Court Opinion

ID: 9697446
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-25 19:16:58.210932+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:20:32.552437
License: Public Domain

POPOVICH, Judge,
dissenting:
I must dissent from the majority’s decision today which concludes that the evidence was insufficient to establish grounds for the involuntary termination of appellant’s parental rights. In doing so, the majority invades the province of the trial court since that court’s decision to terminate appellant’s parental rights when supported by competent evidence should be sustained on appeal. In re Burns, 474 Pa. 615, 379 A.2d 535 (1977).
The majority’s view is set forth in the following:
“It is clear from these facts that as to L.M.C., no six-month period elapsed, as visits took place on January 15 and July 7, 1980. Although six months did elapse in regard to M.B.C.C., during three of the six months, CSEC was either on strike or did not have a caseworker assigned to Appellant. Also, absent any evidence as to why M.B. C.C. was not taken to the agency for the July 7,1980 visit, we are unprepared to conclude that Appellant did not, in *45fact, desire or request visitation with M.B.C.C. at that time. We therefore find that, under these specific circumstances, no continuous six-month period elapsed as required by § 311, in regard to M.B.C.C.” at 1028 (emphasis in original).
When analyzing whether the adjudication of the orphans’ court will be disturbed in an involuntary termination proceeding, we must apply the following guidelines:
“The adjudication of the orphans’ court will not be disturbed if ‘the record is free from legal error and ... if the chancellor’s findings are supported by competent and adequate evidence, and are not predicated upon capricious disbelief of competent and credible evidence.’ Cohen Will, 445 Pa. 549, 550, 284 A.2d 754, 755 (1971); Holtz Will, 422 Pa. 540, 544, 222 A.2d 885, 888 (1966); Hunter Will, 416 Pa. 127, 136, 205 A.2d 97, 103 (1964).
There is no simple or easy definition of parental duties. Parental duty is best understood in relation to the needs of a child. A child needs love, protection, guidance, and support. These needs, physical and emotional, cannot be met by a merely passive interest in the development of the child. Thus, this Court has held that the parental obligation is a positive duty which requires affirmative performance. In re Adoption of Orwick, 464 Pa. 549, 347 A.2d 677 (1976); In re Adoption of Mahlon Nichelle McCray, [460 Pa. 210, 331 A.2d 652] supra; Appeal of Diane B., 456 Pa. 429, 321 A.2d 618 (1974); In re Smith’s Adoption, 412 Pa. 501, 194 A.2d 919 (1963). This affirmative duty encompasses more than a financial obligation; it requires continuing interest in the child and a genuine effort to maintain communication and association with the child. In re Adoption of Mahlon Nichelle McCray, supra; Appeal of Diane B., supra; In re Adoption of Jagodzinski, 444 Pa. 511, 281 A.2d 868 (1971). Because a child needs more than a benefactor, parental duty requires that a parent ‘exert himself to take and maintain a place of importance in the child’s life.’ Appeal of Diane B., supra, 456 Pa. at 433, 321 A.2d at 620, quoting In Re: Adoption of J.R.F., 27 Somerset L.J. 298, 304-05 (Pa.C.P.1972).
*46With these principles in mind, the question whether a parent has failed or refused to perform parental duties must be analyzed in relation to the particular circumstances of the case.”
In Re Burns, 474 Pa. 615, 379 A.2d at 540.
In the instant case, the majority reasons that because the social worker brought the children to visit appellant on January 15th and also because the social worker brought the elder daughter, L.M.C., to the agency to see appellant on July 7th, appellant performed her parental duties. Under the circumstances of this case, this writer declines to adopt such a confined approach. Id.
With respect to the younger daughter, M.B.C.C., the majority concedes that “six months did elapse”; however, the majority again excuses appellant’s failure to perform her parental duties because the agency “was either on strike or [the agency] did not have a caseworker assigned to Appellant”. Slip Opinion at 5. The record, however, shows that the agency did not frustrate appellant’s attempts to perform during these times. In fact, during the strike, the agency’s supervisors resumed the duties of the caseworkers. Ironically enough, a visit was arranged during the first part of the strike, on January 15th, and appellant did speak to a supervisor when she notified the Agency that she had moved. Therefore, on these facts, the strike is not an excuse for appellant’s failure to perform her parental duties.
Similarly, the majority superimposes a rule in adoption cases which states that a parent’s failure to perform is negated by the fact that a caseworker is not specifically assigned to that parent’s case. In this case, appellant can-celled an appointment for May 6th stating that she was ill. Then, on May 9,1980, appellant’s caseworker transferred the case to a second caseworker, who did not receive appellant’s case until June 9, 1980. Nonetheless, appellant could have called if she had wanted to visit with the children. In other cases, our courts have required as much:
“Parental duty does not require the impossible, but may encompass that which is difficult and demanding. A *47parent may not yield to every problem, but must act affirmatively with good faith, interest and effort, to maintain the parent-child relationship to the best of his or her ability, even in difficult circumstances.” In re Burns, 474 Pa. at 626, 379 A.2d at 541. (Emphasis added) (Citations omitted).
As a result, this writer refuses to require much less from appellant.
Although we may take into consideration a parent’s personal crisis when determining whether that parent has failed to perform his or her parental duties, such an allegation is not dispositive. Rather, we have applied the following guidelines:
