Court Opinion

ID: 9951180
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-03-15 18:10:30.206985+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:35:38.499251
License: Public Domain

J-S02034-24

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT O.P. 65.37

 IN THE INTEREST OF: R.H., A           :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
 MINOR                                 :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                       :
                                       :
 APPEAL OF: E.J., MOTHER               :
                                       :
                                       :
                                       :
                                       :   No. 2420 EDA 2023

             Appeal from the Order Entered August 23, 2023
 In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Juvenile Division at
                    No(s): CP-51-DP-0000472-2021

 IN THE INTEREST OF: R.M.H., A         :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
 MINOR                                 :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                       :
                                       :
 APPEAL OF: E.J., MOTHER               :
                                       :
                                       :
                                       :
                                       :   No. 2421 EDA 2023

             Appeal from the Decree Entered August 23, 2023
 In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Juvenile Division at
                     No(s): CP-51-AP-0000202-2023

 IN THE INTEREST OF: D.H., A           :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
 MINOR                                 :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                       :
                                       :
 APPEAL OF: E.J., MOTHER               :
                                       :
                                       :
                                       :
                                       :   No. 2422 EDA 2023

             Appeal from the Order Entered August 23, 2023
 In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Juvenile Division at
                    No(s): CP-51-DP-0000580-2021
J-S02034-24

    IN THE INTEREST OF: D.W.H., A              :     IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
    MINOR                                      :          PENNSYLVANIA
                                               :
                                               :
    APPEAL OF: E.J., MOTHER                    :
                                               :
                                               :
                                               :
                                               :     No. 2423 EDA 2023

                Appeal from the Decree Entered August 23, 2023
    In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Juvenile Division at
                        No(s): CP-51-AP-0000203-2023

BEFORE:      LAZARUS, P.J., MURRAY, J., and STEVENS, P.J.E.*

MEMORANDUM BY STEVENS, P.J.E.:                              FILED MARCH 15, 2024

       E.J. (“Mother”), appeals from the August 23, 2023 decrees involuntarily

terminating her parental rights to her twin daughters, R.H. a/k/a R.M.H. and

D.H. a/k/a D.W.H., born in March 2021 (collectively, “the Children”).1 Mother

also appeals from the orders changing the Children’s respective permanency

goals from reunification to adoption.              Mother’s appointed counsel, Gary

Server, Esquire, has filed a petition to withdraw and an accompanying brief,

pursuant     to   Anders      v.    California,      386   U.S.   738   (1967),    and

Commonwealth v. Santiago, 602 Pa. 159, 978 A.2d 349 (2009).                       After

____________________________________________

* Former Justice specially assigned to the Superior Court.

1 By separate decrees dated and entered June 20, 2023, the trial court
involuntarily terminated the parental rights of any unknown father. Further,
by separate decrees dated and entered August 23, 2023, the trial court
involuntarily terminated the parental rights of Children’s father, A.M. Neither
A.M. nor any unknown father filed notices of appeal or participated in the
instant appeals.

                                           -2-
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review, we grant Attorney Server’s petition to withdraw, affirm the termination

decrees, and dismiss Mother’s appeals from the goal change orders as moot.

       According to the certified record, the Philadelphia Department of Human

Services (“DHS”) received a referral in March 2021 concerning, inter alia,

Mother and the Children testing positive for illegal substances at the Children’s

birth. Specifically, the Community Umbrella Agency (“CUA”) case manager

assigned to this case, Omar Burgos, testified regarding the inception of this

matter, as follows:

       So, back in March of 2021, a GPS report came in stating that both
       children, [R.H.] and [D.H.] were found to be born positive, with
       marijuana and Suboxone[2] in their system. There was also a
       report that [M]other was unemployed at the time, that she was in
       an active domestic violent relationship with the [C]hildren’s
       father, and that she had a history of depression.

Notes of Testimony (“N.T.”), 6/20/23, at 9. Following their birth, the Children,

who were prematurely born at 29 weeks gestation, were hospitalized in the

neonatal intensive care unit. Petitions for Involuntary Termination of Parental

Rights, 5/25/23, Exhibit “A,” Statement of Facts, at ¶ a.

