with I.L.H.L. in January 2016, she indicated that Father

requested that visitation not be scheduled until he moved to his “home jail.”

Id. at 73. Moreover, Father acknowledged that he made no request of CYS

for any updates regarding I.L.H.L. since his birth. Id. at 100.

       Father was sentenced to two to ten years’ imprisonment. Id. at 78, 81,

103; see also Petitioner’s Exhibit 15. His earliest possible release date is

February 2, 2018, but that this date will be difficult to attain due to certain

requirements of his sentencing that he must complete prior to release. Id.

Further, it is speculative whether Father will then, or ever, be in a position to

____________________________________________

14 While Father indicated that he additionally sent correspondence with regard
to visitation with V.C., visitation was never scheduled due to V.C.’s health
concerns. Id. at 77-78, 85-86, 97. CYS presented documentation received
from V.C.’s doctor opining that visitation at a correctional facility environment
was not in V.C.’s best interests medically due to her history of febrile seizures.
Id. at 86; Petitioner’s Exhibits 12, 16.

                                          - 13 -
J-S67002-17

care for the Children.15 This prospect is simply unacceptable for the Children,

who have been in the custody of CYS for essentially their entire young lives

and never in the custody or care of Father. At the time of the termination

hearing, V.C. was nearly two years old and had been in foster care since she

was approximately six weeks old; I.L.H.L. was eight months old and had been

taken from Mother’s care at birth.

       As this Court has stated, “a child’s life cannot be held in abeyance while

a parent attempts to attain the maturity necessary to assume parenting

responsibilities. The court cannot and will not subordinate indefinitely a child’s

need for permanence and stability to a parent’s claims of progress and hope

for the future.” In re Adoption of R.J.S., 901 A.2d 502, 513 (Pa.Super.

2006). Hence, the record substantiates the conclusion that Father’s repeated

and continued incapacity, abuse, neglect, or refusal has caused the Children

to be without essential parental control or subsistence necessary for their

physical and mental well-being. See In re Adoption of M.E.P., 825 A.2d at

1272. Moreover, Father cannot or will not remedy this situation. See id. As

____________________________________________

15 Ms. Croll indicated that Father was not cooperative as to completion of what
CYS required of him prior to his incarceration when he was living in Louisiana.
She specifically noted that, while Father acknowledged anger and mental
health issues, he failed to follow through, despite CYS providing resources.
N.T. at 51. Father testified that he was going to pursue mental health
treatment in August 2015, after recommended, however, decided not to
engage in treatment. Id. at 94-95. Nonetheless, Father stated that he is now
complying with treatment recommendations in prison. He reported that he is
on a treatment block and receiving therapy and medication in his current
correctional facility, to be followed by violence prevention and a batterers’
group. Id. at 94-95.

                                          - 14 -
J-S67002-17

noted above, in order to affirm a termination of parental rights, we need only

agree with the trial court as to any one subsection of Section 2511(a). In re

B.L.W., 843 A.2d at 384.

      Before we assess the trial court’s determination that termination of

Father’s parental rights would best serve the needs and welfare of the Children

pursuant to Section 2511(b), we note that Father presents no argument with

citation to relevant authority with respect to Section 2511(b).    See In re

W.H., 25 A.3d 330, 339 n.3 (Pa. Super. 2011), appeal denied, 24 A.3d 364

(Pa. 2011) (quoting In re A.C., 991 A.2d 884, 897 (Pa. Super. 2010))

(“[W]here an appellate brief fails to provide any discussion of a claim with

citation to relevant authority or fails to develop the issue in any other

meaningful fashion capable of review, that claim is waived.”). As a result,

Father has waived any challenge to Section 2511(b).

      Accordingly, because we conclude that the lower court did not abuse its

discretion by involuntarily terminating Father's parental rights to Child, we

affirm the order of the orphans' court.

      Order affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 11/6/2017

                                    - 15 -