“A period of asserted hardship does not completely relieve a person of parental responsibilities. Compare In re Adoption of M.T.T., [467 Pa. 88, 354 A.2d 564] supra, (imprisoned father utilized available resources thereby precluding involuntary termination of parental rights) with Adoption of McCray, 460 Pa. 210, 331 A.2d 652 (1975) (parental rights of imprisoned father terminated for failure to take advantage of available resources.) The pertinent inquiry is whether the parent has utilized those resources at his or her command in establishing a close relationship with the child. Where the parent does not exercise reasonable firmness ‘in deciding to yield to obstacles’ his other rights may be forfeited. See In re: Adoption of J.R.F., 27 Somerset L.J. at 304.” Adoption of McCray, supra, 460 Pa., at 217, 331 A.2d at 655. Matter of Adoption of David C., 479 Pa. 1, 10, 387 A.2d 804, 808 (1978) (emphasis added).
First of all, appellant’s children were adjudicated dependent in 1979. At that time, the court ordered appellant to obtain adequate housing, cooperate with the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation and the WIN programs, and to cooperate with a psychological evaluation and with casework counseling.
From July 5,1979, until May 9,1980, appellant had resided at four different addresses (i.e., 516 East 6th Street, 247 *48East 23rd Street, 44 West 19th Street, and 149 East 23rd). According to the first counsellor, appellant did not do anything to obtain adequate housing and did not develop her job skills or secure employment. N.T. 13.
Appellant told the counsellor that her excuse for not participating in the programs was because “she first wanted to get her teeth removed and get false teeth put in.” N.T. 14. However, the counsellor also stated that appellant agreed to cooperate with a psychological evaluation because she was having a drinking problem and “was having a difficult time dealing with the children.” N.T. 14. Although appellant did cooperate with the evaluation, she did not follow through with the counseling.
Beginning with June 25th, appellant had a different caseworker, G.M.C. During the next few months, this caseworker discussed the BVR and WIN programs and also discussed the court order. Finally on August 13th, appellant “again discussed the fact that she could not go to BVR and WIN because of her teeth. She had to have that taken care of before she would follow through with anything.” N.T. 24. During this conversation, appellant also stated that she was “severely depressed.” N.T. 25. The counsellor urged appellant to go to a health center; however, in appellant’s opinion, she was not in need of counselling. N.T. 25.
At this time, appellant’s housing situation at 215 East 8th Street was described in the following manner:
[The Second Social Worker]
“A The upstairs on the second floor she had a roommate. When you came in the front door,, there was a living room. Over off that was another room with a very large doorway. About the size of that doorway there was a bed in there, and we discussed who slept in there. She said her roommate, and there was—there might have been some curtains, I am not too sure, over it or it might have been open. I remember it being all open at that point. There was a bedroom, I think that [appellant] slept in and there was another room where [appellant] had a dog at that point, and the dog and the puppies were in there.
*49Q So, there was an extra bedroom there?
A There was a bedroom, yes.
Q Okay, so to your knowledge, then, did [appellant] at that time have adequate housing for the children in terms of space?
A In terms of space, there was an extra bedroom for the children.
Q So, then, to the best of your knowledge at that time, she was complying with the Court Order regarding housing?
A Regarding housing, yes.”1
N.T. 29-30.
The record shows that the evidence concerning the other aspects of the court order (i.e., the job counselling and casework counselling) were in dispute. The counsellors’ testimony established that appellant did not follow through with the programs. Although appellant did not refute the fact that she failed to sign up for the programs previously, she stated at the time of the hearing that she had signed up for WIN and also had applied to sit for an examination to qualify for a nurse’s training program. N.T. 33-34. Additionally, appellant stated that, for the past two weeks, she had been employed at a local cafe on a part-time basis. N.T. 35. It was on these facts that the trial court concluded that appellant
“failed to cooperate with the Agency in trying to be rehabilitated. It is obvious that she had some interest, but not a deep concern for the children. .. When the termination Petition was filed she then decided that she thought she wanted the children. She testified that she never expected this to happen so quickly; that is, that the children would be taken away from her. She has had two years to prove herself and this Court cannot see that she *50should have any more time to pretend that she wants to mother the children. A mother must be positive in her desire to raise her children and must not allow her own pleasures in life to come first. Her first obligation, is to the children, and this respondent was happy allowing the Agency to bring up these two girls.. . . ” Trial Court Opinion at 3-2. (Emphasis added).
It is obvious from the trial court’s opinion that it found appellant’s testimony about her efforts to rehabilitate to be less than credible. Thus, the trial court’s findings will not be disturbed under these circumstances. In Re D.K.W., 490 Pa. 134, 415 A.2d 69 (1980); In re William L., supra; see also In Re L.A.G., 490 Pa. 85, 89, 415 A.2d 44, 47 (1980) (The Court rejected appellant’s claim that her conduct was not weighed adequately considering the totality of the circumstances.) Additionally, we note that appellant’s failure to perform her parental duties resulted directly from circumstances which were the product of her own making since she did not “utilize those resources at .. her command in establishing a close relationship” with her children. Matter of Adoption of David C., 479 Pa. at 10, 387 A.2d at 808.
Hence, I must dissent from the majority’s finding that the trial court’s decision was not supported by competent evidence.

. On April 2, 1981, the date of the hearing, appellant had moved. She testified that she was residing at a home leased to the “Laird” family at 927 West 17th. N.T. 47. However, for the purposes of the instant case, the relevant conduct at issue was the six month statutory period which occurred in 1980. See 23 P.S. § 2511. See also In Re J.F., 487 Pa. 115, 408 A.2d 1382 (1979).