____________________________________________

2 Mother acknowledged an addiction to Percocet, following the birth of her
oldest child in 2007, for which she had a prescription for Suboxone. She
however failed to provide DHS with a valid prescription. Petitions for
Involuntary Termination of Parental Rights, 5/25/23, Exhibit “A,” Statement
of Facts, at ¶¶ b, c.

                                           -3-
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       Upon discharge from the hospital, DHS obtained protective custody of

R.H. on May 5, 2021,3 and the court adjudicated her dependent on May 25,

2021. DHS then obtained protective custody of D.H. on June 8, 2021, and

the court adjudicated her dependent on July 19, 2021. The Children were

placed together in a medical foster home, where they have remained

throughout these proceedings.4           See N.T., 6/20/23, at 9-10.   The court

confirmed this placement, established respective permanency goals of

reunification, and, inter alia, ordered Mother to participate in supervised

visitations.

       In furtherance of reunification, DHS and/or CUA established single case

plans, the objectives of which were discussed with Mother and remained

consistent. Corresponding to the terms set forth by the court at the time of

adjudication, Mother was required to address, inter alia, her substance abuse,

housing, employment, and domestic violence. See id. at 12-13.

       Throughout the ensuing dependency proceedings, the court conducted

regular review hearings at which it maintained the Children’s commitment and

placement. The court characterized Mother’s compliance with the permanency

____________________________________________

3 R.H. was ultimately discharged from the hospital on May 7, 2021.
                                                             Petitions
for Involuntary Termination of Parental Rights, 5/25/23, Exhibit “A,”
Statement of Facts, at ¶ n.

4 The nature of the Children’s medical issues is unspecified.
                                                           Although engaged
in early intervention services, these were completed at the time of the June
2023 hearing. See N.T., 6/20/23, at 29.

                                           -4-
J-S02034-24

plan and progress towards alleviating the circumstances which necessitated

placement as moderate during 2022.               However, at a permanency review

hearing on January 3, 2023, the court characterized Mother’s compliance and

progress as minimal. Her progress remained rated as minimal at the next

permanency review hearing on March 21, 2023.

       On May 25, 2023, the Agency filed separate petitions to involuntary

terminate Mother’s parental rights to the Children pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S.A.

§ 2511(a)(1), (2), (4), (5), (8), and (b), as well as petitions to change the

Children’s permanency goals to adoption. The court held a combined hearing

on the petitions on June 20, 2023. Mother was present and represented by

Attorney Server.        The Children, who were then two years old, were

represented by Adrienne Box, Esquire, of the Defender Association of

Philadelphia Child Advocacy Unit.5

____________________________________________

5  The Defender Association of Philadelphia, Child Advocacy Unit, was
appointed as guardian ad litem/counsel for the Children at the outset of the
dependency proceedings. Insomuch as the Children’s legal interests were
incapable of ascertainment due to their young age, we find section 2313(a)
satisfied by the representation of Attorney Box. See In re T.S., 648 Pa. 236,
257, 192 A.3d 1080, 1092-1093 (2018) (holding, “if the preferred outcome of
a child is incapable of ascertainment because the child is very young and pre-
verbal, there can be no conflict between the child’s legal interests and his or
her best interests; as such, the mandate of section 2313(a) of the Adoption
Act” is satisfied.).

At the conclusion of the subject hearing, Attorney Box argued in favor of a
goal change to adoption and termination of Mother’s parental rights. See
N.T., 8/23/23, at 10-11. Given the filing of an Anders brief, the Defender
Association submitted a letter to this Court indicating that no brief would be
filed on behalf of the Children. See No Brief Letter, 12/7/23.

                                           -5-
J-S02034-24

       While Mother indicated her assent to the voluntary termination of her

parental rights, the court proceeded with the hearing and held its decision in

abeyance in order to allow Mother time to execute consents.             See N.T.,

6/20/23, at 4-6, 36-37. (“I can hear testimony and hold it in abeyance. So,

that’ll give her a chance to [sign consents for voluntary termination], but I

don’t want to defer hearing the testimony if there’s no issues as to notice of

today’s hearing, but I’m willing to hold a decision in abeyance. . . .”). Mother

stipulated to the allegations set forth in the petitions. See id. at 5-6. In

addition, the Agency presented the testimony of Mr. Burgos. At the conclusion

of the hearing, the court relisted the matter for August 23, 2023, in order to

allow time for maturation. See id. at 37-38.

       Thereafter, it follows, Mother executed consents for the voluntary

termination of her parental rights.              DHS filed petitions for voluntary

termination and to confirm Mother’s consent on July 5, 2023.

       On August 23, 2023, Mother, however, revoked her consents,6 see N.T.,

8/23/23, at 5, and DHS’s petitions with respect to the voluntary termination

of her parental rights were withdrawn. As such, the trial court heard argument

with regard to DHS’s goal change petitions and petitions to involuntarily

terminate Mother’s parental rights. See id. at 8-12.

____________________________________________

6 The court accepted an offer of proof that Mother wished to revoke her
consents for voluntary termination and would testify that she felt “compelled”
to execute same, resulting in the inability to confirm same. See N.T.,
8/23/23, at 6-7.

                                           -6-
J-S02034-24

       By decrees dated and entered August 23, 2023, the trial court

involuntarily terminated Mother’s parental rights to the Children pursuant to

23 Pa.C.S.A. § 2511(a)(1), (2), (5), (8), and (b).     Further, by orders also

dated and entered August 23, 2023, the court changed the Children’s

permanency goals from reunification to adoption.

       Mother, through Attorney Server, timely filed separate 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), on September 20, 2023, which this Court

consolidated sua sponte.7        On December 3, 2023, Attorney Server filed a

petition to withdraw, as well as an Anders brief. Accordingly, we will begin

our review by considering the validity and propriety of Attorney Server’s

submissions pursuant to Anders. See In re Adoption of M.C.F., 230 A.3d

1217, 1219 (Pa. Super. 2020) (quoting Commonwealth v. Daniels, 999

A.2d 590, 593 (Pa. Super. 2010)) (“‘When presented with an Anders brief,

this court may not review the merits of the underlying issues without first

passing on the request to withdraw.’”).

____________________________________________

7 On October 27, 2023, the trial court filed a Notice of Compliance with Rule

of Appellate Procedure 1925(a), in which it references its reasoning placed on
the record. See N.T., 8/23/23, at 12-17.

                                           -7-
J-S02034-24

       When counsel seeks to withdraw pursuant to Anders and its progeny,8

they must:

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

Commonwealth v. Cartrette, 83 A.3d 1030, 1032 (Pa. Super. 2013) (en

banc) (citation omitted).        Counsel must also “attach to their petition to

withdraw a copy of the letter sent to their client advising him or her of their

rights.” Commonwealth v. Millisock, 873 A.2d 748, 752 (Pa. Super. 2005).

       Additionally,     our   Supreme         Court   has   set   forth   the   following

requirements for Anders briefs:

              [W]e hold that in the Anders brief that accompanies court-
       appointed counsel’s petition to withdraw, counsel must: (1)
       provide a summary of the procedural history and facts, with
       citations to the record; (2) refer to anything in the record that
       counsel believes arguably supports the appeal; (3) set forth
       counsel’s conclusion that the appeal is frivolous; and (4) state
       counsel’s reasons for concluding that the appeal is frivolous.
       Counsel should articulate the relevant facts of record, controlling
       case law, and/or statutes on point that have led to the conclusion
       that the appeal is frivolous.

Santiago, 78 A.2d at 361.

____________________________________________

8 This Court extended the Anders procedure to appeals from decrees
terminating parental rights involuntarily in In re V.E., 611 A.2d 1267, 1275
(Pa. Super. 1992). This Court further extended the Anders principles to
appeals involving goal change orders in In re J.D.H., 171 A.3d 903, 906 (Pa.
Super. 2017).

                                           -8-
J-S02034-24

       Instantly, Attorney Server filed a petition to withdraw certifying his

conscientious review of the record and determination that Mother’s appeals

are frivolous.    He further attached copies of a Millisock letter informing

Mother of her rights. Likewise, Attorney Server has filed an Anders brief that

substantially complies with the requirements set forth in Santiago, supra.9,

10

       Having concluded that Attorney Server complied with the procedural

requirements of Anders/Santiago, we must next “conduct a review of the

record to ascertain if on its face, there are non-frivolous issues that counsel,

intentionally or not, missed or misstated.” Commonwealth v. Yorgey, 188

A.3d 1190, 1197 (Pa. Super. 2018) (en banc).

       Attorney Server’s Anders brief raises the following issue for our review:

“Whether the trial court abused its discretion by involuntarily terminating the

Mother’s parental rights under sections 2511 (a)(1), (2), (5), (8), and (b)?”

(cleaned up). Anders Brief at 6.

       Our standard of review in this context is well-established:

       In cases concerning the involuntary termination of parental rights,
       appellate review is limited to a determination of whether the
       decree of the termination court is supported by competent
____________________________________________

9 While we observe Attorney Server’s failure to cite to the certified record, we

remain cognizant that the framework of Anders and Santiago require
substantial, not perfect performance. See Commonwealth v. Wrecks, 934
A.2d 1287, 1290 (Pa. Super. 2007); see also Commonwealth v. Redmond,
273 A.3d 1247, 1252 (Pa. Super. 2022).
10 Mother has not responded to Attorney Server’s petition to withdraw
and Anders brief.

                                           -9-
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     evidence. When applying this standard, the appellate court must
     accept the orphans’ court’s findings of fact and credibility
     determinations if they are supported by the record. Where the
     orphans’ court’s factual findings are supported by the evidence,
     an appellate court may not disturb the orphans’ court’s ruling
     unless it has discerned an error of law or abuse of discretion.

     An abuse of discretion does not result merely because the
     reviewing court might have reached a different conclusion or the
     facts could support an opposite result. Instead, an appellate court
     may reverse for an abuse of discretion only upon demonstration
     of manifest unreasonableness, partiality, prejudice, bias, or ill-
     will. This standard of review reflects the deference we pay to trial
     courts, who often observe the parties first-hand across multiple
     hearings.

     In considering a petition to terminate parental rights, the orphans’
     court must balance the parent’s fundamental right to make
     decisions concerning the care, custody, and control of his or her
     child with the child’s essential needs for a parent’s care,
     protection, and support. Termination of parental rights has
     significant and permanent consequences for both the parent and
     child. As such, the law of this Commonwealth requires the moving
     party to establish the statutory grounds by clear and convincing
     evidence, which is evidence that is so clear, direct, weighty, and
     convincing as to enable a trier of fact to come to a clear conviction,
     without hesitance, of the truth of the precise facts in issue.

Interest of M.E., 283 A.3d 820, 829-30 (Pa. Super. 2022) (cleaned up).

     The involuntary termination of parental rights is governed at statute by

section 2511 of the Adoption Act, which requires a bifurcated analysis. See

23 Pa.C.S.A. § 2511.   The trial court must initially determine whether the

conduct of the parent warrants termination under one of the eleven

enumerated grounds set forth at section 2511(a).            Only if the court

determines that the petitioner has established grounds for termination under

section 2511(a) does it then engage in assessing the petition under section

                                    - 10 -
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2511(b), which focuses upon the child’s needs and welfare. See In re T.S.M.,

602 Pa. 602, 628, 71 A.3d 251, 267 (2013).          To involuntarily terminate

parental rights, the petitioner must satisfy both section 2511(a) and (b) by

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

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

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

Adoption of C.M., 255 A.3d 343, 359 (Pa. 2021).

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

pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 2511(a)(1), (2), (4), (5), (8), and (b). To affirm

the underlying decrees, however, we need only agree with the court’s decision

as to any one subsection of section 2511(a), along with section 2511(b). See

In re B.L.W., 843 A.2d 380, 384 (Pa. Super. 2004) (en banc). As such, we

limit our discussion to section 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:

                                     ...

            (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

                                     - 11 -
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         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), (b).

      To prove the applicability of subsection (a)(2), the party petitioning for

termination must establish: (1) repeated and continued incapacity, abuse,

neglect or refusal; (2) that such incapacity, abuse, neglect or refusal caused

the child to be without essential parental care, control or subsistence; and (3)

that the causes of the incapacity, abuse, neglect or refusal cannot and will not

be remedied. See In re Adoption of A.H., 247 A.3d 439, 443 (Pa. Super.

2021). Subsection (a)(2) emphasizes the child’s present and future needs,

not the parent’s refusal to perform their duties and thus “should not be read

to compel courts to ignore a child’s need for a stable home and strong

continuous parental ties. . . . This is particularly so where disruption of

the family has already occurred and there is no reasonable prospect

for reuniting it.”    In re Z.P., 994 A.2d 1108, 1117 (Pa. Super. 2010)

(citation omitted) (emphasis in original). Section 2511(a)(2) grounds are not

limited to affirmative misconduct; they may also include acts of refusal and

incapacity to perform parental duties. See In re S.C., 247 A.3d 1097, 1104

(Pa. Super. 2021), abrogated on other grounds by Interest of K.T., 296 A.3d

                                     - 12 -
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1085, 1110 n.23 (Pa. 2023).      We have long recognized that a parent is

required to make diligent efforts towards the reasonably prompt assumption

of full parental responsibilities. See In re M.A.B., 166 A.3d 434, 443 (Pa.

Super. 2017).

      In concluding that DHS established the statutory grounds to terminate

Mother’s parental rights pursuant to section 2511(a)(2), the trial court

emphasized Mother’s persistent substance abuse and lack of completion of

treatment. The court stated as follows:

            The[ C]hildren were taken at the time that they were born.
      And they were born with drugs in their system. There has been
      no indication that Mom has been able to remedy the situation
      which led the [C]hildren coming into care.

            She’s not successfully completed any drug and alcohol
      treatment. She’s not consistently provided this [c]ourt with
      negative screens or shown at any additional time would remedy
      that situation[, a]s this case has been more than two years since
      the adjudication. And Mom has not demonstrated an ability to
      correct the situation which led to the [C]hildren coming into care.

N.T., 8/23/23, at 14.

      A review of the record supports the trial court’s finding of grounds for

termination under section 2511(a)(2).        Significantly, the record reveals a

history of substance abuse that persisted and remained untreated.        At the

time of the Children’s birth in March 2021, both Mother and the Children tested

positive for illegal substances leading to the Children’s placement following

their discharge from the hospital after an extended stay in the neonatal

intensive care unit. Notwithstanding multiple court orders and/or permanency

                                    - 13 -
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objectives related to forthwith and random drug screening and substance

abuse treatment, Mother tested positive for marijuana and amphetamines as

recently as March 21, 2023, upon presentation to the Clinical Evaluation Unit

(“CEU”)11 for a forthwith drug and alcohol screening following a court hearing.

See N.T., 6/20/23, at 18; DHS Exhibit 7 (Urine Drug Testing Report). Mr.

Burgos confirmed no prescription for amphetamines and indicated no

knowledge of a medical marijuana card. See N.T., 6/20/23, at 31-32. He

testified that this was the first time Mother had presented to the CEU since

July 2021, noting her lack of compliance with drug screening throughout the

pendency of the Children’s dependency.12 See id. at 17; see also id. at 19,

32. Notably, he expressed concern at this positive result “[b]ecause this is

the reason that the case came in, . . . her substance abuse.” Id. at 18.

       Mr. Burgos further acknowledged Mother’s lack of engagement in

substance abuse treatment. While recognizing Mother’s past involvement in

a Suboxone treatment program, he explained this was inadequate. Mr. Burgos

testified as follows:

       [COUNSEL FOR DHS]: Does she actively engaged in any drug and
       alcohol program at this time?

____________________________________________

11 It appears that this unit is now known as the Substance Analysis Unit.   See
DHS Exhibit 7 (Urine Drug Testing Report).

12Although random drug screens were likely performed in connection with
Mother’s participation in a Suboxone program, Mr. Burgos stated that he had
no documentation related thereto. See N.T., 6/20/23, at 33.

                                          - 14 -
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       MR. BURGOS: Not to my knowledge.

       [COUNSEL FOR DHS]: And she has previously been engaged -- or
       receiving Suboxone from Einstein; is that correct?

       MR. BURGOS: Correct.

       [COUNSEL FOR DHS]: And why is that not sufficient for drug and
       alcohol treatment?

       MR. BURGOS: Because anybody can get Suboxone treatment.
       You don’t specifically need to have a drug and alcohol assessment.

       [COUNSEL FOR DHS]: And, to your knowledge, has she had a drug
       and alcohol assessment?

       MR. BURGOS: Not by any proof that’s been provided.

       [COUNSEL FOR DHS]: And has she provided you any
       documentation of successful engagement or treatment in a drug
       and alcohol program since you’ve been case manager?

       MR. BURGOS: No.

Id. at 18-19. Mr. Burgos therefore confirmed that reunification posed the

potential for risk to the Children. See id. at 19.

       Moreover, Mr. Burgos testified that he had no documentation and was

unable to verify Mother’s participation in domestic violence services. See id.

at 19-21. He stated that, based upon the one occasion he was able to assess

Mother’s residence,13 she did not have housing appropriate for the Children as

there was no place for Children to sleep. See id. at 22-23. She also failed to

____________________________________________

13 Despite multiple attempts, Mr. Burgos was unable to assess Mother’s home

again. He stated, “Either she wouldn’t be home or the times that I would try
to (unintelligible) come do the assessment, she would not be available
because of work.” Id. at 22.

                                          - 15 -
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provide a copy of a lease.     See id. at 31.     Additionally, Mother had not

provided proof of current employment. See id. at 23, 31. As such, Mr. Burgos

opined that the Children could not be safely returned to Mother’s care, and

reunification was not possible. See id. at 24.

      Given this enduring, unresolved behavior, it is entirely speculative when

and if Mother will be in a position to care for the Children and provide them

with safety and stability. This prospect is simply unacceptable for the Children,

who at the time of the termination hearing, had been in care for two years,

their entire lives.

      Based on the foregoing, we discern no abuse of discretion by the court

in concluding that termination pursuant to section 2511(a)(2) is warranted.

The record demonstrates that Mother’s repeated and continued incapacity due

to ongoing substance abuse, unresolved domestic violence issues, and lack of

appropriate housing and employment, has caused the Children to be without

essential parental care, control, or subsistence necessary for their physical or

mental well-being. Further, the conditions and causes of Mother’s incapacity

cannot or will not be remedied. See A.H., 247 A.3d at 443. 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).

                                     - 16 -
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      Having found sufficient grounds for termination pursuant to section

2511(a)(2), we next must determine whether termination was proper under

section 2511(b), which affords “primary consideration to the developmental,

physical and emotional needs and welfare of the child.”         23 Pa.C.S.A. §

2511(b). “[T]he determination of the child’s ‘needs and welfare’ requires

consideration of the emotional bonds between the parent and child.           The

‘utmost attention’ should be paid to discerning the effect on the child of

permanently severing the parental bond.” See T.S.M., 620 Pa. at 628, 71

A.3d at 267 (internal citations omitted). As our Supreme Court recently

explained in Interest of K.T., 296 A.3d 1085, 1113 (Pa. 2023):

      [A] court conducting a Section 2511(b) analysis must consider
      more than proof of an adverse or detrimental impact from
      severance of the parental bond. We emphasize analysis of the
      parental bond is but one part of the overall subsection (b)
      analysis, which includes a determination of whether the bond is
      necessary and beneficial to the child, i.e., whether maintaining the
      bond serves the child’s developmental, physical, and emotional
      needs and welfare.

K.T., supra (emphasis added).

      The evaluation of a child’s respective bonds is not always an easy task.

“In cases where there is no evidence of any bond between the parent and

child, it is reasonable to infer that no bond exists. The extent of any bond

analysis, therefore, necessarily depends on the circumstances of the particular

case.”   In re K.Z.S., 946 A.2d 753, 762-763 (Pa. Super. 2008) (citation

omitted).

                                     - 17 -
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      In addition, the K.T. Court held that the “Section 2511(b) inquiry must

also include consideration of other important factors.” Id. While not inventing

an exhaustive list of considerations, the Court explained that the inquiry must

consider and weigh certain evidence if it is present in the record,

including, but not limited, “the child’s need for permanency and the length of

time in foster care [. . .]; whether the child is in a pre[-]adoptive home and

bonded with foster parents; and whether the foster home meets the child’s

developmental, physical, and emotional needs, including intangible needs of

love, comfort, security, safety, and stability.”   Id. (footnote omitted); see

also id. at n.28 (emphasis in original).

      Instantly, in determining that termination was additionally proper under

section 2511(b), the trial court found that the Children did not share a parent-

child bond with Mother, but instead shared such a bond with their foster

mother. The court stated as follows:

             With regards to [section 2511(b)], there is no parent/child
      bond between [the Children] and their mother. They may know
      their mother or recognize her through these supervised visits that
      occurred since their birth[,] but they do not know her as their
      mother. The only figure that they know as their mother has been
      their resource family in this case. And I don’t find that there is a
      parent[-]child bond and that these children would suffer
      irreparable harm if Mother’s rights were terminated.

N.T., 8/23/23, at 16-17. We discern no abuse of discretion.

      At the time of the subject proceeding, the Children, who were two years

old, had resided in their medical foster home their entire lives.    See N.T.,

6/20/23, at 9-10. Mr. Burgos testified that the Children look to their foster

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mother, who was a pre-adoptive resource, for all of their needs, including

medical and financial. He confirmed that it is their foster mother they seek

when they are sick, hungry, or hurt. See id. at 28-29.

       While Mother engaged in weekly visitation with the Children, Mr. Burgos

confirmed that such visitation remained supervised.        See id. at 13.   He

recounted instances of missed visits throughout the pendency of the case,

noting that Mother’s visitation was cancelled on two occasions due to her

missing three consecutive visitations. See id. at 14-16. He further reported

a gap in visitation from January 17, 2023, when Mother had her last visitation

with the Children through Family School, until late March when referred for

supervised visitation at the agency.14 See id. at 33-34.

       Notably, Mother had also missed several visits prior to the subject

hearing. See id. at 14; see also DHS Exhibit 6 (CUA Supervised Visitation

Program No Visit Notification Forms). Mr. Burgos described that at the last

visit a month prior, “As soon and the foster mom dropped off both children,

they began crying. They were actually screaming.” Id. at 15. And when she

returns, “They run towards her and call her mom.”          Id.   Conversely, he

observed no issues separating from Mother. Id.

____________________________________________

14 Mr. Burgos testified to Mother’s lack of outreach as to the Children’s well-

being and failure to attend their medical appointments despite notification.
See N.T., 6/20/23, at 16-17.

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      As such, Mr. Burgos opined that a parent-child bond did not exist

between Mother and the Children. He testified as follows:

      [COUNSEL FOR DHS]: All right. And how are the [C]hildren doing
      in the pla-- actually, do you believe there’s a parent-child
      relationship between [D.H.] and [Mother], such that [D.H.] looks
      to her to fulfill all of the daily parental needs?

      MR. BURGOS: I believe that she’s familiar with who [Mother] is,
      but not for any paternal or maternal support.

      [COUNSEL FOR DHS]: And, essentially, [Mother] is just a
      visitation resource for [D.H.]?

      MR. BURGOS: Yes.

      [COUNSEL FOR DHS]: Would you say the same thing for [R.H.]?

      MR. BURGOS: Yes.

Id. at 26.

      Mr. Burgos further indicated that the Children would not suffer

irreparable harm if Mother’s parental rights were terminated. He explained,

“This case has been open for two years now, and the [C]hildren have been

raised by the foster parents since they were born.” Id. at 24. In fact, as their

foster mother provides the Children much needed stability, Mr. Burgos stated

that the Children would suffer harm if removed from the foster home. See

id. at 27-28.

      Based on the foregoing independent analysis of the trial court’s

termination of Mother’s parental rights, we agree with Attorney Server that

the appeals from the decrees terminating Mother’s parental rights pursuant to

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section 2511(a)(2) and (b) are wholly frivolous and our review of the record

does not reveal any overlooked non-frivolous issues.

       Given our disposition concerning termination, Mother’s appeals from the

goal change orders are moot.15 See Int. of A.M., 256 A.3d 1263, 1272-1273

(Pa. Super. 2021) (finding issues regarding goal change moot in light of

termination of parental rights); A.H., 247 A.3d at 446 (“the effect of our

decision to affirm the orphans’ court’s termination decree necessarily

renders moot the       dependency      court’s     decision   to change Child’s goal to

adoption”); see also In re D.K.W., 415 A.2d 69, 73 (Pa. 1980) (stating that

once parental rights are terminated, issues of custody and dependency under

the Juvenile Act are moot).

       For the foregoing reasons, we grant Attorney Server’s petition to

withdraw. We affirm the termination decrees and dismiss the goal change

orders as moot.

       Counsel’s petition to withdraw granted. Decrees affirmed. Appeals from

goal change orders dismissed.

____________________________________________

15 Even if not moot, for the reasons we have already discussed throughout
this memorandum with respect to termination, the record confirms that
changing the Children’s respective permanency goals to adoption is in their
best interest. See In re A.B., 19 A.3d 1084, 1088-1089 (Pa. Super. 2011).

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Date: 3/15/2024

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